1997 Mercury Sable complaints

BOTH RIGHT REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT AND MAKING THEM UNUSEABLE, DEALER HAS INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WILL TAKE 7-10 DAYS TO REPAIR PROBLEM.*YH

WHILE MAKING TURNS THE VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY, THE DEALER HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY SAY IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DIAGNOSE. NLM

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE WOULD STALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN STEPPING ON GAS PEDAL RPMS GO UP BUT ENGINE DOESN'T RESPOND. THIS HAPPENS IN THE MORNING AND ACTS INTERMITTENTLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER FUEL PUMP NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

WHILE BACKING CAR FROM GARAGE(SLOWLY) RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING SNAPPED ,STABBING TIRE , SLICING TIRE 360 DRGREES. VEHICLE DROPPED TO FLOOR BREAKING UPPER BEARING ON COIL SPRING. LOOKS LIKE A DEFECT IN THE STEEL AT BREAK AND AT OTHER LOCATIONS ON COIL. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT ANY SPEED A SURE ACCIDENT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. THIS IS A SERIOUS FLAW THAT FORD SAYS HAS NO RECALL, THUS NO RECOURSE FOR ME EXCEPT NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD. THANK YOU ( WHERE ARE THESE COILS MADE MEXICO???)*AK

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO MOVE WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT.

ON MAY 26, 2001 THE 1997 MERCURY SABLE ENGINE COMPLETELY STOPPED AT 45 MILES PER HOUR ON A COUNTRY ROAD. IT WAS TOWED TO TOM'S AUTO SERVICE IN NEW CARLISLE, INDIANA WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A CORRODED WIRE TO THE FUEL PUMP WAS THE PROBLEM. THEN ON JULY 12, 2001 THE MERCURY SABLE DID THE SAME THING AND WAS AGAIN TOWED TO TOM'S IN NEW CARLISLE, INDIANA WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A CORRODED WIRE INSIDE OF THE GAS TANK WAS THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC INFORMED US THAT HAD THE FUSE NOT BLOWN FIRST, THE GAS TANK WOULD HAVE EXPLODED. HE THEN STATED THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES BEFORE ON OTHER FORD VEHICLES AND THAT IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. WE WANT FORD TO REIMBURSE US FOR THE REPAIRS AND TOWING CHARGES AND TO INFORM OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS THAT THERE IS A POTENTIAL DANGER IF THE WIRES ARE NOT IMMEDIATELY REPLACED. WE NEVER HAD AN PRIOR INDICTATION FROM THE VEHICLE THAT THERE WAS ANY SORT OF PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT SPIT OR SPUTTER OR SLOWLY LOSE POWER, IT JUST COMPLETELY STOPS AND MUST BE COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

HAD CAR IN GARAGE SEVERAL TIMES OVER 1 1/2 YEAR FOR ENGINE LIGHT, ALWAYS CODE PO3O3-MISFIRE CYLINDER 3, DEALER ALWAYS FOUND SOMETHING WRONG SO IT SEEMED, LIGHT CONTINED TO COME ON. FINALLY, AT 81,000 DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES, LOSE ALL POWER, PULL OVER, COOLANT BLOWN ALL OVER ENGINE, CAR TOWED TO DEALER, FIND IT IS BLOWN HEAD GASKET, ENGINE DAMAGE, NEED NEW ENGINE. TOLD VEHICLE OVERHEATED SEVERAL TIMES, NEVER ONCE DID IT OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING IT. FIND NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THESE CARS AND HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS, ASKE QUESTIONS OF DEALER AND FORD MOTOR CO. NEVER A STRAIGHT ANSWER, JUST "NOT YOUR CAR" AND "IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY, WE CAN'T HELP YOU" NOW OWNER MUST PAY 3200 + TO REPLACE ENGINE AND ADD COOLANT BYPASS SYSTEM TO NEW ENGINE BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE COOLANT SYSTEM. FORD MOTOR CO. TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY AT ALL. READ NUMEROUS REPORTS OF BLOWN HEADS, BLOWN ENGINES, COOLANT PROBLEMS. NEED ANWERS, PLEASE!!!! NO ONE IS COOPERATING AT ALL.*AK

PAINT HAS PEELED AND NOW THE METAL IS RUSTING AROUND ALL EDGES OF THE HOOD. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY MPH WHEN COULD LET ACCELERATOR GO AND VEHICLE WILL NOT DECELERATE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND PROBLEM WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. *AK A LOCAL SERVICE STATION DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE IDLER CONTROL AND REPLACED IT. *SLC

