1996 Mercury Sable complaints

WHILE DRIVING, REAR HIGH BRAKE LIGHT COVER FELL OFF INTO TRAFFIC. COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO OTHER GEARS. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*JB

THE OUTER DOOR HANDLES BECOME INOPERABLE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS LEFT IN THE RAIN. CONDITION VARIES FROM TOTALLY INOPERABLE TO DIFFICULT TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE OPENS EASILY FROM THE INSIDE. IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED ONCE ON THE FRONT LEFT DOOR. THE DEALER NEVER HEARD OF THAT HAPPENING BEFORE. IF YOU SLAM THE DOOR REAL HARD IT FIXES ITSELF. WHEN THE CONDITION GOES AWAY THE DOORS OPEN LIKE NEW AGAIN UNTIL ANOTHER RAIN. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT THE JACK FOLDED THE FIRST TIME BEING USED. *JG

THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. AND THE SLIDDING DOOR WILL UNEXPECTLY OPEN WHILE TRAVELING.*JB

BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES CONSUMER WILL ALSO STEP ON GAS PEDAL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *TT

AFTER PUTTING VEHICLE IN PARK IT ROLLED FORWARD. HAD TO APPLY BRAKES FOR VEHICLE TO STOP. VEHICHLE WAS NOT ON A HILL.*AK

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I USED THE JACK. AS I WAS TIGHTENING THE LAST LUG NUT THE JACK COLLAPSED. IT WAS ON A FLAT ASPHALT SURFACE. THE HINGES OF THE JACK HAD BROKEN.

TRANSMISSION HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE CONSUMER PURCHASED AUTOMOBILE. HE HAD TAKEN AUTOMOBILE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR TRANSMISSION REPAIRS FIVE TIMES.*AK TRANSMISSION SHIFTS IMPROPERLY AND BANGS IN TO GEAR IN CERTAIN DOWN SHIFT CIRCUMSTANCE. THE TRANSMISSION DEALER REPLACED A SWITCH AND ADJUSTED TWO BANDS. *YH

WHEN REVERSE IS ENGAGED IT TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL ENGAGE. MOST TRANSMISSIONS WHEN PUT IN GEAR WORK IMEDIATELY. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE PAID EVERY TIME TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED AND IT CONSTANTLY REVERTS TO THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

AFTER HITTING A DEER AT 25MPH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND THEN DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG BURSTED. TWO PASSENGERS WERE INJURED.

VEHICLE STALLS EVERY TIME IN RAINY WEATHER, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON 5 OCCASIONS, DEALER REPLACED SERPENTINE BELT AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS DESIGNING A GUARD TO PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF NEW GUARD. *TT

SEALED HEADLIGHT COVERS HAVE BECOME DULL AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT.*AKCONSUMER STATES HEADLIGHT COVERS ARE DEFECTIVE.*JB

THE DOOR PANELS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE SINCE MY OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR. I KEEP TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAVE MY CAR SERVICED AND THEY KEEP CHARGING ME FOR PUTTING THEM BACK TOGETHER. THE NEVER SEEM TO LAST LONGER THAN 6 MONTHS. *AK

COOLANT TURNED TO ACID AND CAUSE CORRUSION TO HEATER PLUG AND WATER PUMP.DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

A BOLT HOLDING THE RIGHT FRONT SUBFRAME CAME RIPPED AWAY FROM ITS BRACKET. IT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND RIPPED A VACCUM LINE FROM THE BRAKE DISTRIBUTION ASSEMBLY LOCATED ON THE FIREWALL. I LOST THE POWER ASSIST FOR THE BRAKES AND FORTUNATELY IT HAPPENED AT A SLOW SPEED. IT COST ME APPROXIMATELY $315.00 TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED.*AK

THE SEAT BELTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT SEAT, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE BECAME INOPERABLE AT APPROXIMATELY 50000 MILES. WE DIDN'T NOTICE THAT THEY WERE INOPERABLE, ONLY THAT THE BELTS WOULD CATCH IN THE DOOR WHEN WE SHUT THE DOOR. AFTER A WHILE, AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT, WE REALIZED THAT THE REASON THAT THE BELTS WERE GETTING CAUGHT IN THE DOOR WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT RETRACTING PROPERLY. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, WALSER LINCOLN-MERCURY AT THE ABOVE ADDRESS. THE SEAT BELTS ON BOTH SIDES WERE REPLACED ON 1/8/02. THE PASSENGER SEAT IS USED FOR LESS THAN HALF OF THE MILES DRIVEN. I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF ONE OF THE BELTS FAILED BUT DON'T THINK THAT BOTH BELTS SHOULD FAIL. THAT SEEMS LIKE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IS LIKELY.*AK

