Head-to-head reliability
Mercury Cougar vs FORD F 150
How the Mercury Cougar and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Mercury Cougar vs FORD F 150: The Cougar averaged 135.3 complaints per year over 3 years, while the F-150 averaged 1131.1 per year over 10 years. The Cougar has 11 recalls and 34 crash-related complaints; the F-150 has 145 recalls and 328 crash-related complaints. Both have 1 death reported. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercury Cougar or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercury Cougar
The Mercury Cougar is a sporty coupe that, based on owner complaints, can be a headache to own. Over three years, it averaged 135 complaints per year, with many reports of stalling, fuel pump issues, and even engine fires. The high rate of fuel and electrical problems suggests that buyers should be prepared for potential breakdowns and costly repairs.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that, despite its popularity, has generated a large number of complaints—over 11,000 in ten years. Owners frequently report transmission problems, electrical glitches, and lighting issues. While the sheer volume is high, the per-year rate is lower than the Cougar's, but the F-150 still demands careful inspection before purchase.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercury Cougar | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 406 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 11 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 34 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 135.3 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 35 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Mercury Cougar
- 01FUEL SYSTEM106
- 02GASOLINE97
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM80
- 04ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING51
- 05POWER TRAIN34
Owners report stalling while driving, often at highway speeds, and hesitation after fuel pump replacements. This can be dangerous and leave you stranded.
Complaints mirror fuel system issues, with stalling and intermittent restart problems. The fuel pump recall may not fully fix the underlying defect.
There are reports of vehicle fires, often starting when the car is parked. This is a serious safety concern that could total the car or endanger property.
Owners describe engine knocking, sudden failure, and needing engine replacements at low mileage. Overheating and catalytic converter issues are also mentioned.
“AFTER ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH MY 2001 COUGAR I WISH I WOULD HAVE MADE A BETTER CHOICE IN WHAT VEHICLE I BOUGHT. THE ONE RECALL THAT THEY HAD ON THE FUEL PUMP I HAD TO HAVE THAT REPLACED, BUT I AM NOT SURE THEY REALLY FIXED IT BECAUSE IT STILL HESITATED WHEN I A…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER WAITING A FEW MOMENTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS AND OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Many owners report harsh or delayed shifts, jerking, and even sudden loss of power from the 10-speed automatic transmission. This can cause dangerous situations on the road.
Complaints include warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available,' as well as strange noises from the transmission area. These electrical gremlins can be frustrating and costly to diagnose.
Headlight issues are common, with recalls for lighting problems. Poor visibility at night can increase accident risk.
Some owners report engine-related problems, though fewer than transmission issues. Recalls exist for engine components, so check for outstanding recalls.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Mercury Cougar — 11 recalls
The defect: FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS…
The risk: THE NUTS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGING FOR THESE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING THE INTENDED PREVAILING TORQUE (SELF-LOCKING) FEATURE. IF THE INCORRECT NUT WAS TO BECOME LOOSE, THE JOINING MEMBERS MAY LOOSEN LEADING TO A SEPARATION OF THE B…
The fix: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.
The defect: CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA, RAYBESTOS, AIMCO, AC DELCO, CARQUEST, BENDIX, AND WAGNER. ONLY PRODUCTS THAT WERE M…
The risk: LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAD TO A DECREASE IN BRAKE LINE PRESSURE AND AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The fix: AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-323-0354.
The defect: 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.
The risk: THIS MAY CAUSE ENGINE HESITATION, LOSS OF POWER, SURGING, AND OTHER SIMILAR SYMPTOMS. OVER TIME, THE FILTER MAY BECOME SUFFICIENTLY BLOCKED TO CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The fix: 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 OWNER REPORTS THAT THE…
The defect: FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS…
The risk: THE NUTS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGING FOR THESE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING THE INTENDED PREVAILING TORQUE (SELF-LOCKING) FEATURE. IF THE INCORRECT NUT WAS TO BECOME LOOSE, THE JOINING MEMBERS MAY LOOSEN LEADING TO A SEPARATION OF THE B…
The fix: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Mercury Cougar or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Mercury Cougar has a much higher complaint rate per year (135.3) compared to the Ford F-150 (1131.1 per year, but over ten years the average is lower). In practice, the Cougar's issues are more concentrated and often involve stalling and fires, while the F-150's problems are more widespread but may be less immediately dangerous. Overall, the F-150 has more total complaints but a lower annual rate, suggesting the Cougar may be more problematic per year of ownership.
Key differences
- The Mercury Cougar has a much higher complaint rate per year (135.3) than the Ford F-150 (1131.1 per year over ten years, but that's 113.1 per year on average).
- Cougar complaints often involve fuel system stalling and electrical fires, while F-150 complaints frequently cite transmission jerking and electrical glitches.
- The Cougar has 11 recalls over 3 years, while the F-150 has 145 recalls over 10 years, indicating more widespread issues but also more attention from the manufacturer.
- Both vehicles have reported deaths (1 each), but the Cougar's lower production volume means a higher relative risk.
- Check for fuel pump recall completion and test drive for hesitation or stalling, especially at highway speeds.
- Inspect electrical wiring and battery for signs of overheating or fire damage, as fires have been reported.
- Test drive the transmission thoroughly, looking for hard shifts, jerks, or delayed engagement, especially between gears 4-5 and 5-6.
- Check for electrical issues by starting the truck and looking for warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available'.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for outstanding recalls on the NHTSA website.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the fuel system and electrical components on the Cougar, and the transmission and electrical system on the F-150.
- Test drive both vehicles under various conditions, including highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic, to replicate reported issues.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission services on the F-150 and fuel pump replacements on the Cougar.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a dealership specializing in the respective brand to identify potential problems.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Mercury Cougar or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercury Cougar vs FORD F 150
- Mercury Cougar total complaints
- 406
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Mercury Cougar total recalls
- 11
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Mercury Cougar avg complaints/year
- 135.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Mercury Cougar
- Mercury Cougar top complaint area
- FUEL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN