1993 MERCURY COUGAR Recalls, Complaints & Safety

HEAD LIGHT SWITCH HARD TO APPLY HEAD LIGHT FLICKER ON AND OFF.SOMETIME WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL.CAR WAS IN MOTION,AND STATIONARY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP, THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V275000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V275000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,431.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MERCURY COUGAR. A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN JUNE OF 2008, THE ELECTRONIC SEAT BELT SHOULDER STRAP WOULD NOT RETRACT AFTER THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRACKING WAS OFF AND THE SEAT BELT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MERCURY COUGAR. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND THEY MADE THE REPAIR. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V275000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 189,000.

Fire

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON MARCH 14, 2007 SHE BEGAN TO SMELL FUMES IN THE 1993 MERCURY COUGAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS RECALL 97V159000 CONCERNING THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS ON THIS PARTICULAR YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL, BUT THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK THE CONSUMER HAS PROVIDED AN INVOICE FOR REPAIR. UPDATED 05/04/07*TR

LIGHTS PERIODICALLY STOPPED WORKING ELIMINATING VISIBILITY. *JB

I WAS DRIVING HOME GOING DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD AND MY HEADLIGHTS QUIT WORKING. I ALMOST WRECKED,AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I ENDED UP DRIVING IT HOME WITH NOTHING BUT PARKING LIGHTS ON WHICH WAS A GOOD HALF HOUR JOURNEY. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL 97V159000 CONCERNING THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS. THE CONTACT HAD RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED IN DECEMBER 1997. THE VEHICLE STARTED EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL. SHE HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BY A LOCAL SERVICE DEALER. SINCE RECALL REPAIRS HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT OFFER ANY ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. *AK UPDAYED 11/29/2005 - *NM

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED OFF AND ON. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS DEFECT WAS NOT AN OPEN RECALL. PREVIOUS REPLACEMENT OF THE HEADLIGHTS WERE UNDETERMINED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT HIS VEHICLE BEING OLD IS TO BLAME FOR FAILURE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH REPLACED. *TC

1993 3.8 L BLEW A HEAD GASKET AT 97K. $1200 OUT OF MY POCKET. I DON'T EVEN MAKE THAT MUCH A MONTH. I WILL NEVER BY A FORD AGAIN. *JB

1993 COUGAR HEAD GASKET BLEW AGAIN . *AK

ODOMETER BECAME INOPERATIVE AFTER 84,799 MILES, SPEEDOMETER STILL OPERATES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED, AND WHITE SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE ALUMINUM HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS SIZE ENGINE BECAUSE THE GASKET WRAPPED. *AK

MY 1993 MERCURY COUGAR XR7 HAS BLOWN A HEAD GASKET TWICE (ONE AT 80,000 MILES AND ANOTHER AT 120,000 MILES.) AND AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET ENDLESSLY I HAVE FOUND MANY PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE TO MYSELF AND MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AND I HOPE THAT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING TO TRY AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *LA

THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HINGES HAS A FAILURE, THAT RESULTS IN THE DOOR BEING INOPERATIVE(MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO CLOSE).*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS CUT OFF OR BECAME DIM. *NLM *TT

HEAD LIGHTS FLICKER OFF AND ON. I HAD TO PLAY WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH TO FINALLY GET THEM BACK ON. AT FIRST THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD NOT COME ON, BUT BARELY PULLED ON SWITCH AND THEY CAME ON. PULLED DASH APART AND NOTICED THE SWITCH BRACKET WAS MELTED A LITTLE AND A (BROWN AND GRAY?) WIRE WAS SCORCHED, MELTED, FRAYED.*JB

HEAD GASKET BLEW @ 114,000 MILES ON 93 MERCURY COUGAR 3.8 V-6 ENGINE. TWO REPAIR SHOPS HAVE STATED "EVERYBODY" IN VEHICLE REPAIR BUSINESS KNOWS THE 3.8 ENGINE HAS GASKET PROBLEM TO THE POINT THE GASKETS BLOW IN ONE OF TWO PLACES. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER OF CAR AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED. UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME 3.8 FORD ENGINES, BUT NOT THE '93 ENGINE. *NLM

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO UNLOCK. *JB THE AUTO SHOULDER BELT DID NOT MOVE AND INTERRUPTS THE ABILITY TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVER DOOR MOLDING DID WOULD NOT STAY IN PLACE. THE DRIVER DOOR HAS TO BE PULLED UP IN ORDER TO SHUT. SCC

THE DRIVER'S DOOR BECAME STUCK.*JB....*AK

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO UNLOCK. *JB THE AUTO SHOULDER BELT DID NOT MOVE AND INTERRUPTS THE ABILITY TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVER DOOR MOLDING DID WOULD NOT STAY IN PLACE. THE DRIVER DOOR HAS TO BE PULLED UP IN ORDER TO SHUT. SCC

CONSUMER STATES IT IS HARD TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT TAKES NUMEROUS TRIES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL START. DEALER NOTIFIED.*JB

WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE WOULD STILL ACCELERATE. TS *JG

CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE THERMOSTAT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. TS

CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SENSOR. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. TS

CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH EXHAUST SYSTEM. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. TS

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE FRONT SEAT BELT BROKE OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING, SMOKE /STEAM CAME FROM THE TAIL PIPE.HAD VEHICLE TOWED. HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN OUT. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

