1988 Mercury Cougar
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Mercury › Cougar › 1988
These records cover every 1988 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 1988 Mercury Cougar. Newest first.
The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.
Risk and remedy
Risk
This condition could cause overheating, smoke, and possibly fire in the steering column area of the vehicle.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the ignition switch.
Owner complaints
55 complaints7 involved a crash6 involved a fire8 injuries3 deaths
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Vehicle speed control
On feb 12, 1994 my wife and her friend took my red 1988 mercury cougar LS to church at 6:30 pm. it was an extremely foggy evening. I received a call at the house at 6:50 pm that my wife had been in a car accident and that I needed to come to the site. my car was in mint condition inside and out…
On feb 12, 1994 my wife and her friend took my red 1988 mercury cougar LS to church at 6:30 pm. it was an extremely foggy evening. I received a call at the house at 6:50 pm that my wife had been in a car accident and that I needed to come to the site. my car was in mint condition inside and out before the accident. when I saw the car, it was unbelievable!! my wife, witnesses, law enforcement and goodyear tire concluded that it was the mercury cougar?s computer that caused the engine to go full-throttle. diane, my wife and passenger testified that when the engine surged, she put both feet on the brake pedal to stop the car. after no avail, she applied the emergency brake. this caused the vehicle to spin into a heavily traveled intersection. as the vehicle spun, my wife tried to put the vehicle into ?park?. unfortunately, the vehicle changed into ?reverse?, sending them through a gas station, at full-throttle, backwards. at this time, the passenger panicked. she unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the door while traveling in reverse. the door momentarily pined her to the ground, resulting in major fractures of the hip and other minor injuries. the car finally came to rest in the woods adjacent to the gas station with major frame damage, a severed fuel line and all four wheels were destroyed. my wife was shaken, but no injuries. witnesses stated they came within inches of hitting the gas pumps. at the time, my father-in-law, a retired gm mechanic blamed the event on my wife. until I became computer smart and have read so many articles this week on ford vehicles surging, I thought I had better report this incident to help others who apparently have been through the same experience. *jb
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
The right seltbelt buckle on the drivers side fails often. ford no longer supplies these buckles, and they are very scarce in wrecking yards.*ak
- Unknown or other
Consumer complained about a tire that failed from another vehicle. front left tire tread separated from a chevrolet blazer 1984, and caused the vehicle to lose control. vehicle hit two other vehicles, one being the consumer's vehicle, and caused severe damage. during the crash consumer's wrist was broken and the vehicle was totaled. *Ak *jb
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
The ignition switch does not ignite if the gear shift IS not completely up. it appears there IS not enough communication between the electrical ignition switch and the gear shift.*ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Recall 96 v 071 000/ignition switch: recall repairs was done at bayway lincoln, mercury; houston, tx; phone# 281/ 929-6500. At the present time problem has reoccurred. Feel free to provide any further information.*ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Vehicle stalls when starting from a complete stop or a rolling stop, recall 96v071 was completed on vehicle, but the problem still exists possibly due to an engine failure. *slc
- Electrical system › Ignition · Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
While driving about any speed vehicle will shut down, but all electrical parts will still be working, like headlights/ radio/ power window, and air conditioner. but not cold and motor will still be working; ignition module had been replaced four times, and now has to be replaced again.*ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash
Both ford motor corp. And galpin lincoln-mercury refused to cover for repairs. Owner had to do so at his own expense. *ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch · Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
Ign. Sw. Recall work done previously 2 times by galpin lincoln-mercury. Seat belt failure reported both to galpin lincoln-mercury and ford motor corp. Because of no documented recall, they refused to repair it. I have been driving ever since without shoulder belt protection.
- Tires › Tread/belt
The upper layer of the firestone tire on the front left was completely separated from the rest of the tire. this was at a speed of about 60 mph. The tire was in good condition with no damage. it was a very scarey and dangerous situation with the whole family (wife and 2 kids) in the car on the…
The upper layer of the firestone tire on the front left was completely separated from the rest of the tire. this was at a speed of about 60 mph. The tire was in good condition with no damage. it was a very scarey and dangerous situation with the whole family (wife and 2 kids) in the car on the highway, in the middle of desert and at night. called aaa for help and we were lucky the cat did not overturn. I have heard very similar cases with firestone. I believe thre firestone tires are dangerous and should be recalled. *Ak( dot number: tire size: 215sr17 )
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
No summary listed for above vehicle. *Ak
- Visibility › Power window devices and controls
While driving passenger's side window fell out the car. Dealer was contacted and stated the window can be fixed at consumer's expense. *ak
- Visibility › Windshield
While driving passenger's side window fell out the car.dealer was contacted and stated the window can be fixed at consumer's expense. *ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Vehicle caught fire prior to ignition switch recall notice repair. nlm
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Steel brake line on rear axel failed first. steel brake line on to rignt front failed this time. left front steel brake line showed signs of failure and was replaced too. lines are rusting through where attached to frame or axle. bought car in indiana, but later found out it came from wisconsin. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
When engine IS hotter than normal or in warm weather the vehicle will stall without warning. Cause unknown. please give any further details. *ak
- Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
While depressing gas pedal vehicle went into a full unwanted acceleration. Vehicle taken to dealer, cruise control disconnected. possibly faulty wiring in cruise control. *ak *ML
- Steering › Linkages › Tie rod assembly
While my wife was driving my cougar she made a 5-10 mph left hand turn the driver side tie rod snapped and my wife lost all steering. She side swiped one car and hit head on with another vehicle . I had only had the car for about 9 months when this happened . Now my wife IS getting sued for 15000…
While my wife was driving my cougar she made a 5-10 mph left hand turn the driver side tie rod snapped and my wife lost all steering. She side swiped one car and hit head on with another vehicle . I had only had the car for about 9 months when this happened . Now my wife IS getting sued for 15000 dollars by one of the other drivers . I just would like to know IS there any way you can fix my still broken car or am I at fault for the accident? Thank you for a reply greatfully raymond rose
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Ignition switch shorted out, prior to recall notice.
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Ignition switch failed resulting in vehicle fire prior to recall notice.(attorney for consumer).
- Vehicle speed control
Sudden acceleration causing vehicle accident resulting in death.
- Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
Front bucket seatback latches failed to hold the seatbacks in place.
- Exterior lighting › Headlights
Seals around the headlights had desintegrated.
- Exterior lighting › Headlights
Head lights get cloudy continuously from moisture entering units, causing poor visibility.
- Vehicle speed control
When stopping or shifting into park vehicle suddenly races/accelerates. *ak
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Faulty seat belt buckles
There is no summary currently available
- Faulty seatbelt buckles
There is no summary currently available
- Throttle sticking
There is no summary currently available
- Throttle sticking
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- Floormat/accel pedal intrf
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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
- 616522Subject regarding contamination from prior transmission concerns or excess wear may be trapped in the transmission fluid cooling system.
- 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.
- 601312Information on a buzzing or rattle noise from the exhaust system.
- 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.
- 39222New torque-to-yield cylinder head bolt kit.
Every Mercury Cougar model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.