NHTSA — Engine Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
122,981 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2002 Mercury Cougar engine problems

engine problem

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2002 Mercury Cougar Owner Comments

problem #9

Jun 012010

Cougar

  • 92,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Since purchasing 2002 Mercury Cougar in January 2010 the vehicle hesitates, surges, and stalls at any rate of speed. Initially the problem was rare, then gradually occurred more frequently. This now happens at least weekly, sometimes several times per day. This issue has endangered me more times than I can currently recall. Replaced alternator, battery, egr valve and sensor, iac valve, and catalytic converter. The issue persists.

- Clarksville, TN, USA

problem #8

Jan 162015

Cougar

  • 110,000 miles
Driving on freeway, car next to me came into my lane towards my car, I hit my brakes resulting in my vehicle swerving and hitting the median head on at high speed, air bags did not deploy upon impact.

- Vancouver, WA, USA

problem #7

Nov 242014

Cougar

  • 179,225 miles
I'm having the same issue with my 2002 Mercury Cougar as everyone else, but when I put my VIN number into the search, there are no recalls listed for it. I don't think that its right that my life be put in serious danger because of an apparent design issue. This car is losing all power and shutting down. It doesn't matter how fast you are going, it happens at all speeds. We thought the alternator was bad, had it replaced and the battery at the same time. The same day, the car lost all power again and died out going 60 mph on the highway. All the gauges start going crazy and the lights dim and eventually everything including the car just quits. Mercury/Ford, needs to be responsible for this coffin that I'm trying to drive and fix the problem for me and everyone else for free. I've done some online research on this, and it seems like there are a ton of people with the same problem from years 99 to 02.

- Leavenworth, KS, USA

problem #6

Jan 012014

Cougar

  • 130,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2002 Mercury Cougar. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 65 mph, the vehicle made a knocking noise and stalled. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The mechanic was unable to diagnose the problem. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

- Olathe, KS, USA

problem #5

Feb 272014

Cougar 6-cyl

  • 73,000 miles
I was on my way to work and about one mile from my destination the engine just stopped. I let it sit about twenty minutes and it finally started again. This happened several days of shutting off while I was on the road driving. Luckily I was at a place when I could pull over on the side of the road and get out of the line of traffic except for one time when I was at a stop light and it shut off and I sat and wait and it finally started again and I was able drive it to a safe spot. I took it to a mechanic and he told me the computer needs to be replaced. The only place that could replace the computer was the dealer. I took it to the dealer and after being at the dealer for three days they said that the ignition need replacing. They replaced the ignition and after three more days there and while they were working on other repair parts that they said I needed done the engine shut off about two more times. On March 13, 2014 they told me that all repair work had been completed and the engine shutting off was solved. The total bill came to close to $3,000. I am planning on picking up the vehicle on Monday, March 17, 2014 when I will have the money to pay them. I heard about cars engines shutting off while driving on the radio (wtop). I just wanted to report how my vehicle was having the same or similar problem. I am a bit nervous about driving this vehicle if this could possible happen again. The radio report was about GM vehicles I have a Mercury and this happened to my car.

- Germantown, MD, USA

problem #4

Oct 162013

Cougar 6-cyl

  • 126,000 miles
My daughter has a 2002 Mercury Cougar and is risking her life as well as others lives every time she gets inside that car. Her Cougar her been having issues for months now, and even though we have spent hundreds of dollars trying to make the car safer for her, nothing is working. Our last straw was three days ago, when the car stalled on her on the highway. She was traveling about 45 miles per hour, when the car stalled and shut off leaving her stranded waiting for the tow truck. Her car, for months, has been surging while at complete stops, and has been shutting off while at a stand still. We've tried fixing many things, but nothing seems to be fixing the issue. After doing extensive research, I have come to realize that many others are having the same issues. Can someone do something about this please"? its clearly an on-going issue and is costing people lots of money. Her car is currently back at the dealership where we purchased the car, and is undergoing diagnostics. We were already told that her car was not included in the recall, and we will have to pay for even more work, out of pocket. Please help.. why was it not included in the recall, seeing that it is having the same problems"!

- Akron, OH, USA

problem #3

Dec 032013

Cougar

  • 126,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The car gets a stalling sensation when at a red light, or a complete standstill. It feels like its stuttering and unable to keep power. Changed egr valve, 2 idle control changes, along with a transmission flush was done. Nothing seems to be fixing the issue. The car acts up and stalls in cold temperatures. Stalled at a red light twice. Has been taken to different car shops on numerous occasions. No engine light comes on.

- Akron, OH, USA

problem #2

Aug 202013

Cougar

  • 90,600 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Mercury Cougar. The contact stated that while driving 70 mph, the vehicle stalled as the battery, engine, and oil warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,600.

- Plano , TX, USA

problem #1

Jul 222012

Cougar 6-cyl

  • 180,000 miles
I was driving my 2002 Cougar and the vehicle began to lose power, the check engine light and the fuel light came on. The vehicle came to a complete stop in the middle of the road. I have also experienced the vehicle surging while at a complete stop. I contacted the service manager at my local dealer and the only resolution he could provide me was to have a technician drive it and see if it would happen again. Even though I explained there have been numerous complaints about the issue by other drivers on line, he said there was nothing he could do. My VIN number is not included in the recall "batch" of vehicles. I could pay the $100 diag fee in the event my vehicle does not repeat the complaint. Either way, I would be paying for the repairs out of pocket.

- Fairburn, GA, USA

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