1985 Mercury Cougar Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 1985 Mercury Cougar.

19841986
Complaints
22
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
1
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0

Worst 1985 Mercury Cougar Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#16 complaints

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch

Fires:1
#23 complaints

Unintended Acceleration

#32 complaints

Electrical System:Ignition:Module

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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1985 Mercury Cougar.

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Starter Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Starter Assembly:Solenoid
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1985 Mercury Cougar. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Other Mercury Cougar Years

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1985 Mercury Cougar — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 1985 Mercury Cougar reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1985 Mercury Cougar has 22 NHTSA complaints, 0 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical System:Ignition:Switch with 6 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1985 Mercury Cougar?
Top reported problems: Electrical System:Ignition:Switch (6 complaints); Unintended Acceleration (3 complaints); Electrical System:Ignition:Module (2 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 1985 Mercury Cougar?
NHTSA complaints for the 1985 Mercury Cougar include 0 crash-related reports, 1 fire reports, 1 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1985 Mercury Cougar have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1985 Mercury Cougar as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1985 Mercury Cougar?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Mercury Cougar reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 1985 Mercury Cougar

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