Complaints
104
Crashes
18
Fires
11
Injuries
16
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1989 Mercury Cougar Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#115 complaints
Unintended Acceleration
Crash-related:6
#28 complaints
Seat Belt Issues
#36 complaints
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
Avg mileage:93,655 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1989 Mercury Cougar.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unintended Acceleration | 15 | 6 | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 6 | — | — | 93,655 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 | — | — | 93,655 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 5 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 4 | — | 3 | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 3 | — | 3 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 | — | 2 | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages | 3 | 3 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Horn | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Webbing | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 1 | — | — | — |
Unintended Acceleration
15
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
93,655
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
93,655
Automatic Transmission
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages
3
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Horn
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Webbing
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1989 Mercury Cougar. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Mercury Cougar Years
1989 Mercury Cougar — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1989 Mercury Cougar reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 1989 Mercury Cougar has 104 NHTSA complaints, 18 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Unintended Acceleration with 15 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1989 Mercury Cougar?
Top reported problems: Unintended Acceleration (15 complaints); Seat Belt Issues (8 complaints); Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner (6 complaints, avg 93,655 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1989 Mercury Cougar?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 93,655 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1989 Mercury Cougar?
NHTSA complaints for the 1989 Mercury Cougar include 18 crash-related reports, 11 fire reports, 16 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 1989 Mercury Cougar have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1989 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 1989 Mercury Cougar?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
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 1989 Mercury Cougar
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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