I PURCHASED MERCURY SABLE IN JULY 1999 AS A NEW VEHICLE (DEALER DEMO). I EXPERIENCED FIRST PROBLEM ABOUT A YEAR AGO DURING TWO SEPARATE WEEKS AND THOUGHT NO MORE ABOUT IT UNTIL THIS MONTH. I LEFT CHURCH AND WENT UP A SLIGHT INCLINE TO A STOP SIGN; WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND TRIED TO PULL OUT INTO THE TRAFFIC, THE CAR BEGAN ROLLING BACKWARDS. I BRAKED AND LOOKED TO BE SURE I HAD NOT SOMEHOW PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL; IT WAS IN DRIVE. I AGAIN TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND THE CAR CONTINUED BACKWARD, HALF WAY DOWN THE BLOCK. I PUSHED HARD ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKED FORWARD. LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LATER, I SAT AT A RED LIGHT ON FLAT LAND AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I TOUCHED THE GAS PEDAL, IT REVVED UP BUT DID NOT MOVE. I BRAKED, PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL THEN BACK IN DRIVE AND IT JERKED FORWARD. WHEN I TOOK IT TO ALLAN VIGIL FORD ON TARA BOULEVARD IN JONESBORO, GEORGIA, THE SERVICE MANAGER QUOTED A PRICE OF MORE THAN $2,500. TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION. ON A CAR ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 70,000 MILES!!!! I HAVE READ OTHER REPORTS ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING TROUBLE WITH FORD TRANSMISSIONS. MY SON IN LAW, JOSEPH KAIGLER, HAS A 2001 TAURUS WHICH HE RETURNED AFTER LESS THAN A MONTH TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED. PLEASE HELP! SHORT OF PAYING $2,500, IS THERE ANOTHER REMEDY I MAY GAIN.*AK

VEHICLE IS REVVING WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING. MPH DOES NOT MOVE, BUT RPMS GO UP, POSSIBLY DUE TO BANDS WITHIN TRANSMISSION THAT ARE SLIPPING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

CONSUMER HAS HAD TIE RODS CHANGED BECAUSE THEY WERE BROKEN, THIS CAUSED STEERING AND BRAKE PROBLEMS. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER YET. *AK

THE FLOOR PAN UNDER OUR CAR THAT HOLDS OUR REAR SUSPENSION AND WHEELS IN PLACE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE SLOWED TO 30 MPH, TRANSMISSION HAD GONE OUT. DEALER FOUND METAL SHAVINGS. *AK

VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER 14 TIMES FOR LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE SINCE SHORTLY AFER PURCHASE. CURRENTLY, WARRANTYHAS EXPIRED. DEALER FINDS SHAVINGS OF MOTOR ARE GETTING INTO RADIATOR. VEHICLE ALSO HAS A ANTI-FREEZE SMELL. *AK THE DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BECAUSE THE METAL PARTICLES CHIPPING OFF THE ENGINE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE RADIATOR CORE ( BAD ANTI FREEZE ODER). *YH

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY, CAUSING SEAT BELTS TO GRAB OR TO BE TOO LOOSE. RETRACTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHICH PREVENTED CLUTCH FROM GOING INTO GEAR. ALSO, PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER.*AK THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR WAS BROKEN. THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE. *YH

WHILE DRIVING FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE, CAUSING FRONT TIRE TO WEAR OUT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

OTHER FAILURE DATES: 11/99 & 1/00. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED.

VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT START, DEALER FOUND CHAFFED WIRES TO THE FUEL PUMP WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE, HOWEVER WHEN CONSUMER PICKED UP VEHICLE IT STALLED AGAIN JUST 3 MILES FROM DEALERSHIP, FORD STATED THEY WOULD REIMBURSE 50% OF CONSUMER'S COST, HOWEVER CONSUMER FEELS THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART AND IS REQUESTING FULL REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

