1992 Mercury Sable complaints

ENGINE MOUNTS WERE REPLACED IN RECALL 10/27/94 BUT CONTINUE TO BREAK; WHY DOESN'T FORD WANT TO FIX?*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ALL STEERING CONTROL IN VEHICLE WAS LOST. PRIVATE MECHANIC EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED REAR SUBFRAME BOLTS ON RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE HAD CORRODED/ BROKE/AND DISCONNECTED FROM VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 98V323000 DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE RESULTED IN REPAIR BILL OF $1336.18, PLUS $399.51 FOR RENTAL CAR FOR EIGHT DAYS (CAR WAS AT MECHANIC'S FROM 5/20/01 THROUGH 6/13/01, BUT I WAS ABLE TO BORROW A CAR FOR TWO WEEKS), PLUS $45 FOR TOW TO MECHANICS SHOP. MY MECHANIC HAD WARNED THAT CAR MIGHT HAVE TO STAY IN HIS SHOP FOR AT LEAST TWO WEEKS BECAUSE OF SCARCITY OF PARTS DUE TO HIGH DEMAND. AFTER HEARING THAT PARTS WERE SCARCE, I DECIDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON INTERNET AND LEARNED THAT THAT FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT HEAD-GASKET FAILURE/VULNERABILITY ON ALL 1988-95 TAURUS/SABLES (AS WELL AS OTHER FORD MODELS) SINCE 1998 (TSB 98-4-9). FORD ISSUED A LIMITED RECALL, THE COVERAGE OF WHICH INCLUDED SABLES, BUT ONLY 1994-95 MODEL YEARS, EVEN THOUGH HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AFFECTS ALL 1988-95 FORD CARS WITH 3.8L V6 ENGINES. MY CAR HAD ONLY 51,244 MILES ON IT AT TIME THAT HEAD GASKET BLEW; FURTHERMORE, MY CAR HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED, AND I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR ALL MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON VEHICLE FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. MY MECHANIC ALSO INFORMED ME THAT ALTHOUGH THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED, MY CAR IS NOT GUARANTEED AGAINST FUTURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. I BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A FULL RECALL, ONE THAT COVERS ALL 1988-95 FORD CARS WITH 3.8L V6 ENGINES  IVE LEARNED THROUGH RESEARCH THAT HEAD GASKETS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A NONMAINTENANCE ITEM AND ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR (OR AT LEAST 120,000 MILES). *AK

ORIGINAL TIRES FAILED DUE TO INTERNAL BELT SEPARATION, TIRE MODEL AND SIZE GENERAL AMERITECH P205/65R/S. *YH

HEAD GASKET FAILED. CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. THE MORNING OF 5/15/2001 CAR DID NOT START. CAR WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC, UPON HIS CHECK HE CONCLUDED THAT HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED.*AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE INTO ENGINE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO OXYGEN SENSOR AND RADIATOR. CONSUMER HAD HEAD GASKET REPLACED AT PRIVATE GARAGE.*AK

HEAD GASKET WAS CRACKED AND LEAKED COOLANT WHICH CAUSED ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. PRIVATE MECHANIC WAS REPAIRING THIS DEFECT, AND WAS GOING TO COST APPROXIMATELY $800-1200.00. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

RIGHT FRONT TIE ROD FAILED IN SELF -SERVICE CAR WASH WHEN EXITING POSITIONING CRADLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

I AM NOT A MECHANIC SO HERE GOES. I FIRST WAS DRIVING AND WHITE SMOKE BEGAN BLOWING OUT OF THE MUFFLER. I STOPPPRED THE CAR AND HAD IT TOWED TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP.HE SAID I HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET WHICH IS QUIT COMMON IN THE MERCURY SABLE.I CONTACTED SEVERAL MECHANICS WHO ALL SAID THE SAME THING,IT MUST BE A DEFECT IN THE SABLE. I HAD THAT FIXED AND BECAUSE OF THIS MY TRANSMISSION LET GO AND BLEW A ROD.*AK

THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH FORDS 3.8 LITER V6 HEAD GASKETS. MINE PERSONNELLY FAILED AT 91,000 MILE MARK AND EVERYONE ELSE I KNOW THAT OWNS ONE HAS FAILED AROUND 90,000 MILES IT SEEM TO ME THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM THIS IS A COSTLY REPAIR FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO ALL OF THE 3.8 LITERS CAN YOU PLEASE LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM SO WE CAN STOP THIS TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE FROM ACCOURING ANY MORE. THANK YOU. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

