1984 Mercury Cougar
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Mercury › Cougar › 1984
These records cover every 1984 Mercury Cougar. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
1 recall names the 1984 Mercury Cougar. Newest first.
The bolts that attach the d-shaped ring for the shoulder belt are inadequately supported by the material in which they are mounted. The attachment does not comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages".
Risk and remedy
Remedy
Dealers will install new attaching hardware to improve the strength of the mounting.
Owner complaints
17 complaints1 involved a crash2 involved a fire
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Vehicle speed control
While releasing the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerated uncontrollably. the consumer was not able to maintain control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree. the consumer will contact the dealer in the near future. the cause has not been determined at this time. please provide further details. *jb the consumer stated that the sudden acceleration left tire marks on the driveway. *tc
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch · Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control
Vehicle stalled at any speed. Has stalled 4 times since purchased 4 weeks ago. Independent mechanic said that tfi module and ignition switch needed to be replaced. Also these components caused electrical damage to vehicle.*ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Module
The ignition switch IS temperamental and the vehicle IS stalling. *slc
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Very recently I found that the nhtsa has been investigating problems with many ford vehicles from the 80'S, due to stalling problems. I owned a 1984 mercury cougar for 2 years and put thousands of dollars into this vehichle with no success. I kept all my receipts knowing that some day the problem…
Very recently I found that the nhtsa has been investigating problems with many ford vehicles from the 80'S, due to stalling problems. I owned a 1984 mercury cougar for 2 years and put thousands of dollars into this vehichle with no success. I kept all my receipts knowing that some day the problem would come out. I wish to be part of these complaints against ford and hopes of getting money back due to fords mistake when assembling the vehicles. the mercury cougar started stalling almost immediately, but got worse as time went on. dates involved repairs were from january of 1989 up to april of 1990. finally in august of 1990 I traded the vehicle in, after many situations of almost bad accidents due to the vehicle stalling when stopping or just driving down the road. the vehichle would just shut off and it would take numorous tries to get it started or I would have to get it towed. the stress and concern of my two young children was more than I could handle. I feel ford motor company should take responsibility in all there mistakes. no matter what it costs, too many people have lost lives due to this enormous company. *Ak
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor · Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc
When applying brakes in emergency stopping seat belts do not lock up. Also, a bumping and grinding noise occurs in the front end of the vehicle and the engine vibrates, cause unknown. please give any further details.*ak
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Seat belt buckle housing cracked. the dealer has been notified. *Ak
- Steering › Rack and pinion
On several occasions the rack and pinion failed (worn out), causing poor steering ability, resulting in repair. *yc
- Electrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery · Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline · Unknown or other
While driving the vehicle gives no prior warning and cuts completely off. When trying to start back up the battery light/ enginecheck light keep coming on. Contacted dealer . *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Vehicle continuously stalls and IS difficult to start.
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Vehicle ignition switch was melted when owner tried to start vehicle. *ak
- Steering › Linkages › Arm › Idler and attachment
While driving on highway with cruise control on, attempted to slow down but cruise control would not disengage/ had to turn ignition switch off to stop. *ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Upon parking 1 hour later found interior engulfed in flames. *ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
The vehicle caught fire due to the igniton switch. Please describe. *Ak
- Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system
Consumer smelled a very bad odor/fumes in the vehilce. *ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
The vehicle caught fire from the ignition switch. She got into the car and started the igniton and smoke came out/then it went up in flames. Please describe.*ak
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Brake fluid low warning › Lamp · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc
Front brake hose at factory crimped connector on caliper, caused equalization valve to fail/loss of backup braking system. *skd
- Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Windshield › Electrical heating element
Engine idles rxcessively fast unless the heater control switch IS on. tt
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Parking brake failure
Summary:the spring under investigation causes the latching pawl toengage the teeth of the ratchet whereby the parking brake IS retainedin the applied position.if the spring fails, the pedal follows theoperators foot back up into the released position.ford states that it issued the bulletin in order to inform…
Summary:the spring under investigation causes the latching pawl toengage the teeth of the ratchet whereby the parking brake IS retainedin the applied position.if the spring fails, the pedal follows theoperators foot back up into the released position.ford states that it issued the bulletin in order to inform dealersthat the spring was newly available as a separate part.previously,it was necessary to replace the entire parking brake control assembly inorder to obtain a new spring.since the failure of the spring will not cause the parking brake tosuddenly and unexpectedly release and since there IS adequate warningof the failure, no safety defect trend was found.===
- Seatback failure
Summary of information from manufacturer:ford believes that the al-leged defect only occurs in a small number of the subject vehicles andrecalled about 195,732 1984 tempo/topaz vehicles in june 1986.analysis: vehicles potentially involved include tempo/topaz, escort/lynx/exp, mustang/capri, ltd/marquis, and…
Summary of information from manufacturer:ford believes that the al-leged defect only occurs in a small number of the subject vehicles andrecalled about 195,732 1984 tempo/topaz vehicles in june 1986.analysis: vehicles potentially involved include tempo/topaz, escort/lynx/exp, mustang/capri, ltd/marquis, and thunderbird/cougar.ford sold about 110,000 replacement mio bolts, mainly for 1983 and 1984models. Low clamping force appears to be a large part of the problem.ford increased the torque requirements and required the use of a manualtorque tool in march and september 1985 production changes. 1987 modelswill be produced with a longer M10 bolt and a nut to increase and main-tain clamping force. Bolts were formerly self tapping. Reports listedabove specifically state that the bolt broke. None refer simply toseat back collapse alone.status:ford reply to odi ir dated 2/2/87.ford recalled 195,7321984 tempo/topaz vehicles in june 1986 (86v-082). Analyzing reponse,monitoring canadian progress. Response to 4/6/87 letter to fordreceived 7/15/87. Will probably close after canada completes theiractions.===
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 3030300Unknown
- 623988Information regarding transmission fluid usage charts. *Slc
- 601343A new silicone gasket and sealant.
- 601290Information on tire company telephone numbers for customer assistance.
- 601238Information on a new transmission fluid usage chart.
- 601012The use of petroleum-based grease as a lubricant in servicing disc brakes IS no longer acceptable.
- 51945Fluid- transmission fluid usage charts.
- 50940Windshield and interior glass - fog/film.
- 50908Torque converter - leak test procedure - service tip.
- 50905Wiring - electrical diode identification and service replacements.
- 46478The use of petroleum-based grease as a lubricant in servicing disc brakes IS no longer acceptable because it may be incompatible with the rubber material used in the disc brake system. If petroleum-based grease IS used to lubricate any part of the disc brake system, it could cause rubber parts to swell if lubricant contacts the rubber material.
- 39900Roughness concern during brake application.
Every Mercury Cougar model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.