Complaints
740
Crashes
34
Fires
3
Injuries
38
Fatalities
1
Recalls
0
Worst 1999 Mercury Cougar Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#140 complaints
Electrical Faults
Avg mileage:88,321 mi
Crash-related:1
#233 complaints
Sunroof/Moonroof
Avg mileage:59,550 mi
#331 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Avg mileage:68,613 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1999 Mercury Cougar.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Faults | 40 | 1 | — | 88,321 mi | |
| Sunroof/Moonroof | 33 | — | — | 59,550 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 31 | — | — | 68,613 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 31 | 2 | — | 62,200 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 26 | 2 | — | 85,019 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 23 | 3 | — | 92,674 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 21 | 2 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 18 | 10 | — | 64,500 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 17 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 17 | 1 | — | 19,260 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 16 | — | — | 83,481 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 16 | 1 | — | 22,260 mi | |
| Airbags | 14 | 2 | — | 89,200 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 13 | 1 | — | 92,461 mi | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables | 12 | — | 1 | 65,035 mi | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 12 | — | — | 50,189 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 12 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel Pump | 12 | — | — | 68,526 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 11 | 1 | — | 34,282 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 10 | — | — | 85,830 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch | 10 | — | — | 85,000 mi | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 10 | — | — | 141,000 mi | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Trunk Lid | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 8 | — | — | 20,000 mi | |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 8 | — | — | 61,733 mi | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 8 | — | — | 70,000 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 8 | — | — | 73,000 mi |
Electrical Faults
40
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
88,321
Sunroof/Moonroof
33
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
59,550
Automatic Transmission
31
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
68,613
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
31
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
62,200
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
26
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
85,019
Unintended Acceleration
23
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
92,674
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
21
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
18
complaints
Crashes
10
Fires
—
Avg Miles
64,500
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
17
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
17
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
19,260
Gasoline Fuel System
16
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
83,481
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
16
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
22,260
Airbags
14
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
89,200
Engine & Cooling
13
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
92,461
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
65,035
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
50,189
Electrical System:Ignition
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel Pump
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
68,526
Suspension Failures
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
34,282
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
85,830
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
85,000
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
141,000
Structure:Body:Door
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Trunk Lid
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
20,000
Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
61,733
Seat-Related Issues
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
70,000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
73,000
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1999 Mercury Cougar. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Mercury Cougar Years
1999 Mercury Cougar — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1999 Mercury Cougar reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 1999 Mercury Cougar has 740 NHTSA complaints, 34 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 40 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1999 Mercury Cougar?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (40 complaints, avg 88,321 mi); Sunroof/Moonroof (33 complaints, avg 59,550 mi); Automatic Transmission (31 complaints, avg 68,613 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 1999 Mercury Cougar?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 69,831 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1999 Mercury Cougar?
NHTSA complaints for the 1999 Mercury Cougar include 34 crash-related reports, 3 fire reports, 38 injuries, and 1 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 1999 Mercury Cougar have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1999 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 1999 Mercury Cougar?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 1999 Mercury Cougar shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.
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 1999 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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