I have problem with transmmition shifting 1st to second changes at 3000rpm but when I change park to drive shakes motor bad, one of the wires start smoking I like I put tape around wired burnd. Temperature it doesn't show but when I open the hood the car is very hot every time I tried driving it at freeway overdrive light starts blinking I like I paid to get it fix and still does the same.

- San Rafael, CA, USA

1999 Cougar battery connection problems or something faulty. Sometimes while I'm driving my car just goes dead. It's done that a lot lately. I now have a new battery but the same thing happens and I'm scared when it happens on the freeway. Tonight I was driving on the freeway and it went dead! I had no lights, I had no tail lights, no head lights, no blinkers and no emergency lights and the car close behind me had to slam on breaks cause there was no emergency lane, no side of the road just a guard rail! I was in the middle of the road. Brand new battery just goes dead like it did many times on the older battery it's not the alternator either...something is not making a connection. I'm gonna end up squashed, dead cause on a freeway at night when the car dies everything dies: Lights, tail lights and emergency lights if im in the dark no one would see me in time to stop if im in the middle of the road.

- Center, TX, USA

I have always had my car washed and rust proofed during the winter ever 2 weeks. Last December the paint under the bottom of both the drivers and passenger doors started having the paint bubble up on both rocker panels. It started bubbling up then curling and the pain started coming off. Ive seen many other Cougar with this same problem and feel it is due to a defect in the paint that was used or something missing from the paint job that was done

- Madison, WI, USA

Exterior lights not working, replaced brand new and shut off again causing car to lock itself in park.

- Louisville, KY, USA

I am the original owner of a 1999 Mercury Cougar automatic V6. I have never been in an accident with the vehicle, but continue to have mechanical problems. Like other 1999 ' 2000 Mercury Cougar owners I worry about the safety of driving a vehicle with more problems than can cost effectively be fixed. My list of broken items include the radio, power window regulator, O2 sensors, transmission at 59,000 miles, dashboard lights (low coolant and check engine), door/window leaky seal issues, engine misfire (decreased acceleration) and now my cruise control and turn signals do not work. Upon researching the recall for cruise control fires dealing with Ford products I found that I am among other disgruntled Cougar owners. Ford/Mercury or Ford technicians have not done a satisfactory job letting owners know of recalls that need attention. My latest concern is that my Cougar might start on fire, per my complaint with Ford; they see no threat with my cruise control issues and suggested I contact the NHTSA with my complaint.

- Bloomington, MN, USA

Moonroof on a 99 Cougar doesn't work. Wasn't much of a problem until the roof flew up and cracked the windshield of the person behind me.

- Egg Harbor City, NJ, USA

Exhibiting a starter grinding noise and / or lack of starter drive engagement (from tsb). The flywheel defect first appeared in June 2001 when the Cougar was under warranty in years and mileage. When the defect surfaced, the Cougar would not kick-over immediately, however this occurred very infrequently. At the time, there was no consistent problem to recognize and rectify. Over the ensuing months the problem continued to occur intermittently. At this point, I recognized there was a possible mechanical problem. The problem I was experiencing was caused by a defective flywheel. Its teeth were soft and the defect had worn away the starter. The flywheel had to be replaced along with the starter motor and in order to complete this repair the transmission had to first be removed.

- Havertown, PA, USA

Cup holder tips over during right hand turns and spills liquid into lap of driver which takes the drivers concentration off of road. This could result in vehicle crash, property dammage, death, etc.

- Pontiac, MI, USA

Engine check light remains on while driving. Dealer contacted. Feel free to provide any further information.

- Missouri City, TX, USA

Remote will not work on trunk release nor will the release from the inside work. It has been checked out 3 times and always the same answer. Don't know why it won't open. Panel has been replaced, still will not open.

- Clanton, AL, USA

Engine light comes on intermittently. At first it starts in rainy or cold weather. Dealer inspected vehicle, and stated diagnosics showed oxygen sensor was the problem, part has not been replaced yet.

- Ladoga, IN, USA

Strip on the dash gaps and sits up.

- Capital Heights, MD, USA

Cupholder spills while turning right or going around curves to the right. Has caused slight to moderate loss of control of vehicle. A couple of occasions were near collisions. One of which being a near head-on, also the occasion in which most control was lost.

- College Station, TX, USA

Numerous times my front cupholder has collapsed while turning a corner. It has almost caused an accident on three different occasions. I have had to pay to have my seats and floor cleaned and a very good pair of pants I own are ruined because of spillage into my lap.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

The cupholder that came stock with my 1999 Mercury Cougar is definitely a safety hazard. I work at intel, where safety is our number one priority. When in use, anything that is set into the cupholder ends up on the drivers lap in the event of a right hand turn. This has almost caused accidents for me, on top of ruining my clothing. These cupholders were replaced on the 2000 model year, but those of us with the 1999 ended up with unsafe equipment. I think Ford needs to recall the poorly engineered part to prevent future injuries.

- Hillsboro, OR, USA

Several times when I have had drinks in the cup holder and made a right hand turn the drink has spilled on me and caused me to lose control of the car temporarily.

- Holtsville, NY, USA

This is a very poorly designed cup holder. I have not gotten into a accident but have come close. To use it you must hold the cup or it will flip over and spill on you because of the design. It is simple unsafe to have to hold a cup in the cup holder while making turns with a manual transmission. It is not possible to shift steer and hold the beverage in the cup holder at the same time. If you do not hold the cup holder you drink will spill on you causing serious problems the least of which is lack of attention to the road and an accident. Please investigate this I know it sounds trivial but if you look at one of these 99 cup holders you will see the problem that it causes and how if will cause accidents.

- Regina Sask, CA, USA

This is a front cup holders on the frist models of the Cougar, they are made you put it up and flip it out, you make a right turn and what ever thats in there other than a soda can will spill all over you and the car, now if it was something hot it could have caused a wreck. Ford did changed the cup holders in the middle of the 2000's.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

Cup holder continually spills drink during regular LH or rh turn. Has nearly resulted in an accident on several occasions (through lunging to catch spilled drink and losing control of vehicle) has also damaged seating fabric. Currently drive with only one hand on wheel while completing a turn in order to support drink. This is an accident waiting to happen. Most other owners of same type car are in agreement on this fact. Ford has changed design in current 2001 model to address problem - problem acknowledged internally. Previous years should be recalled as well.

- Westland, MI, USA

The cupholder had a 12 oz cup of coffee in it on my way to prom. The coffee spilled on my rented tux. Since then, it is estimated I have spilled some type of beverage 100 times. The cup holder is extremely flimsy and weak. Any right hand turn results in a spilled drink in my lap. I'm quite sick of it. Ford replaced the cupholders in 2000 becuase of so many complaints. They want $200 dollars to put a new cupholder in my car. I think there should be a recall before someone burns themselves and causes an accident and kills someone.

- Livonia, MI, USA