Recalls
| Campaign | Manufacturer | Manufacturing date | Type | # of units affected | Date Owner notified Mfg | Recall Initiated by | Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products | Report Recieved Date | Record Creation Date | Regulation Part Number | FMVSS Number | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - BRAKE LIGHTS - SWITCH | ||||||||||||||||
| 01V032000 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | from 12/06/1997 to 08/31/1998 | V (Vehicle) | 33000 | 03/22/2001 | MFR | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 02/06/2001 | 02/09/2001 | |||||||
| Defect Summary | Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. the brake lamp switch terminals could overheat. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | This could cause either a loss of brake lamp function or continuously illuminated brake lamps, increasing the risk of a crash. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Dealers will install a new stop lamp extension harness with bronze terminals at the brake lamp switch connector, and also inspect the brake lamp switch for signs of overheating and replace, as required. 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. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236). | |||||||||||||||
Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | |||||
| 15636 | 02/01/2002 | 630685 | Concern with headlamps and/or instrument panel lamps dimming slightly at idle. *tt | 04/19/2002 | |
| 5747 | 03/01/1999 | 605203 | Some vehicles with the bulb failure warning (lamp-out warning) in the optional overhed warning console may illuminate if an incorrect bulb is installed in any exterior lamp location. *tt | 06/03/1999 | |
| 98208 | 10/12/1998 | 603693 | The interior dome lamp and / or door ajar lamp ( door ajar lamp only on vehicles with auxiliary warning system) remains illuminated with the doors closed on some vehicles. *yc | 03/02/1999 | |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - BRAKE LIGHTS | |||||
| 99139 | 06/28/1999 | 606508 | Conditions with the brake lamps inadvertently disabling the brake shift interlock. *tt | 08/26/1999 | |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - BRAKE LIGHTS - SWITCH | |||||
| 01162 | 08/20/2001 | 624084 | Some vehicles built prior to 22-sep-2000, may exhibit the brake lamps staying on. *slc | 11/01/2001 | |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS | |||||
| 15183 | 08/01/2001 | 624583 | Information regarding cougar headlamp parting line, which results from the manufacturing process and can be seen directly in front of the turn signal function from the top to the bottom. *yd | 11/08/2001 | |
| 12802 | 06/01/1999 | 606876 | Experiencing headlamp condensation. *tt | 09/07/1999 | |
| 6387 | 06/01/1999 | 606814 | Information regarding minor condensation visible in the headlamps. *tt | 09/02/1999 | |
| 991310 | 06/28/1999 | 606512 | Subject regarding excess condensation in the headlamps on some vehicles. *tt | 08/26/1999 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | |||
| 03/19/2001 | 1 | ||
| 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). *tr | |||
| 06/01/2004 | 21 | 10/01/1999 | |
| Mechanical problems with 1999 mercury cougar. *mr the vehicle died in the middle of traffic on three occasions. there were alternator and fuel problems. the consumer requested a credited amount of funds and reimbursement for the battery, brakes and additional expenses. other problem are as followed: the new wheels were defective (corroded and frozen), the brake sensor snapped off of the wheel, the cd player was skipping, the hatch would not release properly, the steering wheel would shake, the keyless entry with anti-theft was inoperative, there was rough idle, the transmission shifter would stick, the cup holder did not shut, the hood would not open, and the lights would dim and or brighten while the vehicle was in motion. *sc *jb | |||
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - BRAKE LIGHTS | |||
| 10/30/2001 | 81491 | 08/24/1998 | |
| Nhtsa campaign id number 01v032000. ford motor company had a recall for the exterior lighting: brake lights: switch. even though my vehicle had the same issues as the vehicles under the recall. they will not honor. october 30, 2001 i had the brake switch and jumper harness replaced. due to the malfunction of my exterior brake lamps | |||
| 09/01/2004 | 78000 | 2 | 07/13/2004 |
| The vehicle would not shift out of gear when the brake were being applied. also, the rear brake light illuminated. the dealer was notified. the dealer informed the consumer that the vehicle was not covered under a recall. *ak the switch had become hot and melted plastic from the housing around metal connector prone. *sc | |||
| 09/19/2001 | 98000 | 20 | 09/19/2001 |
| My car is a lemon. have had a new engine put in it 2 times because the rods spun. i have had the brake lights fixed 3 times, the alternator replaced 3 times, new catalytic converters twice. new power steering. transmission done 3 times. theres definantly more i just cant think of alllllll my repairs on this 1999 cougar. i bought it used and it has now 98000 miles cause i drive out of state. *ak | |||
