RecallMyCar

1982 Mercury Cougar Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 1982 Mercury Cougar, and owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
2
owner complaints to NHTSA
0 / 1
complaints citing a crash / fire

3 safety recalls for the 1982 Mercury Cougar

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Mounting (fuel system)

    NHTSA 83V050000 Reported 170 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Some of the involved vehicles may have been produced with improperly welded fuel tank support straps. Under certain collision conditions, these straps may not be able to support the fuel tank and leaks could develop.

    Remedy: Dealer will inspect the fuel tank retaining straps for type of welds and, if necessary, replace them at no charge to owner.

  2. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)

    NHTSA 82V031000 Reported 116 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Some of the suspect vehicles may have been produced with improperly tightened propane fuel system fittings in the engine compartment; fuel leakage could occur.

    Remedy: Dealer will inspect, replace, and seal certain fuel system connections at no cost to owner.

  3. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 81V151000 Reported 3,010 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Incorrect information on tire placards constitutes a failure to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims". The information concerning tire sizes and inflation pressures is applicable to both two and four door sedans. The statement covers four door but fails to specify two door sedans.

    Remedy: Revised placards will be installed by owners, or by dealers without charge.

2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1982 Mercury Cougar have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a fire. Complaints peaked in 1995 with 1 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Ignition module failed causing vehicle to stall. Nlm”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 7, 2000 · Electrical system

Compare Mercury Cougar model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Mercury Cougar model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1962 Mercury Cougar01
1967 Mercury Cougar20
1968 Mercury Cougar10
1969 Mercury Cougar40
1970 Mercury Cougar10
1971 Mercury Cougar10
1972 Mercury Cougar10
1973 Mercury Cougar02
1974 Mercury Cougar20
1975 Mercury Cougar20
1976 Mercury Cougar10
1977 Mercury Cougar30
1978 Mercury Cougar12
1979 Mercury Cougar20
1980 Mercury Cougar12
1982 Mercury Cougar32
1983 Mercury Cougar22
1984 Mercury Cougar117
1985 Mercury Cougar110
1986 Mercury Cougar213
1987 Mercury Cougar133
1988 Mercury Cougar155
1989 Mercury Cougar481
1990 Mercury Cougar386
1991 Mercury Cougar373
1992 Mercury Cougar392
1993 Mercury Cougar3195
1994 Mercury Cougar0137
1995 Mercury Cougar0109
1996 Mercury Cougar262
1997 Mercury Cougar076
1998 Mercury Cougar01
1999 Mercury Cougar7454
2000 Mercury Cougar3211
2001 Mercury Cougar182
2002 Mercury Cougar195

Checking a specific 1982 Mercury Cougar

How do I know if my 1982 Mercury Cougar has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1982 Mercury Cougar; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Mercury dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 81V151000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Mercury models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.