1989 Ford Thunderbird vs 1989 Mercury Cougar
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1989 Ford Thunderbird | 1989 Mercury Cougar |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 124 | 81 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 27 | 26 |
| Investigations | 6 | 6 |
| Crash reports | 15 | 14 |
| Fire reports | 24 | 10 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 17–20 | 17–20 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Thunderbird | Mercury Cougar |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 26 | 21 |
| Electrical System | 22 | 12 |
| Seat Belts | 17 | 17 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 23 | 10 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 13 | 9 |
| Power Train | 4 | 6 |
| Steering | 4 | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 | 1 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Brake problems | 7 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 6 | 0 |
| Stalling | 0 | 5 |
1989 Ford Thunderbird
1989 Mercury Cougar
Compare all Ford Thunderbird 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.