1988 MERCURY COUGAR Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
ON FEB 12, 1994 MY WIFE AND HER FRIEND TOOK MY RED 1988 MERCURY COUGAR LS TO CHURCH AT 6:30 PM. IT WAS AN EXTREMELY FOGGY EVENING. I RECEIVED A CALL AT THE HOUSE AT 6:50 PM THAT MY WIFE HAD BEEN IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND THAT I NEEDED TO COME TO THE SITE. MY CAR WAS IN MINT CONDITION INSIDE AND OUT B...
Mileage: 60,000
THE RIGHT SELTBELT BUCKLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FAILS OFTEN. FORD NO LONGER SUPPLIES THESE BUCKLES, AND THEY ARE VERY SCARCE IN WRECKING YARDS.*AK
Mileage: 75,000
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TIRE THAT FAILED FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE. FRONT LEFT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM A CHEVROLET BLAZER 1984, AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. VEHICLE HIT TWO OTHER VEHICLES, ONE BEING THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AND CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE. DURING THE CRASH CONSUMER'S WRIST ...
THE IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT IGNITE IF THE GEAR SHIFT IS NOT COMPLETELY UP. IT APPEARS THERE IS NOT ENOUGH COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH AND THE GEAR SHIFT.*AK
RECALL 96 V 071 000/IGNITION SWITCH: RECALL REPAIRS WAS DONE AT BAYWAY LINCOLN, MERCURY; HOUSTON, TX; PHONE# 281/ 929-6500. AT THE PRESENT TIME PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN, BUT ALL ELECTRICAL PARTS WILL STILL BE WORKING, LIKE HEADLIGHTS/ RADIO/ POWER WINDOW, AND AIR CONDITIONER. BUT NOT COLD AND MOTOR WILL STILL BE WORKING; IGNITION MODULE HAD BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES, AND NOW HAS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN, BUT ALL ELECTRICAL PARTS WILL STILL BE WORKING, LIKE HEADLIGHTS/ RADIO/ POWER WINDOW, AND AIR CONDITIONER. BUT NOT COLD AND MOTOR WILL STILL BE WORKING; IGNITION MODULE HAD BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES, AND NOW HAS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*AK
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN STARTING FROM A COMPLETE STOP OR A ROLLING STOP, RECALL 96V071 WAS COMPLETED ON VEHICLE, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS POSSIBLY DUE TO AN ENGINE FAILURE. *SLC
BOTH FORD MOTOR CORP. AND GALPIN LINCOLN-MERCURY REFUSED TO COVER FOR REPAIRS. OWNER HAD TO DO SO AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. *AK
IGN. SW. RECALL WORK DONE PREVIOUSLY 2 TIMES BY GALPIN LINCOLN-MERCURY. SEAT BELT FAILURE REPORTED BOTH TO GALPIN LINCOLN-MERCURY AND FORD MOTOR CORP. BECAUSE OF NO DOCUMENTED RECALL, THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING EVER SINCE WITHOUT SHOULDER BELT PROTECTION.
IGN. SW. RECALL WORK DONE PREVIOUSLY 2 TIMES BY GALPIN LINCOLN-MERCURY. SEAT BELT FAILURE REPORTED BOTH TO GALPIN LINCOLN-MERCURY AND FORD MOTOR CORP. BECAUSE OF NO DOCUMENTED RECALL, THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING EVER SINCE WITHOUT SHOULDER BELT PROTECTION.
THE UPPER LAYER OF THE FIRESTONE TIRE ON THE FRONT LEFT WAS COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. THIS WAS AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 60 MPH. THE TIRE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION WITH NO DAMAGE. IT WAS A VERY SCAREY AND DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY (WIFE AND 2 KIDS) IN THE CAR ON THE HIG...
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW FELL OUT THE CAR. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THE WINDOW CAN BE FIXED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW FELL OUT THE CAR.DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THE WINDOW CAN BE FIXED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE PRIOR TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL NOTICE REPAIR. NLM
STEEL BRAKE LINE ON REAR AXEL FAILED FIRST. STEEL BRAKE LINE ON TO RIGNT FRONT FAILED THIS TIME. LEFT FRONT STEEL BRAKE LINE SHOWED SIGNS OF FAILURE AND WAS REPLACED TOO. LINES ARE RUSTING THROUGH WHERE ATTACHED TO FRAME OR AXLE. BOUGHT CAR IN INDIANA, BUT LATER FOUND OUT IT CAME FROM WISCONSIN....
WHILE DEPRESSING GAS PEDAL VEHICLE WENT INTO A FULL UNWANTED ACCELERATION. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER, CRUISE CONTROL DISCONNECTED. POSSIBLY FAULTY WIRING IN CRUISE CONTROL. *AK *ML
WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY COUGAR SHE MADE A 5-10 MPH LEFT HAND TURN THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD SNAPPED AND MY WIFE LOST ALL STEERING. SHE SIDE SWIPED ONE CAR AND HIT HEAD ON WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE . I HAD ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT 9 MONTHS WHEN THIS HAPPENED . NOW MY WIFE IS GETTING SUED FOR 15000 D...
