1986 MERCURY COUGAR — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
20
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
0
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1986 MERCURY COUGAR
The 1986 MERCURY COUGAR has received a total of 20 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS. The most commonly reported problems involve the Fuel System Gasolinestoragetank Assembly (4 complaints), Electrical Systemignitionswitch (3 complaints), and Seat Beltsfrontbuckle Assembly (3 complaints).
Recalls for the 1986 MERCURY COUGAR
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 1986 MERCURY COUGAR, potentially affecting up to 3,600,163 vehicles.
Recall 87V139000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
| 3,600,000 vehicles affected
Defect: SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Consequence: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
View full details →Recall 86V065000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
| 163 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1986 MERCURY COUGAR
20 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1986 MERCURY COUGAR. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System Gasolinestoragetank Assembly | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemignitionswitch | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Beltsfrontbuckle Assembly | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemignition | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemwiringinteriorunder Dash | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdisc | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdrum | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebodyhood | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitywindshield | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
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
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
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
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
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
View all Fuel System Gasolinestoragetank Assembly complaints →
Safety Rating for the 1986 MERCURY COUGAR
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1986 MERCURY COUGAR in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1986 MERCURY COUGAR
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1986 MERCURY COUGAR
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the MERCURY COUGAR
- 1981 MERCURY COUGAR — 0 complaints
- 1982 MERCURY COUGAR — 2 complaints
- 1983 MERCURY COUGAR — 2 complaints
- 1984 MERCURY COUGAR — 25 complaints
- 1985 MERCURY COUGAR — 22 complaints
- 1986 MERCURY COUGAR (current)
- 1987 MERCURY COUGAR — 49 complaints
- 1988 MERCURY COUGAR — 72 complaints
- 1989 MERCURY COUGAR — 104 complaints
- 1990 MERCURY COUGAR — 104 complaints
- 1991 MERCURY COUGAR — 98 complaints
Other MERCURY Models
- MERCURY SABLE — 7,190 total complaints
- MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS — 4,949 total complaints
- MERCURY MILAN — 3,211 total complaints
- MERCURY MOUNTAINEER — 2,646 total complaints
- MERCURY VILLAGER — 2,205 total complaints
- MERCURY MARINER — 1,716 total complaints
- MERCURY MYSTIQUE — 1,510 total complaints
- MERCURY TRACER — 754 total complaints