Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Mercury Cougar owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
On my drive home from work on Friday 7/12/2013 at approximately 3:30 pm the airbag on the driver side deployed for no apparent reason. This was on a 1999 Mercury Cougar that my family purchased new. The VIN is [redacted]. I called and spoke with [redacted] at Ford and he stated there was nothing Ford could do. He suggested I call my insurance company...I don't understand why my insurance company would be concerned with a flaw in a Ford product. I hope you will understand that I am scared to drive this car at this point. Will one of three remaining air bags deploy for no apparent reason? To be told to contact my insurance company is not acceptable. I am a very reasonable person but will not be taken advantage of. My expectation are simple: Ford needs to have this car towed to a dealer. The drivers side seat needs to be repaired or replaced. …
I got in my car one day after work in the parking lot and started my car and my airbag light was on. It stayed on for three days and is no longer on. It seems like no one wants to take account or provide solutions for the problem. Everytime I roll up my windows, my lights dim as if the battery is dying. My windshield wiper control doesn't shut off and im not able to change the speed.
I hit the car in front of me traveling at 40mph, my seatbelt did not restrain me, my lip hit the steering wheel which made my teeth go all the way through. The air bags did not deploy either, so my head broke the windsheild. The lap portion of the seatbelt kept me from going all the way out, I had bruises on my abdoman from it.
While driving on a 4-lane highway, lights on the dashboard lit up and engine died. Then, consumer lost control of the vehicle. With no brakes or steering vehicle started to spin out of control and hit a guardrail at about 55mph. Consumer said it was a engine problem. Airbags did not deploy.
Vehicle was involved in frontal crash. Upon impact, driver's seatbelt did not lock up, causing driver to hit windshield. Also, driver's airbag deployed after driver hit windshield and was thrown back into seat, causing a major concussion. Vehicle was a total loss.
While driving between 35 to 40 MPH vehicle stalled. This caused loss of steering and brake power. Consumer lost the control of the vehicle, and was involved in a front end collision. Upon impact, neither of the air bags deployed.
While driving 45 MPH consumer's vehicle hit another vehicle on passenger's side, total front crash. Upon impact, driver's airbag did not deploy, no injuries. Damage to vehicle unknown at this time.
Passenger side air bad deploys in a parked car causing injury and damage worth $3,500 and Ford refuses to pay for it. On 31st May 2003, we went to the library to drop off our books. We parked our car, and I got down to drop the books. My wife, who was sitting on the passenger side turned around to pick more of the books from the back seat and her side air bag blew out. She brought her hand forward to cover her face and was hit by the blown air bag. Airbag deployed when the car was parked. The car is a 1999 Mercury Cougar smoke started coming out and we had to call the fire department. Per, fire department captain, they have never seen this case before. Luckily, the smoke was just the air bag powder. Side air bag deployed. Air bag cover hit the windshield, which cracked the whole windshield. The force of deployment also popped out air vent and the dashboard. …
I have had numerous problems with my '99 Cougar such as, failure of my pat system and computer system. I have had problems with my brakes which they can't seem to figure out the problem. I have had my starter replaced twice. I have had defects in several sensors, which is not under warranty that I had to pay a good amount of money for them to repair. My fan has even blown out. There is a burning smell whenever I turn on my heater that none of the dealers can't seem to smell. I also had to purchase a new radiator. When my computer went out my car was still under warranty but they made me pay for the repairs, parts, and labor out of my pocket. This is not all. The list goes on and on. I have complained to the dealership, Ford motor co. And even had someone from Ford to investigate all of the problems I've had with my vehicle. …
Oil filter combusted due to pressure. Engine has been destroyed!!! Car is a year and a half old with 24,500 miles. I have a number of problems that have occurred with this car. I have ignored due to they come and go. Such as rattling noises from the trunk, cigarrette lighter is dead, gas gauge doesn't read properly all the time, lights illuminate for rear light out, airbags, coolant, next time start up car they are out??? I had a Saturn for 5 years never had a problem. I have this Cougar for a year and a half and look at all these problems. I am sorry a car that is a year and a half should not be getting a new engine!!!! I am extremely disappointed with Mercury. I will never get another one again.
Airbag complaints in other Cougar years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1999 Mercury Cougar?
NHTSA has 31 complaints about the air bags of the 1999 Mercury Cougar, 7% of the model year's 454 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (18 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Mercury Cougar airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1999 Mercury Cougar, though it has 7 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1999 Mercury Cougar airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 12 crashes, 0 fires and 15 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.