I got in my car one day after work in the parking lot and started my car and my airbag light was on. It stayed on for three days and is no longer on. It seems like no one wants to take account or provide solutions for the problem. Everytime I roll up my windows, my lights dim as if the battery is dying. My windshield wiper control doesn't shut off and im not able to change the speed.
1999 Mercury Cougar electrical problems
99 complaints (22% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 70,000. 1 crash reported.
- owner complaints
- 99
- of this car's complaints
- 22%
- typical mileage
- 70,000
- crashes
- 1
- recalls
- 2
Which part fails
- Ignition12
- Alternator/generator/regulator12
- 12v/24v/48v battery: cables9
- 12v/24v/48v battery8
- Wiring: interior/under dash5
- Starter assembly5
- Wiring3
- Ignition: switch3
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Mercury Cougar electrical problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 1999 Mercury Cougar electrical
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Electrical system
- What is wrong
- On certain my 1996-1998 passenger vehicles built at the kansas city, cuautitlan assembly plants or on my 1999 passenger vehcles built at the automotive alliance international assembly plants, the rough surface of the heater blower resistor's stainless steel blades can damage the copper surface of the wiring harness connector. The damage could, over time, cause increased resistance in the connector and, due to subsequent terminal relaxation, result in an open circuit condition.
- Risk
- The open circuit could lead to electrical arcing that could melt the connector housing material creasing the potential for a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a new heater blower resistor and a new wire jumper harness. Owner notification began august 29, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1‑800‑392‑3673.
Recall number 01V230000 · Recall details
Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery: cables
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with 2.5l v6 engines. The battery cable was misrouted and its attachment to the alternator cable was under-torqued. If misrouted, the cable could contact the power steering line and the insulation could wear, resulting in an electrical short.
- Risk
- The short could potentially result in a fire, stalling, or a no-start condition.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the battery cable to the alternator for damage and, if it is damaged, will replace the cable. Additionally, the routing of the cable will be corrected, as necessary, and a routing clip will be added. Also the torque on the alternator attachment of the cable will be checked and, as required, will be tightened to specification. Owner notification began march 22, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1‑800‑392‑3673.
Recall number 01V031000 · Recall details
Related investigations
Blower switch/resistor or wiring harness
There is no summary currently available
EA01001
What 1999 Mercury Cougar owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I have problem with transmmition shifting 1st to second changes at 3000rpm but when I change park to drive shakes motor bad , one of the wires start smoking I like I put tape around wired burnd. Temperature it doesn't show but when I open the hood the car is very hot every time I tried driving it at freeway overdrive light starts blinking I like I paid to get it fix and still does the same.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 mercury cougar. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact also stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was able to start after several attempts, however the vehicle failed after the contact drove for a couple of miles. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the alternator and fuel pump had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 01v031000 (electrical system) or 04v421000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000.
1999 cougar battery connection problems or something faulty. Sometimes while I'm driving my car just goes dead. It's done that a lot lately. I now have a new battery but the same thing happens and I'm scared when it happens on the freeway . Tonight I was driving on the freeway and it went dead! I had no lights , I had no tail lights,no head lights ,no blinkers and no emergency lights and the car close behind me had to slam on breaks cause there was no emergency lane, no side of the road just a guard rail! I was in the middle of the road . Brand new battery just goes dead like it did many times on the older battery it's not the alternator either...something is not making a connection. I'm gonna end up squashed, dead cause on a freeway at night when the car dies everything dies: lights,tail lights and emergency lights if im in the dark no one would see me in time to stop if im in the middle of the road.
