1994 Mercury Cougar: shudder or vibration when accelerating

Filed May 15, 2002 · Acceleration, Brakes · PA

Vehicle began spontaneous acceleration while idle and stopped on 10 occasions since 5/1/2002. It took all of my strength to depress the brake to keep the car from jolting forward at a high speed. While pulling into my garage today, travelling at less that 1 MPH, the car accelearated on its own and I had to slam on the brake to prevent from crashing into a heating oil tank. Vehicle has begun to randomly shudder when applying brakes at various speeds from 10 to 65 MPH. This is not a consistent problem but very dangerous when it occurred on highway yesterday. Power window on driver side now randomly shudders when lowering. This is not a consistent problem and is new. The passenger power window is inoperable and too expensive for me to have fixed. This appears to be a very common problem with other owners of this vehicle. The "check engine" light has been on since 1997 and this is also a common problem with this car, from what I understand. I was told that it would cost me $150 to fix and that it is merely a sensor defect and not a afety issue. However, if this is a common problem, ford should over the cost for repair, not the consumer.

Filed Oct 18, 1999 · Transmission · IA

Dealer replaced the transmission in 1996 with a little over 20,000 miles on the car. At less than 60,000 miles, I began having transmission failure. The car shudders very violently when driving at any speed. I do not feel that this is very good workmanship on the part of the ford motor company. I have always owned ford vehicles and never had a pblem such as this. I am very unhappy. There is no way under normal driving conditions should this car be on its second transmission, let alone to be having problems again. I do not feel that I am safe driving this vehicle when at any time, the transmission could completely go out. I have all of the paperwork from stivers lincoln mercury concerning the first replacement.

Filed Sep 30, 1999 · Transmission · MS

When driving, transmission has a hard shift from 1st to 2nd gear and shudders.

Filed Jul 23, 1999 · Transmission · OK

Dealer ship sold me this car know it had a problem because I had made them aware of it. Unless they agreed to fix the problem of shuddering while accel at 40 MPH and again at 80 MPH that I would purchase the car. A we owe form was made out and approved by manager. The car dealership had fixed everyting but the most important part and agreed to do so. To this day I am told they can not find a problem with the trany and will not put anymore money into the car. Had to return car several times for the same problem. I am taking a letter to the dealer on july 24, 1999 in reguards to situation. I f car dealers are not going to back up their word to insure our safety and agreements then who do we trust to sell us a car. I will get a attorney involved if they do not wish to proceed to replace the transmission that is faulty and was made aware of it before and at time of purchase. I have witness and copy of we owe and all work orders that were processed on the car in case of needing for court documation. Please do not drive a car off a lot until you are totaly satisfied with your large investment. I am a single mother wanting reliable safe transportation for my family. Is this the way ford lincoln mercury wants dealers to treat their products and customers ? If you have any comments for me on this you may contact me at [email protected]. Thank you for hearing me out.

Filed Jan 8, 1999 · Brakes, Transmission · FL

Transmission began to fail in the fall of 1996. It would shudder shifting into overdrive and once in overdrive it shifted out of gear on it's own. January 1997 the dealership said the problem was the torque convertor and that they would replace as it was still under warranty. 6 months later the transmission started having the same problem again. Sept 1997 I took it back to the dealership again. They could not find any problem with the transmission. Now jan 1999, the car is unsafe to drive and is conveniently past the 12 month/12000 mile warranty period on the replacement part. On the interstate last week, my wife was going 70 MPH and the car shifted into neutral and would not go back into overdrive. A semi almost ran into the rearend of the car. Both the dealership and ford refuse to acknowledge the problem, even though I brought the car in for service sept 1997 while it was still under warranty. In 1997 the dealership told me ford was aware of the problem with the 1994 transmissions. Looking at the number of complaints on your website, I'm not the only one with this problem. Now I'm stuck with an $1800 repair bill.

Filed Dec 14, 1998 · Transmission · KS

Torque converter failed causing the car to shudder when shifting from 2 to 3rd, and 3rd to 4th. Problem repaired, but other transmission problems occurred later.

Filed Apr 19, 1998 · Transmission · PA

Transmission is shuddering and shifting rough during the 3-4 shift.

Filed Apr 7, 1998 · Transmission · PA

Transmission shudders and vibrates during shifting from 3rd to 4th gears.

Filed Apr 25, 1996 · Transmission · GA

Transmission torque converter failed, causing vehicle to shudder.