1986 MERCURY COUGAR

2 recalls — 20 complaints

87V139000 Sep 4, 1987
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
3,600,000 vehicles affected
86V065000 May 21, 1986
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLAMP COVERS WERE INSTALLED ON VEHICLES IN ERROR. CAUSING THE CARS NOT TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THE HEADLAMP COVERS MAY HINDER THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE CAR IN DARKNESS AND OTHER CONDITIONS OF REDUCED VISIBILITY.
Remedy: REMOVE HEADLAMP COVERS.
163 vehicles affected
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING Nov 10, 2004
HEAD GASKET ON 3.8 ENGINE HAS BLOWN TWO TIMES IN 8 MONTHS. CAR OVERHEATS AND HAS OIL IN RADIATOR. HEATER DOES NOT WORK. AND VERY DIM LIGHTING ON SPEEDOMETER.*AK
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Nov 10, 2004
HEAD GASKET ON 3.8 ENGINE HAS BLOWN TWO TIMES IN 8 MONTHS. CAR OVERHEATS AND HAS OIL IN RADIATOR. HEATER DOES NOT WORK. AND VERY DIM LIGHTING ON SPEEDOMETER.*AK
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD Mar 6, 2004
THE HOOD IS HELD UP WITH A THIN METAL ROD AND PLACED INTO A HOLE IN THE HOOD. THERE ARE SEVERAL HOLES TO PUT THE ROD INTO BUT ONLY ONE IS PROPER SIZE AND FIT. IF YOU ARE UNDER THE HOOD AND YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE ACCIDENTALLY BUMPS THE ROD, THEN YOU WILL HAVE YOUR HEAD OR HANDS LITERALLY CHOPPED OFF SINCE THE WEIGHT OF THE HOOD IS SO HEAVY DUE TO HEAVY METAL PLATES PLACED IN THERE FOR FRONT END CRASH PROTECTION. I COMPLAINED TO THE FORD COMPANY IN 1986 BUT THEY JUST LAUGHED AS WELL AS NHTSA. ALSO MY CAR HAD ONE OF THE RUNAWAY PROBLEMS WHEREBY THE CAR WOULD JUST TAKE OFF ON ITS OWN DOWN THE STREET AT 90 MPH WITH BOTH FEE ON THE BRAKES. THE DEALER LAUGHED AND SAID I WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT COMPLAINED. NHTSA HAD 500 COMPLAINTS ON FILE FOR THAT PROBLEM. I WROTE CERTIFIED LETTER TO PRES OF FORD AND TOLD HIM THAT OF MY CAR INJURED OR KILLED ANYONE THAT HE WOULD BE FOUND GUILTY OF CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE. 2 WEEKS LATER I GOT A NEW COMPUTER THAT SOLVED THAT PROBLEM. MY CAR WAS KEPT IN SHOWROOM MINT CONDITION AND WAS STOLEN IN 1999. *JB
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Mar 6, 2004
THE HOOD IS HELD UP WITH A THIN METAL ROD AND PLACED INTO A HOLE IN THE HOOD. THERE ARE SEVERAL HOLES TO PUT THE ROD INTO BUT ONLY ONE IS PROPER SIZE AND FIT. IF YOU ARE UNDER THE HOOD AND YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE ACCIDENTALLY BUMPS THE ROD, THEN YOU WILL HAVE YOUR HEAD OR HANDS LITERALLY CHOPPED OFF SINCE THE WEIGHT OF THE HOOD IS SO HEAVY DUE TO HEAVY METAL PLATES PLACED IN THERE FOR FRONT END CRASH PROTECTION. I COMPLAINED TO THE FORD COMPANY IN 1986 BUT THEY JUST LAUGHED AS WELL AS NHTSA. ALSO MY CAR HAD ONE OF THE RUNAWAY PROBLEMS WHEREBY THE CAR WOULD JUST TAKE OFF ON ITS OWN DOWN THE STREET AT 90 MPH WITH BOTH FEE ON THE BRAKES. THE DEALER LAUGHED AND SAID I WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT COMPLAINED. NHTSA HAD 500 COMPLAINTS ON FILE FOR THAT PROBLEM. I WROTE CERTIFIED LETTER TO PRES OF FORD AND TOLD HIM THAT OF MY CAR INJURED OR KILLED ANYONE THAT HE WOULD BE FOUND GUILTY OF CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE. 2 WEEKS LATER I GOT A NEW COMPUTER THAT SOLVED THAT PROBLEM. MY CAR WAS KEPT IN SHOWROOM MINT CONDITION AND WAS STOLEN IN 1999. *JB
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY Jun 12, 1999
THE BRACKET THAT HOLD THE STRAPS FOR THE FUEL TANK RUSTED VERY BADLY, BROKE AND THE FEUL TANK DROPPED WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING/ DRAGGED AND RIPPED A HOLE IN THE GAS TANK THE SPARKS COULD HAVE LIT THE GAS ON FIRE AND POTENTAILY COULD HAVE KILLED MY WIFE AND SON IN THE CAR.THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN GOOD SHAPE VERY LITTLE RUST .WHY WAS THE BRACKETS THE FIRST THING TO GIVE WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE LAST THING TO RUST ?COULD THEY BE DEFECTIVE I WANT TO EMPHESIZE THAT THERE IS VERY LITTLE RUST ANY WHERE ELSE BUT WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE MOST DEADLY PROBLEM I COULD HAVE HAD WAS THE FIRST PROBLEM THAT I HAD WHITH RUST. *AK
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY Jun 12, 1999
