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1987 Mercury CougarProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 33 owner complaints about the 1987 Mercury Cougar, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 1 safety recall.

68
CarFlaw IndexOne of the best years54% below the Cougar median · #15 of 18 years by complaints
Safety recalls1Free fix at dealersOwner complaints3313 with a crash, fire or injuryTop problem13Electrical system

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 27, 2023. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1987 Mercury Cougar has problems

33 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system137
Seat belts110
Engine and engine cooling50
Service brakes, hydraulic41
Vehicle speed control31
Visibility20
Fuel system, gasoline21
Power train21
Service brakes11
2 other systems21

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

1 recall

1987 Mercury Cougar recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 87V-139 · Sep 4, 1987 · 3,600,000 vehicles

Risk. COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Mercury.

Best & worst years

1987 vs. every other Cougar year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Cougar median. How we score

'67'68'69'70'71'72'73'74'75'76'77'78'79'80'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
3 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1987 Mercury Cougar, and the recalls they led to.

  1. FAULTY SEAT BELT BUCKLESEA95021 · closed Sep 30, 1997
    No recall
  2. FLOORMAT/ACCEL PEDAL INTRFPE88097 · closed Dec 2, 1988
    No recall
  3. FAULTY SEATBELT BUCKLESPE95019 · closed Jul 31, 1995
    No recall
In owners' words

What Cougar owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

Brake pads constantly keeps running out on front driver, passenger front brakes are still good but rotor keeps running out unevenly, no brake fluid leaks but needs refill every 3rd about 3/4 of a pints bottle, making a left turn it accelerated by itself brakes didn't react, instead of causing in a…
Complaint 11534721 · Jul 27, 2023
THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE CAR HAS GONE HAYWIRE DUE TO THE IGNITON SWITCH. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GOES OUT AND THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF. *AK VEHICLE WOULD GO ON FINE, WOULD PULL OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND THE RADIO WOULD TURN OFF TURN THE CORNER AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT, VEHICLE WOULD START BACK UP…
Complaint 985217 · Jun 4, 1996
WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE WOULD STALL.*AK THE VEHICLE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT GOES SMOTH AGAIN. THE TECHNICIANS AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPT DISCOVERED THAT THE TFI IGNITION MODUELE FAILURE WAS THE CAUSE. *YH
Complaint 885275 · Apr 6, 2001

Own a 1987 Cougar?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.