1988 Mercury Cougar vs 1989 Mercury Cougar
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1988 Mercury Cougar | 1989 Mercury Cougar |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 55 | 81 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 22 | 26 |
| Investigations | 5 | 6 |
| Crash reports | 7 | 14 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 10 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 18–21 | 17–20 |
| Median reported mileage | — | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mercury Cougar | Mercury Cougar |
|---|---|---|
| Seat Belts | 16 | 17 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 | 21 |
| Electrical System | 12 | 12 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 9 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 10 |
| Equipment | 1 | 6 |
| Visibility | 4 | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 3 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 0 | 5 |
1988 Mercury Cougar
1989 Mercury Cougar
Compare all Mercury Cougar vs Mercury Cougar years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.