AFTER 5 VISITS AND ALMOST $1,000, MARSHALL FORD WEST IN CLEVELAND, OH FINALLY REALIZED THE ORIGNAL POPPING NOISE WAS THE RECALL - WHICH I HAD ADVISED THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS THE RECALL ITEM WHICH WAS THE SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS. I HAD TAKEN THE CAR IN AT LEAST ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, HAD TO LEASE A CAR ONE TIME, THEY GAVE ME A RENTAL ON THE NEXT 2 OCCASIONS ONLY AFTER I COMPLAINED. THEY ADVISED THAT IF THEY HAD HAD THE PARTS IN STOCK, THEY WOULD HAVE INSTALLED THE FRONT MOUNT BOLTS ALSO. AFTER 1 WEEK, THE REAR MOUNT BOLTS BEGAN POPPING AGAIN. I NEED SOMEONE TO CHECK TO SEE IF THIS WORK WAS DONE CORRECTLY. THEY BLAMED IT ON OTHER PROBLEMS, BUT THIS WAS THE PROBLEM I ORIGINALLY BROUGHT IT IN FOR. PLEASE ADVISE WHAT I CAN DO AT THIS TIME. I AM VERY UNHAPPY AND THE NOISE JUST KEEP POPPING.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISE IN FRONT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A TECHNICIAN WHERE HE TOLD CONSUMER THAT NOISE WAS COMING FROM MOTOR MOUNTS THAT WERE BROKEN. MANUFACTURER HAD TAKEN CARE OFF A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. *AK THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE REPLACED BUT THE PARTS WERE DEFECTIVE. *YH

FORD MOTOR CO. SHOULD RECALL THIS VEHICLE. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AIR CONDITIONER WENT OUT & STARTED TO MAKE WELLING NOISES. WOULD BLOW COLD AIR. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC & INFORMED CONSUMER THAT HEAT SENSORS WERE GOING UP. FAILED TO GET WARM. THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. *AK

NO WARNING, CAR HESITATED, THE A WHITE PLUME OF SMOKE CAME FROM EXHAUST.*AK

SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING.AFTER PUMP REPLACED HOSES BLEW.2000 MILES LATER,HEAD GASKET BLEW.

I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A RECALL FOR A HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT ON 94 & 95 TARUS & SABLES WITH 3.8 L ENGINES, I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 92 3.8L SABLE, THE HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED BY A MECHANIC THIS PAST SUMMER. FORD REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND OR SERVICE PROBLEM WHEN NOTIFY. WHAT RECOURSE AS A CONSUMER DO I HAVE ? *AK

DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT SEAT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL, AND VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

I AM AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE FORD 3.4 L EARLY HEAD GASKET FAILURE, NOW THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME. I HAD TO SPEND OVER $900 TO GET THE REPAIR DONE. THIS HAS IN TURN PUT ME AND MY FAMILY INTO A SERIOUS FINANCIAL SITUATION. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MANY OF THESE ENGINES, BUT IT WAS FOR 7 YEARS, LEAVING MY CAR OUT OF THAT. HOWEVER, SINCE IT HAS ONLY 65,000 MILES ON IT, I THINK FORD SHOULD RETHINK THEIR POLICY. I ALSO HAVE LEARNED THAT THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE HEAD GASKET TO BLOW AGAIN. HOW CAN FORD BE ALLOWED TO LET THIS GO ON AND ON AND ON FOR THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES? SURE, YOU CAN GET IT FIXED IF IT IS UNDER THE WARRANTY, EXTENDED OR REGULAR, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE FAILURE LATER AND THEN EVEN AGAIN AT SOME POINT. I THINK THE SITUATION IS FAR WORSE THAT FORD IS ADMITTING, THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY MORE CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM AND THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM LONG AFTER THE 7 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR MANY OF THE CARS AFFECTED. HOW CAN I HAVE MY 17 YEAR OLD CHILD GO OUT IN THE CAR AND GET STRANDED WHO KNOWS WHERE. WE LIVE IN AN AREA THAT CAN HAVE SOME LONG, DARK ROADS. SO, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR ITSELF MAY NOT BE A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM, IT IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY THREAT IF SOMEONE BREAKS DOWN IN A BAD AREA. IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS?? IS FORD BEING ALLOWED TO COVER THIS UP LIKE THEY DID WITH THE TIRES AND LIE ABOUT HOW MANY VEHICLES ARE REALLY AFFECTED A

I BOUGHT MY MERCURY SABLE IN MARCH OF 98, WITH ONLY 18,000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS PAID OFF IN MARCH OF 2000. IN OCTOBER, IT HIT THAT DEADLY MILEAGE WHERE LOTS OF SABLES AND TAURUSES BLOW THEIR HEAD GASKETS...AND YES THAT'S JUST WHAT MINE HAS DONE. I CONTACTED THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN MY TOWN AND THEY OF COURSE INSTANTLY SAID "SORRY, YOUR MODEL YEAR IS NOT INCLUDE IN THE SABLE HEAD GASKET RECALL." SO WHAT NOW. AS A SINGLE MOTHER OF TWO, EARNING $200 A WEEK, I DON'T EXPECT TO HAVE ANY SPARE MONEY UNTIL INCOME TAX RETURN TIME. RIGHT NOW I'M BORING A FRIENDS CAR. OBVIOUSLY THAT CAN'T GO ON FOREVER. THANKS FORD, FOR THE DEPENDABLE CAR!*AK

HEAD GASKETS FAILED AT APPROX 93000 MILES. THERE HAVE BEEN EXTENDED WARRANTIES ON MANY FORD MODELS WITH 3.8L ENGINES BUT NOT 1992 (YET). I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WERE WILLING TO DO TO HELP DEFRAY THE EXPENSE ($1300) OF REPLACING THE HEAD GASKETS EVEN THOUGH IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM.*AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE, POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. *MJS

ENGINE MOUNTS REPLACED UNDER RECALL 92M77 IN 1/96. I WAS ADVISED BY FORD THAT ONE REPAIR IS ALL THAT IS PERFORMED. I DON'T SEE WHY THEY SHOULDN'T REPAIR AGAIN AS OBVIOUSLY THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS FOR ENGINE MOUNTS TO FAIL EVERY 4 YEARS.

NO SUMMARY

HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN AT 100,000 MILES. IS NOT AWARE OF EXTENEDED WARRANTY FOR HEAD GASKET.*AK

THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING WAS THE INABILITY TO SHIFT THE CAR OUT OF "PARK" IN THE NORMAL WAY - START THE CAR, DEPRESS THE BRAKE AND PULL THE SHIFT LEVER DOWN. THE ONLY WAY THAT I COULD GET THE CAR INTO GEAR WAS TO PULL DOWN ON THE SHIFT LEVER WHILE TURNING THE KEY AND THEN START THE ENGINE WHILE IN NEUTRAL. I DISCOVERED, IN A CONVERSATION WITH A FORD MECHANIC, THAT THIS IS A SYMPTOM OF A FAILURE SOMEWHERE IN THE "BRAKE LIGHT" CIRCUIT. SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A BLOWN BRAKE LIGHT BULB WOULD CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. THERE WAS ANOTHER SYMPTOM THAT WAS NOT DISCUSSED WITH THE MECHANIC, AS I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS RELATED, BUT COULD IN ITSELF, CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE BY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. APPARENTLY THE DE-ACTIVATION IS CONTROLLED BY A COMPONENT WIRED INTO THE BRAKE LIGHT CIRCUIT. AFTER I GOT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORKING (DIRTY CONTACTS ON THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH), EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. THE CAR SHIFTED AS IT WAS SUPPOSE TO AND THE CRUISE CONTROL AGAIN DISENGAGED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN MY OPINION, THE INTERELATIONSHIP OF THESE COMPONENTS HAS GOOD POTENTIAL TO BE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS. IT WOULD BE EASY TO INADVERTANTLY PUT THE CAR IN FORWARD GEAR WHILE INTENDING TO PUT IT IN REVERSE WHEN STARTING IT IN NEUTRAL. THE CAR COULD ROLL WHEN STARTING IT IN THIS MANNER. THE FAILURE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL TO DISENGAGE GAVE ME THE SENSATION OF FLOORING THE CAR AND PUTTING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME. NOT USUALLY A VERY GOOD THING TO DO

