Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 103 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Mercury Cougar, and it carries no 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 | 29 | 28% |
| Service brakes | 7 | 7% |
| Power train | 6 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 5 | 5% |
| Visibility | 5 | 5% |
| Tires | 5 | 5% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 4% |
| Suspension | 4 | 4% |
| Fuel system | 3 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
MY VEHICLES BECAME TOTALLY DISABLED ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY WITH HEAVY AFTER HOURS RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE MANIFOLD WHICH IS MADE OF PLASTIC BROKE WERE THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR WAS BUILT IN, I ALSO NOTICED THAT A FE
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
ON 5/19/2004 I HAD TO HAVE TOWED AND REPLACE DEFECTIVE CRACKED PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ON A 1997 MERCURY XR7 COUGAR AND HADN'T BEEN PREVIOUSLY INFORMED OF ANY RECALLS THEN RECENTLY I HAD TO REPLACE YET ANOTHER DEFECTIVE
NHTSA complaint: Engine
FUEL WAS NOTED LEAKING FROM FUEL LINES JUST AFT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, FUEL WAS SEEM RUNNING DOWN THE FUEL LINES AND SIDE OF FUEL TANK. LEAK WAS CAUSED BY FUEL LINES CHAFFING THROUGH ON T
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT DUE TO A FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MANY FORD CARS WITH A 4.6 LITER ENGINE. I OR MY KIDS HAVE OWNED A 1997 MERCURY COUGAR SINCE NEW. RECENTLY THIS CAR WHICH HAD BEEN IN STORAGE
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACK AND ANTI-FREEZE SPILLING OUT AND A LOT OF STEAM SMOKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING,CAR IN SHOP NOW A IT WILL COST ME $600.00 TO FIX. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
IGNITION FAILED TO TURN WITH KEY. PUT LUBRICANT (WD-40) IN HOLE AND TAPPED WITH HAMMER UNTIL KEY TURNED.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
FORD HEADLIGHTS: CLOUDY LENSES: FORD MADE AUTOS HAVE PLASTIC LENSES/HEADLIGHTS THAT CLOUD UP OVER TIME, WITHIN 5 YEARS TO 10 YEARS, THAT LIMIT EFFECTIVENESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT. I PERSONALLY HAVE HIT CURBS AND
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
I HAVE A 1997 COUGAR XR7 WITH A 4.6 LITER V8. AROUND JULY 1, 2001, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THE CAR CRACKED CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT. I HAD THE CAR FIXED, NOT KNOWING THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE INTAKE MANIFOLDS. IN MARCH
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
| Reliability raw | 86 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 80 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 72 | good |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 64 | average |
| Efficiency | 36 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 103 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 29 of them (28%). No recalls are on record for it.
AVOIR scores its reliability 86/100 (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 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1997 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 71/100. 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.