CAR STALLED, THOUGHT IT TO BE ALTENATOR, TOWED TO MY MECHANIC, FOUND THAT THE OIL PUMP GREAR WAS STRIPPED, AND ENGINE FROZE UP, DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICANT. HD TO REPLACE WITH REMANUFACTURED ENGINE, CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED AS REQUIRED FROM THE DAY IT WAS PURCHASED NEW, WITH ALL SERVICE RECORDS RETAINED. COST $4400.00 TO REPLACE. FEEL IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. WAS OUT OF WARRENTY, BUT ENGINE STILL ONLY HAD 31613 MILES ON IT.

THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THEY FIX IT AND IT STILL KEEPS ON BREAKING DOWN. DRIVER DOOR WON'T LOCK, ROOF LIGHT STAYS ON, PANEL LIGHT INDICATING ALL DOORS ARE OPEN STAYS LIT. THEN IT GOES OFF AND THEN ON. ITS A CONTINOUS THING THAT HAPPENS. YESTERDAY. 11-28-01 IT WOULD NOT START. I BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY AND SOMETIMES IT STARTS AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. DO I QUALIFY TO GET A LOANER VEHICLE UNTIL THEY FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THEY DON'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY ANSWERS YET. MY VEHICLE IS PAID OFF SINCE OF LAST MONTH. ERLINDA L. PICAZO

COOLANT INSIDE VEHICLE HAS DETERIORATED, CAUSING ENGINE TO RUST. PLEASE ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

FRONT HEAD LIGHTS LENS FAILED. *YH

RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY IN FEB 2000. CURRENTLY, IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*AK CONSUMER STATES DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION THE FIRST TIME, AND NOW THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN THEY ARE REFUSING, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP THAT THINGS JUST HAPPEN.*JB

AT 14,000 MILE VEHICLE COMMENCES TO ACCELERATE INTERMITTENTLY AND MOMENTARILY WHILE BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED FROM A STOP POSITION. SUDDEN ACCELERATION WOULD LAST FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE OR LESS. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *SLC

THE LEFT FRONT SPRING PIERCED THE FRONT TIRE, AFTER IT HAD BROKEN IN TWO WHILE CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, DEALER FOUND PASSENGER SPRING, STABLIZER LINK, AND STRUT BEARING BROKEN, BOTH SPRINGS WERE REPLACED.*JB MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *TT

I WAS TRAVELING HOME FROM MY FIRST LONG DISTANCE TRIP FROM NAPA, CA. TO VENTURA, CA. WHEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE CARS TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT STRAIGHT TO HOT, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR LOST TOTAL POWER, RESULT? TWO BLOWN HEAD GASKETS, NUMEROUS COOLING PARTS REPLACED. WHEN FORD WAS CONTACTED ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT FOR A KNOWN DEFECT (HEAD GASKETS) THEY SAID THE GOODWILL POLICY DOESN'T COUNT IN MY CASE BECAUSE I TOOK IT TO A REPAIRSHOP OTHER THAN FORD. SO HERE I AM OUT $2,724.62 REPAIR COSTS $400. TOWING COST AND ANOTHER $250. IN RENTAL COST. I BELIEVE THAT I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED MY COSTS EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED BY FORD, BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE EXTENDED "GOODWILL" WARRANTY UNTIL AFTER THE FACT. SO HERE IS ANOTHER SOB STORY ABOUT DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS NOT BEING FIXED. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO FIX IT. *AK

VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING. COOLING SYSTEM BROKE DOWN TO SOON AND CAUSED EROSION. FORD DEVELOPED A REPAIR KIT FOR COOLING SYSTEM. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER PAID HALF OF THE COST. *AK

CONSUMER IS HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE, ENGINE OVERHEATS AND AT TIMES STALLS.*AK RADIATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES, HEADGASKETS WERE REPLACED AND FINALLY ENGINE WAS REPLACED. SHOCKS WERE REPLACED. *SLC

THE VEHICLES ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE, THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECENTLY HAD THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM

FRONT FROST PLUG BROKE AND COOLANT LEAKED. CONSUMER HAD ENGINE REPLACED . FORD HAD A TSB / VOLUNTARY RECALL ON VEHICLE FOR THAT PROBLEM. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

COOLANT TURNED TO A RUSTY SLUGGY MIXTURE. FREEZE OUT PLUGS HAD TO BE REPLACED AND SYSTEM FLUSHED. NEW COOLANT WAS ADDED AND IT IS ALREADY TURNING BROWN AGAIN. FORD DID DO THE WORK FOR FREE, BUT TOLD ME I WAS ON MY OWN IF IT OCCURED AGAIN. HAVE LEARNED THROUGH VARIOUS PEOPLE THAT THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO THEIR SABLE AND TAURUS CARS. TRANSMISSION HAS ALSO HAD TO REPAIRED AT A COST TO ME OF $1750.00. WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP THE CAR WILL THEN NOT GO FORWARD. YOU HAVE TO PRESS IN ON THE GAS AND MAKE IT LUNGE FORWARD, SOMETIMES CAUSING THE TIRES TO "BURN RUBBER" ! WE BROUGHT THIS PROBLEM TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THREE YEARS AGO AND EACH TIME WE TOOK THE CAR IN THE SERVICE STAFF INFORMED US THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. ON LAST VISIT IS WHEN THE COOLANT PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERD. WAS TOLD THAT OUR CAR HAD "CANCER" AND SHOULD GET RID OF IT, BUT NOT AT THEIR DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION WAS A FORWARD ENGAGEMENT PISTON. THE COMPANY THAT MADE THE REPAIR HAD THREE OTHER SABLES IN THE SHOP WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM - EACH WITH NO SUPPORT FROM FORD. EACH WERE PAYING $1750.00. HELP!!!*AK

WHILE IN PARK ENGINE WOULD IDLE AT A VERY HIGH SPEED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT ANY GIVEN SPEED VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN, AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *CONSUMER HAS NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP.*AK

TWO BOXES (ABOUT 30-40 LBS EACH) IN TRUNK SLID FORWARD UPON HARD, EMERGENCY BRAKING FROM ABOUT 25 MPH. BOXES SLAMMED INTO RIGHT REAR FOLD DOWN SEAT BACK, CAUSING SEAT BACK TO OPEN. BOXES ENTERED INTO RIGHT REAR SEATING AREA. TODDLER IN CHILD SEAT ON LEFT REAR SIDE. NO INJURIES.

WHEN VEHICLE SHIFTS GEARS RPMS STAY AT 1800-2000, WILL NOT GO DOWN, CONSUMER HAS TO SHUT OFF ENGINE AND RESTART. TO DEALER WHO REPLACED AIR BYPASS VALVE, THEN THROTTLE POSITIONER, COERRECTED PROBLEM FOR A SHORT TIME ONLY.*AK AIR BYPASS VALVE AND THROTTLE POSITIONER SENSOR WERE REPLACED ON WARRANTY. *YH

I HAVE A NUMBER OF WORRIES WITH MY VEHICLE. THE FOLLOWING ARE: WHEN PLAYING THE RADIO/TAPE DECK, YOU HEAR A LOUD BUZZING NOISE COMING THROUGH THE SPEAKERS EVEN IF THE RADIO IS TURNED DOWN; WHEN STEERING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT YOU'LL HEAR A CRANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF CAR; CAR DOES NOT ABSORB BUMPS AT ALL, IT ROCKS, MAKES KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM SOMEWHERE NEAR WHEELS; WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 50-70 MPH, CAR WILL SWAY, LIKE A WIND IS BLOWING IT AWAY; FEUL SENSOR WILL FLOAT, YOU CAN NOT COUNT ON IT TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE; TRUNK HOOD FLIPS UP IN THE AIR SO FAST AND HARD, I HAVE STUNTED MY FINGERS BEFORE ON IT; THE DOORS ON THE CAR HAVE A SHARP EDGE TO IT, IF YOU DON'T STAND BACK WHEN OPENING THE DOOR, IT CAN GASH YOUR LEG; WIND SHIELD ARE A BLIND SPOT, TO LONG, WIPERS ARE SO STRONG THEY VIBRATE THE CAR, UNUSUALLY STRONG; BACK WINDOW ON LEFT SIDE (PASSENGER) WILL NOT ROLL UP, OR ROLL DOWN SOMETIMES; ASSEMBLY OF LIGHT MOLDINGS/FIXTURES IN BACK OF CAR ARE OFF(NOT EVENLY LINED UP), SO IS THE LEVELING OF TRUNK LID; CAR JUMPS WHEN STARTING IT UP, LIKE IT'S READY TO PULL OFF, EVEN WHEN YOUR FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE; WHEN MOVING THE GEARS THE CAR MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE, AND JUMPS ALSO; BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF AT TIMES; CAR LOSES POWER AT TIMES, EVEN AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN FEBRUARY, 2001; KEYLESS ALARM SYSTEM IS SENSITIVE, SOMETIMES A INCONVIENCE, IF YOU PICK KEYS UP AND TOUCH THE PANIC, OR TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON IT CAN BE S

