1999 Ford Escort vs 1999 Mercury Cougar
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1999 Ford Escort | 1999 Mercury Cougar |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 325 | 454 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 95 | 229 |
| Investigations | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 79 | 23 |
| Fire reports | 12 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25–28 | 20–25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 68,000 mi | 68,717 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Escort | Mercury Cougar |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 39 | 99 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 62 | 67 |
| Air Bags | 66 | 31 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 24 | 72 |
| Power Train | 35 | 50 |
| Suspension | 42 | 22 |
| Visibility | 8 | 52 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 13 | 39 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 40 | 48 |
| Vibration / shaking | 26 | 16 |
| Hesitation / surging | 7 | 25 |
| Clunking / rattling | 6 | 10 |
| Airbag warning light | 5 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 12 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 12 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 11 |
1999 Ford Escort
1999 Mercury Cougar
Compare all Ford Escort vs Mercury Cougar years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.