1986 Mercury Cougar
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Mercury › Cougar › 1986
These records cover every 1986 Mercury Cougar. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
2 recalls name the 1986 Mercury Cougar. Newest first.
Spring lock fuel line coupling may not be properly engaged.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
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…
Owner complaints
13 complaints1 involved a fire1 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Engine and engine cooling · Vehicle speed control
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 · Vehicle speed control
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…
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
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…
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
- Visibility › Windshield
Vehicle does not contain safety glass on side windows, vehicle collision resulting in cuts to face due to glass.
- Seats
Driver side seat track and anchors make clicking noise when in incline postion and falls back. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Seat belt buckle release button broke. *Sd
- Electrical system › Ignition
When driving car stalls. Please describe . *ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Ignition switch has burning smell coming from under dash; kills battery. *ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
The vehicle caught on fire from the ignition area while driving. Please describe. *ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash
The light for speedometer IS out, cannot read speed day or night, creates potential for accident. tt
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Driver's shoulder/lap belt buckles inoperative, male won't stay latched into female portion. tt
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Drum
Front brakes failed twice, back brakes fell off. tt
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Driver's side seatbelt does not clasp. tt
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- 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.
- 6090087Information on identifying non-approved / alternate refrigerants which could cause safety, and performance concerns if installed in ford a/c systems.
- 6089681Subject on a wire harness terminal repair kit available for repairing electrical wiring harnesses.
- 3030300Unknown
- 623988Information regarding transmission fluid usage charts. *Slc
- 623944Some vehicles may exhibit heater core leaks. *Slc
- 612203Information regarding the new transmission cooler flusher- service tip. *Mjs
- 608431Information on the new flush and fill tool available through rotunda.
- 601343A new silicone gasket and sealant.
- 601290Information on tire company telephone numbers for customer assistance.
- 601269Announcing the ford oem air conditioning retrofit kit availability.
- 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.
- 50997Transaxle - torque converter replacement guidelines and torque converter/transaxle cooling system cleaning procedures - service tip.
- 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
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