# Recalls that may apply to the 1988 Mercury Cougar

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

## United States (NHTSA), as of 2026-10-19

- [96V071000](/recalls/nhtsa/96V071000.md), 1996-04-25: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION. THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT. Built 1987\-08\-01 to 1992\-09\-30.

## Canada (Transport Canada), as of 2026-10-19

- [1995212](/recalls/tc/1995212.md), 1995-11-29: Electrical. A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD DEVELOP IN THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT COULD LEAD TO OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CONDITION MAY OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE OR UNATTENDED.  CORRECTION: IGNITION SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED WITH A REVISED DESIGN SWITCH.
- [1994162](/recalls/tc/1994162.md), 1994-10-24: Emissions. Certain Cougar XR\-7, Tunderbird turbo, and Merkur XR4TI vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of CMVSS 1103 \- Exhaust Emissions.  Correction: Dealers will replace the exhaust system catalyst and a vacuum delay valve will be installed in the EGC vacuum line.
- [1992098](/recalls/tc/1992098.md), 1992-08-21: Emissions. NOTE: VEHICLES WITH 3.8 LITRE ENGINES.  THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1103 \- EXHAUST EMISSIONS.  THE SUBSTRATE MATERIAL IN THE CATALYSTS MAY RATTLE AND BREAK UP DURING  NORMAL USE CAUSING EXHAUST EMISSIONS TO EXCEED THE STANDARD.  CORRECTION: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND CATALYST WILL BE REPLACED  WHERE NECESSARY.

## Check a VIN

- [NHTSA recall lookup by VIN, United States](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)
- [Transport Canada recall search, Canada](https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/menu.aspx?lang=eng)

Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.

JSON: [/v1/vehicles/1988_mercury_cougar/recalls](/v1/vehicles/1988_mercury_cougar/recalls)

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