1999 Mercury Cougar fuel system problems

Filed Dec 12, 2017 · Fuel system · 680,000 miles · IA

Yes, I purchased my vehicle in july of 2017. When I test drove the vehicle, everything seemed perfectly fine. Yet, the day I received it, I went to the gas station to fill up. Upon returning home, 1 mile., the engine light came on. I was told by the seller all was perfectly fine. Drive the car, it will be fine. I was concerned and I took the vehicle to my mechanic. After running some diagnostic tests, I was told I needed a catalyic converter, repairs over $1500.00. I was reading the recalls for this vehicle and came across campaign id# the federal safety agency 04v421000. The recall was for contamination of the filter I the fuel delivery mode(fdm) can reduce and eventually block, the flow of fuel to the engine. In which, can cause many problems. I have those problems with the vehicle. Upon starting, it revives up, then eventually slows down and almost kills. It sounds as if no gas is getting to the engine. Loss of power, stalling. My question is how I could find out if this recall was done to the vehicle. Where do I start. I realize its been more than 10years from the purchase of it new, and I didn't purchase new, but if the recall wasn't done...may I be entitled? The vehicle only has 68,000 miles on the engine. Is this the problem and has it now effected the catalyic converter? Thanks greatly for your precious time. A reply would greatly be appreciated. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).'

Filed Dec 18, 2015 · Electrical, Fuel system · 115,000 miles · CA

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.

Filed Sep 9, 2013 · Electrical, Fuel system · 117,000 miles · NY

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.

Filed Apr 18, 2012 · Fuel system · 88,700 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 mercury cougar. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle became hesitant to acceleration attempts before stalling. The check engine light illuminated after the failure occurred. The contact was able to restart the vehicle as it returned to normal function. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who performed a diagnostic and located the failure at the fuel pump. The mechanic advised that the fuel pump was not receiving the correct fuel level. The failure mileage was 88,700 and the current mileage was 88,800.

Filed Jan 3, 2012 · Engine, Fuel system · 125,000 miles · NV

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 mercury cougar. The contact stated that the check engine light illuminated upon starting the vehicle. In addition, the engine exhibited a loss of power. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop and the contact was informed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure recurred approximately eleven months later. The vehicle was taken back to the repair shop and the contact was informed that the same repairs would be needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the recall associated with the federal safety agency campaign id number 04v42100(fuel system, gasoline). The failure mileage was 125,000. Updated 03/14/12

Filed Jun 29, 2010 · Fuel system · 99,750 miles · IA

1999 mercury cougar - right fuel tank strap failure. While traveling at highway speed, I suddenly heard a noise of something metallic slapping against the underside of the vehicle. After pulling over to investigate, I discovered that the right side fuel tank strap had completely corroded thru and had broken, allowing the fuel tank to drop down slightly on the passenger side. Once I was able to jack up the car to examine, I discovered that the coating on the metal strap had cracked off and that the metal strap was corroded so badly that the metal strap had torn from the weight of the fuel tank, allowing the strap to drop to the pavement. I replaced the strap with a universal replacement strap because I was told that the item would be a special order item and that I could not be guaranteed as to when it would be received. To prevent corrosion of the replacement strap, I primed and painted it with a rust inhibiting paint. I fear that if I had backed up while the strap had been broken (if I had been unaware of the condition) that the strap could have caught on the pavement and been forced up into the gas tank, possibly puncturing it, or that the gas tank could have broken the remaining strap and ripped from the undercarriage of the vehicle, resulting in a potential fire condition. It concerns me that automakers are not required to use a stainless grade (non-corroding) material for critical items such as critical suspension components, brake lines, or in this case, fuel system related components, such as tank support straps. I have never heard of a car of this age having this type of problem but found thru my search online that failure of the right fuel tank strap seems to be a bit too common on the 1999+ mercury cougars.

Filed Oct 23, 2009 · Fuel system · 100,000 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 mercury cougar. While driving 30 MPH the vehicle started to surge back and forth and then the shut off. He had to wait approximately 15 minutes before he was able to restart the vehicle. He also stated that the vehicle would not accelerate beyond 25 MPH without shutting off. The dealer stated that the fuel delivery module failed and advised him that the repair cost would be approximately $200. The federal safety agency campaign id number: 04v421000 component: fuel system, gasoline is related to the failure; however, the dealer stated that his vehicles identification number number was not included. The vehicle will be repaired at the owners expense. The failure mileage was 100,000 and current mileage was 105,000.

Filed Sep 18, 2009 · Fuel system · 50,000 miles · OR

I've got a repeatable failure that happens when I make a left turn or go up an incline while I have less than a quarter of a tank of gas in my vehicle. The car will lose power and start to stutter, and has completely stalled a couple times. I haven't had any parts replaced yet, but I found other people with this problem and an extended coverage program offered by the manufacturer that they say doesn't apply to my vehicle. This has also been the federal safety agency campaign id as well. According to the emails with customer service the program was for cars manufactured may 25, 1999 through november 30, 2001. My car was manufactured on may 24, 1999. I questioned if the one day difference in manufacture could actually exclude my vehicle, if my vehicle could actually be affected, and whether there was some way to tell if the affected part was installed in my vehicle (possibly by part number or serial number of the installed part). There are apparently at least several different parts (the pre extended program part, the bad part being replaced during the program, and the one replacing the bad part. I have requested but not been given a way to tell the difference between the different parts.

Filed Apr 3, 2008 · Fuel system · 121,000 miles · ID

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 mercury cougar. The contact stated that the engine would hesitate and stall intermittently. The vehicle would also lose power and surge as if it would fail while driving. While driving uphill at 65 MPH, the vehicle would appear sluggish and then operate normally again. The contact stated that the vehicle exhibited the same failures as described in the federal safety agency campaign id number 04v421000 (fuel system, gasoline). The dealer stated that there were no recalls, and the contact would be charged for a diagnostic. The purchase date was unknown. The current mileage was 126,325 and failure mileage was 121,000.

Filed Jan 14, 2008 · Fuel system · 100,000 miles · PA

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 mercury cougar. The vehicle would hesitate and surge without warning while driving between 45-65 MPH. The vehicle has not been inspected by a dealer. The throttle control sensor and fuel filters were replaced; however, the failure continued. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign id number 04v421000 (fuel system, gasoline). The current and failure mileages were 100,000.