Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2000 Mercury Cougar, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system63
- Fuel system, gasoline38
- Engine and engine cooling26
- Air bags17
- Visibility16
- Vehicle speed control16
- Unknown or other12
- Service brakes, hydraulic10
- Power train9
- Exterior lighting8
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 17 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2000 Mercury Cougar failed the safety check 5.63% of the time — 203% more often than the average 2000 passenger car (1.86%). Median odometer at inspection: 96,996 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 2000 Mercury Cougar.
| 2001042 21 Feb 2001 | Electrical On certain vehicles, a misrouted battery cable to the alternator could contact the metal tubing that is part of the power steering line. This could eventually w… |
| 2000077 21 Mar 2000 | Brakes On certain vehicles, the pressure conscious reducing valve (PCRV) in each of the rear brakes may be subject to malfunction due to corrosion when operated in are… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mercury told its dealers about the 2000 Mercury Cougar: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637575 | BATTERY LAMP ON, HOWEVER THE CHARGING SYSTEM IS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. *TT |
| 637571 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE B1213, B1342, B1601, B2431. *TT |
| 636219 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT MULTIPLE MISFIRE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES WITH NO DRIVEABILITY CONCERNS NOTED. *TT |
| 636067 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT COMPLAINTS OF FALSE ALARM ACTIVATION OFTHE PERIMETER ANTI-THEFT ALARM OR BEING INOPERATIVE. *TT |
| 636065 | INFORMATION REGARDING DISCHARGED BATTERY CHARGING SERVICE TIPS AND GUIDELINES. *TT |
| 630685 | CONCERN WITH HEADLAMPS AND/OR INSTRUMENT PANEL LAMPS DIMMING SLIGHTLY AT IDLE. *TT |
| 630631 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE CD4E TRANSAXLE MAY EXHIBIT HARSH AND DELAYED 1-2/2-3 UPSHIFTS AFTER TRANSAXLE OR TURBINE SHAFT SPEED SENSOR REPLACEMENT, POSSIBLE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES 628, 642, 645, 646, 647, 648, P0731, P0732, P0734, P0741 AND P01744. *TT |
| 630515 | ENGINE OIL SYSTEM PRIMING PROCEDURES, SERVICE TIPS FOR REPORTS OF PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. *TT |
| 630408 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND/OR EGR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES 332, P0401, P1407 (LACKOF EGR FLOW). *TT |
| 630327 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION WHERE THE DEFROSTER GRILLE EDGES LIFT OUT OF THE DASH PAD. *TT |
| 630070 | SUBJECT ON BRAKE FLUID LEAK. *YH |
| 630024 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NOISE THAT APPEARS TO COME FROM THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. *TT |
| 630001 | SOME ENGINE ASSEMBLIES WITH ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS REPAIRED IN-VEHILE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO LEAK COOLANT AND/OR OIL FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET AREA. *TT |
| 627927 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT VACUUM OR AIR LEAKS IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND / OR ENGINE SYSTEM CAUSING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0171 AND OR P0174. *TT |
| 625805 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT THE DEFROSTER VENT EDGES LIFTING OUT OF THE DASH PAD. *TT |
| 625783 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NOISE THAT APPEARS TO COME FROM THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. *TT |
| 625715 | BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB |
| 624978 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONCERN OF BACKLITE/HATCHBACK MOLDINGS BECOMING LOOSE. *JG |
| 624606 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A STEERING DRIFT/PULL TO THE RIGHT. *SLC |
| 624583 | INFORMATION REGARDING COUGAR HEADLAMP PARTING LINE, WHICH RESULTS FROM THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS AND CAN BE SEEN DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE TURN SIGNAL FUNCTION FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM. *YD |
| 624084 | SOME VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO 22-SEP-2000, MAY EXHIBIT THE BRAKE LAMPS STAYING ON. *SLC |
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 622837 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L ENGINES MAY EXHIBIT MULTIPLE MISFIRE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES WITH NO DRIVEABILITY CONCERN NOTED. *TT |
| 622767 | SOME VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 02-01-2001 MAY EXHIBIT THE FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR INTERMITTENTLY DROPPING TO EMPTY WITHFUEL IN THE TANK. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)