# 2000 MERCURY COUGAR — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
> NHTSA complaint `427924` · 2003-09-01 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** MERCURY
- **Model:** COUGAR
- **Year:** 2000
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
- **Miles at failure:** 60,000
## Narrative
ALTERNATOR IN MY 2000 MERCURY COUGAR FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME.  THE CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND I AM STUCK WITH THE BILL.  FAILURE WAS FOLLOWED BY SMOKING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH STEADILY INCREASED, SMALL FIRE EVOLVED SOON AFTERWARD.  WAS ABLE TO PUT IT OUT WITH A BOTTLE OF COKE (A BRAND THAT HAS NEVER LET ME DOWN).  I WAS ASSURED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS ISSUE WAS TAKEN CARE OF SOME TIME AGO.  I HAVE HATED THIS CAR FOR ALL OF ITS PROBLEMS AND HAVE SUCCESSFULLY STEERED PEOPLE AWAY FROM FORD PRODUCTS.  I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER DOMESTIC VEHICLE FOR AS LONG AS I LIVE.  *AK
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*