Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. Highlighted: 1999. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 Cougar | 95 | 1 |
| 2001 Cougar | 82 | 1 |
| 2000 Cougar | 211 | 3 |
| 1999 CougarMost complaints | 454 | 7 |
| 1998 | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 Cougar | 76 | 0 |
| 1996 Cougar | 62 | 2 |
| 1995 Cougar | 109 | 0 |
| 1994 Cougar | 137 | 0 |
| 1993 Cougar | 195 | 3 |
| 1992 Cougar | 92 | 3 |
| 1991 Cougar | 73 | 3 |
| 1990 Cougar | 86 | 3 |
| 1989 Cougar | 81 | 4 |
| 1988 Cougar | 55 | 1 |
| 1987 Cougar | 33 | 1 |
| 1986 Cougar | 13 | 2 |
| 1985 Cougar | 10 | 1 |
| 1984 Cougar | 17 | 1 |
| 1983 Cougar | 2 | 2 |
| 1982 Cougar | 2 | 3 |
| 1981 | 0 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Engine and engine cooling392
- Electrical system296
- Service brakes, hydraulic233
- Fuel system, gasoline192
- Power train170
- Vehicle speed control157
- Visibility126
- Exterior lighting122
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 27 Cougar vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 21 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 3 | 5 |
| 2001 | 2 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 | 1 |
| 1999 | 4 | 4 |
| 1997 | 5 | 2 |
| 1996 | 3 | 2 |
| 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 | 2 | 1 |
| 1989 | 2 | 1 |
| 1988 | 1 | 1 |
| 1986 | 1 | 1 |
| 1983 | 1 | 1 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 4 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 9.5–12.3 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Cougar · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.0 | 7.6 | 9.5 |
| 1997 | Cougar · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 14.3 | 9.9 | 12.3 |
| 1996 | Cougar · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 14.2 | 9.9 | 12.3 |
| 1995 | Cougar · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 14.0 | 10.1 | 12.2 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
115 Cougar cars are on the New Zealand register; 78% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1986 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1978 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1977 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1973 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 1972 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 1971 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 1970 | 12 | 1 | 8 |
| 1969 | 33 | 5 | 27 |
| 1968 | 32 | 4 | 25 |
| 1967 | 20 | 2 | 16 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the Netherlands
83 Cougar cars are on Dutch roads; 88% arrived later as imports. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 24 | — |
| 1968 | 35 | — |
| 1967 | 24 | — |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
In Finland
41 Cougar cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 100% petrol, 0% diesel. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.
| First registered | In use | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 6 | 51,000 km |
| 1970 | 8 | 55,000 km |
| 1969 | 13 | 42,000 km |
| 1968 | 6 | 42,000 km |
| 1967 | 8 | 29,000 km |
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
27 campaigns cover the Cougar; the latest 12 are below.
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.
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 ROUGH SURFACE OF THE HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR'S STAINLESS STEEL BLADES CAN DAMAGE THE COPPER SURFACE OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR. THE DAMAGE COULD, OVER TIME, CAUSE INCREASED RESISTANCE IN THE CONNECTOR AND, DUE TO SUBSEQUENT TERMINAL RELAXATION, RESULT IN AN OPEN CIRCUIT CONDITION.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH TERMINALS COULD OVERHEAT.
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 COULD CONTACT THE POWER STEERING LINE AND THE INSULATION COULD WEAR, RESULTING IN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.
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 IN MALFUNCTION, WHEN OPERATED IN AREAS THAT USE SALT COMPOUNDS ON THE ROADWAY FOR DE-ICING OR DUST CONTROL.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FOG LIGHTS, IN WHICH THE HEADLIGHTS MAY GO OUT FOR VARIOUS INTERVALS AND WHICH MAY BE PRECEDED BY FLICKERING OR BLINKING AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING.
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 IN THE OPEN OR UNLATCHED POSITION.
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 IN THE ACCELERATOR NOT RETURNING TO IDLE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WEST VIRGINIA. MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL LINES CAUSES THE NYLON FUEL LINE JUMPER TO CHAFE AGAINST THE FLOOR PAN. THIS WEAR CAN CAUSE A PIN HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE.
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
WHEN IN THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, THE DRIVER DOOR LATCHES MAY OPEN WHEN SUBJECTED TO TRANSVERSE LOADS LESS THAN THAT SPECIFIED IN FMVSS NO. 206, "DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS."
UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE CLIMATE CONTROL BLOWER DOES NOT OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE BLOWER COULD (1) STICK ON "HIGH;" (2) OPERATE ERRATICALLY WITH BLOWER OUTPUT VARYING BETWEEN NO BLOWER AND MAXIMUM BLOWER; OR (3) NOT OPERATE AT ALL DUE TO MALFUNCTION OF THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL MODULE.
NHTSA recalls