1996 Ford Taurus vs 1996 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 | 1996 Ford Taurus | 1996 Mercury Cougar |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 825 | 62 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 281 | 115 |
| Investigations | 0 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 69 | 3 |
| Fire reports | 12 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–21 | 18–19 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 95,000 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Taurus | Mercury Cougar |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 214 | 21 |
| Power Train | 182 | 4 |
| Steering | 101 | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 66 | 6 |
| Suspension | 60 | 3 |
| Electrical System | 57 | 3 |
| Visibility | 55 | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 42 | 5 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 68 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 39 | 0 |
| Overheating | 33 | 8 |
| Vibration / shaking | 29 | 0 |
| Steering problems | 16 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 13 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 13 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 12 | 0 |
1996 Ford Taurus
1996 Mercury Cougar
Compare all Ford Taurus 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.