Page 6 of 7 · complaints 251–300 of 304

1996 Mercury Sable complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1996 record →

Structure › Body
Filed Sep 19, 1997CA

ROOF MOLDING FAILED.

Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 10, 1997CA

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FAILED.

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Sep 9, 1997CA

WINDSHIELD NOT SEALED PROPERLY CREATES WIND NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS.

Steering
Filed Sep 9, 1997CA

STEERING FAILURE.

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hatchback/Liftgate › Lock
Filed Sep 3, 1997VA

VEHICLE WAS PARKED. OPENED DOORS TO PUT CHILDREN IN. OPENED HATCHBACK & PLACED ITEMS INSIDE. SUDDENLY THE ALL DOORS LOCKED, WOULD NOT OPEN W/CODE OR KEYS. FINALLY GOT DOORS OPEN & TOOK IT TO DEALER. HAD IT REPAIRED, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Sep 3, 1997CA

CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT UPON OPENING DOOR RIGHT SHARP CORNER EDGE OF DOOR STRIKES SHIN.

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Filed Aug 29, 1997PA

WHILE DRIVING THE SUN ROOF GLASS SHATTERED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System
Filed Aug 25, 1997VA

POWER STEERING COMPONENTS EMITTING A GROANING NOISE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE REGARDING THIS PROBLEM FIVE TIMES, BUT PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. ALSO, TRANSMISSION ROUGHLY DOWNSHIFTS IN FIRST GEAR, RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE JERKING. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Aug 6, 1997IL

VEHICLE SPEEDS UP WHEN COMING TO A STOP . PROBLEM IS SPORADICALLY. MANUFACTURER IS UNABLE TO FIX VEHICLE. *AK

Suspension › Rear
Filed Jul 18, 1997MA

FAILED SWAY BAR LINKS CAUSED CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING.

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle BarCrash
Filed Jun 24, 1997MI

WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT OR ABOUT 70 MPH THE BOLTS ON THE STEERING COLUMN FELL ON TO THE FLOOR OF THE CAR, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO TURN IN, OWNER HAD NO CONTROL OVER VEHICLE AFTER BOLTS CAME LOSE, THIS INCIDENT CAUSED OTHER ACCIDENTS ON THE EXPRESSWAY, MANFACTURER CONTACTED. *AK *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 28, 1997CA

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed May 16, 1997NY

THE CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING DUE TO A BLOWN FUSE AND SHORTED WIRE ON FUEL PUMP.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage
Filed May 1, 1997NY

FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR FAILURE DUE TO A SHORT IN THE POWER WIRE FUEL PUMP, NO FUEL PRESSURE. *AK

Power Train › Automatic TransmissionCrash
Filed Apr 29, 1997CA

VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN A HILL AND THE PARKING BRAKES WERE NOT ON. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS FINISHED ROLLING DOWN THE HILL, THE VEHICLE RAN INTO A POLE. *AK

Steering
Filed Apr 15, 1997MO

STEERING NOISE.

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Filed Apr 14, 1997NY

THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. DEALER RECOGNIZES PROBLEM, BUT CAN'T FIX IT. *AK

Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed Apr 14, 1997CA

FAN SPEED SELECTION KNOB FAILED.

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Apr 10, 1997CA

WINDSHIELD NOT SEALED PROPERLY.

Seat Belts
Filed Mar 5, 1997NC

WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT LOCKS UP, CAUSING CONSUMER TO RELEASE BELT FROM BUCKLE SO THAT SEAT BELT CAN UNLOCK. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 21, 1997CA

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JERKS AND MAKES CONSTANT NOISE.

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Filed Feb 12, 1997CA

STEERING WHEEL BROKE.

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System
Filed Jan 27, 1997NY

PROBLEM WITH POWER STEERING, CAUSING GRINDING SOUND.

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System
Filed Jan 27, 1997NY

POWER STEERING FAILURE RESULTING IN GRINDING NOISE.

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Filed Jan 14, 1997WI

WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE RIGHT GRINDING NOISE OCCURS.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 13, 1997NY

ENGINE GASKETS FAILED, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK ONTO GROUND.

Steering
Filed Jan 2, 1997ME

STEERING PROBLEMS DUE TO HIGH TORQUE.

