1986 Mercury Cougar Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 1986 Mercury Cougar.

19851987
Complaints
20
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
1
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0

Worst 1986 Mercury Cougar Problems

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

#14 complaints

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

#23 complaints

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch

Fires:2
#33 complaints

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly

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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1986 Mercury Cougar.

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Hood
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1986 Mercury Cougar. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Other Mercury Cougar Years

198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002

1986 Mercury Cougar — FAQ

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

Is the 1986 Mercury Cougar reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1986 Mercury Cougar has 20 NHTSA complaints, 0 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly with 4 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1986 Mercury Cougar?
Top reported problems: Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly (4 complaints); Electrical System:Ignition:Switch (3 complaints); Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly (3 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 1986 Mercury Cougar?
NHTSA complaints for the 1986 Mercury Cougar include 0 crash-related reports, 2 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 1986 Mercury Cougar have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1986 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 1986 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 1986 Mercury Cougar

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