AT TIMES, POWER WINDOW IS INOPERABLE, CONSUMER STATES A HIT TO THE CENTER OF THE DOOR PANEL CAUSES IT TO WORK. *SLC

SEATBELT DOESNT ALWAYS LATCH, SOMETIMES PULLS OUT. *AK

STARTED CAR, PROCEEDED TO LEAVE PARKING LOT AND SABLE STALLED. UNABLE TO RESTART. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. FIRST ATTEMPT AT REPAIR REPLACED FUSE TO FUEL PUMP. LEFT DEALERSHIP AND VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN, 3 MILES AWAY FROM DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO SAME DEALERSHIP. INVOICE 177076 READS "PREVIOUS REPAIR AS STATED ON RO-FUSE BLOWN. FOUND UND FAULTY SENDER AND PUMP TO FUEL TANK. PERFORMED MED EXTENSIVE TESTS TO REVEAL PROBLEM. REMOVED FUEL TANK FROM VEHICLE AND TESTED SENDER UNIT AND PUMP ASSEMBLY. FOUND CHAFFED WIRES INSIDE FUEL CELL WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. REPAIR PARTS AND REASSEMBLED TANK TO VEHICLE. RETESTED AND PARTS SEEM TO BE WORKING AS DESIGNED."

INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON-SHOWS THAT DOORS ARE NOT SHUT WHEN THEY ARE-ALSO WIPER MOTOR FAILED. *AK

VEHECLE WAS PARKED IN AN ENCLOSED GARAGE. FIRE/SMOLDERING DETECTED AT ABOUT 0130. FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THE CAR A TOTAL LOST. VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP BY THE INSUANCE COMPANY, HOWEVER WE DO HAVE A VIDEO SHOWING THE DAMAGE. *AK

DOME LIGHT ALWAYS ON DUE TO DOOR SWITCH STUCK. VERY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT. DEALER SAID REOCCURING PROBLEM IN MODEL AND SAID I CAN FIX IT MYSELF BY REMOVING DOOR PANEL. ASKED IF I HAD OTHER "ELECTRICAL" PROBLEMS. I SAID EMERGENCY (HAZARD) LIGHTS DON'T WORK. HE SAID MODEL HAS AWFUL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND WANTED TO KNOW IF I USE THE AUTOMATIC LIGHTS EQUIPPED ON THE CAR. SAID I TRIED BUT IT WAS FAULTY. NEVER BOTHERED USING IT SINCE. HE GAVE ME AN ESTIMATION ON REPAIRS STATING IT IS MANUFACTURE DEFECT BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH COOLING SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING ENGINE TO STOP AND LOCK UP. *AK

ACCELERATOR STICKS IN WIDE OPEN POSITION. APPEARS TO BE FREEZING SIMILAR TO NHTSA 97V074. WIFE HAD A NEAR ACCIDENT AT HIGH SPEED TODAY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, POWER STEERING, POWER WINDOWS, AND RADIO WILL QUIT WORKING , CONSUMER CAN HEAR A CLICKING SOUND UNDER DASH, EVERYTHING COMES BACK ON WITHOUT NOTICE. *SLC

VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC DUE TO 2 WIRES IN FUEL PUMP THAT GOT CAUGHT UNDERNEATH A CLAMP, CAUSING WIRES TO FRAY AND SHORT CIRCUIT AND BLOW FUSE, RESULTING IN POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD.*AK

WHEN ENGINE WARM, IF HEATER/AIR CONDITIONER/DEFROSTER TURNED ON AND AIMED AT WINDSHIELD CAUSES WARM, HUMID AIR TO CONDENSE ON GLASS PREVENTING FORWARD VISIBILITY AT ANY SPEED. NOTIFIED DEALER AFTER INITIAL OCCURRENCE...EXCHANGED POLLEN FILTER. NO CHANGE. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG HAS EXPERIENCED FALSE DEPLOYMENT ON 2 OCCASIONS, ON ONE OCCASION INJURING THE DRIVER. *SLC

DRIVER'S SIDE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

DASH SEATBELT INDICATOR LIGHT ONLY GOES OUT AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME AND THE SAFTEY BELT DOES NOT LOCK TIGHTLY AT ALL TIMES. *AK

TRANSMISSION BLEW APART. CRACK IN CASE MAY HAVE OCCURRED FIRST, CAUSING INTERNAL PROBLEMS (STILL HAD FLUID) OR TRANSMISSION BLOWING APART MAY HAVE CAUSED CRACK IN CASE (PER REPAIRMAN).

