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1993 Mercury Cougar problems

The most common problem on the 1993 Mercury Cougar is engine and cooling, typically around 105,850 miles. It has 2.1 times the complaints of a typical Cougar model year.

Typical year2.1x the typical complaints
Owner complaints
195
Recalls
3
Service bulletins
75
Worst area
Engine
Fuel economy
18-19mpg

The worst 1993 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.

Specific symptoms reported on the 1993 Mercury Cougar

Headlights 22Overheating 16Fire or smoke 7Stalling 5

Recalls 3

Exterior lighting: headlights: switchReported October 12, 1999 · 164,731 vehicles affected
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 fittingsReported September 22, 1997 · 125,000 vehicles affected
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: ignitionReported April 25, 1996 · 7,900,000 vehicles affected
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 1993 Mercury Cougar

Defect investigations

Headlight switchOpened January 20, 1999, closed December 14, 1999

Subject vehicles have a headlight switch with an internal, bimetal circuit breaker that can open due to overheating during headling operation.

EA99005

Fuel line jumperOpened September 25, 1997, closed November 16, 1998

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

Technical service bulletins for the 1993 Mercury Cougar 75

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 75 bulletins for the 1993 Mercury Cougar

1993 Mercury Cougar fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
3.8L 6‑cylRWD172419
5.0L 8‑cylRWD152218

What 1993 Mercury Cougar owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Oct 29, 2017 · Lights · 38,500 miles · MS

Head light switch hard to apply head light flicker on and off.sometime will not come on at all.car was in motion,and stationary

Filed Oct 21, 2013 · Lights · 150,000 miles · IN

Tl* the contact owns a 1993 mercury cougar. The contact stated that while at a stop, the headlights began to flicker without warning. The contact mentioned that the failure would recur sporadically. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign id number: 99v275000 (exterior lighting). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000 and the current mileage was 160,000.

Filed Oct 26, 2011 · Lights · 164,431 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 1993 mercury cougar. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the contact noticed that the headlights began to flicker. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostics. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign id number: 99v275000 (exterior lighting:headlights:switch) but was advised by the dealer that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 164,431.

Filed Jan 13, 2009 · Seat belts · MI

Tl*the contact owns a 1993 mercury cougar. A month after purchasing the vehicle in june of 2008, the electronic seat belt shoulder strap would not retract after the driver's side door was closed. The vehicle was driven to a local repair shop and the mechanic stated that the tracking was off and the seat belt was defective. The manufacturer was not notified. The current and failure mileages were unavailable.

Filed Sep 17, 2007 · Lights · 4,000 miles · TX · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 1993 mercury cougar. While driving 75 MPH, the instrument panel lights and the headlights dimmed. The contact also noticed smoke rising from the dashboard. The dealer stated that the vehicle needed a new headlight switch and they made the repair. Approximately one year later, the failure recurred. The dealer stated that his VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign id number 99v275000 (exterior lighting:headlights:switch). The failure mileage was 4,000 and current mileage was 189,000.

Filed Mar 26, 2007 · Fuel system · 150,000 miles · NE

Tl*- the contact stated that on march 14, 2007 she began to smell fumes in the 1993 mercury cougar. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who discovered that there was recall 97v159000 concerning the fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings on this particular year, make and model, but the contacts vehicle was not included. *ak the consumer has provided an invoice for repair. Updated 05/04/07

Filed Jan 10, 2007 · Lights · 144,000 miles · IN

Lights periodically stopped working eliminating visibility.

Filed Aug 31, 2006 · Lights · IL

I was driving home going down a country road and my headlights quit working. I almost wrecked,and I almost lost control of my vehicle. I ended up driving it home with nothing but parking lights on which was a good half hour journey.

Filed Nov 8, 2005 · Fuel system · 115,000 miles · PA

Dt: the contact stated there was the federal safety agency recall 97v159000 concerning the fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings. The contact had recall repairs performed in december 1997. The vehicle started experiencing the same problems as indicated in the recall. She had the vehicle repaired by a local service dealer. Since recall repairs had already been performed the manufacturer could not offer any additional assistance. *ak updayed 11/29/2005 -

Filed Jan 19, 2005 · Lights · 90,000 miles · PA

While driving down the road, at night headlights flickered off and on. Consumer contacted the dealer and the manufacturer. Consumer was told that this defect was not an open recall. Previous replacement of the headlights were undetermined by the manufacturer. *ak the consumer was told that his vehicle being old is to blame for failure. The consumer had the headlight switch replaced.

Used buying checklistWhat to check on a 1993 Mercury Cougar before you buy

Compare the 1993 Mercury Cougar

Other model years

1990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002

Questions about the 1993 Mercury Cougar

Is the 1993 Mercury Cougar reliable?

Owners have filed 195 complaints about the 1993 Mercury Cougar, 2.1 times a typical Cougar model year.

What is the most common problem with the 1993 Mercury Cougar?

Engine and cooling, with 105 complaints, typically around 105,850 miles. Next is lights (24).

How many recalls does the 1993 Mercury Cougar have?

3 recalls, covering exterior lighting, fuel system, gasoline and electrical system.

What year does the Mercury Cougar have bad engine?

The Mercury Cougar model years with the most engine complaints are 1993 (105 complaints), 1999 (70 complaints) and 1994 (32 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 1993 Mercury Cougar get?

Official estimates for the 1993 Mercury Cougar range from 18 to 19 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.8L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 17 city and 24 highway.

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