Transmission having problems going into gear constantly slipping and catching gears when trying to drive only gets up to 30 MPH
Mercury Cougar slipping problems
15 of the 1,673 owner complaints about the Mercury Cougar describe transmission slipping, most of them for the 1999 model year.
- owner complaints
- 15
- worst model year
- 1999
- typical mileage
- 120,000
By model year
Often reported together
Transmission failure 2Stalling 1Premature wear 1Hesitation 1Engine failure 1Check engine light 1Grinding brakes 1
What owners say
I have a 1999 mercury cougar, and have had it about 4 years now. I have had no problems with the car, except having to have the alternator replaced. I work 3rd shift (7p-7a) at a local hospital, and on my way home, my car started slipping in and out of gear. The car would go for a minute, then it would stop, and I would push the gas and the car would just rev up. I had a line of traffic behind me, so I as trying my best to get the car off the road. I finally got it into an empty parking lot and called to get some help. I was very tired from working a 12 hour shift and had to wait 2 hours for someone to come and get me. We got the car to a mechanic, which said that it was the transmission, and he then told me that he would drain the transmission, put new fluid in it, and see if that fixed the problem. To my very unfortunate news, the transmission has went out in my car. I am a full-time student and full-time working trying to make ends meet. Due to the transmission going out in my car, I have missed classes, and it's becoming a headache trying to get to and from work, school, and other places I need to be. I was told that the 1999 cougars had a recall on the transmission and that I needed to find out about it. This is what I am doing now. I can't afford a new transmission, let alone a new car, while I'm trying to go to school. This whole ordeal has thrown me off, because there was nothing wrong with the car, and all of a sudden (in one day) the transmission went out. I hope this problem is resolved, and I get some help with fixing my car. I appreciate your time, and I hope that my problem is looked into. Thanks, gina brook melton
Brakes continue to grind even after replacement. Transmission surges and hesitates upon acceleration causing unexpected increases in speed. Transmission also slips in and out of gears randomly. All of these problems could lead to a serious accident.
2001 mercury cougar. Since I have owned this car I have replace the engine at 65,000 miles, left front wheel bearing at 70,000 miles, right front wheel bearing is on its way out at 100,000 miles along with a plugged catalytic converter, and transmission slippage. A/c also failed at 115,000 miles.
The transmission on my vehicle was rebuilt in october 2001 @ 120000 miles because it jumped out of gear during acceleration and would not engage. Since the rebuild, the car has continued to have transmission problems such as self-acceleration when curse control is engaged, slipping out of gear and not reengaging, or downshifting during acceleration. The car has been taken into three different transmission shops each being unable to duplicate or correct the problem. The car has not been to a ford dealership but, has been well maintained. I would like to keep the car as a work vehicle, now @ 137k miles, but refuse to continue to deal with the transmission slippage.
Purchased new tire from dealership - tire had seam-like cut on outside wall - tire lost about 2 to 10 lbs of pressure per day - took car in to dealership several times over this matter - was told by dealership that there was nothing wrong with the tire - tire was finally replaced by dealer after consumer complained multiple times. Took vehicle in to have checked out after hit by unlicensed/uninsured motorist in the side - was told by dealership (etters ford in crawfordsville, in) that transmission desperately needed serviced - was told that it had a knock and would cause major problems if not dealt with - customer brought up that vehicle was not overdue or even due for a transmission service for quite a while and pointed to owner's manual specifications - was told, after car relooked at, that it was a mistake and that transmission was fine - have had a knock and slipping of transmission since.
Vehicle experienced severe leakage of transmission fluid through vent and up through dipstick, ejecting enough fluid with enough force to render vehicle inoperable within less than 5 minutes. This major leak occurred upon parking of vehicle, but may also have been taking place while driving. A ford-issued technical service bulletin reportedly recognizes the vent design and side cover design on this model as deficient/flawed and in need of replacement with newly designed parts (related service bulletin numbers may be: 99249, 12119, 985136 - I have not seen the actual tsb). Safety concerns are obvious; slipping/false shifting of transaxle while driving, slipping or failing to fully engage when departing a parked position, danger from leaked fluid itself, environmental contamination, etc. Ford motor company refused to repair this defect at its own expense. Mine is a higher-than-normal mileage vehicle for this year, and may be only the first of many that will experience these dangers as they reach this level. Out-of-pocket repairs for this defect are approximately $350-500 for the consumer; less than $25 in parts and 4-5 hours labor for the manufacturer. Please contact me with any additional questions.
When I originally reported the transmission was slipping they said it was fine, driving at 80mph and having your car drop to 20mph then 45mph then 60mph back to 20mph on the freeway is quite nerve racking, if this was during commute traffic I would of been killed.
Not shifting properly @ 35,000 miles; gears not shifting @ 45,174 miles; missing really bad, acting like going dead @ 51,066; check engine light - stalls @ 58,000; engine slipping gears @ 59,149; feels like engine going into neutral while driving @ 59758; 70,000+ still having transmission problems - engine slipping gears, not shifting properly and going into neutral while driving.
Reporting vehicle would intermittently slip out of gear and re-engage. Dealer/manufacturer were not contacted at this time. Please feel free to provide any further details.
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- The park rod assembly contains a park cam with inadequate surface hardness, which could lead to park disengagement or no park engagement when the lever is placed in park.
- Risk
- If park is not engaged and the parking brake is off, avehicle roll-away could result.
- Remedy
- Replace park rod assembly on automatic transmissions.
Recall number 91V048000 · Recall details
Questions about the Mercury Cougar slipping
Which Mercury Cougar years have transmission slipping problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1999 (6 complaints), 1994 (5 complaints) and 1995 (3 complaints).
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