MYRModel Year Report

1999 Mercury Cougar

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
1999 Mercury Cougar
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
454
Recalls
9

Campaigns on file for 1999

Investigations
1

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Electrical system

23% of complaints

Complaints per year

1980: 2 complaints 1980 1981: 0 complaints 1982: 2 complaints 1983: 2 complaints 1983 1984: 17 complaints 1985: 10 complaints 1986: 13 complaints 1986 1987: 33 complaints 1988: 55 complaints 1989: 84 complaints 1989 1990: 86 complaints 1991: 73 complaints 1992: 92 complaints 1992 1993: 198 complaints 1994: 145 complaints 1995: 109 complaints 1995 1996: 62 complaints 1997: 76 complaints 1998: 1 complaint 1999: 454 complaints 1999 454 2000: 211 complaints 2001: 82 complaints 2002: 95 complaints
1980: 2 complaints 1980 1981: 0 complaints 1982: 2 complaints 1982 1983: 2 complaints 1984: 17 complaints 1984 1985: 10 complaints 1986: 13 complaints 1986 1987: 33 complaints 1988: 55 complaints 1988 1989: 84 complaints 1990: 86 complaints 1990 1991: 73 complaints 1992: 92 complaints 1992 1993: 198 complaints 1994: 145 complaints 1994 1995: 109 complaints 1996: 62 complaints 1996 1997: 76 complaints 1998: 1 complaint 1999: 454 complaints 1999 454 2000: 211 complaints 2001: 82 complaints 2002: 95 complaints 2002
1980: 2 complaints 1980 1981: 0 complaints 1981 1982: 2 complaints 1982 1983: 2 complaints 1983 1984: 17 complaints 1984 1985: 10 complaints 1985 1986: 13 complaints 1986 1987: 33 complaints 1987 1988: 55 complaints 1988 1989: 84 complaints 1989 1990: 86 complaints 1990 1991: 73 complaints 1991 1992: 92 complaints 1992 1993: 198 complaints 1993 1994: 145 complaints 1994 1995: 109 complaints 1995 1996: 62 complaints 1996 1997: 76 complaints 1997 1998: 1 complaint 1998 1999: 454 complaints 1999 454 2000: 211 complaints 2000 2001: 82 complaints 2001 2002: 95 complaints 2002

1999: 454 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19802
19810
19822
19832
198417
198510
198613
198733
198855
198984
199086
199173
199292
1993198
1994145
1995109
199662
199776
19981
1999454
2000211
200182
200295

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Electrical system

23% · 106 reports

Most commonly citing ignition and alternator/generator/regulator.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH

Service brakes

19% · 85 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHINJURY

Engine and engine cooling

16% · 71 reports

Most commonly citing engine and gasoline.

CRASHINJURY

Visibility

12% · 56 reports

Most commonly citing sun/moon roof assembly and windshield wiper/washer.

Power train

11% · 52 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and manual transmission.

CRASHINJURY

Safety timeline

9 recalls · 1 investigation · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. ▮
    1999Complaint volume 454 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. R
    1999-08-17Vehicle speed control99V194000 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The accelerator cable may have been manufactured with a burr on or near the end of the cable sleeve interior. This burr could fray the core wire resulting…

    Remedy: Dealers will install a revised accelerator cable that has a flared conduit sleeve end and molded on end fitting.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    1999-09-29Latches/locks/linkages99V226000 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The door latch may have been manufactured with a latch pawl that has a coating which will swell in high humidity conditions. The latch pawl may then stick…

    Remedy: Dealers will install a revised side door latch.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2000-10-11Service brakes, hydraulic00V075000 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles not equipped with the anti-lock braking system (ABS). A pressure conscious reducing valve (Pcrv) in the rear brakes may be subject to corrosion and result…

    Remedy: Dealers will install improved pcrv's in the rear brake system. This recall was expanded in September 2000 to include 1999 and 2000 Ford contour, Mercury Mystique and Cougar vehicles.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. I
    2001-01-05Engineering analysisClosed 2001-07-31 Blower switch/resistor or wiring harness
  6. R
    2001-03-22Exterior lighting01V032000 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The brake lamp switch terminals could overheat.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a new stop lamp extension harness with bronze terminals at the brake lamp switch connector, and also inspect the brake lamp switch for signs of overheating and replace, as…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2001-03-22Electrical system01V031000 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with 2.5L V6 engines. The battery cable was misrouted and its attachment to the alternator cable was under-torqued. If misrouted, the cable…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the battery cable to the alternator for damage and, if it is damaged, will replace the cable. Additionally, the routing of the cable will be corrected, as necessary, and a…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2001-08-29Electrical system01V230000 On certain my 1996-1998 passenger vehicles built at the Kansas city, cuautitlan assembly plants or on my 1999 passenger vehcles built at the automotive alliance international assembly plants, the…

    Remedy: Dealers will install a new heater blower resistor and a new wire jumper harness. Owner notification began August 29, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2004-04-16Fuel system, gasoline04V421000 On certain passenger vehicles, contamination of the filter in the fuel delivery module (Fdm) can reduce, and eventually block, the flow of fuel to the engine.

    Remedy: This action is deemed a safety improvement campaign and is not being conducted under the safety act. All owners will be notified of the problem, and dealers will replace the fdm with a new design…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. R
    2006-03-20Service brakes, hydraulic06E022000 Certain aftermarket brake hydraulic master cylinders sold as replacement brake cylinders for certain Ford, daimlerchrysler, and Jeep passenger vehicles. These brake cylinders were sold under the…

    Remedy: Affinia (Brake parts, inc.) will replace the subject brake hydraulic master cylinders free of charge. The recall began on March 20, 2006. Owners can contact affina group customer service at…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. R
    2008-05-22Suspension08E033000 Federal mogul is recalling 6,903 aftermarket ball joint assemblies shipped between November 9, 2007 and March 26, 2008, which may have been packaged with incorrect nuts. The part numbers packaged…

    Remedy: Federal mogul will notify owners and replace the parts free of charge. The recall began on May 22, 2008. Owners can contact federal mogul at 877-489-6659.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

1999 Mercury Cougar — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Electrical system: 106 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 85 reports on file for this year.
  • Engine and engine cooling: 71 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 99V194000 · Vehicle speed control
  • Recall 99V226000 · Latches/locks/linkages
  • Recall 00V075000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 01V032000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 01V031000 · Electrical system
  • Recall 01V230000 · Electrical system
  • Recall 04V421000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 06E022000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 08E033000 · Suspension
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years2 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 1999 Mercury Cougar reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1999 Mercury Cougar is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Mercury Cougar?
The most-reported component is electrical system, accounting for 23% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1999 Mercury Cougar have?
9 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.