I GOT IN MY CAR TO TAKE MY CHILD TO SCHOOL AND ME TO WORK LIKE EVERY OTHER DAY WE STARTED DOWN THE ROAD AND SMOKE WAS COMING OUT MY EXHAUST THAT SMELLED LIKE ANTI FREEZE, THEN MY THERMOSTAT PEGGED ITSELF ALL THE WAY HOT. *AK

SURPRISED TO SEE THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS COMPONENT AND NO RECALL ISSUED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS THIS CAR HAS CONTINUED TO STOP RUNNING WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED AND LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE CAR TO ALMOST STOP MOVING. SIX DIFFERENT MECHANICS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE, INCLUDING THE MERCURY AND FORD DEALERSHIPS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. FINANCES PREVENT THE TRADING IN OF THIS CAR. I BELIEVE FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS IGNORED IT. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHER SABLE AND TAURUS OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. CAR RUNS ROUGH, CUTS OFF, LOSES POWER, AND CONTROL IS LOST AS ENGINE DIES.

SEVERAL MECHANICS REPORTED TO ME THAT HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON THIS VEHICLE IS A VERY COMMON AND EXPENSIVE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ABSORB SOME OF THE COST OF THIS REPAIR DUE TO FAULTY CONSTRUCTION.

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LITE STILL COMES ON INTERMITTENLY FOR NO OBVIOUS REASON AND I HAVE REPLACED THE CARS WHOLE PROCESSOR AND STILL HAVE PROBLEMS. NOW I HAVE A GRINDING NOISE AND A VIBRATION WHEN I GO TO APPLY MY BRAKES. PUT NEW BRAKE SHOES ON 1 WEEK AGO AND ROTORS WERE IN GOOD SHAPE SO STILL HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM IS NOW. I HAVE EXHAUST FUMES OR GAS FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE AT TIMES. PLEASE, PLEASE HELP ME. I CAN'T AFFORD MUCH MORE. I HAVE ALL THE BASIC OIL CHANGES DONE AT 3000 MILES AND HAVE EVERY THING FIXED RIGHT AWAY. VSS HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES NOW.

HEAD GASKET FAILED IN 1999 AND NOT CONVERED BY WARRANTY, WE CHANGED THE ENTIRE ENGINE AND THE NEW ENGINE FAILED AFTER 35,000 AND STILL NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. IT'S A DISGRACE THAT A MAJOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY IS ALLOWED TO SELL SUCH INFERIOR PRODUCTS. I WOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO PASS THIS TYPE OF JUNK OFF AS ACCEPTABLE IN MY JOB! NOW WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED AGAIN AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE ARE GOING TO GET HOME AFTER BEING STRANDED OVER 1000 MILES AWAY FROM HOME!!!!

BLOWN HEAD GASKET AT 86,000 MILES $1176.00 TO REPAIR.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CAR WENT FROM 55MPH TO 20 ON THE HIGHWAY, NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET.*AK HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSED THE RADIATOR AND VALVE TO FAILE. *YH

2ND OWNER OF VEHICLE. CONFIRMED 65,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY EXTENDED WARRANTY ONLY COVERS 1994 MODELS. I FOUND THIS ABSOLUTELY UN-ACCEPTABLE. THE HEAD GASKET BLEW LONG BEFORE IT'S LIFE EXPECTANCY AND THE COVERAGE MILEAGE.*AK

THIS HEAD GASKET AND CYLINDER HEAD WERE REPLACED 2 YEARS AGO UNDER WARRANTY. NOW FORD ARE SAYING THAT IT IS NO LONGER IN WARRANTY, AND SO THEY WILL NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE CAR. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN CAUSING LEAKAGE.*ET

BLOWN HEAD GASKET ONLY 66,000 MILES

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE STOPPED OPERATING WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 60 MPH. NOTICED OVERHEATING, AND WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM TAIL PIPE. VEHICLE TOWED TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND MANUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BACKFIRE WHEN STOPPING. NLM

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE SPEED SENSITIVE STEERING "OSCILATES" BETWEEN LOW-EFFORT & HIGH-EFFORT WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A CURVE. MAKES VEHICLE TRICKY TO CONTROL. ALSO EXHIBITS INTERMITTENT PULLING TO EITHER SIDE THAT HAS NOT BEEN ELIMINATED BY THOROUGH FRONT-END MAINTENANCE. OTHERS WITH LIKE VEHICLES REPORT SAME PROBLEMS.