Since purchasing 2002 mercury cougar in january 2010 the vehicle hesitates, surges, and stalls at any rate of speed. Initially the problem was rare, then gradually occurred more frequently. This now happens at least weekly, sometimes several times per day. This issue has endangered me more times than I can currently recall. Replaced alternator, battery, egr valve and sensor, iac valve, and catalytic converter. The issue persists.
2002 Mercury Cougar engine problems
20 complaints (21% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 90,600. 2 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 20
- of this car's complaints
- 21%
- typical mileage
- 90,600
- crashes
- 2
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Engine3
- Exhaust system1
- Engine: gasoline1
- Cooling system1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Mercury Cougar engine problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2002 Mercury Cougar engine
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
What 2002 Mercury Cougar owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Driving on freeway, car next to me came into my lane towards my car, I hit my brakes resulting in my vehicle swerving and hitting the median head on at high speed, air bags did not deploy upon impact.
I'm having the same issue with my 2002 mercury cougar as everyone else, but when I put my VIN number into the search, there are no recalls listed for it. I don't think that its right that my life be put in serious danger because of an apparent design issue. This car is losing all power and shutting down. It doesn't matter how fast you are going, it happens at all speeds. We thought the alternator was bad, had it replaced and the battery at the same time. The same day, the car lost all power again and died out going 60 MPH on the highway. All the gauges start going crazy and the lights dim and eventually everything including the car just quits. Mercury/ford, needs to be responsible for this coffin that I'm trying to drive and fix the problem for me and everyone else for free. I've done some online research on this, and it seems like there are a ton of people with the same problem from years 99 to 02.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercury cougar. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle made a knocking noise and stalled. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The mechanic was unable to diagnose the problem. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
I was on my way to work and about one mile from my destination the engine just stopped. I let it sit about twenty minutes and it finally started again. This happened several days of shutting off while I was on the road driving. Luckily I was at a place when I could pull over on the side of the road and get out of the line of traffic except for one time when I was at a stop light and it shut off and I sat and wait and it finally started again and I was able drive it to a safe spot. I took it to a mechanic and he told me the computer needs to be replaced. The only place that could replace the computer was the dealer. I took it to the dealer and after being at the dealer for three days they said that the ignition need replacing. They replaced the ignition and after three more days there and while they were working on other repair parts that they said I needed done the engine shut off about two more times. On march 13, 2014 they told me that all repair work had been completed and the engine shutting off was solved. The total bill came to close to $3,000.00. I am planning on picking up the vehicle on monday, march 17, 2014 when I will have the money to pay them. I heard about cars engines shutting off while driving on the radio (wtop). I just wanted to report how my vehicle was having the same or similar problem. I am a bit nervous about driving this vehicle if this could possible happen again. The radio report was about gm vehicles I have a mercury and this happened to my car.
My daughter has a 2002 mercury cougar and is risking her life as well as others lives every time she gets inside that car. Her cougar her been having issues for months now, and even though we have spent hundreds of dollars trying to make the car safer for her, nothing is working. Our last straw was three days ago, when the car stalled on her on the highway. She was traveling about 45 miles per hour, when the car stalled and shut off leaving her stranded waiting for the tow truck. Her car, for months, has been surging while at complete stops, and has been shutting off while at a stand still. We've tried fixing many things, but nothing seems to be fixing the issue. After doing extensive research, I have come to realize that many others are having the same issues. Can someone do something about this please?? Its clearly an on-going issue and is costing people lots of money. Her car is currently back at the dealership where we purchased the car, and is undergoing diagnostics. We were already told that her car was not included in the recall, and we will have to pay for even more work, out of pocket. Please help.. Why was it not included in the recall, seeing that it is having the same problems?!
The car gets a stalling sensation when at a red light, or a complete standstill. It feels like its stuttering and unable to keep power. Changed egr valve, 2 idle control changes, along with a transmission flush was done. Nothing seems to be fixing the issue. The car acts up and stalls in cold temperatures. Stalled at a red light twice. Has been taken to different car shops on numerous occasions. No engine light comes on.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercury cougar. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled as the battery, engine, and oil warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,600.
I was driving my 2002 cougar and the vehicle began to lose power, the check engine light and the fuel light came on. The vehicle came to a complete stop in the middle of the road. I have also experienced the vehicle surging while at a complete stop. I contacted the service manager at my local dealer and the only resolution he could provide me was to have a technician drive it and see if it would happen again. Even though I explained there have been numerous complaints about the issue by other drivers on line, he said there was nothing he could do. My VIN number is not included in the recall "batch" of vehicles. I could pay the $100 diag fee in the event my vehicle does not repeat the complaint. Either way, I would be paying for the repairs out of pocket.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercury cougar. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle suddenly decreased to 10 MPH. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and they advised her that all three catalytic converters were clogged and the fdm needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired for the fdm but not the catalytic converters. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure and current mileages were approximately 72,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Questions about the 2002 Mercury Cougar engine
Does the 2002 Mercury Cougar have engine problems?
Owners have filed 20 complaints about the engine of the 2002 Mercury Cougar, 21% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2002 Mercury Cougar engine problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 90,600 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Mercury Cougar engine?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
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).
Other 2002 Mercury Cougar problems
Fuel system 49Transmission 10Airbags 7Visibility 6Acceleration 4Electrical 4Seat belts 3Steering 3Suspension 3Body 2Brakes 2Lights 2Tires 2Driver assistance 1Locks 1Seats 1Wheels 1
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