The 2001 Mercury Cougar has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 88,600 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 103 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the fuel system, gasoline. Last updated July 5, 2026.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, CONTAMINATION OF THE FILTER IN THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE (FDM) CAN REDUCE, AND EVENTUALLY BLOCK, THE FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE.
Consequence
THIS MAY CAUSE ENGINE HESITATION, LOSS OF POWER, SURGING, AND OTHER SIMILAR SYMPTOMS. OVER TIME, THE FILTER MAY BECOME SUFFICIENTLY BLOCKED TO CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy
THIS ACTION IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN AND IS NOT BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE SAFETY ACT. ALL OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FDM WITH A NEW DESIGN AT NO CHARGE IF THE OWNER REPORTS THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS ANY OF THE IDENTIFIED SYMPTOMS. THE FREE REPLACEMENT WILL BE…
Complaints by component
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
7
2fires
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
7
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
7
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
6
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
4
TIRES
4
1crashes1injuries
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
4
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
3
3crashes2injuries1deaths
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
3
2fires
Total complaints103
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 mercury cougar. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start-up after multiple attempts. The contact also stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would shutoff as the oil warning light would illuminate on the instrument panel. The contact had…”
“Battery light is on and has for awhile. Lights keep blowing fuses. And today I had to rip out a headlight or the car would have set on fire. *tr”
“Battery light is on and has for awhile. Lights keep blowing fuses. And today I had to rip out a headlight or the car would have set on fire. *tr”
“Battery light is on and has for awhile. Lights keep blowing fuses. And today I had to rip out a headlight or the car would have set on fire. *tr”
“Well headlight wiring harness is dry rotted like crazy the car looses power while excelerating when below 3/4 of a tank brake fluid/clutch fluid is leaking don't know why and the battery light is on”
“Well headlight wiring harness is dry rotted like crazy the car looses power while excelerating when below 3/4 of a tank brake fluid/clutch fluid is leaking don't know why and the battery light is on”
“Well headlight wiring harness is dry rotted like crazy the car looses power while excelerating when below 3/4 of a tank brake fluid/clutch fluid is leaking don't know why and the battery light is on”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 mercury cougar. The contact stated that once the fuel level reached a half tank of gasoline, the vehicle hesitated and loss motive power with the accelerator pedal depressed. The contact stated that the trans axle and check engine warning lights were illuminated.…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2001 Mercury Cougar as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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