WHEN ENGINE IS HOTTER THAN NORMAL OR IN WARM WEATHER THE VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT WARNING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
FRONT BUCKET SEATBACK LATCHES FAILED TO HOLD THE SEATBACKS IN PLACE.
HEAD LIGHTS GET CLOUDY CONTINUOUSLY FROM MOISTURE ENTERING UNITS, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.
WHEN STOPPING OR SHIFTING INTO PARK VEHICLE SUDDENLY RACES/ACCELERATES. *AK
WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY ACCELERATED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOTALLED. *AK CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT. TP SENSOR REPLACED DUE TO STALLING. *SLC
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT/FATALITY.
SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSING VEHICLE ACCIDENT RESULTING IN DEATH.
SEAT BELT LATCH IS INOPERATIVE. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL.
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT, PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.
VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED.
GASOLINE LEAK FROM VALVE, CAUSING FIRE.
SEALS AROUND THE HEADLIGHTS HAD DESINTEGRATED.
SEAT BELT FAILED.
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.(ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).
EA95-021 ACTIVE, SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED, WILL NOT RELEASE. *AK
THE INGITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED . *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE. IT LOCKED IN POSITION. THE RED RELEASE BUTTON WAS SOLID HARD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RELEASE.*AK
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE. IT LOCKED IN POSITION. THE RED RELEASE BUTTON WAS SOLID HARD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RELEASE.*AK
FAILURE OF THE REAR PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR SEATS, BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. *AK *JB
SON DRIVING VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO SMOKE AND BURN UNDER DASHBOARD, HAD TO OPEN DOOR TO SEE BECAUSE OF SMOKE, VEHICLE SOON AFTER CAUGHT FIRE, JUNKED VEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE SURGED WHEN KEY PUT INTO CAR, CAUSING ACCIDENT/INJURY. *DH
WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH SHORTED OUT, CAUSING LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE TO COME OUT WINDSHIELD VENT, ALSO INTERMITTENT SETTING NO LONGER FUNCTIONS.
MIRROR SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING MIRRORS TO READJUST. *DSH
SEAT BELT BUCKLE: FAULTY DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, ALLEGED FALSE LATCHING, SEAT BELT COMES OUT OF THE BUCKLE. *AK
SEAT BELT BUCKLE: FAULTY DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, ALLEGED FALSE LATCHING, SEAT BELT COMES OUT OF THE BUCKLE. *AK
THROTTLE LINKAGE DEFECTIVE.(1ST VEHICLE ON 601564) *SD
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNEXPECTED AND UNINTENDED ACCELERATION FROM APARK POSITION. INDEPENDENT ENGINEER IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A CRUISE CONTROL CABLE HOLDING THE THROTTLE OPENED, EA90-009. *AJ
DRIVER'S SIDE BELT BUCKLE FAILURE, BUCKLE FAILS TO LATCH PROPERLY. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE BELT BUCKLE FAILURE, BUCKLE FAILS TO LATCH PROPERLY. *AK
SEAT BELT LATCH FAILED. *DSH
DRIVER'S SIDE BELT BUCKLE FAILURE, THE BUCKLE BROKE. TT *JB
THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE DOES NOT LATCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
AFTER PUTTING ON SEAT BELTS, SNUG AGAINST HIPS, BUCKLE WILL RELEASE ITSELF. TT
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED; FIRST, WOULD LATCH, THEN WOULD NOT LOCK AT ALL; REPLACED BY DEALER. TT
RIGHT AND LEFT WINDOW BRACKETS BROKE, WOULD NOT OPERATE UP AND DOWN. KT
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE . TT
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT FRAME CRACKED AND HAD TO BE WELDED. IT IS STILL NOT STRAIGHT. KT
TRUNK SPRING UNSPRUNG AND TRUNK DOOR WOULD NOT STAY UP. KT
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BROKE. KT
SEATBELT BUCKLE DETACHED WHILE DRIVING. TT
REAR COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE IS WEIGHTLESS, WHICH RESULTS IN LOSS OF CONTROL. *SD
BATTERY FAILED. *SKD
TIE RODS REPLACED.
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED.
MISSING NUTS TO ALTERNATOR.
AIR CONDITIONER HOSE BROKE.
BRAKES REPLACED.
BRAKE ROTORS WARP VERY FAST; PADS WEAR PREMATURELY; WHEN APPLIED, PEDAL PULSATES; FRONT BRAKES LOCKS UP. TT
BRAKE ROTORS WARP VERY FAST; PADS WEAR PREMATURELY; WHEN APPLIED, PEDAL PULSATES; FRONT BRAKES LOCKS UP. TT
POOR TREADING PLACED ON THE TIRE. CAUSING INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. TT
SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE. *AW
HEAD GASKET FAILED, DAMAGING ENGINE HEADS. *SKD