17th Jul 2004, 06:25

Well, I agree with Chris. I've had the exact same thing happen with my car regarding the flickering of the lamps/lights, flashing of the battery light until it stays on continuously after which everything starts shutting down and the car cuts off in rush hour traffic! I've just started having this problem this year and I bought my car brand new in July of 2000. I've always had it serviced at a dealership. Well it has broke down 3 times with the same problem within a month and a half. The first 2 times Pep Boys put 3 alternators and a battery on it. Well guess what it has broke down a third time with the same symptoms each time and now it's at the dealership. They put another alternator on it and said they had to rewire a harness. It's costing me $700. It sounds like the rerouting of the battery cable recall, but they are trying to tell me, there isn't any recall on my car according to the VIN number. I hate this car and is ready to get rid of it. No more Mercury cars for me.

15th Sep 2004, 20:13

I have had the same problem with my Mercury Cougar. I bought it in 2000 brand new. The lights began to dim in December of 2003 and has been an ongoing issue with the battery light flickering on, breaking down on the side of the road, and now the battery light won't turn off. I am on my 3rd battery, 5th alternator, they rewired the battery alternator harness twice, they put a new instrument cluster in the car, and now they are trying to put a new computer into the car. Thanks to a extended warranty or I wouldn't be able to do all this. I am about to give up on it though, I know I will never buy a mercury again. Its been nothing, but bad luck!

4th Mar 2005, 13:15

Three months ago, I purchased a 2000 Mercury Cougar V6. Two days ago, I am experiencing all the problems as those posted by other Cougar owners. I bought a new battery yesterday, 03/03/2005, and the problem was still not fixed. I was told this was due to the fact I need a new alternator. I called Mercury, and they also said there was no recall after checking my VIN. I WILL NOT be purchasing alternators and batteries left and right. Mercury is responsible for these defects and I think they should pay. I will never purchase another Mercury product again. Truth of the matter is... Cougars are beautiful cars, but definitely not reliable.

16th Mar 2005, 19:14

My Cougar had the flickering lights too. Replacing the alternator fixed it. It's a beautiful car that was very badly made.

17th Jun 2005, 20:29

I too have the flickering problem in my cougar. I am very surprised replacing the alternator fixed the problem. I have paid for mine to be replaced twice. No change in the flickering. As soon as I can pay off the money I have put into the repairs so far, which is a very large amount of money, this car will be sold. Good luck to whomever is the next owner!

16th Jan 2006, 01:31

I bought a 2000 mercury cougar in 2002, as my graduation present to myself. Later that year, I too began to experience the flickering lights, and dimming of the instrument panel. I have had a new alternator, complete wiring harness, 2 new batteries, and been in the shop countless times. I plan to sell the car as soon as I finish paying it off. the newest problem is that the battery light is staying on as soon as I accelerate, and does not go off. it is a beautiful car, however that does not compensate for all of its problems.

18th Nov 2006, 08:07

I also am having the same problems with the flickering lights and dimming dash. After reading all the comments I have decided to trade it in. I called the dealer and they say that there is no recall on this, and I cannot afford to put in 700.00 on something that is just gonna break again. So... I have decided to take it somewhere (during the day) and trade it in on something reliable. I did however speak to a man that had the same problem and he said a high voltage alt. is what seemed to fix the problem after he tried 3 different alt.

21st Mar 2007, 16:10

After visiting this site my mind is set on trading in my Mercury. Two days ago, my alternator went in the middle of rush hour traffic. The first garage I went to wouldn't even replace it for me. Now that it's replaced, my car is still breaking down. I'm suppose to be moving twelve hours away in two weeks and I don't even have a car to get me there. I wish I had seen this website before I bought it.

28th Jun 2007, 15:27

I agree, I've spent too much on my car, I'm gonna sell it.

3rd Jul 2007, 12:08

My wife hates her Big Cat and we are getting rid of it; replacing it with a Hyundai. Now her Cougar's temp gauge is pegging out on the hot side all the time. The dealer thought they had it fixed (for $546), but it is still doing it and it will be too expensive to replace the dash cluster!

3rd Jul 2007, 19:31

The engine is overheating, and you want to replace the 'dash cluster'...why? It does not seem as if the problem is being addressed; merely the symptom.

3rd Oct 2007, 02:16

I now have the strobe light effect occurring to my 2000 Cougar.

I have been searching the web for others with this problem in order to possibly find a solution. Unfortunately what I am finding is the same problem over and over again, but no real answers.

I am disappointed that the manufacturer is not stepping up to the plate to recall these vehicles, and will remember not to buy my next car from them because of it.

While I believed in buying American-made before, I will buy foreign-made(cars) in the future.

Very sorry I ever bought my Cougar.

1st Nov 2007, 20:42

No offense to the rest of you, but I'm glad to see others dealing with the same problems that I am dealing with my wife's cougar. On the other hand I a little angry that there are no manufacturer recalls or solutions. Not only does the strobe light dash and headlights make me dizzy, but according to the dash she's constantly out of gas, the temp gauge shows the motor freezing, then melting just seconds later. I gonna do a good deed to society and ghost ride the car into a river. Thanks for making it even more clear to me.

-Darren.

31st Jan 2008, 16:21

I also have a 2000 mercury cougar and for insurance reasons I'm not gonna say any names. I want to burn the car slap the guy who designed such a poor quality yet sharp looking car. just like everyone else has been complaining about I am having electrical issues with mine. I called the dealership about this and the service tech told me one of two things can be the problem 1. spend 700$ having your wiring harness rerouted 2. your oxygen sensors could be bad. yes, I know, sounds crazy, but after twenty minutes arguing with the tech he told me that he has personally seen 2 cases of this situation. I don't see any resolutions for this problem. Don't EVER BUY A MERCURY COUGAR UNLESS YOU LIKE CARS THAT HAVE NUMBERS OF PROBLEMS.