1998 Mercury Cougar problems
The Mercury Cougar is a series of automobiles that was sold by Mercury from 1967 to 2002. The model line is a diverse series of vehicles; though the Cougar nameplate is most commonly associated with two-door coupes, at various stages in its production, the model also was offered as a convertible and a hatchback. During its production as the mid-size Mercury line, the Cougar was also offered as a four-door sedan and five-door station wagon.
In production for 34 years across eight generations (skipping the 1998 model year), the Cougar is second only to the Grand Marquis (36 years) in the Mercury line for production longevity. 2,972,784 examples were produced, making it the highest-selling Mercury vehicle. During the 1970s and 1980s, the marketing of the Mercury division was closely associated with the Cougar, with promotional materials advertising Mercury dealers as "The Sign of the Cat" with big cats atop Lincoln-Mercury dealer signs. Cat-related nameplates were adopted by other Mercury lines, including the Bobcat and Lynx.
During its production, the Cougar was assembled at the Dearborn Assembly Plant (part of the Ford River Rouge Complex) in Dearborn, Michigan from 1967 until 1973, San Jose Assembly (Milpitas, California) from 1968 into early 1969, Lorain Assembly (Lorain, Ohio) from 1974 until 1997, and at Flat Rock Assembly (Flat Rock, Michigan) from 1999 through 2002.
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Common 1998 Mercury Cougar problems
The 1998 Mercury Cougar has been reported to have several common problems, primarily related to the transmission and electrical system.
- Electrical system problems: The 1998 Mercury Cougar has also been reported to have electrical system issues, such as the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) being illuminated, and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P1380, P1381, P1383, and/or P0340 being stored in memory.
- Engine cooling problems: The 1998 Mercury Cougar has been reported to have engine cooling issues, such as the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) being illuminated, and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P1380, P1381, P1383, and/or P0340 being stored in memory.
- Brake system problems: The 1998 Mercury Cougar has been reported to have brake system issues, such as the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) being illuminated, and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P1380, P1381, P1383, and/or P0340 being stored in memory.
- Power train problems: The 1998 Mercury Cougar has been reported to have power train problems, such as the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) being illuminated, and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P1380, P1381, P1383, and/or P0340 being stored in memory.
These common problems with the 1998 Mercury Cougar can be costly and time-consuming to repair, so it is important for owners to stay on top of routine maintenance and address any issues as soon as they arise.
What years of Mercury Cougar to avoid?
The Cougar has 2 generations, each with their own issues. Using the same PainRank™ system we've determined that you're better off avoiding the 8th generation (1999–2002).
Does a 1999 Mercury Cougar have a timing belt or chain?
Best Answer
The 2.5L has a timing chain, the 2.0L has a timing belt.
What year Cougar is the most desirable?
And you'll have a luxury sports car. . . . With all of the flair of the finest European sports touring machines, Cougar for 1971 is more desirable than ever. It's dramatically new from bumper to bumper — longer, lower, wider with an increased tread for road-gripping stability.”
What was the problem with the 1999 Ford Cougar?
The 1999 Mercury Cougar: Problematic Engine And Poor Electrical System. 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.
1998 Mercury Cougar car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Mercury Cougar problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Electrical system problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1998 Mercury Cougar vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1998 Mercury Cougar complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1998 Mercury Cougar.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-08-17
- VIN: 12WET616XDE
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1998 Mercury Cougar problems:
Common Problems with 1999 Mercury Cougar - Q&A on Used Car ...
Jan 6, 2010 ... This article supersedes TSB's 98-9-8 and 99-10-5. ISSUE The Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) may be illuminated and Diagnostic Trouble Codes ( ...
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I wanna get a 96 or 97 with the v8. A Cougar Xr7(same car basically) would be cool too. I'm not too impressed with Ford reliability, but i'm ...
Common Problems with 2001 Mercury Cougar: Bucking and ...
Mar 8, 2008 ... I have a 2001 mercury cougar that hesitates and bucks when in gear and sitting at a stoplight. If you shift to neutral - Answered by a ...
how many miles will my 2000 cougar last? | New Cougar Forum
Jan 28, 2009 ... what's going to happen next? anyone get 200,000miles out of their cougar? what's the most common problems after 100,000miles? thanks everyone.
Why haven't the 1983-1997 Ford Thunderbird and Mercury Cougar ...
Nov 9, 2022 ... Door sag and the automatic seat belts were also common issues. Comfy seats, great long-distance cruisers, adjustable suspension, and enough ...
Other years of Mercury Cougar
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