BRAKES WENT OUT WHILE TRAVELING 10-15MPH. EMERGENCY BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO STOP. THIS WAS FIRST TIME THAT CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM. DEALER WILL BE INFORMED.*AK

BOUGHT THE CAR IN AUG 1999- BROUGHT THE CAR BACK IN SEPT 1999 FOR THE TRANSMISSION. SHIFTING VERY HARD INTO GEAR. DEALERSHIP HAD CAR FOR AWEEK OR SO CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS BEEN RE-OCCURING FOR OVER 3 MONTHE BROUGHT BACK INTO DEALER. HAD CAR ANOTHER WEEK AND SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THAT THEY AJUSTED THE IDOL ( HAS BEEN STALLING AS WELL) AND DID A FEW OTHER MINOR THINGS.. NOT ONLY DID THEY NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BUT IT'S NOW WORSE THEN BEFORE.. .. WHAT DO I DO ... I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND AM HAVING REPEATED TROUBLE WITH THIS PROBLEM? SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN SEEING HOW THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURING SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR .. I DON'T FEEL THAT IS RIGHT..... ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN PROVIDE IS GREATLY APPERICATED. THANK YOU...

ON TWO OCCASIONS DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. WHEN VEHICLE DROVE OVER A SMALL BUMP. (REFER TO ODI # 864201) *ET

THE FAILURE OF THE WINDOW MOTOR WAS NOT TO DO WITH A FUSE OR WINDOW IN LOCKED POSITION AND REMEDIED ITSELF A FEW DAYS AFTER PROBLEM. NO MECHANICAL REPLACEMENT WAS NEEDED AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER WINDOW. THE DRIVER WINDOW IS NOT FUNCTIONING AND IN THE DOWN POSITION. AFTER EXHAUSTING ALL OTHER OPTIONS THE DIAGNOSIS IS THE MOTOR AS BEING THE CULPRIT.

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE CUT OFF. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, AND GOT OUT OF VEHICLE. THIS WAS WHEN DRIVER AND FAMILY NOTICED VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. VEHCLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. CV BOOT EXPLODED AND THREW GREASE ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH STARTED THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE IDLE SPEED DOES NOT RETURN TO NORMAL. ENGINE IS RACING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. VEHICLE DOES NOT SLOW DOWN WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED, VEHICLE CONTINUES TO RUN AT 30 PLUS MILE PER HOUR WITHOUT PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, REQUIRING CONSTANT APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM GETTING OUT OF CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN VARIOUS WEATHER, HAS HAPPENED AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN AS MUCH AS 100 MILES ON FREEWAYS AND AFTER DRIVING AS LITTLE AS 5 MILES IN THE CITY. PROBLEM WAS OCCURING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN INTO THE CREST LINCOLN MERCURY DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, DEALER STATED THAT DIAGNOSTICS INDICATED THERE IS NO PROBLEM. *AK

ON MY 1997 MERCURY SABLE THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT CONSTANTLY JAMS AND TAKES FOREVER TO DISENGAGE. I AM GUESSING THE JAM IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF THE PLASTIC OF THE CAR. WHERE THE SEAT BELT LOCKS THE BELT IN PLACE NEAR THE DOOR. ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CALL ME. *AK

ON TWO OCCASIONS DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AT 40 MPH. FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON AUGUST 20, 1998 WHEN DRIVING OVER A STRIP. SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON JUN 21, 2 000 WHEN VEHICLE DROVE OVER A SMALL BUMP. PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY ON BOTH INSTANCES. DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG CAUSED BRUISES TO DRIVER'S LEFT ARM AND STOMACH. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

FUEL PUMP WIRE WITHIN FUEL TANK WHICH WAS RUBBING ON THE OUTGOING METAL SUPPLY LINE SHORTED OUT, CAUSING A FUSE TO BLOW OUT. ALSO, COULD LEAD TO A POSSIBLE FUEL TANK FIRE/EXPLOSION. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING A HOT OIL SMELL WAS COMING FROM VEHICLE. ALSO, TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING, CONTACTING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE EXHIBITS AN INTERMITTENT NEUTRAL CONDITION AFTER DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP (I FOUND SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 983112 ON NSTHA WEB SITE) ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHEN BRAKE WAS RELEASED VEHICLE ROLLED ONTO BUSY HIGHWAY AND I HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP ALMOST STRUCK BY SEMI. MERCURY DEALER DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM. I CAN NEVER TELL WHEN THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. *AK

THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT SEATS THREE--THERE ARE TWO SEATBELTS WITH SHOULDER RESTRAINTS ON EACH SIDE AND A LAP RESTRAINT IN THE MIDDLE. THE BUCKLE ON THE LAP RESTRAINT CAME OFF WHEN A 7-YEAR OLD GIRL WAS ATTEMPTING TO BUCKLE UP. THE OTHER TWO SEATBELTS WILL NOT RETRACT-THEY ARE USELESS. *AK