1997 Mercury Sable complaints

THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH DID NOT WORK. *JB THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING RECALL #98V028000, 97V097000, 99V12400, AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE NOT VALID. *SCC *JB

HIGH BRAKE LIGHT LENS ON 1997 MERCURY SABLE STATION WAGON CAME OFF. WHILE ON MY WAY TO GET IT REPLACED AT A DEALER, I NOTICED ANOTHER 1997 MERCURY SABLE STATION WAGON WITH THE SAME LENS MISSING! PRIOR COMPLIANT FILED HERE CLAIMS THAT REPLACEMENT OF THIS LENS WILL COST ME $150.00! WHY SHOULD THE CONSUMER HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS? IT IS OBVIOUSLY A FACTORY DEFECT. I AM GLAD THAT IT IS NOT LIFE THREATENING, BUT STILL...... R.P.*AK

DURING RAINY WEATHER, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SPLASHES WATER INTO THE ENGINE FAN BELT ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE FAN BELT TO SLIP AND SQUEAL. THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILS TO TURN RESULTING IN HARD STEERING AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, THE GENERATOR FAILS TO TURN RESULTING IN BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATION. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEELWELL BAFFLE ASSEMBLY INSTALLED BY THE MFG DOES NOT ADEQUATELY SHIELD THE FAN BELT ASSEMBLY FROM RAIN WATER INTRUSION. A TEMPORARY, THOUGHT INADEQUATE FIX, IS TO APPLY "BELT DRESSING" TO THE FAN BELT. REF COMPLAINT #551260. *AK

I HAVE HAD 5 OCCURRENCES OF ENGINE SURGING WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AND APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE SURGE IS SO STRONG THAT THE BRAKES MUST BE REPEATEDLY PRESSED DOWN HARD TO STOP AND HELD DOWN TO THEIR MAXIMUM CAPABILITY. IN 3 OF THE 5 OCCURRENCES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, REAR END COLLISIONS WERE AVOIDED BY MERE INCHES. *AK

1997 MERCURY SABLE. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT SHIFT. *NLM

AT ABOUT 100,000 EASY HIGHWAY MILES, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER, THEN THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION, PLUS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS MINOR ENGINE REPAIRS TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $350 EVERY OTHER MONTH, THE WINDOW WON'T GO DOWN ANYMORE, AND NOW--4 MONTHS AFTER THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT--WE HAVE LOST OVERDRIVE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, AGAIN! WE HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR WITH THIS MANY PROBLEMS, AND WILL NEVER BUY A FORD/MERCURY ANYTHING AGAIN. OUR SUBURBAN WAS MORE RELIABLE. *NLM

ABOUT A YEAR BACK I HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEM ON MY SABLE AT 70,000 MILES. IT WOULD MOVE IN REVERSE BUT NO FORWARD MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AT COTTMAN TRANSMISSION AT THE COST OF OVER $2000 AND LOSS OF VEHICLE USE FOR A WEEK. A MONTH LATER, IT FAILED WITH EXACTLY SIMILAR SYMPTOMS. IT WAS TOWED TO THE SAME FACILITY AND REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY IN FOUR DAYS. SIX MONTHS LATER, AND EXACTLY A MONTH AFTER THE WARRANTY ON REPAIR WORK EXPIRED (74,000 MILES), THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO VISIBLY DOWN SHIFT WHILE DRIVING (AT ALL SPEEDS). TOOK IT BACK TO REPAIR FACILITY - WAS TOLD IT'S INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS - ONCE AGAIN! I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THIS. I CAN'T AFFORD TO WASTE 4,000 ON TRANSMISSION JOBS ON THIS CAR WHEN IT'S NOT EVEN WORTH THAT MUCH. I SCANNED THROUGH THE OTHER COMPLAINTS AND FOUND SOME OTHER INSTANCES WHEN THIS TRANSMISSION HAD GIVEN PROBLEMS TO OWNERS. JUST WONDERING HOW MANY DISSATISFIED OWNERS WOULD IT TAKE FOR FORD TO REALIZE THAT THERE IS A "REAL" PROBLEM WITH THEIR SABLE/MERCURY TRANSMISSIONS! I HAD TWO FORD TAURUS'S IN THE PAST, AND THIS IS THIRD FROM FORD FAMILY. I AM GOING TO STOP SPENDING MONEY ON FORD CARS IF THIS IS THE LEVEL OF QUALITY THAT I GET FOR MY MONEY.

NAR 04/01/2003. THE SPEED SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES WITHIN 6 YEARS. WHEN THE SPEED SENSOR FAILED, IT CAUSED THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE TO GO TO ZERO WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL MOVING. THE GEARS CHANGED RANDOMLY AND THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. *JB

THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WOULD NOT RETRACT. *NLM

HIGH BRAKE LIGHT LENS ON 97 MERCURY SABLE STATION WAGON CAME OFF. IN DISCUSSION WITH CO-WORKER HE MENTIONED THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS MODEL. HE THOUGHT THE LENS WAS GLUED ON THE ASSEMBLY. ENTIRE ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $150.00. *JB

MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A 1993 MERCURY SABLE WAGON. WE PURCHASED IT USED 3 YEARS AGO. IT CURRENTLY HAS 44,000 MILES ON IT. AT APPROXIMATELY. 43,000 MILES ( A MONTH AGO) IT BLEW THE HEAD GASKET. I AM AWARE THAT FORD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON 1994-1996 MODELS OF THE FORD TAURUS AND MERCURY SABLE FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. MY FORD DEALER STATED TO US THAT THIS HEAD GASKET BLOWING HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT PROBLEM ON THE 3.8 ENGINES, WHICH OURS HAS. IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT FORD IS VERY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND CHOSE TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT FOR OWNERS OF 1993 CARS. I FEEL IS WAS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP THESE CUSTOMERS FINANCIALLY--WE JUST SPENT $1700 FOR THIS REPAIR. NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT WAS MONEY WE DIDN'T HAVE. WHY HASN'T THIS PROBLEM BEEN ADDRESSED WITH THE 1993 MODELS WITH THE 3.8 ENGINE BEFORE THIS? FORD SUGGESTED THAT I ADDRESS THIS WITH YOUR AGENCY. *JB

THE REAR SAFETY BELTS DID NOT RETRACT FROM THE HOUSING.*JB *TS

I PURCHASED A 1997 MERCURY SABLE IN JULY 1977 FROM DON JACKSON SPARTAN LINCOLN MERCURY DEALER. I HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION, THE BRAKES, THE "PLASTIC" BUCKET HOLDING RESERVE ANTIFREEZE (CRACKED AND LEAKED ANTIFREEZE) AND NOW THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO WORK (INTERMITTENTLY AND STEADILY). WHEN I CONTACTED DON JACKSON LINCOLN-MERCURY AT THOSE TIMES WHEN THE PARTS ACTED UP TO ASK THEM IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY RECALLS OR PROBLEMS (AND I CITED EACH AREA EACH TIME I CALLED), I WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS REPORTED IN ANY OF THESE AREAS WITH THE 97 SABLE. I FOUND THERE ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE ARE MANY. I HAVE PAID $2000 FOR THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR, $550 FOR BRAKES, $80 FOR THE ANTIFREEZE BUCKET, AND WENT TO PURCHASE A WIPER MOTOR ($85) WHEN I WAS TOLD BY THE AUTO STORE CLERK TO CHECK THE INTERNET, WHICH I AM NOW DOING. I FIND THAT JACKSON SPARTAN L/M DEALER HAS NOT BEEN HONEST WITH ME AND I WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY DON JACKSON SPARTAN L/M OF THESE FALLACIES. WHAT CAN I DO?

THE MOST RECENT PROBLEMS ARE ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. FIRST, ALL OF THE PASSENGER POWER WINDOWS HAVE FAILED. THEY CAN ONLY BE CONTROLLED BY THE DRIVER SIDE PANEL. SECOND, EVEN THOUGH ALL OF THE DOORS ARE SECURELY CLOSED, THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT WILL REMAIN ON BETWEEN 20 SECONDS AND SEVERAL HOURS. THERE WERE OCCASIONS WHEN THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON BY ITSELF WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY TO WORK. AN AUDIBLE CLICKING NOISE COULD BE HEARD FROM UNDER THE DASH. THE CLICK IS SIMILAR TO THE SOUND MADE WHEN MANUALLY OPERATING THE SWITCH. THIRD, THIS STARTED ON SUNDAY, 01/19/03, THE HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS OFF AND THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS OFF. ADDITIONALLY, WITH THE CAR RUNNING AND THE DAYTIME LIGHTS ONLY, THE HIGHBEAM INDICATOR CAME ON. WHEN I TURNED THE HEADLIGHTS ON, THE INDICATOR WENT OFF. WHEN I TURNED THE HEADLIGHTS OFF, THE HIGHBEAM INDICATOR CAME BACK ON. THE HIGHBEAM INDICATOR EVENTUALLY TURNED OFF ON ITS OWN WITHIN 5 OR 10 MINUTES. PREVIOUS PROBLEMS HAVE INCLUDED FRONT END SUSPENSION RELATED FAILURES AND AN OIL PAN THAT SPRUNG A LEAK IN DECEMBER 2001 AT AROUND 78K MILES. THE OIL PAN SPRUNG ANOTHER LEAK IN DECEMBER 2002. THE SERVICE DEALER ATTRIBUTED THE LEAK TO THE SAME PROBLEM AND ANOTHER FAILURE WITH THE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH. I AGREED TO THE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH REPAIR AND TOLD THEM THAT IF THE OIL PAN GASKET FAILED A 2ND TIME (ORIGINAL CAUSE OF LEAK IN 2001), THAT IT WAS DUE TO POOR REPAIR WORK. THEY TIGHTENED THE BOLTS TO THE OIL

WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE ENGAGE FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE TO MOVE DIDN'T WORK. DEALER FIXED THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN CHANGING THE TIRE THE JACK COLLAPSE AND COULD HAD CAUSE INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE INSIDE COURTESY LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN VEHICLE GOES THROW A PUDDLE OFF WATER THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. DEALER CONTACTED. TS

THE FREEZE PLUGS CONTINUOUSLY RUST OUT CAUSING THE COOLANT TO BE BROWN MAKING THE ENGINE OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS WORKED ON (2) MONTHS AGO WITH THE PROBLEM REOCCURING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *MR

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE ENGINE LIGHT APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE WILL STALL. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NLM

CAR OVERHEATED, TAKEN TO MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED BLOWN HEADGASKET - RETOOLED HEADGASKET. ALSO REPLACED WATER PUMP, RADIATOR, PLUGS, PLUG WIRES, COIL, THERMOSTAT, SINCE HEADGASKET PROBLEM - CAR HAS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED CONSTANTLY. STILL HAS CYLINDER 1 MISFIRE. CAR IS 5 YRS OLD. SEEMS LIKE EXCESSIVE PRBLEMS FOR A CAR THAT NEW.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED AS A BAD FUEL PUMP WHICH WAS NEVER NEEDED, THEN THE PROBELM WAS DISCOVERED TO BE A SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS.*JB

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO INSTALL A CHILDS SEAT, THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT. IT STAYS IN THE FULLY EXTENDED POSITION.*AK

FRONT CRASH AT 55 MPH, AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PASSENGER'S AIRBAG EXPLODED AS SOON AS IT DEPLOYED. NO INJURIES, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT FOOT PRESSING THE THROTTLE. SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T REGISTER SPEED, VEHICLE'S SPEED WAS INCREASING. DEALER WILL BE REPLACING SPEED CONTROL CHIP FOR SIXTH TIME. ALSO, CONSUMER HAS CHECKED TO SEE IF CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT ENGAGE. DEALER HAS DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

I PURCHASED 8 OF THESE EXACT TIRES. 4 FOR MY 1994 FORD TURUAS AMD 4 FOR MY MERCURY SABLE. PREVIOSLY ON MY 1994 THREE OF THE ORIGINAL 4 TIRES I PURCHASED HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALL WITHIN A MONTHS TIME ALL AT AROUND 20,000 MILES. THE FIRST TIRE BLEW THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR. A WEEK OR SO LATER I NOTED THAT THE TREAD WAS SEPERATING FORM THE LEFT FROM TIRE. I CONTACTED MICHELIN REGARDING THIS AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE WAY MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR. UPON INSPECTION THE MICHELIN DEALER FOUND A NOTHER TIRE THAT WAS DOING THE SAME THING AND THEY REPLACED THEM BOTH AT NO CHAGE TO US. LAST WEEK I NOTICED THAT ON MY SABLE THE LEFT FRONT TIRE SIDE WALL WAS PEELING THE SAME AS THE OTHERS HAD DONE ON MY 1994 FORD. I NOTIFED MICHELIN THIS TIME THEY INFORMED ME TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER. THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO REPLACE THIS TIRE ALTHOUGH IT HAD THE SAME DEFFECTS AS THE OTHER TWO THAT WHERE REPLACED EARLIER THIS YEAR. AT OR AROUND 20,000 MILES THE SIDE WALLS OF TIRES BEGINS TO CRACK AND THE TREAD BEGINS TO PEAL AWAY FORM THE SIDE. IT HAS HAPPEN TO TWO DIFFERENT CARS THAT I OWN. THE SAME TIRE, TWO DIFFERENT DRIVERS YET THE SAME DEFECT. I AM NOT CONVIENCED THAT I AM THE ONLY ONE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THESE TIRES. I HAVE PURCHASED 8 OF THE SAME TIRES AND 4 OF THE 8 HAVE GONE BAD. THREE TIRES SHOWED THE SAME TIPE OF DEFECT. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AS OTHERS MAYBE UNAWARE OF THE DANGER THESE MICHELIN SYMMETRY TIRES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.*AK

PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT OR EXTEND, IT WILL STICK IN EITHER THE RETRACTING POISTION OR EXTENDED POSITION.*AK CONSUMER STATES SEAT BELT FAILURE STILL PERSISTS AND HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE, CONSUMER STATES THE SEATBELTS WILL LOCK UP AND NOT RELEASE, CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINED OF THE BRAKES SQUEAKING, HOWEVER DEALER COULD FIND NO PROBLEM.*JB

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE FIRE IN MY 1997 MERCURY SABLE STATION WAGON STARTED WHILE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. IT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 11HOURS BEFORE THE FIRE STARTED ABOUT 1:30 AM . THE RIGHT REAR SECTION SHOWED THE MOST DAMAGE BUT THE ENTIRE INTERIOR WAS DESTROYED. THE GAS TANK WAS FULL BUT DID NOT EXPLODE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNKNOWN. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THE CAR A TOTAL LOSS.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THE REAR PASSENGER SHOULDER SEAT BELT LOCKED UP, AFTER REMOVING THE BACK OF THE REAR SEAT TO EXAMINE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR, CONSUMER NOTICED A TENSION SPRING, WHICH HAD ENGAGED THE BELT IN A LOCK POSITION. *YD

CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKING AND VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO ACCELATE UNTIL SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.*AK. CONSUMER STATED WHEN VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT MOVE, THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED ON ANOTHER OCCASION, HOWEVER THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED AT THAT TIME, THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR ASSEMBLY, BUT THE PROBLEM REOCCURED.*JB

SPEEDOMETER WOULD MOMENTARILY OPERATE ERRATICALLY. NEEDLE WOULD JUMP BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES IT OPERATED NORMALLY. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK CONSUMER ADDS ACCELERATOR POSSIBLY CONTRIBUTED TO ERRATIC OPERATION OF THE SPEEDOMETER. *TT

CONSUMER USED JACK TO CHANGE FLAT TIRE ON DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT, WHEN LOWERING VEHICLE TOP PORTION OF JACK COLLAPSED, AND VEHICLE DROPPED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO ROTOR. *AK

FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY FASTENED. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORRMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 TO 55 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIED. NO POWER BRAKES OR POWER STEERING. TOOK TO A MECHANIC STATED WIRES IN THE GAS TANK SHORTED OUT AND BLEW A BIG FUSE AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. MECHANIC STATED IF TANK HAD NOT BEEN FULL OF GAS THIS COULD HAVE IGNITED A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

CONSUMER STATED HAD TO FLUSH RADIATOR OUT AT LEAST FIVE TIMES BECAUSE OF DIRTY WATER, IT IS WRITTEN IN OWNER'S MANUAL THAT THE RADIATOR SHOULD BE FLUSHED 1 TIME EVERY 100,000 MILES.*JB WHILE FLUSHING THE RADIATOR, WATER GOT INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. *YH CONSUMER STATES THAT EVER SINCE RECALL 98823 WAS COMPLETED ON VEHICLE, RADIATOR HAS CONSTANTLY NEEDED FLUSHED, NOW CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEEL AREA, DEALER REPLACED RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING. *SLC

CONSUEMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE FREEZE PLUG IN THE ENGINE BLEW, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. DEALER REPLACED PART 3 TIMES PROBLEM STILL OCCURING. NLM

AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A WHILE, AND WHEN STARTING UP HAS TO APPLY EXTRA FORCE TO ACCELERATOR TO GET VEHICLE TO MOVE, THIS HAPPENDS 1 - 3 TIMES PER WEEK.*AK *TT

