Model year guide

2002 Mercury Cougar

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2002 Mercury Cougar is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 14 on record.

2002 Mercury Cougar — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2002 Mercury Cougar at a glance

Safety recalls3
Owner complaints111
Combined21–24 mpg
Typical price$1,161

Free: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2002 Mercury Cougar recalls 3

Suspension NHTSA Campaign #08E033000 · 14/04/2008

FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.

Fix: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic NHTSA Campaign #06E022000 · 13/03/2006

CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA, RAYBESTOS, AIMCO, AC DELCO, CARQUEST, BENDIX, AND WAGNER. ONLY PRODUCTS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 27, 2005 THROUGH JANUARY 17, 2006 (DATE CODES 0529 THROUGH 0602) ARE SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL. WH…

Fix: AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-323-0354.

Fuel System, Gasoline NHTSA Campaign #04V421000 · 30/08/2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, CONTAMINATION OF THE FILTER IN THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE (FDM) CAN REDUCE, AND EVENTUALLY BLOCK, THE FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE.

Fix: THIS ACTION IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN AND IS NOT BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE SAFETY ACT. ALL OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FDM WITH A NEW DESIGN AT NO CHARGE IF THE OWNER REPORTS THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS ANY OF THE IDENTIFIED SYMPTOMS. THE FREE …

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2002 Mercury Cougar common problems

Owners have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA. These are the most-reported areas in a sample of the most recent — and what to check before you buy.

Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Fuel System
Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.
Gasoline
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Exterior Lighting
Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.

2002 Mercury Cougar safety ratings

Side crash★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2002 Mercury Cougar 2-DR.. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2002 Mercury Cougar MPG & running costs

Combined21–24 mpg
City19 mpg
Highway28 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,067

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 3 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

What's a 2002 Mercury Cougar worth?

Low
$700
Typical price
$1,161
High
$2,200

From 14 comparable 2002 Mercury Cougar listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2002 Mercury Cougar costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$15,335
Fuel only$15,335
Per mile$0.20

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2002 Mercury Cougar trims & engines on record

Trims
Base · Sport
Engines
2.5L 6-cyl 170 hp

2002 Mercury Cougar vehicles on record

2002 Mercury Cougar 2002 Mercury Cougar Base1ZWFT61L925616260 2002 Mercury Cougar 2002 Mercury Cougar Base1ZWFT61L125613465 2002 Mercury Cougar 2002 Mercury Cougar Base1ZWFT61L125606838 2002 Mercury Cougar 2002 Mercury Cougar Base1ZWHT61L625624180 2002 Mercury Cougar 2002 Mercury Cougar Base1ZWFT61L125614776 2002 Mercury Cougar 2002 Mercury Cougar Base1ZWHT61L925618292 2002 Mercury Cougar 2002 Mercury Cougar Base1ZWFT61L325616822 2002 Mercury Cougar 2002 Mercury Cougar Sport1ZWFT61L325621812 2002 Mercury Cougar 2002 Mercury Cougar Base1ZWFT61L125606273 2002 Mercury Cougar Base1ZWFT61L225601390 2002 Mercury Cougar 2002 Mercury Cougar Base1ZWFT61L925612841 2002 Mercury Cougar 2002 Mercury Cougar Base1ZWFT61L125622120 2002 Mercury Cougar 2002 Mercury Cougar Base1ZWFT61L625600730 2002 Mercury Cougar 2002 Mercury Cougar Base1ZWHT61L725608571

Other Mercury Cougar model years

2001 2000 1999 1997 1996 1995 1993

2002 Mercury Cougar — frequently asked questions

Does the 2002 Mercury Cougar have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2002 Mercury Cougar. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Mercury Cougar?

Owners have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA; in a sample of the most recent, the most-reported problem areas are engine, fuel system, gasoline.

What is the 2002 Mercury Cougar safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2002 Mercury Cougar crash-test ratings of side 3★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 2002 Mercury Cougar get?

The 2002 Mercury Cougar has U.S. EPA estimates of 21–24 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (3 versions).

How much is a 2002 Mercury Cougar worth?

Comparable 2002 Mercury Cougar listings run roughly $700–$2,200, typically around $1,161 (from 14 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.