10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 42,222 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
The contact owns a 2002 Mercury Cougar. The contact stated that while she driving at 30 mph, the vehicle hesitated and jerked. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the fuel pump. However, the failure was not corrected. The manufacturer advised that the vehicle was not included in recall NHTSA campaign number 04V421000 (fuel system, gasoline). The approximate failure mileage was 29,000.
- Clarksville, TN, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Mercury Cougar. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact had the vehicle towed to a repair shop for inspection where they stated that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified and they stated that the vehicle was not included in any recall. The failure mileage was unknown. Updated 10/11/12 updated 10/16/2012
- Windsor , MO, USA
Purchased this used vehicle -- 3 days later, car would not start -- motor turned over, if was not getting gas. Brought gas to the car, it had only 1/4 of a tank, put more gas in, it eventually started. Took it for a diagnostic test -- fuel pump not functioning correctly. Recall 04N02 was issued for this model/yr car, not this vehicle VIN number, therefore Ford will not stand behind this car problem and pay to have it fixed.
- Fort Smith, AR, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Mercury Cougar. The contact was unable to start the vehicle after it was parked overnight. The dealer stated that the fuel pump caused the failure. As of December 28, 2007, the dealer had not replaced the fuel pump. The dealer stated that his VIN was excluded from NHTSA campaign id number 04V421000 (fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump). The current and failure mileages were 45,000.
- Odessa, MO, USA
Loss of power, surging, so I took to dealer they changed fuel pump supposedly and filter and transmission fluid. One week later I took it back because it continued to do the same, they said they checked a wire to fuel pump and changed a spark plug, and here it is another week with the same symptoms.
- Blue Springs, MO, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Mercury Cougar. While driving at any rate of speed, the vehicle will hesitate, surge, and lose power. The dealer stated that the vehicle is not a part of recall # 04V421000 (fuel system, gasoline). The VIN and # of cylinders were unknown. The current mileage is 69,470 and failure mileage was 60,000.
- League, TX, USA
I own a 2002 Mercury Cougar VIN[xxx]. in 2/06 my car began to intermittently hesitate when accelerating. Over a few week's time, the problem worsened to the point that the car would hesitate, then surge ahead, and couldn't be controlled. On 3/7/06, I was driving on I-95 in S. fla., and my car hesitated and surged in rush hour traffic. The surging caused a near miss with the car ahead of me. The car sputtered and I pulled off to the side of the interstate. On the shoulder, the car backfired, then shut off. I turned off the ignition, waited 15 minutes, then restarted the car. The engine ran, so I continued on my way. Within 15 minutes, the hesitation and surging started again. At this point, I drove straight home. Along the way, the car shut off 3 more times. Once home, I contacted my dealer, maroone Lincoln Mercury in N. palm beach, fla. The service advisor told me that my car was not covered under any recall, and I would have to pay for repairs. I then contacted Ford Motor Company who made note of my complaint and told me of a safety bulletin for the 2002 Mercury Cougar fuel delivery module. However, I was told my car would not be repaired under the safety campaign bulletin. I contacted a local repair shop, wynn performance in belle glade, fla. For their diagnosis. Wynn performance verified that my car was hesitating and surging and that a safety bulletin existed for my car's model year. Wynn performance obtained a genuine Ford Motor Company fuel delivery module and replaced the defective unit. The technician pointed out that the old module and the new unit had significant differences in design. I tested the car and was satisfied that it worked correctly. To this day, my car does not surge or hesitate. Replacing the fuel delivery module corrected the problem, but I incurred more than $400 in out-of-pocket expenses for the safety upgrade. I am upset that Ford Motor Company and maroone Lincoln Mercury disregarded my safety and ignored their bulletin.
- West Palm Beach, FL, USA
The contact stated fuel pump failed and he had it replaced once. There was NHTSA 04V421000. However this vehicle was not included in the recall. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer informed him the recall did not include this vehicle due to VIN.
- Columbia, MO, USA
The contact stated there was recall 04V4210000 concerning fuel pump failure for the year, make, and model of vehicle, but, this vehicle was not included in the recall due to VIN. The car was leaking as though it was running out of gasoline. The service dealer stated the fuel pump and fuel filter needed to be replaced. The service dealer replaced the fuel pump and fuel filter. This did remedy the problem. The service dealer and manufacturer concluded that this specific vehicle was not included in the recall.
- Shreveport, LA, USA
The consumer owns a 2002 Mercury Cougar. The consumer stated that the vehicle hesitated intermittently followed by a loss of power. While the consumer's daughter was driving the vehicle it stalled in the middle of traffic. None of the warning indicators informed the consumer's daughter that the engine was going to stall. The vehicle would not restart, it was towed home. The vehicle was later towed to a local repair shop, and the mechanic determined that the fuel pump needed to be replaced, and there was no gasoline flowing to the engine. Recall 04V421000 had been issued for this year, make, and model, but the consumer's vehicle was not included due to VIN. The consumer would have to pay to have the vehicle repaired.
- Cedar Park, TX, USA
I have a 2002 Cougar with 60K miles and I've already replaced the fuel pump, power steering pump, and now the heater core is clogged. Although Lincoln/Mercury is the only one to work on the car, the warranty wont cover a clog. They will cover a leak...but not a clogg. How asinine is that? fidelity warranty service is a joke!
- Quincy, FL, USA
While driving 75 mph vehicle stalled. Consumer tried to restart vehicle, but was unable to restart it. Vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that fuel pump needed to be replaced. Consumer had fuell pump replaced four times.
- Fawn Grove, PA, USA
As listed I have a 2002 Mercury Cougar and I have experienced all of the problems (fuel pump, steering column, airbags.......) I have had the car towed three times and have been to the dealer on 20 occasions.
- Staten Island, NY, USA
Fuel pump was replaced twice because fuel gauge was not reading correctly. After the second replacement, while driving 70 mph, vehicle shut down and wouldn't restart. Vehicle was towed to the dealer, who stated that fuel pump needed to be replaced again.
- Fawn Grove, PA, USA
Fuel pump had failed, causing te vehicle to shut off. Dealer notified.
- Big Spring, TX, USA
- Lancaster, CA, USA