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT COMES UNDONE, EVEN AFTER MANUALLY TUGGING ON SAME TO SEE IF SECURED. I AM MOSTLY ALONE IN THE CAR AND DON'T KNOW IF THE OTHER BELTS DO THE SAME. THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE BELT CAN COME UNDONE WHEN I TUG ON IT, OR LATER. IT CAN COME UNDONE WHILE PARKED OR MOVING AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED. I WOULD SAY IN RETROSPECT, I USUALLY NOTICE IT NOT TOO FAR FROM MY HOUSE AND I LIVE IN THE CITY, SO PERHAPS IT HAPPENS AT 0 TO LOW SPEEDS. I NOTICE ON THOSE OCCASSIONS THAT THE SEATBELT DOES NOT CLICK WHEN FASTENED. SOMETIMES YOU CANNOT FORCE IT TO CLICK SHUT. *AK

DOME LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN THOUGH DOORS SHUT, INHIBITS VISUAL ACUITY. FIXED JANUARY 2002, FOR 290 DOLLARS. SAME DAY AT MERCURY EIGHT OTHER VEHICLES IN WITH SIMILAR FAILURE DUE TO A RECENT MECHANICS ARTICLE IN THE PAPER. PROBLEM, SET OFF FACTORY INSTALLED ALARM, AND WAS INTERMITTENT FOR THE LAST 6MONTHS. *AK

HEATER CORE FOR THE VENTILATION SYSTEM HAS FAILED FOUR TIMES SINCE DECEMBER OF 1999. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED PROBLEM, AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HAS BEEN PERFORMING THE REPAIRS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF APPROACHING FAILURE, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON ME. THE CAR FROM PARKED POSITION COULD BE BACKED IN REVERSE GEAR TO THE STREET, BUT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD IN "D" IT DOES GO FORWARD, BUT TAKES UP TOO MUCH ENGINE RPM - SLIPPAGE?- TO PICK UP SPEED. THEN YOU CAN SWITCH GEARS TO 2ND AND 3RD (D WITH OVERDRIVE OFF) AND 4TH (WITH OD ENGAGED) GEAR. I HAVEN'T RISKED TOPPING 45 MPH IN MY TEST RUN. APPARENTLY THERE IS SOME PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION THAT DOES NOT ALLOW IT TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN PUT IN "D" AND SEEMS LIKE TAKING TOO MUCH RPM TO PICK UP LOAD WHEN GEARS ARE CHANGED MANUALLY. I HAVE BROWSED THROUGH THIS WEB SITE FOR COMPLAINTS LAUNCHED BY OTHER '97 SABLE OWNERS, BUT I COULD NOT FIND ANY ONE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON A SIDE STREET AND NOTICED THAT VEHICLE WAS HESITATING. VEHICLE CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE OF PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE GEAR SHIFT INDICATED VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL ENGINE SURGED AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO AN UNKNOWN SPEED BEFORE CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. ALSO, POWER STEERING AND POWER ASSIST BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE DURING THIS INCIDENT. DEALERSHIP HAS YET TO EXAMINE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

THE SEAT BELT ALWAYS LOCKS UP ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT. IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE BELT ALWAYS JAMS AND MERCURY DEALERSHIP WON'T DO A THING SINCE ITS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY UNLESS YOU GOT $200.00. I HEARD FORD HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THEIR OTHER FORD/MERCURY PRODUCTS, WHICH MY CAR ISN'T UNDER RECALL. ON THE ENGINE LIGHT MATTER. IF YOU FORGET TO PUT ON THE GAS CAP OR RADITIOR CAP ON OR SOMETHING VERY MINOR. THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON. I NOTICED THIS WILL HAPPEN ALSO WITH MY DAD'S TAURUS ALSO. I HAVE HEARD THIS HAPPENS TO ALL 1995 OR NEWER CARS. THING IS MOST PEOPLE SEE THE ENGINE LIGHT ON AND GO RIGHT TO THE MECHANIC WHICH CAN BE COSTLY IN REPAIRS IF REALLY THE REPAIR IS NOT NECESSARY BECAUSE ITS SOMETHING MINOR LIKE A GAS CAP NOT TIGHTENED. MAYBE THE AUTO COMPANY'S FOUND A NEW WAY TO RIP US OFF? WHAT DO U THINK? *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILS PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC, WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THEY DENIED IT UNTIL I MADE MANAGER DRIVE W/ME THEY REBUILT IT FREE, AFTER FIGHTING WITH THEM, I DID NOT HAVE THE CAR A WEEK. THEY REBUILT IT, 1 YR LATER HAPPENED AGAIN, SAID CANNOT FIND ANYTHING, TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER, SAID THEY ALWAYS HAVE PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION IN THESE DUE TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER TOO STRONG FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THEY KNOW THEY MADE A MISTAKE. OIL IS BLACK, THEY KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG BUT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO RECALL BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO RECALL THE CAR. *AK