THE BRACKET THAT HOLD THE STRAPS FOR THE FUEL TANK RUSTED VERY BADLY, BROKE AND THE FEUL TANK DROPPED WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING/DRAGGED AND RIPPED A HOLE IN THE GAS TANK THE SPARKS COULD HAVE LIT THE GAS ON FIRE AND POTENTAILY COULD HAVE KILLED MY WIFE AND SON IN THE CAR.THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN GOOD SHAPE VERY LITTLE RUST .WHY WAS THE BRACKETS THE FIRST THING TO GIVE WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE LAST THING TO RUST ?COULD THEY BE DEFECTIVE I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THERE IS VERY LITTLE RUST ANY WHERE ELSE BUT WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE MOST DEADLY PROBLEM I COULD HAVE HAD WAS THE FIRST PROBLEM THAT I HAD WHITH RUST. *AK
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY Jun 12, 1999
THE BRACKET THAT HOLD THE STRAPS FOR THE FUEL TANK RUSTED VERY BADLY, BROKE AND THE FEUL TANK DROPPED WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING/ DRAGGED AND RIPPED A HOLE IN THE GAS TANK THE SPARKS COULD HAVE LIT THE GAS ON FIRE AND POTENTAILY COULD HAVE KILLED MY WIFE AND SON IN THE CAR.THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN GOOD SHAPE VERY LITTLE RUST .WHY WAS THE BRACKETS THE FIRST THING TO GIVE WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE LAST THING TO RUST ?COULD THEY BE DEFECTIVE I WANT TO EMPHESIZE THAT THERE IS VERY LITTLE RUST ANY WHERE ELSE BUT WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE MOST DEADLY PROBLEM I COULD HAVE HAD WAS THE FIRST PROBLEM THAT I HAD WHITH RUST. *AK
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY Jun 12, 1999
THE BRACKET THAT HOLD THE STRAPS FOR THE FUEL TANK RUSTED VERY BADLY, BROKE AND THE FEUL TANK DROPPED WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING/DRAGGED AND RIPPED A HOLE IN THE GAS TANK THE SPARKS COULD HAVE LIT THE GAS ON FIRE AND POTENTAILY COULD HAVE KILLED MY WIFE AND SON IN THE CAR.THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN GOOD SHAPE VERY LITTLE RUST .WHY WAS THE BRACKETS THE FIRST THING TO GIVE WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE LAST THING TO RUST ?COULD THEY BE DEFECTIVE I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THERE IS VERY LITTLE RUST ANY WHERE ELSE BUT WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE MOST DEADLY PROBLEM I COULD HAVE HAD WAS THE FIRST PROBLEM THAT I HAD WHITH RUST. *AK
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD Oct 14, 1998
VEHICLE DOES NOT CONTAIN SAFETY GLASS ON SIDE WINDOWS, VEHICLE COLLISION RESULTING IN CUTS TO FACE DUE TO GLASS.
1 injured
SEATS Jan 8, 1997
DRIVER SIDE SEAT TRACK AND ANCHORS MAKE CLICKING NOISE WHEN IN INCLINE POSTION AND FALLS BACK. *AK
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY Jun 28, 1996
SEAT BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTON BROKE. *SD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION Jun 19, 1996
WHEN DRIVING CAR STALLS. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH May 16, 1996
IGNITION SWITCH HAS BURNING SMELL COMING FROM UNDER DASH; KILLS BATTERY. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH Apr 29, 1996
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE IGNITION AREA WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Fire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH Apr 29, 1996
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE IGNITION AREA WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Fire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH Jul 26, 1995
THE LIGHT FOR SPEEDOMETER IS OUT, CANNOT READ SPEED DAY OR NIGHT, CREATES POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENT. TT
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY Jun 12, 1995
DRIVER'S SHOULDER/LAP BELT BUCKLES INOPERATIVE, MALE WON'T STAY LATCHED INTO FEMALE PORTION. TT
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM May 25, 1995
FRONT BRAKES FAILED TWICE, BACK BRAKES FELL OFF. TT
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY May 25, 1995
DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT DOES NOT CLASP. TT
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC May 25, 1995
FRONT BRAKES FAILED TWICE, BACK BRAKES FELL OFF. TT