THERE WAS A NOISE SIMILAR TO THAT OF A SEPARATING BELT IN THE TIRE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. THE WHEEL WAS REMOVED FOR INSPECTION. WE DISCOVERED THAT THE CHROME WAS PEELING FROM THE BACK OF THE WHEEL AND WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE CALIPER WHEN THE WHEEL ROTATED. UPON REMOVING THE LOOSE CHROME, THE BACK OF THE ALUMINUM WHEEL WAS EXPOSED. THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE CORROSION ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE ALUMINUM SPOKES. THIS CAR HAS HAD VERY LIMITED EXPOSURE TO SALT/WINTER CONDITIONS AND THIS WHEEL IS BADLY CORRODED. BY THE TIME THIS CAR ACCUMULATES 80K-100K MILES THE WHEEL SPOKES WILL HAVE FAILED. I PLAN TO CONTACT THE DEALER AND INFORM THEM OF THIS SITUATION. *AK

HEATER CORE FAILED TWICE. NEVER NOTIFIED OF RECALL. SPENT OVER $1000.00 TO REPLACE. NO CONCERN FROM ANY DEALER.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING 50MPH DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES, BUT PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP, EVENTUALLY COMING TO REST IN A DITCH. *AK CONSUMER STATES 3 PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN ACCIDENT. *SLC

NEITHER ARIBAG DEPLOYED WHEN VEHICLE STRUCK A DITCH AT 50 MPH, 3 OCCUPANTS, NO INJURIES. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE CAME TO REST IN A DITCH DRIVER NOTICED THAT REAR CENTER SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN CSS PROPERLY, IT SLID DOWN BETWEEN FRONT AND REAR SEATS. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE CUTS OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL POWER. ALSO, WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURN THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

HIGH IDLE WHEN MOVING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD, AND IT WILL ALSO TRAVEL COUPLE FEET IF FOOT IS NOT ON BRAKES HARD. MANUFACTURER ISSUED A TSB, BUT IT DOES NOT CORRECT DEFECT. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS FAILURE CAUSED THE LIQUID FILLED MOUNTS TO FAIL WHICH ALSO CAUSED EXHAUST LEAK AT MANIFOLD, THE TSB NUMBER IS 97-7-1, WHICH STATES THE PCM NEEDED REPLACED DUE TO AN INCORRECT SOFTWARE IDENTIFICATION BLOCK. DRIVE AND SERPENTINE BELTS FAILED. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE SHUDDERED, THEN STOPPED, ENGINE STILL RUNNING. ALSO, TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. *AK

REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS BROKEN, CAUSING SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERABLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

DESIGN OF DOOR HAS A SHARP POINT WHICH GASHED CONSUMER'S LEG. CONSUMER IS RESEARCHING FOR OTHER INCIDENTS TO BRING FORWARD TO MANUFACTURER. *AK

DRIVE'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED HALF WAY, AND ALL THESE PARTICLES CAME FLYING EVERYWHERE. CONSUMER FELT AIRBAG EXPLODED. ALSO, NOTICED A HOLE THE SIZE OF A FIST IN PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG. *AK

THE PASSENGER DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ENGINE WILL JUST DIE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO COME TO A STOP. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

PE00 048; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 45MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER. LEFT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. CIENTERA MEDALISC/BF GOODRICH,AND GOODYEAR P20565R15. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS PLACED INTO A DRIVING GEAR POWER STEERING GOES OUT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK