Faults:

- Timing belt snapped at 117,000 miles, causing all the heads to warp (had to replace the engine).

- After replacing the engine, the gas pedal wouldn't work sometimes going up hills or trying to accelerate. After a few seconds it would finally kick in. (This freaked me out when trying to scoot through a busy intersection!) Eventually it quit doing that on its own.

- Goes through batteries like crazy.

- Trunk latch doesn't work, I have to open it manually.

- Motor for the AC died at 120,000, had to replace it.

- Check engine light stays on, every time I have it checked out they say it is the O2 sensors. I have had them replaced 4 times, check engine light still on.

- Car jerks/stutters when the RPM's are under 2,000 (just started doing this at 125,000 miles) Kind of like it doesn't want to go.

- Rubber piece on the drivers side window keeps popping up, like the glue was bad.

- Defrost vents in the front keep popping out.

- If I left it idle for more than a few minutes on cold mornings, the flashing airbag light comes on and stays on.

- The heat is terrible, it takes me 20 minutes to get to work and the air has barely warmed up to more than the outside temp by the time I get there.

General Comments:

It does get awesome gas mileage! I get about 31 city and 35 hwy.

Faults:

Fuel pump failed at 36,000 miles, and at 50,000 miles.

Alternator failed twice at 150,000 miles.

Trunk's electric latch failed at 55,000 miles.

Front wheel bearings failed at 75,000 miles.

Steering pump failed at 150,000 miles.

General Comments:

This version of the Cougar had recalls on the alternator wiring and fuel pumps. Many owners had problems similar to mine, but some had very serious engine failure problems. This version of the Cougar is most obviously a lemon. But, keep in mind that it has the Duratec engine, which is one of best engines made by Ford. The Duratec is based an engine originally designed and developed by Porsche. These engines have lifespans around the 150,000 miles mark, but my engine now has 165,000 on it. And, I have seen some engines with 200,000 miles or more.

Faults:

Just recently purchased the car about a week and a half ago. Was lied to about buying the car. The guy told me it had new brakes, rotors, the whole works. He said there is nothing wrong at all with the car besides the body damage that I already knew about, and the passenger window I guess gets stuck when trying to roll it down.

So far after getting the car for only $2,500, I have put over the same amount in fixing it. Had to replace the brakes and rotors yesterday, and now it has a weird steering problem. What happens is that I drive and it will just want to turn suddenly. It does not do well on the freeway at all. Can't go over 50mph or the steering gets out of control.

The coolant light turns on and off every once in a while, the lights behind the gas meter are dimmer, then the rest of the dash, and the check engine light is on. Also the suspension for some reason is shot.

General Comments:

So pretty much just trying to figure out what is going on with the steering problem? And why can I roll down the passenger window, but can't roll it back up. Only once in a while I can with my buttons on the driver's side.

Can I do a CarFax report on the car to see if the recalls were made to my car? Or how can I find that out?

The car in general is great. But my check book is becoming empty quick.

Please email me at reradr2007@yahoo.com