To whom it may concern: (management) I was driving on a residential street and was honked at by another driver who told me that my brakes lights were not working. I had a friend of mine that is a certified repair person look at it and he said it wasn't the light or the fuse or the brake switch under the pedal and that he was 95% sure it was the stop lamp extension harness that has bronze terminals at the brake lamp switch connector. I bought this car in 2004 and under a recall had the blower switch resistor repaired under the recall. The reason the recalls for this car are not showing up is because the recalls are more than 15 years old & they don't keep track after that. I have never had this problem with this car before but I have had over $9,000 worth of repairs on it since I've owned it not including the normal oil changes and tune up. I think ford needs to approve this for the recall considering they knew how many things were wrong with the cougars and that's why they don't make them anymore... Not a satisfied customer with a ford product! First & last ford product I will ever own if this isn't fixed to my satisfaction. Thank-you, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 mercury cougar. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning while driving 25 MPH. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic for diagnostic testing. A failure code was displayed that identified the alternator as the cause of the failure. The alternator was previously replaced three times. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer stated that they were unaware of the federal safety agency campaign number: 01v031000 (electrical system). The failure mileage was 34,000.
Exterior lights not working ,replaced brand new and shut off again causing car to lock itself in park.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 mercury cougar. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the engine stalled without warning. The contact inspected under the hood and tightened the battery cable. The vehicle restarted and resumed normally. The failure recurred upon reaching the residence. In addition, a strong odor of fuel emitted inside of the vehicle with a small amount of leakage on the ground. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign id numbers 04v421000 ( fuel system, gasoline) and 01v031000 (electrical system). The VIN was not included in either recall. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer but had not been diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.
Bought car at dealer on 02/05/01 since then I've had to repair car on too many occasions. Here some of the repairs I've had to do on this car ever since I bought it. On 3/01: brakes, 10/01: dealership replaced battery and performed a recall,12/01: dealership replaced alternator, 05/02: brake pads, 04/04: water pump belt, 09/04: replaced batter, 10/11/04: replaced alternator and belt, 10/14/04: replaced positive battery terminal, 12/04: replaced radio, 02/06: replaced motor mount, 01/07:replaced battery, 02/07: replaced strut, 02/08: replaced shock absorber, 10/08: replaced battery, 04/09: replaced bearing, transmission & anchor engine mount and don't have the date but also had to replace the windshield wiper motor. These repairs are what I have in receipts yet for example I have replaced the motor mounts more than once. Currently the following areas of my vehicle do not function: the horn no longer works, cruise control is not functioning, the air conditioner no longer heats, & the brake light of my vehicle remained lit when the vehicle was on and now have failed to turn out (lamp socket is burnt).
Recall id#8389 (feb 06, 2001) electrical system, battery cables. 1999 mercury cougar 2.5l v6 (70263 miles). Just picked up car after paying $3500 in repairs for headgasket, etc. Mechanic mentioned a bearing in the alternator is going and should be replaced soon. That would be the third alternator in this car. I am the original owner, vehicle purchased april 17, 2000. Alternator #1 jan 15, 2003 (21672 miles) - covered by warranty (vehicle broke down on interstate). Alternator #2 car again died on the interstate with no warning, no "idiot lights. 09/20/2005 (47,791 miles). Paid for myself. Now, 2/24/09 (70,263 miles) need another new alternator! Help!! How do I get this covered, I just got laid off, just paid $3500.00 in other repairs and cannot believe I need another alternator!
Questions about the 1999 Mercury Cougar electrical
Does the 1999 Mercury Cougar have electrical problems?
Owners have filed 99 complaints about the electrical of the 1999 Mercury Cougar, 22% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 1999 Mercury Cougar electrical problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 70,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 1999 Mercury Cougar electrical?
Yes, 2 recalls: 01V230000, 01V031000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Mercury Cougar have the most electrical problems?
The Mercury Cougar model years with the most electrical complaints are 1999 (99 complaints), 2000 (63 complaints) and 1990 (19 complaints).
Other 1999 Mercury Cougar problems
Brakes 77Engine 70Visibility 52Transmission 50Fuel system 46Lights 37Body 34Acceleration 31Airbags 31Tires 27Suspension 22Steering 20Locks 15Seats 13Wheels 7Seat belts 5Driver assistance 3
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