1996 Mercury Cougar vs 1997 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 | 1996 Mercury Cougar | 1997 Mercury Cougar |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 62 | 76 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 115 | 113 |
| Investigations | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 3 | 2 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 18–19 | 18–19 |
| Median reported mileage | — | 71,550 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mercury Cougar | Mercury Cougar |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 21 | 30 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 | 9 |
| Power Train | 4 | 10 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 8 |
| Suspension | 3 | 6 |
| Visibility | 5 | 3 |
| Tires | 4 | 4 |
| Structure | 5 | 2 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Overheating | 8 | 7 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 7 |
1996 Mercury Cougar
1997 Mercury Cougar
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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.