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 1997 record →
AUTOMATIC LOCK ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DOES NOT STAY LOCKED. CONSUMER ENTERS THE AUTOMOBILE AND LOCKS ALL FOUR DOORS. ONCE THE ENGINE STARTS, DRIVER'S SIDE LOCK POPS OPEN. THIS OCCURS ABOUT 70% OF THE TIME WHEN CONSUMER STARTS THE AUTOMOBILE. ALSO, AREA DEALER HAVE BEEN RECEIVING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME AUTOMOBILE. *AK
AUTOMATIC POWER LOCKS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY UNLOCK WHILE DRIVING. APPOINTMENT BEING MADE AT THE DEALER. *AK
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AT 13,000 MILES DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CORE. DEALERR REPLACED IT ANOTHER PUMP WHICH ALSO BECAME DEFECTIVE WITHIN 2 DAYS.*AK
WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH WASN'T WORKING PROPERLY. FUSE WAS CHECKED. AFTER CHECKING FUSE BOX EVERYTHING SEEMED TO WORK FINE. SUBSEQUENTLY, SAMETHING HAPPENED AGAIN. CONSUMER WAS CONTACTING DEALER. *AK
A LOOSE GROUND WIRE WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO IDLE ROUGH. *MJS
UPON DRIVING DURING RAIN OR DAMP WEATHER STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, THE BATTERY LIGHT FLASHES AND THE FAN BELT MAKES NOISE. YH
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD DURING DECELERATION/ACCELERATION, PARTICULARY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. TURNING TO THE RIGHT RESULTS IN GROWLING NOISE FROM UNDER HOOD. INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON AS DOES DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND WARNING CHIME FOR LEAVING KEYS IN IGNITION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ONTO THE RAMP OF A HIGHWAY TRAVELING ABOUT 8MPH IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC BARELY TAPPED THE BUMPER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT, AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED BECAYSE A PIECE OF THE DASHBOARD COVER, WHERE THE AIRBAGS ARE HIDDEN, HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND SHATTERED IT.*AK
CONSUMER EXHAUST SYSTEM FAULTY CAUSING FUMES TO ENTER THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING CONSUMER TO BECOME ILL (HEADACHE, FATIQUE ECT). NLM
TRANSMISSION CASE HAD 6" CRACK , DIFFERENTIAL JOINT DISINTERGRATED, AND FLUID LEAKED ON TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE.
CONSUMER HAS PROBLEM WITH SUSPENSION. VEHICLE SITS SO LOW TO THE GROUND THAT IN SNOW LIKE WEATHER, BRAKES FREEZE UP, AND PERFORM POORLY UNTIL CAR IS FULLY WARMED UP. CONSUMER NOW BELIEVES THAT HER CLAIMS WERE TOO HASTY AND THAT ALL LOW RIDING CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM, CAR SIMPLY IS NOT SUITED FOR COUNTRY DRIVING CONDITIONS. *AK *ML
DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT MODULE FAULTY, LOCATION OF MODULE IS BELOW THE ACID STORAGE BATTERY WHICH CREATES A CORROSION PROBLEM. MJS
THATS IT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 45,000, THE WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT SOON AFTER PURCHASED, THE INTERIOR ELECTRICAL WENT OUT SOON AFTER PURCHASE ALSO THE POWER SEAT QUIT WORKING.
WIRING WITHIN THE GAS TANK HAS NO COVERING CAUSING THE HOSE CLAMP TO RUB AGAINST AN ELECTICAL WIRING, RESULTING IN A FIRE HAZARD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS PLACED A COVERING OVER THE WIRING. *AK *ML
ON-GOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH HIGH SURGE / ENGINE ACELERATION. PROBLEM OCCURS IN STOP/GO TRAFFIC AT HIGHWAY SPEED OR AT A STOP POSTION. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON FIVE OCCASIONS. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. ALSO TACHOMETER NEEDLE REGISTERING TOO HIGH, SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND OIL SMELL. *AK
WHILE DRIVING HEAVY EXHAUST FUMES ENTERED INTO THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED THE OCCUPANT TO FEEL SICK AND ALMOST PASSED OUT, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. EARIER REPLACED THE CATALITIC CONVERTER WHICH WAS CRACKED AND CAUSED THE FUMES TO ENTER INTO THE VEHICLE. *AK
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ERRATICALLY. YH
WHEN THE VEHICLE GETS DOWN TO A HALF A TANK OF GAS GAS GUAGE INDICATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS ON EMPTY. ALSO THE FUEL GAUGE COMES ON. DEALER CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK
FROM THE DAY I PURCHASED MY BRAND NEW 1997 MERCURY SABLE I HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TRANS AT APPROX 31,600 MILES. NOW THE COOLER LINE IS LEAKING EXTREMELY BAD. I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE IT AND NEED TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS 49,000 MILES SO 18,000 MILES AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, AGAIN I AM HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. PLEASE ADVISE.
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 99V103000. CONTACTED DEALER & TOOK VEHICLE IN ON DATE GIVEN. WAS CHARGED FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS BY MECHANIC. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING 50MPH A TIRE HAD BLOWNOUT, VEHICLE HIT GUARDRAIL TWICE. FRONT END SMASHED. DUAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. DRIVER RECEIVED 6 BROKEN RIBS & SOME BRUSIES. VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING AT SL0W SPEEDS / COMING TO A STOP. *YC
TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE INTO GEARS EASILY AND IS DELAYED ON OCCASIONS, UNABLE TO RECTIFY PROBLEM AFTER SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS. MJS
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES , BUT PROBLEM REOCCURS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
TAIL LIGHT BULBS FAILED.*ET
HAD STEERING RACK & PINION REPLACED 1 YEAR AGO. CURRENTLY, RACK & PINION NEEDS REPLACING AGAIN FOR SAME PROBLEM. WAS MAKING NOISES WHEN EVER TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. WOULD BE HARD TO RETURN IT BACK TO ORIGINAL POSITION. *AK
EVERY TIME VEHICLE HITS A PUDDLE AFTER IT HAS RAINS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT. THE ENGINE WOULD STILL BE RUNNING. DOES NOT HAVE TO RESTART VEHICLE. WOULD HAVE NO BRAKES OR POWER STEERING. LOST CONTROL. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER.
THE METAL PART OF THE SEATBELT WILL NOT LOCK INTO THE CORRESPONDING LOCK
INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OUT EVEN AFTER IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. PROBLEM REPAIRED BY ITSELF AFTER A WHILE WHICH, IN TURN, HAS PRODUCED ANOTHER PROBLEM; DELAY FEATURE DOES NOT WORK FOR THE INTERIOR LIGHTS. PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THE TRUNK LIGHT BURNED A SHOPPING BAG AND STARTED TO SMOKE WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE BROARDSWIPED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK
WHEN VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP, ITJUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND ACCELERATED. ALSO, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE THAT CAME FROM TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOUR TIMES. *AK
WHILE WAITING ATA STOP SIGN TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF GEAR. *AK
WHEN DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS AND MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM A STOPPED POSITION, POWER STEERING IS LOST AND ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. ALSO, DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE. THIS LOSS OF POWER AND STEERING WHILE ENTERING TRAFFIC IS ALARMING! IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE BELT IS SLIPPLING DUE TO THE MOISTURE BEING SPRAYED UP FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. I HAVE INSPECTED THE BELT AND IT IS IN FINE CONDITION. THERE IS NO MANUAL ADJUSTMENT FOR THE BELT TENSIONER (SPRING LOADED). THIS PROBLEM STARTED AT 24,000 MILES. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND HAVE SEEN ANOTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINT. I BELIVE THAT THIS PROBLEM MUST BE REVIEWED BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES STEERING WHILE ENTERING TRAFFIC AND IS KILLED! I REALIZE THAT REPLACING THE BELT MAY MAKE THE PROBLEM GO AWAY, HOWEVER, THIS IS AN OBVIOU. *AK
CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT HIGH SPEED WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD. CONSUMER TURNED OFF VEHICLE. *AK
ENGINE THROTTLE STICKS AT 1200 TO 2500 RPM WHILE DRIVING. *AK
RACK & PINION STEERING FAILED -- ONLY 4K MILES OVER WARRANTY -- NO FINANCIAL REMEDY FROM FORD FOR THIS SERIOUS SAFETY FAILURE. CUSTOMER SERVICE AT FORD CLAIMS NO ABILITY TO HELP.*AK
AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS RECIRCULATING OUTSIDE AIR EXCEPT WHEN ON MAXIMUM SETTING. NLM
AFTER 5 MINUTES TURNED OFF, RETURNED TO CAR, TURNED IT ON AND PUT IT INTO REVERSE, VEHICLE THEN EXPODED BACKWARDS UP AN EMBANKMENT AND CRASHED INTO TREES.
VEHICLE WILL REV UP. THE GAS PEDAL HAS TO BE APPLIED IN ORDER TO STOP IT. DEALER HAS SEEN 3 TIMES AND FINDS NO PROBLEM.*AK
DOOR MALFUNCTIONED. *YC
BATTERY FAILED. *YC
BATTERY FAILED. *YC
PCM HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED. NLM
WINDOWS DO NOT WORK. NLM
LOW COOLANT INDICATOR LIGHT FAILED. NLM
DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO GO UP OR DOWN. *YC
REAR VIEW MIRROR INOPERATIVE. YH
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 1997 Mercury Sable → · Every Sable year → · How the figures are calculated →