The 1999 Ford Mercury Cougar was an unbelievably good-looking car for its time. The rounded edges and sporty fascia were unlike other rides in the market back then. However, it did not live up to expectations in terms of performance and comfort.

Many customers complained about the 1999 Mercury Cougar, so much so that the NHTSA had to undertake an investigation to see what really went wrong. Numerous defects were detected, and unfortunately, these issues soon affected the sales projections of the Mercury Cougar.

Here are more details about all that went wrong with the 1999 Mercury Cougar.

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The 1999 Mercury Cougar: Problematic Engine And Poor Electrical System

1999-mercury-cougar-custom-coupe
via: Premier Auction Group

Most issues that plagued the 1999 Mercury Cougar were due to a poor engine setup, and a lack of an efficient electrical system. The model features a 2.5-liter Duratec V-6 engine, which had stopping and starting issues. While most enthusiasts expected an awesome performance from such an engine, it however had rough runs and frequent stalls, and this caused issues whenever the car needed to slow down at stoplights. Therefore, the model was neither highly satisfying nor safe.

Also, the electrical system is quite problematic. It often shuts off the engine while in motion, leading to the car getting stuck. Apparently, this is a significant safety problem. When a car is in motion, the last thing a driver expects is the engine to shut off. Due to all these issues, the 1999 Mercury Cougar had a huge slump in sales after negative reports from disgruntled customers made it to the news.

There was also another issue that involve frequently incorrect fuel readings. This means that trips in the 1999 Mercury Cougar could be highly inefficient and costly in terms of fuel consumption, with the driver not even knowing due to inaccurate reading. Furthermore, the car owners also complained frequently about gas tank leakage, another unfortunate way of losing money.

The 1999 Mercury Cougar's Faults Are Rather Too Expensive To Fix

1999 Mercury Cougar side
Via: Wikimedia

Speaking of cost-efficiency, the 1999 Mercury Cougar was far from it. Apart from its leaking gas tank, there were also some issues with the heating control system. The model was known for its faulty heating and AC system. This is another major cause of discomfort for the driver, who might want to stay warm or cool. Generally, car AC systems can be quite expensive to fix, and this would definitely lead to a heightened customer frustration.

Though painful, spending huge sums of money on self-inflicted automotive faults can be easily justified. However, when the issues arise due to fault from the car's design, then spending heavily to fix such can be extra painful and frustrating.

The 1999 Mercury Cougar is pretty expensive to fix. The average cost of fixing its issues, which arises from the engine and electrical, could cost as much as $4,500 on the average. If the issues are from the wheels or in the interior, the repair cost would be significantly less. However, the engine is often the most expensive component to fix, a rather unfortunate conundrum for the owners of the ride.

Even small issues with the 1999 Mercury Cougar could cause customer frustrations. It was common to find that the interior would shake a lot, especially the cup holder and center console. Although these were not major issues, they would certainly annoy any customer who was experiencing the other faults.

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Lack Of Comfort Is Another Letdown On The 1999 Mercury Cougar

1999 Mercury Cougar interior
via: Pinterest

Along with the AC and heating system being faulty at times and the center console shaking, there were other issues with the Cougar that would further enhance the discomfort on the ride.

Not only was the 1999 Mercury Cougar an issue on the road and for the bank, but it was also highly uncomfortable. According to reports, the model's lumbar support is severely lacking, and when a driver seats for too long, it often results in back discomfort.

Speaking of long drives, the maximum mileage expectancy of the 1999 Mercury Cougar is about 82,000 miles. In essence, this means that the car would not last very long at all.

There is an option to upgrade the ride to leather seating, however, that would set the customer back an extra $895. Since, most customers would rather have comfortable seats from the get-go, the lack thereof in the 1999 Mercury Cougar is another huge let down for the model.

Overall, the 1999 Mercury Cougar had multiple defects and issues that greatly affected customer's satisfaction. A poor engine setup, expensive repairs, and a lack of comfort are all issues that no car owner wants to experience. Therefore, irrespective of how beautiful the 1999 Mercury Cougar is, all of its internal issues were too enormous to allow the car to achieve great sales success.