| 4 | |||
| Nhtsa recall 01v032000 concerning brake lamp; brake lights still fail, not illuminating when brake pedal is depressed. owner indicates that this is the fourth time this failure has occurred. please describe details. *ak | |||
| 04/01/2002 | 1 | 09/21/1998 | |
| Brake lights do not work. lamp module is inoperative dealer stated. *ak pin in wiring harness melted causing brake module to fail. *tt | |||
| 11/11/2000 | 0 | ||
| Brake lights are not working. also, it is hard to get vehicle in and out of gear.*ak | |||
| 08/22/2001 | 0 | ||
| There are no brake lights ,and its hard to get vehicle in and out of gear. please provide any further infomation.*ak | |||
| 05/01/1999 | 100 | 04/01/1999 | |
| Brake lights do not come on when brake pedal is slightly depressed. | |||
| 08/25/1998 | 1 | 08/01/1998 | |
| When the brake pedal is depressed the brake lights do not iluminate if the pedal is not pushed hard. i can push the brake pedal hard enough for the vehicle to come to a complete stop from 60 mph, and to remain at a stop and the lights do not iluminate. i went to the dealer and we tried another cougar on the lot chosen at random, and it was worse than my vehicle. after checking that car they put it right back on the sales lot. *ak*akthey then came to the conclusion that they would have to contact ford to see what the factory had to say about the problem. from our check of a random car it appears that this problem may affect a large number of cars. i think this is a very serious problem, when you can bring a vehicle to a complete stop from speed and the brake lights are never activated. feel free to contact me if you have any questions, because i feel this is so serious. | |||
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - BRAKE LIGHTS - SWITCH | |||
| 10/12/2006 | 85000 | 1 | 09/26/2006 |
| Dt*: the contact stated the exterior brake lights did not illuminate at all, causing the vehicle to nearly get rear-ended while braking from traveling 70 mph. the vehicle was taken to a private repair shop, who determined that the wiring harness needed replacement due to a short circuit. there was a nhtsa recall #01v032000 pertaining to the brake light switch. the vehicle was not included in the recall due to the vin. secondly, the engine hesitated while warming up, accompanied by a rough idle. the vehicle was not seen by a mechanic. | |||
| 06/15/2001 | 3 | 12/01/1998 | |
| Nhtsa recall campaign 01v032000; ford issued a brake light recall. this vehicle was not included in the recall due to vin although the brake lights malfunctioned and have been fixed three (3) times with charges of $402.47 incurred. *ak dealer replaced brake switch connector and switch. *tt *nm | |||
| 1 | |||
| Consumer received recall notice (01v-032) on the brake lamp switch. consumer took the vehicle to the dealer for the service, however the dealer didn't have the part. *yh | |||
| 3 | 02/08/2000 | ||
| The consumer is not satisfied with the vehicle due to the amount of recalls that have been issued on the vehicle since the date purchased, brake pressure control valve 00v-075, battery cable routing 01v-031, brake lamp switch jumper harness 01v-032. *nlm | |||
| 04/01/2002 | 10/01/2001 | ||
| Brake lamp switch continually overheats, causing speed control/brakelamps fuse to blow. electrical system fails at or above 5,000 rpm (all electronics suffer from reduced power utill rpm is below 5,000) | |||
| 3 | 02/08/2000 | ||
| The consumer is not satisfied with the vehicle due to the amount of recalls that have been issued on the vehicle since the date purchased, brake pressure control valve 00v-075, battery cable routing 01v-031, brake lamp switch jumper harness 01v-032. *nlm | |||
| 1 | |||
| Consumer received recall notice (01v-032) on the brake lamp switch. consumer took the vehicle to the dealer for the service, however the dealer didn't have the part. *yh | |||
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - FOG LIGHTS | |||
| 04/21/2004 | 01/18/1999 | ||
| 21,210 miles-brake rotor and pad failure,sunroof inoperable,passenger window inoperable-warranty 47,823 miles-complete charging system failure-warranty trunk has never opened correctly from inside-no solution 87,000 miles- starter motor failed-$250 91,519 miles-2 radiator hoses failed-$240 93,000 miles-manual transmission failed, differential gears -$2440 now i am having problems with my fuel pump. throughout the life of this car there have been numerous problems cars don't receive until after 100,000 miles. in my eyes, it is simply a 100,000 mile lemon! *nm | |||
| 02/16/1999 | 8 | 12/31/1998 | |
| Right fog light bulb failed. *mjs | |||
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS | |||
| 01/04/2008 | 79700 | 45 | 10/31/2005 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1999 mercury cougar. while driving 45 mph, the exterior lights became dim. the exterior lights also dimmed immediately when the contact began driving. the failure occurred intermittently. the headlights and instrument panel lights also flickered and dimmed, but then illuminated to full capacity. the failure is directly related to nhtsa campaign id number 01v031000 (electrical system:battery:cables); however, the dealer stated that the vin was not included. the current mileage was 80,000 and failure mileage was 79,700. | |||
