Headlights go out unexpectedly while driving at night, sometimes will blink back on and sometimes not. Very dangerous with oncoming traffic. Must pull over and wait extended periods of time to continue driving.
The worst 1992 Mercury Cougar problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Lights27
- Engine18
- Fuel system9
- Acceleration8
- Brakes8
- Electrical5
- Seat belts5
- Steering5
- Transmission4
- Body3
- Suspension3
- Visibility3
- Tires2
- Seats1
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1992 Mercury Cougar
Recalls 3
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with fog lights, in which the headlights may go out for various intervals and which may be preceded by flickering or blinking as a result of the circuit breaker opening.
- Risk
- Driver's could experience a loss of visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a headlight switch which incorporates a circuit breaker of revised design, and install a wiring harness connector, if needed.
Recall number 99V275000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the states of connecticut, district of columbia, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, kentucky, massachusetts, maryland, maine, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, wisconsin, and west virginia. Movement of the fuel lines causes the nylon fuel line jumper to chafe against the floor pan. This wear can cause a pin hole in the fuel line resulting in fuel leakage.
- Risk
- This fuel leakage results in dampness and fuel odor, and if an ignition source was present, a fire could result.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a plastic convolute covering around the fuel lines. If the lines show a leak, the lines will be replaced first.
Recall number 97V159000 · Recall details
Electrical system: ignition
- What is wrong
- The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.
- Risk
- This condition could cause overheating, smoke, and possibly fire in the steering column area of the vehicle.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the ignition switch.
Recall number 96V071000 · Recall details
See all 3 recalls for the 1992 Mercury Cougar
Defect investigations
Headlight switch
Subject vehicles have a headlight switch with an internal, bimetal circuit breaker that can open due to overheating during headling operation.
EA99005
Fuel line jumper
To determine the scope of the alleged fuel line failures outside of the recall geographic region and if the recall should be expanded nationally
RQ97011
Rear fuel line interference
The rear fuel tube bundle may abrade and fail in the vicinity of the fuel tank.
EA95030
Thrttl vlv linkage bushing
There is no summary currently available
PE93075
Technical service bulletins for the 1992 Mercury Cougar 47
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- New transmission cooler flusher - service tips
- Climate control a/c service tech tips
- Lamp-brake-invadvertent disabling of brake shift interlock
- Some engine assemblies with aluminum cylinder heads repaired in-vehile have been found to leak coolant...
- Brake shift interlock
- Some vehicles may exhibit heater core leaks
- Information regarding transmission fluid usage charts
- Subject regarding contamination from prior transmission concerns or excess wear may be trapped in the...
- Subject regarding climate control - eatc - blower motor control service tips
- Information regarding the new transmission cooler flusher- service tip
1992 Mercury Cougar fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6‑cyl | RWD | 18 | 25 | 20 |
| 5.0L 8‑cyl | RWD | 15 | 22 | 18 |
What 1992 Mercury Cougar owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Tl* the contact owns a 1992 mercury cougar. The contact stated that the driver side seat belt retractor would remain stuck and the seat belt warning light illuminated. The contact was concerned that in the event of a crash, the seat belt would fail to secure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Faulty ignition switch causing shorts and sparks. Effecting turn signals, blower motor and other elc. Ford advised me that my vehicle was involved with a 1996 recall for the switch and that it was serviced and replaced. Yea - replaced with a faulty one! Ford rep. Said the replacement switch is out of warranty. I am not happy with this at all!
Tl* the contact owns a 1992 mercury cougar. While driving at any speed, the headlights would fail intermittently, flashing on and off. The contact had not yet spoken to the dealer and was not repaired. The current and failure mileages were not available.
Tl*the contact owns a 1992 mercury cougar. While driving any speed at night, the exterior lighting will sporadically fail and significantly reduce the contact's visibility. She called the manufacturer in reference to the federal safety agency campaign id number 99v275000 (exterior lighting:headlights:switch) and stated that the VIN was excluded from the recall. The manufacturer would not assume any responsibility for the repairs. The contact is in the process of having the vehicle repaired. The failure and current mileages were 139,000.
The headlights of the consumer's 1992 mercury cougar would blink on and off. *cc eventually the lights remained off more than they remained on. The consumer did some research and found a recall which was related to the problem he was having with his vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer along with a copy of the recall. The dealer checked the vehicle's VIN and informed the consumer that his vehicle VIN was not included in the recall. Since the vehicle was not included in the recall the consumer would be responsible for the repairs. The consumer decided to replace the part himself. The defective switch was a motorcraft, e6eb-11654-aa.
Tl* - the contact states that her 1992 mercury cougar's headlights continue to go off and on. The contact states that she could be sitting, parked or driving, and lights always turn of but if she turns the switch off and on the lights turn on again. The contact states that this started happening back in june of this year. The vehicle was purchased last year. The contact said that she did find the recall on this vehicle which was issued 10/08/99 for exterior lighting: headlights: switch.
Front end suspension including ball joints causing front end collapsing.
Recall 99v275000 concerning headlights. The headlights would flicker on /off while driving at any speed at night, and/or intermittently would go off and come back on while driving at night. Consumer found this recall number on the federal safety agency website, called the dealer, who informed the consumer that this vehicle was not covered under the recall due to VIN.
While driving 20 MPH front/rear driver side tires blew out. The consumer managed to pull over and changed the tires. The dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. National, xt6000, size 21570r15, dot#dhm37777018. *ak a second tire was replaced due to severe deformities that caused the steering wheel to wobble along with other difficulties. (tire make/national xt6000x)
Compare the 1992 Mercury Cougar
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Questions about the 1992 Mercury Cougar
Is the 1992 Mercury Cougar reliable?
Owners have filed 92 complaints about the 1992 Mercury Cougar, close to a typical Cougar model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1992 Mercury Cougar?
Lights, with 27 complaints, typically around 100,000 miles. Next is engine (18).
How many recalls does the 1992 Mercury Cougar have?
3 recalls, covering exterior lighting, fuel system, gasoline and electrical system.
Was there a recall on the 1992 Mercury Cougar lights?
Yes, 1 recall: 99V275000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Mercury Cougar have the most lights problems?
The Mercury Cougar model years with the most lights complaints are 1999 (37 complaints), 1992 (27 complaints) and 1993 (24 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1992 Mercury Cougar get?
Official estimates for the 1992 Mercury Cougar range from 18 to 20 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.8L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 18 city and 25 highway.
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