1996 Mercury Cougar
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 21 of 62 complaints (34%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 109 in 1995 to 62 in 1996.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | vs. 1996 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,300–3,450 | 3,300–3,450 | 3,300–3,450 | |
| Combined MPG | 18–19 | 18–19 | 18–19 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 15–17 / 23–24 | 15–17 / 23–24 | 15–16 / 23–24 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 468–494 | 468–494 | 468–494 | |
| Complaints filed | 109 | 62 | 76 | |
| Recalls issued | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 9 | 3 | 2 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 4 | 0 | 2 | |
| Injuries reported | 5 | 3 | 2 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 1996 Mercury Cougar have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 1996 Mercury Cougar?
Engine: 21 of 62 NHTSA complaints (34%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 1996 Mercury Cougar get?
EPA rates it 18–19 MPG combined across 2 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 1996 Mercury Cougar?
EPA estimates $3,300–$3,450 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.8L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 17 mpg (high) | 24 mpg (high) | 19 mpg (high) | $3,300 (low) | 468 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 4-spd | 8 | 4.6L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 15 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | 18 mpg (low) | $3,450 (high) | 494 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Brakes | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH · Campaign 96V070000 · Apr 24, 1996
Defect: WHEN IN THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, THE DRIVER DOOR LATCHES MAY OPEN WHEN SUBJECTED TO TRANSVERSE LOADS LESS THAN THAT SPECIFIED IN FMVSS NO. 206, "DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS."
Consequence: THE DRIVER'S DOOR, WHEN CLOSED ONLY TO THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, MAY NOT SUSTAIN A 1,000 POUND TRANSVERSE LOAD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE DRIVER DOOR LATCH.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER · Campaign 96V007000 · Jan 23, 1996
Defect: UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE CLIMATE CONTROL BLOWER DOES NOT OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE BLOWER COULD (1) STICK ON "HIGH;" (2) OPERATE ERRATICALLY WITH BLOWER OUTPUT VARYING BETWEEN NO BLOWER AND MAXIMUM BLOWER; OR (3) NOT OPERATE AT ALL DUE TO MALFUNCTION OF THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL MODULE.
Consequence: BLOWER MALFUNCTIONS LIMITING OR STOPPING OUTPUT CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEMI-AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE CONTROL MODULES WITH MODULES CONTAINING REVISED SOFTWARE.