FORD MOTOR CO. FINALLY AGREED TO PAY ALL BUT $535 TO REBUILD THE MOTOR, HOWEVER THEY REBUILT IT WITH DEFECTIVE PARTS. SO, AT 80,000 MILES THE MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REBUILT AGAIN BECAUSE IT IS HAVE THE EXACT PROBLEMS AGAIN. I PERSONALLY KNOW AT LEAST 20 PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 3.8 MOTOR. I ALSO KNOW THAT A CLASS ACTION LAW SUITE WAS DISSMISSED REGARDING THE 3.8 MOTOR WHICH WAS REPESENTING THOUSANDS OF OF OWNERS. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE IS STILL RUNNING ENGINE HEAVILY VIBRATES.*AK

THIS IS A WRITTEN COMPLAIN REGARDING A COMPANY RECALL ON REPLACING HEAD GASKET FOR ALL MERCURY COUGAR (3.8V ENGINE) 1994 AND UP. I OWN A 1993 MERCURY COUGAR XR7 3.8V ENGINE WHO HAS THE SAME ENGINE PROBLEM AS THE 1994, BUT THE MERCURY COMPANY DECIDED TO HAVE A RECALL ON ALL 1994 MODELS ONLY. WELL, I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE RECONSIDER SINCE I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM APPEARED TO MY CAR AND HAD TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE HAS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT IN THE DESIGN. HOWEVER, THEY COULDNT DO IT UNDER THE MANUFACTURE RECALL DUE TO THE YEAR OF THE CAR BEGIN 1993 AND NOT 1994. I HAD TO PAY $1000.00 OUT OF MY BUCKET TO HAVE IT DONE BY A MERCURY/LINCOLN DEALER, WHICH I FELT IT WAS UNFAIR TO BE GETTING PENALIZED FOR SOMETHING I HAD NO CONTROL OF. I TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND MY ENGINE HAD ONLY 63,000 MILES ON IT. I HAD EXPLAINED TO THE DEALER THAT THE HEAD GASKET BLOWN WITHOUT GIVING ME ANY SIGN OR INDICATIONS. THEY CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING AT MY PART THAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. THEY ARE VERY MUCH AWARE OF THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE PROBLEM, BUT STILL CANNOT DO IT ON THE COMPANY EXPENSE. IN LIGHT OF THIS, DUE TO THE HEAD GASKET GOTTEN BLOWN, IT DAMAGED OTHER PARTS IN CAR WHICH THE DEALER GAVE AN ESTIMATED COST OF $800.00. I REALLY CANNOT AFFORD TO SPEND THIS MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT THE MERCURY COMPANY IS VERY AWARE OF IF AND EVEN ADMITS THAT THEY HAVE A DESIGN PROBLEM ON ALL 3.8V ENGINE.*AK

CONSUMER STATED FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM VEHICLE AND VEHICLE WAS SMOKING EXCESSIVELY. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER INDICATED HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. NLM

THE ORIGINAL ENGINE AND THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE IN MY 1993 MERCURY COUGAR HAS FAILED ME. IS FORD MOTOR COMPANY OFFERING COMPENSATION FOR THIS ENGINE ISSUE?*AK

SEAT BELT WARNING SYSTEM ALARM WOULD REMAIN ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *YD

CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER SIDE MOTOR BELT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LOCK UP/STICK IN THE CLOSED POSITION AND WOULD NOT ALLOW DRIVER TO GET OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK *JB

FILLER NECK COVER PLATE DOOR STICKS INTERMITTENTLY, AND UNABLE TO REFUEL THE VEHICLE AT TIMES, DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 30-50MPH, VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. ANTIFREEZE STARTED COMING OUT OF TAILPIPE AND MIXED WITH OIL IN THE ENGINE. TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INDICATED HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN.*AK *SLC

INTERNAL LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK RECALL 99V275 DEALS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE FORD RECALL HOTLINE THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED, CONSUMER WILL NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT. *JB

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

PAID 3,200.00 FOR A USED CAR FOLLOWED MY GIRLFRIEND HOME AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM MUFFLER AND IT HAD A SWEET SMELL.THE DEALER TOLD ME THE MACHANIC SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR WHEN WE BAUGHT IT AND THE NEXT DAY AFTER WE BAUGHT THE CAR IT WAS OVERHEATING SO WE CALLED THE DEALER (LARRY)BUT HE WASNT THERE AND THE GUY I TALKED TO SAID NOT TO WORRY THEY'LL FIX IT OR REPLACE IT WITH ANOTHER CAR BUT TO CALL BACK AND TALK TO LARRY FIRST SO WE CALLED THE NEXT DAY AND HE SAID HE COULDNT HELP US BUT OFFERED TO FIX IT BUT WE HAD TO PAY FOR IT.FEELING WE ALREADY GOT SCREWED BY THEESE PEOPLE WE WERENT GOING TO RISK IT. SO WE FINALY TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER MACHANIC AND HE SAID THE CAR HAD A BROKEN HEAD GASKET, AND THAT THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED SO NOW I PAID HIM 850.00 FOR ANOTHER ENGINE AND 550.00 FOR LABOR (SO TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT WE WERE SOLD A CAR WITH A BUSTED HEAD GASKET AND WERE LIED TO. *AK

WHILE PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY, WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM VEHICLE, VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK *YD

LEFT HUB IS STARTING TO GO OUT..THE LOCK IS STUCK ON MY IGNITION SWITCH SO I CANN'T CRANK MY CAR..MOTOR MOUNT BROKE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF, CONSUMER HAD TO WIGGLE THE SWITCH TO MAKE THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON, AND SOMETIMES IT DID NOT WORK, LOST ALL LIGHTS, AND SMELLED WIRES BURNING. CONTACTED DEALER *AKTHE SWITCH WAS REPLACED BUT THAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, THE WIRING HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO MELTED WIRING AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT REOCCURED. NLM