1999 Ford Contour vs 1999 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 | 1999 Ford Contour | 1999 Mercury Cougar |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 419 | 454 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 182 | 229 |
| Investigations | 2 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 28 | 23 |
| Fire reports | 10 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–25 | 20–25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 60,000 mi | 68,717 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Contour | Mercury Cougar |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 65 | 99 |
| Structure | 93 | 34 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 52 | 67 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 42 | 72 |
| Visibility | 38 | 52 |
| Power Train | 25 | 50 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 26 | 39 |
| Air Bags | 29 | 31 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 37 | 48 |
| Vibration / shaking | 23 | 16 |
| Rust / corrosion | 14 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 9 | 25 |
| Check engine light | 8 | 12 |
| Clunking / rattling | 5 | 10 |
| Overheating | 5 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 12 |
1999 Ford Contour
1999 Mercury Cougar
Compare all Ford Contour 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.