1996 Mazda 626 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 Mazda 626 | 1996 Mercury Cougar |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 359 | 62 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 44 | 115 |
| Investigations | 4 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 35 | 3 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–26 | 18–19 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 95,500 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mazda 626 | Mercury Cougar |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 239 | 4 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 33 | 21 |
| Air Bags | 49 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 11 | 6 |
| Electrical System | 12 | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 5 |
| Seat Belts | 8 | 3 |
| Suspension | 8 | 3 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 15 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 15 | 0 |
| Shifting problems | 12 | 0 |
| Overheating | 9 | 8 |
| Vibration / shaking | 8 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 7 | 0 |
1996 Mazda 626
1996 Mercury Cougar
Compare all Mazda 626 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.