1994 Mercury Sable complaints

VEHICLE WILL STALL. *AK

REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED DUE TO MAKING NOISE. *SLC

THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED TEMPORARILY WHILE DRIVING. *YH

WHILE DRIVING IN THE TRAFFIC ENGINE WILL START LOSING POWER WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THEN ENGINE WILL STALL. *AK

DEALER CANNOT FIND OUT WHY AUTO STOPS WHEN ENGINE IS HOT.*AK

ENGINE CONSTANTLY OVERHEATED. *AK

DEALER CANNOT FIND OUT WHY ENGINE JUST DIES.*AK AFTER THE VEHICLE STALL, THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE, BUT THE VEHICLE STALL AGAIN AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WAS DOING NOTHING TO SOLVE IT. *YH

BOUGHT CAR USED, AS IS. INQUIRED ABOUT RECALLS, ETC. TOLD THERE WERE NONE. SALESMAN SAID HE RAN CARFAX & NOTHING SHOWED UP. ASKED IF ENGINE WAS ORIGINAL ENGINE, ANY MAJOR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS, ETC. WAS TOLD "NO". PURCHASED CAR @ BILL PENNEY TOYOTA. FIRST DAY DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF, UNDERSIDE DRIVER'S SEAT TRACK COVER CAME OFF & SUNROOF CAME OPEN & WOULDN'T SHUT. PANELING FELL OFF. 1ST WEEK THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON - CAR BEGAN USING 2 QTS OF OIL EVERY 2-3 DAYS. TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP. TOLD IT HAD A NEW ENGINE & SHOULDN'T BE HAVING PROBLEMS. OIL CONSUMPTION TEST RUN. BEGAN CHECKING CAR'S HISTORY. FOUND PREVIOUS OWNER BOUGHT THE CAR 4-2000 & THE DEALERSHIP BOUGHT IT BACK 6-2000. HEAD GASKET CHANGED 3X. THE DEALERSHIP SENT CAR TO WOODY ANDERSON FORD. HAD A NEW ENGINE PUT IN IT (THEY SAY). BILL PENNEY KEPT CAR 1 WEEK. SAID PROBLEM WAS UNDER A MFG. WARRANTY ON THE ENGINE ALTHOUGH THEY SOLD ME A WARRANTY FOR $1,000 FOR WHAT WAS ALREADY UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SENT CAR TO WOODY ANDERSON FORD; FORD KEPT IT FOR A WEEK. THEN CALLED & TOLD ME TO PICK IT UP; THERE WASN'T ANYTHING WRONG W/IT. HAD TO RENT A CAR. WARRANTY STS THEY PROVIDE ONE. CAR IS NOT FIXED. IT'S A RECURRING PROBLEM FROM ORIGINAL OWNER. ENGINE PUT IN CAR NEVER PUT ON RECORD. 4 VIN #'S HAVE BEEN USED ON PAPERWORK. MET WITH PREVIOUS OWNER. ALL FAULTS I HAD W/CAR SHE HAD AS WELL. DEALERSHIP SAYS MY TOUGH LUCK; MAYBE I LEARNED A LESSON. MFG. WON'T FIX. DENIES PROBLEM. *AK

THERE WAS A RECALL ON HEAD GASKET. AFTER VEHICLE WAS FIXED CONSUMER WAS SENT A LETTER STATING THAT THERE WOULD BE AN EXTENED WARRANTY ON HEAD GASKET.*AK

TORSION BAR LINKS, IN BOTH FRONT AND REAR ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE FAILED, CAUSING LOUD NOISES AND POOR CONTROL.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES STALLING, DEALER CAN NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM, POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. *SLC

TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT ONLY 28500 MILES, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A REFUND. *SLC

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AT ANY SPEED. HAS BEEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON A LOT. *AK

KNOCK WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER COASTING. AUTO IS 100% DEALER SERVICED. ENTIRE VEHICLE CHECKED FOR 4 DAYS AND CAUSE CANNOT BE DETERMINED. I WAS ADVISED THE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE WOULD NOT RESPOND AS AUTO PAST WARRANTY PERIOD. *AK

MOUNTS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 98V-323, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

ACCORDING TO RECALL 00M09 AND A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, THE CONSUMER QUALIFIED FOR $4000 CUSTOMER FOCUS CERTIFICATE TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A NEW OR LEASED LINCOLN/MERCURY, THE CONSUMER SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO STATED THAT HE DID NOT QUALIFY. *SLC

I HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMPS AND HOSES REPLACED TWO TIMES, THIS HAS COSTED ME OVER 600.00 DOLLARS AND IT IS STILL LEAKING FLUID ON MY EXHAUST CAUSING MY CAR TO SMOKE. *AK

AFTER DRIVING FROM SOME TIME DURING HOT WEATHER, AND IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH SLOW SPEEDS, THE ENGINE LOSES POWER FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART UNTIL 1/2 TO 1 HOURS COOLDOWN TIME HAD PASSED. I BELEIVE THIS IS RELATED TO THE IMPROPER PLACEMENT OF THE TFI MODULE. MY FAMILY, INCLUDING 2 CHILDREN, WERE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE TURNING LANE IN BUSY TRAFFIC DUE TO THIS FAULTY MODULE. THIS OCCURED TWICE DURING OUR VACATION IN JUNE, BOTH DRIVING TO AND RETURNING FROM SUNRIVER, OREGON. I HAVE NOTIFIED FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THEY HAVE RESPONDED BY SIMPLY SAYING THAT THE GOVERNEMENT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL DUE TO THIS ITEM. I WOULD LIKE TO ADVISED YOU THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM WHICH SHOULD BE CORRECTED.*AK

GENERAL TIRE TREAD PEELED OFF WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, CAUSING DAMAGED TO AUTOMOBILE. *AK

I AM A MERCURY SABLE 1994 OWNER. AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK TODAY, I BEGAN TO HAVE ENGINE TROUBLE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A NEARBY GARAGE. I WAS INFORMED LATER THIS MORNING THAT I HAD BLOWN A HEAD GASKET. THE GARAGE SUGGESTED THAT I TOW THE CAR TO A NEARBY FORD DEALER, NOVATO FORD. REMEMBERING THAT FORD HAD ISSUED A LETTER REGARDING HEAD GASKETS AND BEFORE TOWING TO THE NOVATO FORD DEALERSHIP, I DECIDED TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION, THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THAT HE ALSO REMEMBERED THIS "HEAD GASKET" SITUATION AND PUT ME ON HOLD. WHEN HE RETURNED HE INFORMED ME THAT SINCE MY MILEAGE WAS OVER 100,000 (CURRENTLY 105,693), I WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. I THEN CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE 800 392-3673 AND REFERENCED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE UNDER SERVICE PROGRAM, #98M01. QUOTING THE LETTER - THE LETTER STATES, "FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS PROVIDING EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE UNDER SERVICE PROGRAM, #98M01, TO OWNERS OF 1994 AND 1995 TAURUS AND SABLE AND 1995 WINDSTAR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L FWD ENGINE. REASON FOR THIS PROGRAM: PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKETS MAY OCCUR AND MAY RESULT IN ENGINE OVERHEATING OR IN EXTREME CASES COULD CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE IF THE OVERHEAT CONDITION IS IGNORED. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE IS FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S COMMITMENT TO CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AND WE ARE TAKING THIS ACTION AS PART OF OUR ONGOING EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN YOUR CONFIDENCE IN OUR PRODUCTS." I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO

WHILE ON A TRIP ACROSS COUNTRY DURING THE SUMMER THE VEHICLE SATLLED OUT OVER A DOZEN TIMES ON BUSY INTERSTATES OR WHEN GOING UP OR DOWN HILL. NLM

COMPRESSOR LOCK UP,BROKE SURPENTINE BELT,WRAP AROUND DAMPER DAMAGED OIL SEAL &DAMPER BROKE OR CRACK A/C LINES. REPLACED A/C COMPRESSOR A/C MUFFLER ASSY & O RINGS & EVAC & RECHARGE SYSTEM....REAR PASSENGER DOOR, REPLACED WINDOW MOTOR , PASSENGER DOOR , REPLACED WINDOW MOTOR & SWITCH. STEERING HANGS UP OR GETS STUCK,MAKES WINING NOISE, FRONT END RATTLES,POPS &MAKES CRACKING NOISE,REAR AXLE SOUNDS LIKE ITS GOING TO FALL OUT,WORSE CAR I'VE EVER OWNED!

WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT SLOW SPEEDS VEHICLE JUST SHUTS DOWN. ALSO, IF THE WEATHER IS VERY HOT AND THE A/C IS RUNNING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF. VEHICLE STARTS UP AGAIN ONCE IT COOLS OFF. TIME VARIES DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR TWO YEARS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE PROBABLY NEEDED A FUEL PUMP OR FUEL TANK. *AK

WHEN PUTTING ON BRAKES STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VERY BADLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC. MECHANICSAID THAT 2 INNER TIE RODS WERE DEFECTIVE, AND THAT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SHAKING.*AK

MY MERCURY SABLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS CONDITION HAS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. IN EACH SITUATION, THE WEATHER WAS VERY WARM AND THE ENGINE HOT. IN ONE CASE, I WAS TRAVELLING AT 60 MPH IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND HAD TO QUICKLY GET TO THE BERM OF THE ROAD NARROWLY ESCAPING INJURY OR DEATH. IN THE REMAINING OCCURRANCES, THE ENGINE STALLED WHEN IN CITY TRAFFIC. I KNOW VEHICLES MAY BE RECALLED IN CALIFORNIA FOR THIS TYPE OF DEFECT AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT PART TO REPLACE FOR MY OWN SAFETY EVEN IF NOT RECALLED. ALSO, HOW CAN I IDENTIFY THE BAD PARTS SO THAT I KNOW THAT THE NEW PART I'M INSTALLING ISN'T ALSO DEFECTIVE.

MY CAR HAS STALLED ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT OTHER TIMES STOPPED AND AT OTHER TIMES AFTER STARTING THE CAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR BACK AT THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND I AM STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM.

MY TRANSMISSION MAKES A LOUD THUMP NOISE WHEN THE CAR IS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE. ALSO WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN PRESS THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR SEEMS TO BE IN NEUTRAL AND THEN AFTER A FEW SECONDS GOES INTO GEAR AND LAUNCHES FORWARD. WHILE DRIVING, MY SPEEDOMETER WILL BE ACCURATE, AND THEN JUST READ ZERO FOR A WHILE AND THEN WILL START WORKING AGAIN. MY AIR CONDITIONING WAS NOT WORKING FOR A WHILE AND IT JUST RECENTLY STARTED WORKING AGAIN, BUT OFTEN MAKES A LOUD HIGH PITCHED SCREAMING NOISE. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT ONE OR MORE OF MY MOTOR MOUNTS IS LOOSE OR BROKEN BECAUSE WHEN I SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION INTO GEAR, THE ENTIRE ENGINE SEEMS TO JUMP UP AND THEN COME DOWN AND JERK THE WHOLE CAR.*AK

TRANSMISSION: AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING AWHILE AND THE CAR GEARS DOWN FOR WHAT EVER REASON, THE AR WON'T RESPOND TO ACCELERATION FROM GEAR DOWN. WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED TO CONTINUE FORWARD OR REVERSE MOTION THE CAR WON'T RESPOND. FINALLY AFTER EITHER HAVING SAT FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES OR AFTER HAVING REVED THE ENGINE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THE TRANSMISSION WILL ENGAGE. AIR CONDITIONING: THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS ALREADY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED THE AC ONCE AND IT DID WORK FOR A SHORT PERIOD AFTERWARDS. THE AC DOESN'T BLOW COLD AIR. ALL OF THE MAJOR COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED.*AK

HEAD GAASKET RECALL. DEALER SAID WATER PUMP IS ALSO SUSPECT IN THIS

CONSUMER HAD TRANSMISSION SERVICED AT 31,000 MILES. 9 MONTHS LATER, CONSUMER WAS BACKING CAR OUT OF GARAGE AND COULDN'T SHIFT GEARS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND SHE WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION.*AK A/C MAIN LINE FAILED. RADIATOR FAILED. RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED. *YH

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS, CAUSING POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING TO LOCK UP. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND CANT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK LIGHTS FLICKERING OFF WHILE DRIVEING AT NIGHT DUE TO SWITCH FAILURE BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. *YH

ON MAY 26, 1999, I WAS DRIVING PAST JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN ON I-90 AT 65 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR STARTED SHAKING AND I HEARD A THUMP ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE. I ALSO SAW TIRE TREAD FLY OUT FROM UNDER MY CAR IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. I GOT OUT TO SEE WHICH TIRE WAS FLAT. THERE WAS NO FLAT TIRE, HOWEVER ON CLOSER INSPECTION, I SAW THAT ALL OF THE TREAD CAME OFF OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. I MANAGED TO LIMP ALONG ON THE SHOULDER AND EXIT I-90. I WENT TO THE CLOSEST TIRE CENTER ( GOODYEAR ) AND BOUGHT FOUR NEW TIRES. I AM SENDING THIS REPORT BECAUSE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE P235 FIRESTONE/BRIDGESTONE TIRES. I THINK THE NHTSA SHOULD START INVESTIGATING OTHER TIRE SIZES BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO ME LAST YEAR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROMPT CONSIDERATION IN THIS VERY IMPORTANT MATTER.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 205/65R15S )

CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL RELATED TO THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE, ADDITIONAL REPAIRS MADE PRIOR TO KNOWLEDGE (ALTERNATOR, THERMOSTAT, ENGINE SEALS, BELTS), CONSUMER IS BEING DENIED RECALL REPAIR DUE TO MILEAGE. *MJS

A RECALL (OOM09) WAS ISSUED IN MARCH OF 2000 EXTENDING A RECALL ISSUED IN OCTOBER, 1999. BECAUSE I DID NOT RECEIVE THE LETTER I WAS NOT APPRISED OF THE WARNING SIGNALS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. IF I HAD RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER I WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE AUTO TO A DEALER AND HAD THE HEAD GASKETS CHECKED. THE HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS HESITANT ABOUT REPAIRING THE AUTOMOBILE BECAUSE AT THE TIME OF FAILURE THE MILEAGE EXCEEDED THE 100,000 MILE/7 YEAR RECALL PARAMETER. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE OR REPAIR 9 MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THIS AUTOMOBILE; ALTERNATOR, FUEL LINE, TRANSMISSION, CLUTCH, AIR CONDITIONER, BELTS, THERMOSTAT (DESTROYED BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE HEAT PRECIPITATED BY HEAD GASKET FAILURE), ETC. I THINK FORD SHOULD BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DAMAGE AND SHOULD REPAIR THE AUTOMOBILE AT THEIR EXPENSE BECAUSE OF LACK OF NOTIFICATION. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN OCTOBER AND FORD SHOULD HAVE HAD ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION VIA THE COMPUTER DATABASE. FORD IS HESITANT TO REPAIR THE CAR AND IS IN THE MIDST IF A WAITING GAME. THIS

VEHICLE IS BUCKING WHILE DRIVING, TRANSMISSION IS ALSO NOT STAYING IN GEAR. *SLC

CONSUMER RECEIVED LETTER REGARDING EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR HEAD GASKETS. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM IT BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE. CONSUMER WAS DEFINTELY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE STALLING/ OVERHEATING, AND HEAVY BLACK SMOKE. ALSO, LOSS OF COOLANT. *AK

A PART INSIDE TRANSMISSION BOX IS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING DAMAGE. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT ONLY 50,000 MILES. *AK

VEHICLE CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING DUE TO THE FUEL INJECTORS HEATING UP FUEL IN THE GAS TANK. WHEN FUEL GETS HOT VEHICLE CUTS OFF, AND THE AIR CONDITIONER DOES NOT FUNCTION. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE AND CAN'T FIX IT. *AK

MECHANIC STATES THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 3.8 L ENGINES AND WHEN FIXED HEAD GASKETS USUALLY WILL GO. NOSAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY AT 62000 MILES. DEALER STATED IT COULD NOT BE REPLACED WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION BECAUSE ALL TRANSMISSION KEPT BLOWING UP POSSIBLY DUE TO A DEFECT IN VALVE. *AK

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING CRASH INTO TELEPHONE POLE & TREE, OCCUPANT BODILY INJURY, CAR TOTALLED.

TRANSMISSION DOES NOT WANT TO ENGAGE AFTER VEHICLE HAS COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. PROBLEM IS KNOW IN THE REPAIR INDUSTRY AS A FAULTY FORD TRANSMISSION PISTON. I UNDERSTAND FORD HAD A MAJOR PROBLEM AND REDESIGNED THIS PART FOR TRANSMISSIONS STARTING WITH THE 1995 MODEL. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY HEADLIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE, RESULTING IN POOR VISIBLITY. RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE'S MAKE/MODEL. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

EVERY 10,000 MILES SERPENTINE BELT WILL SHREAD AND FALL APART DUE TO ALIGNMENT OF PULLEY, AND TERMINAL BALL BEARING THAT MELTED, CAUSING TENSIONER TO LOCK UP.

TIMING COVER GASKET AND HEAD GASKET FAILED, RESULTING IN COOLANT LOSS. *AK

MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE. YH

BOTH MOTOR MOUNTS ARE CRACKED ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE HEARD LOT OF OTHER SABLE OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH LOWER MILEAGE THAN MY CAR. THANK YOU. *AK

CONSUMER HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS AGAIN BUT WAS TOLD TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT BE COVERED BECAUSE THE WARRENTY WAS UP, THIS WILL BE THE CAR THIRD TRANSMISSION. NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ENGINE BLEW DUE TO A DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF HEAD GASKET.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK