Most common 2002 Mercury Cougar problems
Share of the 95 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercury Cougar complaints by model year
Best Cougar years: 1996, 2001, 1997. Years to avoid: 1999, 2000, 1995. Compare all years →
2002 Mercury Cougar recalls (1)
Fuel system, gasoline
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.
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…
What 2002 Mercury Cougar owners say
Fuel & propulsion system all 49 →
NHTSA campaign number:04V421000 manufacturer Ford motor company was driving on a main city st. My auto stopped with no power in the left lane of busy 4 lane st. Would not start in neutral or park, man pushed it into the ctr. Lane out of traffic area. Policeman came after I called 911, after a few minutes he suggested taking key out stepping on brake then inserting key back in ignition, did that and it started right up, and he followed me to my st. And I got safely home. Prior to this shut down incident it had stalled going down a hill however put it in neutral and it started up again. This incident could have caused a serious accident, prior to this incident it had been cutting out for a couple of months which I thought was cheap gas, so changed to tectron. …
I am currently having problems with the fuel pump driver module. I reported the problem to Ford in oct 2018. Ford stated that the 10 year recall ended and per their records the issue was resolved as fuel module was replaced by dealer don knott Ford, carson, ca. Don knott Ford is no longer in business. The aforementioned dealer I believe was involved in unethical business practices. I was never informed of such a recall and dealer never changed module, I do not have documentation & would like such for my records. I am original owner of vehicle and the periodic inadvertent surging of vehicle when stopped/stationary at a street light began 6 months ago. I cannot 100% safely drive this vehicle at this time. Ford has not provided me documentation of the alleged repair and/or documentation informing me of recall. …
Engine & cooling all 20 →
Driving on freeway, car next to me came into my lane towards my car, I hit my brakes resulting in my vehicle swerving and hitting the median head on at high speed, air bags did not deploy upon impact.
Since purchasing 2002 Mercury Cougar in January 2010 the vehicle hesitates, surges, and stalls at any rate of speed. Initially the problem was rare, then gradually occurred more frequently. This now happens at least weekly, sometimes several times per day. This issue has endangered me more times than I can currently recall. Replaced alternator, battery, EGR valve and sensor, iac valve, and catalytic converter. The issue persists.
Transmission & drivetrain
Tl contact owns a 2002 Mercury Cougar. The contact stated that the vehicle began to lose power while driving, which made it difficult to steer the vehicle. He experienced difficultly pulling the vehicle to the side of the road. After approximately 15 minutes, the vehicle was able to be restarted and operated normally. He drove the vehicle home and later called the dealer. The dealer advised him to bring in the vehicle and they made repairs at the cost of $697. The failure was identified as being included in NHTSA campaign id number 04V421000 (fuel system, gasoline). The failure could cause engine hesitation, loss of power, surging, and other similar symptoms. Over time, the filter May become sufficiently blocked and cause the engine to stall. The failure mileage was 84,000 and current mileage was 86,000. Updated 07/16/08 the bushings and clutch were worn. …
I purchased this 2002 Mercury Cougar 9 days ago and the transmission started hesitating in overdrive, so I turned o/d off and it was fine. When I got home I tried to put it in reverse and it wouldn't move. I tried to put it in neutral and it moved forward. I recently discovered that I was not the only one, I have seen repeated accounts of this same a/t failure on this same year & model on the internet including this same complaint forum. I also discovered this was a result of Mercury's poor engineering in the overdrive gear, and the plastic valve box (used for gear selection) inside the trans axle. I would appreciate Mercury motor company paying for the repairs. I would not have purchased a vehicle to expect costly repairs due to engineering mistake or poor design.
2002 Mercury Cougar engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 31 / 24 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Mercury Cougar a good car?
Based on 95 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Cougar rates average: 18% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Cougar at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Mercury Cougar?
The fuel & propulsion system — 49 complaints, 52% of all complaints for this model year, most often about delivery › fuel pump. Next are the engine & cooling (20) and transmission & drivetrain (10).
How many recalls does the 2002 Mercury Cougar have?
There is 1 recall for the 2002 Mercury Cougar, the most recent from August 30, 2004 (fuel system, gasoline). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercury Cougar?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1996, 2001 and 1997. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999, 2000 and 1995. See the full Mercury Cougar years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Mercury Cougar problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 67,000 miles; 30% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.