AI Damage1985 Mercury Cougar: common problems
Owners of the 1985 Mercury Cougar filed 10 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and vehicle speed control. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 10
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 60% of all complaints
- 2 Vehicle speed control 20% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 10% of all complaints
- 4 Latches, locks, linkages 10% of all complaints
- 5 Seat belts 10% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 10% of all complaints
- 7 Tires 10% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 6 complaints (60% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 2 complaints (20% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (10% of all).
- Latches, locks, linkages: 1 complaints (10% of all).
- Seat belts: 1 complaints (10% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.3 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 3.8 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 5 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 10 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
While driving at any speed vehicle stalls. When consumer reaches to 60 mph vehicle will shutdown, and the consumer has to coast off the highway to get to the side of the road. Vehicle has been in the repair shop, and dealer can't determine the problem.
Driving at various speeds vehicle would surge & accelerate; would have foot on brakes at time to slow down. After driving a while would pull off road & turn vehicle off & then restart; no sign of surging/accelerating; problem is intermittent. Took to dealer & could not find problem.
Electrical short in the ignition switch, smoke is coming from the steering column.
When she put the key into ignition, the car streted to get filled with smoke from the steering column. Please describe.
Electrical short or shock, causing the vehicle to catch on fire, engine compartmnet fire.
Drivers seat belt buckle on a few occasions will not latch or unlatch. Please describe details. Tt
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 10,921 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 30% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Cougar has 73 complaints (26 years in the data). This year has 10, below average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Latches, locks, linkages. Door, hood and tailgate latches, especially near the impact.
Other years of this model
- Cougar 198417 sources
- Cougar 198613 sources
- Cougar 198733 sources
- Cougar 198855 sources
- Cougar 198981 sources
- Cougar 199086 sources
- Cougar 199173 sources
- Cougar 199292 sources
- Cougar 1993195 sources
- Cougar 1994137 sources
- Cougar 1995109 sources
- Cougar 199662 sources
- Cougar 199776 sources
- Cougar 1999454 sources
- Cougar 2000211 sources
- Cougar 200182 sources
- Cougar 200295 sources
- Cougar 99994 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1985 Mercury Cougar?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, vehicle speed control, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 10. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (30%), won't start (10%), seat belts (10%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1985 Mercury Cougar?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1985 Mercury Cougar from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1985 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.