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/WasherFire
Filed Dec 31, 1996PA

WIPERS SIT TOO HIGH OBSCURING DRIVER'S VIEW.

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Dec 26, 199600

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT REMOVE ANY RAIN/ICE OR SLEET FROM THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELDLD WILL NOT DEFROST BYITSELF EITHER. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Dec 9, 1996CA

OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE, CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. RECALL #96V176000. *AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Dec 2, 1996CA

SLOPED WINDSHIELD DESIGN CAUSES DASHBOARD TO REFLECT IN WINDSHIELD, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Dec 2, 1996CT

DESIGN OF WINDSHIELD CREATES A DANGEROUS VISIBILITY PROBLEM FOR DRIVERS DUE TO THE LARGE SLOPING WINDSHIELD AND WIDE DASHBOARD THAT REFLECTS IN THE SUNLIGHT ONTO WINDSHIELD.

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Nov 27, 1996FL

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR JUST DIES AND AFTER WAITING 15 MINS. THE CAR WILL RESTART. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 27, 1996PA

TRANSMISSION INADVERTENTLY SHIFTED FROM HIGH GEAR TO LOW GEAR.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Nov 22, 1996NJ

ABS BRAKES; WHEN APPLIED BRAKES LOST EFFECTIVENESS, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR , VEHICLE WENT INTO OPEN THROTTLE POSITION, 12:00 O'CLOCK POSITION, SPEED 35MP LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Nov 14, 1996CT

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE REFLECTION FROM THE DASHBOARD ONTO THE WINDOW SHIELD IS BLINDING AND DANGEROUS. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Front UnderhoodFire
Filed Oct 23, 1996FL

AFTER 10 MINUTES OF BEING PARKED THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, UNDER THE BATTERY. PLEASE DESCRIBE IN DETAIL. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 24, 1996CA

CONTROL MODULE FOR TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLOWLY ACCELERATE, ALSO REPLACED TRANSAXLE.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 18, 1996FL

WHILE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND KEY IS OUT OF IGNITION CAR STARTS TO ROLL BACKWARD.*AK *SLC

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch
Filed Sep 11, 1996NJ

HEADLIGHT SWITCH GETS ABNORMALLY HOT WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON.

Suspension › Front
Filed Sep 10, 1996NY

LARGE VIBRATION SOUND HEARD WHEN VEHICLE MAKES RIGHT HAND TURNS, FRONT END SUPENSION/AXLE REPAIRED AND LUBED SWAY BAR BUSHINGS. *AK

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Sep 9, 1996WI

THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE ARE NOT AIMED HIGH ENOUGH. THE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED 4X AT THE DEALER.*AK

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch
Filed Aug 30, 1996NJ

WHEN PUTTING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH TURNED POSITION AND THE SWITCH GOT HOT , ON ONE OCCASION DRIVING AT NIGHT THE LIGHT WENT OFF AND CAME BACK ON . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Filed Jul 24, 1996NJ

"CLUNKING/POPPING" NOISE UPON TURNING.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › GasolineFire
Filed Jul 9, 1996MA

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. *AK CONSUMER STATES ABS LIGHT WAS COMING THE DAY VEHICLE WAS PURCHASD AND DEALER ADMTTED THAT IT WAS ON BUT DID NOT SAY ANYTHING, POSSIBLE CAUSE WAS FAN FROM ABS LIGHT.*JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 9, 1996IL

DRIVING CAR TO GET BOYFRIEND, WEATHER RAINY, RD SLICK/WET, CADILLAC MAKING LEFT TURN, APPLIED BRAKES (ABS), CAR SKIDDED ON RD, LOST CONTROL OF CAR. *AK

Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed Jun 19, 1996NY

AIR CONDITIONER MOLD EMITTED A FOUL ODOR. *DH

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed May 20, 1996AZ

KEY IS TAKEN OUT OF IGNITION IN ON POSITION AND CAR WILL STILL RUN. *AK

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal
Filed May 8, 199600

LOCATION OF TURN SIGNALS NEAR CENTER LINE OF CAR MAKE THEM DIFFICULT TO INTERPRET. *DH

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 1, 1996UT

PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *DSH

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 1996 Mercury Sable → · Every Sable year → · How the figures are calculated →