The Lemon Index
20018th generation
Avoid · most complaints: electrical
Better years to buy
97 owner complaints, first 3 years 21–25 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2000 Mazda 626 942000 Honda Insight2000 Hyundai Tiburon
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Most problems on this year showed up between 23,000 and 47,000 miles (37,000–76,000 km) (the middle half of the 21 complaints, of all 97 filed so far, that listed a mileage).
- At 60K, 100K and 150K miles (97K, 161K and 241K km) Past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most.
This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not the odds that one car will have it.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 08E033000 (suspension), 06E022000 (brakes) and 04V421000 (fuel system, gasoline) done? It has 5 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Do all the lights, screens and power features work? Has the battery, alternator or any wiring been replaced?
- Any fuel smell, stalling or hard starts? On a hybrid or EV, any reduced-power warning or battery work?
- Any oil burning, leaks or check-engine lights? Ask for oil-change records.
- Mercury sent dealers 109 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Information on investigating hard start / no start conditions accompanied by overfueling in…”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Mercury's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 97 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 23K to 47K miles (37K to 76K km) on the car (21 of all 97 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
The first incident with the Mercury Cougar was on the date listed. Nom safety defect listed in summary.
2000 Mercury Cougar owner · NHTSA complaint 737258
More owner reports
The horn requires a great deal of force to operate. Yh
NHTSA complaint 551880
While driving at 30 mph the vehicle shut down and the consumer hit the curb. Dealer contacted. Please provide additional information.
NHTSA complaint 10001673
Problems Mercury told dealers about
Mercury sent dealers 109 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Information on investigating hard start / no start conditions accompanied by overfueling in…
- Intermittent hard / no
- Experiencing the battery warning lamp illuminating due to fuse 2 blowing intermittently
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 5
- Suspension · recall issued 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.
- Brakes · recall issued 2006
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES.
- Fuel system, gasoline · recall issued 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.
Show all 5 recalls
- Electrical · recall issued 2001 2.5L engines only
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L V6 ENGINES.
- Brakes · recall issued 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS).
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Fuel cost and engines
About $2,400–$2,850 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 6-cyl.
Every Mercury Cougar year. 2000 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2000 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/mercury-cougar/?y=2000" title="Mercury Cougar reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="261" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/mercury-cougar/2000/">Lemon Index</a> (2000 Mercury Cougar reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2000 Mercury Cougar reliable?
No, it is one of the worst by government complaints. It drew about twice the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 218; 100 is average, lower is better). The Mercury Cougar year with the fewest complaints per car sold is 2001.
What are the most common 2000 Mercury Cougar problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (32%), fuel system, gasoline (15%) and engine (14%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2000 Mercury Cougar have?
5 safety recalls (latest: suspension). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2000 Mercury Cougar get?
21 to 25 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2000 Mercury Cougar problems show up?
Most problems on this year showed up between 23,000 and 47,000 miles (37,000–76,000 km) (the middle half of the 21 complaints, of all 97 filed so far, that listed a mileage). At 60K, 100K and 150K miles, a 2000 is past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most. This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not a prediction for one car.
Does the 2000 Mercury Cougar have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2000 Mercury Cougar cost in fuel a year?
About $2,400 to $2,850 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2000 Mercury Cougar have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 6-cyl.
What Mercury Cougar year is better than the 2000?
Nearby, the 2001 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (a bit more than the average car's complaints).
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works