| 03/22/2007 | 1 | 03/22/2007 | |
| Tl*-the contact owns a 1999 mercury coupe. he has not received any notification in the mail stating that this particular vehicle was not a part of the recall, he wanted to note that there could be a potential failure of the exterior headlight lens. there had been no failures to date. the current mileage was 50,600.*ak | |||
| 10/02/2006 | 69000 | 1 | 11/26/1999 |
| I also own a 99 cougar and have had nothing but issues, but i love the way the car drives when it works correctly. i have also replaced the alternator and it's also on its 5th window motor, which still does not work correctly. i have replaced almost every sensor possible, too. of course when i have questioned mercury on these issues, they claim that it's not a common problem with the cougars. i have heard from others on the tire issues, but luckily mine has not had any issues with tires. the newest issue with mine is the headlamps. i was in some heavy rain water in the beginning of oct. 2006 and they leaked and had puddles inside of them. i took it to be serviced by mercury and i have not had my car back for 3.5 months! in talking with ford i have found out that they have not made any headlamps for the 99 cougar since jan. 2006 and they are on a nation wide backorder. to make a long story short, i am hoping that ford will make things right for not stocking headlamps and putting me without a car for the past 3.5 months. *nm | |||
| 11/23/2001 | 36500 | 1 | 10/03/2001 |
| Both headlights continuously had condensation which dimmed the lights. also the wiper motor failed after less than 36,000 miles and there were transmission problems prior to 50,000 miles. *nlm | |||
| 03/11/2003 | 1 | ||
| The head lights on the vehicle were too dim. *jb | |||
| 09/28/2002 | 1 | ||
| While driving the vehicle an turning on the head light they became inoperable obtructing the drivers view. also the battery failed, the dealer has been notified. please provide further information. nlm | |||
| 04/04/2001 | 0 | ||
| When driving at night and stepping on gas pedal headlights go dim, then, they will brighten back up once foot is off gas pedal. | |||
| 01/10/2001 | 06/01/1999 | ||
| Oil filter combusted due to pressure. engine has been destroyed!!! car is a year and a half old with 24,500 miles. i have a number of problems that have occurred with this car. i have ignored due to they come and go. such as rattling noises from the trunk, cigarrette lighter is dead, gas gauge doesn't read properly all the time, lights illuminate for rear light out, airbags, coolant, next time start up car they are out??? i had a saturn for 5 years never had a problem. i have this cougar for a year and a half and look at all these problems. i am sorry a car that is a year and a half should not be getting a new engine!!!! i am extremely disappointed with mercury. i will never get another one again.*ak | |||
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - TAIL LIGHTS | |||
| 09/18/2005 | 100000 | 3 | 09/18/2005 |
| Dt: contact owns a 1999 mercury cougar. he has been looking on the internet and found recalls 04v4210000, 04v4210000,1v0320000, and 01v0310000 . he called the manufacturer, and they told him that this vehicle was not included in these recalls due to vin although the contact's vehicle experienced the same failure as described in aforementioned recalls. while driving and accelerating the vehicle surged. he had not noticed this when the cruise control was on. but, noticed this immediately after purchasing the vehicle from an auction on 9-18-05. also, the left rear tail lamp blew out three times in a short time frame. he bought the extended life bulbs, but they still blew out. however, some of the lights worked on the dashboard. . the engine light did not come on when he first started the vehicle. the contact noticed this 10-04-05. *ak | |||
| 09/17/2003 | 0 | 1 | 08/15/2002 |
| My vehicle was dropped off at steven's ford inc. on 9/17/03 to have the brake lights repaired. my elderly parents have loaned me their vehicle to get back and forth to work. i have 3 young daughters to support and do not want to chance losing my job; however, my folks are getting stressed not having a car to get to their senior activities. i have contacted the ford (mercury) corp. regarding this matter and i'm told that shipment of the part needed will be made on oct. 31, 2003 - to be received by dealers by 11/25/03. i find this very ridiculous to wait 2 and a half months for a vehicle repair. i cannot afford to rent a car; nor can my parents - who live on ss benefits. please help me resolve this situation. *la | |||
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - TURN SIGNAL - FLASHER UNIT | |||
| 03/15/2008 | 8 | 07/01/1999 | |
| I am the original owner of a 1999 mercury cougar automatic v6. i have never been in an accident with the vehicle, but continue to have mechanical problems. like other 1999 | |||