Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 93 complaints with NHTSA about the 1991 Mercury Cougar, and it carries 3 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 17 | 18% |
| Electrical system | 12 | 13% |
| Service brakes | 11 | 12% |
| Exterior lighting | 9 | 10% |
| Vehicle speed control | 9 | 10% |
| Seat belts | 7 | 8% |
| Fuel system | 5 | 5% |
| Visibility | 5 | 5% |
| Suspension | 4 | 4% |
| Structure | 2 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
HEADLIGHTS GO OUT FOR VARIOUS INTERVALS AND IS PRECEDED BY FLICKERING AND/OR BLINKING WHICH CAUSES LOSS OF VISIBILITY WHICH INCREASES MY RISK OF A CRASH. ALSO NOTE A BURNING SMELL FROM VENTS WHEN THIS HAPPENS. MY VEHIC
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS DIMMED AND THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. IT IS NOT FIXED YET BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD IT. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
DT: THE CONTACT STATED CAR WAS REVVING WHEN STARTING IT UP. WHEN PUTTING IT IN DRIVE IN WENT DOWN SOMEWHAT. IT FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO TAKE OFF BY ITSELF. THIS HAPPENED ON 8-31-05. BACK IN 1998 THE CONTACT WAS HA
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED. AS A RESULT, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN MAKING NOISES SINCE IT WAS NEW. THE CONSUMER THOUGHT IT WAS NOR
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
THE CAR STARTS AND RUNS WELL. BUT EVER SO OFTEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE ENGINE WILL STALL, AND THEN IT WILL CRANK RIGHT UP. LUCKY FOR ME IT HASN'T STALLED WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN WITH A SEMI BARRELING DOWN ON ME.
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
VEHICLE WAS ACTING SLUGGISH AND WHITE MOKE CAME FORM TAILPIPE. VEHICLE WAS GOING 35MPH AND OVERHEATED, CAUSING DRIVER TO PULL OVER. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT CONTINUING TO DRIVE WILL CAUSE HEAD TO WARP. DEALER WAS NOTIF
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
WHILE DRIVING 15-20 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT, CONSUMER PULLED INTO SERVICE STATION TO HAVE VEHICLE INSPECTED, THE SERVICE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTATCED. PLEASE PRO
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1991 Mercury Cougar. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
THE PARK ROD ASSEMBLY CONTAINS A PARK CAM WITH INADEQUATE SURFACE HARDNESS, WHICH COULD LEAD TO PARK DISENGAGEMENT OR NO PARK ENGAGEMENT WHEN THE LEVER IS PLACED IN PARK.
Risk: IF PARK IS NOT ENGAGED AND THE PARKING BRAKE IS OFF, AVEHICLE ROLL-AWAY COULD RESULT.
Fix: REPLACE PARK ROD ASSEMBLY ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.
THE NUTS WHICH HOLD WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR TO THE WIPER MODULE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED AND MAY LOOSEN OR COME OFF. THIS CAUSES CHANGED WIPER PATTERNS, OR THE WIPERS MAY JAM IF TWO OF THE THREE NUTS COME OFF.
Risk: CHANGES IN THE WIPER PATTERN OR JAMMING OF THE WIPERSWOULD RESULT IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILTY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Fix: APPLY TORQUE RETENTION MATERIAL TO WIPER MOTOR STUDS AND NUTS AND RETORQUE.
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
| Reliability raw | 89 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 82 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 72 | good |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 64 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 93 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 17 of them (18%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 89/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 82/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1991 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 72/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.