The drivers rear metal brake line failed catastrophically on the highway in a panic stop. This resulted in complete brake failure of both front and rear brakes.
Mercury Cougar brake failure problems
28 of the 1,673 owner complaints about the Mercury Cougar describe brake failure, most of them for the 1999 model year.
- owner complaints
- 28
- worst model year
- 1999
- typical mileage
- 78,000
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
ABS 4Premature wear 3Pulling 1Stalling 1Slipping 1Power steering loss 1Fire or smoke 1Engine failure 1
What owners say
Dt*: the consumer stated while driving on an icy road, the rear brakes failed and the consumer hit into a curb. The throttle has stuck intermittently since august of 2005. The dealership was unable to duplicate the problem. There are two recalls, #00v075000 regarding the service brakes and #99v194000 regarding the vehicle speed control. The vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall; however it is not included in the recall due to the VIN.
Dt: on 6/21/2005 while driving at night in clear conditions on dry pavement the vehicle stalled and caught on fire. The speed was about 5-7 MPH. There were no brakes, no electrical system, no power steering, no engine sound, no life in the vehilce at all. There was no warning lights that came on. The vehilcle had been driven for about 45 minutes and 40 miles before this occurred. Then, the vehicle sat for about 2 hours.the vehicle was driving fine, and was serviced a a week prior to the incident. The vehicle was put on the diagnostic that day and everything looked fine, besides the brake lights had to be repaired, but it was not the fuse that had to be repaired, owner was unsure what component caused the brake lights tto fail. There were also no tail lights .either.the back lights were completely out. After repair everything was fine until fire. When the car stalled on 6/21/05, the vehicle stopped on the side of the road. There was smoke coming from hood, then there was a man who came to help and sprayed the fire with extinguisher. .
1999 mercury cougar has problems with the speakers, battery equipment, brake equipment and instrument cluster.***no answer required***. *mr the vehicle pulled to the right while driving. The consumer stated on a separate occasion while driving she noticed the vehicle had no brakes, the consumer was able to find a mechanic who determined all for rotors and pads needed to be replaced. The consumer stated the brake light did not illuminate.
Ten minutes after having the brakes replaced and while driving 30 MPH consumer applied the brake pedal and the brakes failed, causing a collision with a woman. No one was injured. The vehicle was towed to a body shop.
While driving 60 MPH, the anti lock braking system failed. As a result, when applying the brakes the pedal went to the floor. *ak the vehicle had been making noises since it was new. The consumer thought it was normal. The consumer was unable to find the parts. *sc
Hydraulic pump went out on my cougar - I had no brakes whatsoever! Luckily, this happened at night with no traffic, so I was able to stop the vehicle by downshifting and using the emergency brake. Had only had the car for a little over a year.
I own a 99 mercury cougar, original owner. My husband changed the front brakes and found the sensor was missing on the front passenger side. My husband called the dealership and spoke to one of the tech's, he said all 4 wheels should have a sensor. When I brought the car there today the service writer told me the tech compared it to another cougar and found no sensor on the right front. If a cougar has ABS there will not be any sensors, so who knows what he was comparing it to. No brakes wear even. The only way I will be happy if someone sends me a picture of the braking system. My husband has been a truck and car tech. For 30 years and he said all four wheels should have a sensor. Who are they kidding.
Brake calipers stick frequently, leaving vehicle with no brakes.had parts replaced. However,problem reoccurred. Contacted dealer.
When car was purchased was not told that the uinbody rail was cut away over suspension/mtr.crossmember mount. Found this info out when we had a minor accident with damange to the right front .have been trying to get this resolved sence 1/02 and jack garrett refuses to do anything just kept giving me a run around.this car should of never been sold it is unsafe and illiegal to sell with the frame being cut and a piece welded to make it fit,the rail is rusting. We have had several problems with this car it has been a lie from date of purchase ex. Was told had great breaks got it to fl. Had no brakes 343.00 I have several receipts for one repair after another.have pictures of the unibody,certfied letter to jack garrett,phone bills where I have called him letting him know of all the problems and lies he told us.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles not equipped with the anti-lock braking system (ABS). A pressure conscious reducing valve (pcrv) in the rear brakes may be subject to corrosion and result in malfunction, when operated in areas that use salt compounds on the roadway for de-icing or dust control.
- Risk
- If both pcrv's malfunction, vehicle handling could be adversely affected during braking as a result of the rear wheels locking, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install improved pcrv's in the rear brake system. This recall was expanded in september 2000 to include 1999 and 2000 ford contour, mercury mystique and cougar vehicles.
Recall number 00V075000 · Recall details
Questions about the Mercury Cougar brake failure
Which Mercury Cougar years have brake failure problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1999 (13 complaints), 1994 (5 complaints) and 1997 (2 complaints).
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