1993 Mercury Sable Problems

BLOWEN HEAD GASKET ON 1993 FORD SABLE WAGON WITN 87,000 MILES ON ENGINE ENGINE REPLACEMENT NEEDED

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE BLEW OUT. *AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED ILLUMINATING AND COULD CAUSE A CRASH. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V009000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 05/08/12*LJ

DT: LAST SUMMER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ON AND OFF. THIS HAPPENED EVERY TIME THE CAR WAS DRIVEN AT NIGHT. THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE WITH TIME. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF WHEN THEY WERE ON DIM OR BRIGHT. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO FORD, AND THERE WAS RECALL 98V009000. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT TAKEN THE CAR FOR DIAGNOSIS. THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK

DEFECTIVE BRAKE SYSTEM. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ABS WAS AS NON- EFFECTIVE AS A NORMAL HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE, HOWEVER THE LOCAL DEALER QUESTIONED AUTHENTICITY OF THE NOTICE.*JB

I DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION FOR ALL THE ABOVE BUT COULD FIND IT IF NECESSARY. I AM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEAD GASKET WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM THAT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO AND, LIVING ON A SMALL PENSION AND SOCIAL SECURITY, DO NOT HAVE THGE MONEY TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE VEHICLE.

IN 1993 I HELPED MY MOTHER PURCHASE A NEW MERCURY SABLE IN RACINE, WISCONSIN WHERE SHE LIVED. BY 2001 MY MOTHER WAS AT AN AGE SHE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING FOR SEVERAL REASONS. THE BIG EVENT WAS WHEN SHE BROKE HER HIP AND WE ALSO LEARNED SHE WAS STARTING TO LOSE HER SHORT TERM MEMORY. IN LATE 2001 WE HAD THE 1993 MERCURY SABLE WITH ONLY ABOUT 30 TO 35,000 MILES STORED PENDING DECIDING IF ANOTHER FAMILY COULD USE THE CAR. IN EARLY 2002 WE HAD THE TITLE TRANSFERRED TO MY SON AND HE STARTED TO DRIVE THE CAR. HE TOLD US WITHIN A WEEK THERE WAS A TERRIBLE NOISE AND WE HAD THE CAR CHECKED AT OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER IN LEXINGTON ILLINOIS. THERE SERVICE MANAGER, DANNY, TOLD ME BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. I FOUND THIS VERY ODD BECAUSE OF THE LOW MILES ON THE CAR AND IT WAS NOT DRIVEN MUCH IN THE WINTER SALT. I HAD DANNY SAVE BOTH OF THE OLD SPRINGS FOR ME BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD COVER THE EXPENSE. BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SPRINGS WERE BROKEN IN THE SAME AREA AND THE ORIGINAL PAINT WAS ON THE SPRINGS, INDICATING TO ME THEY HAD VERY LITTLE IF ANY SALT DAMAGE. I STILL HAVE THE SPRINGS IN STORAGE. I ALSO LEARNED LATER THAT FORD HAD SOME SORT OF RECALL FOR FRONT COIL SPRINGS, BUT THEY NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED BY DECEMBER 2001. FORD DID NOT PAY THE $340 BILL THAT I PAID TO REPLACE THE SPRINGS IN EARLY 2002. YOU MIGHT ASK, WHY AM I DOCUMENTING THIS NOW. TWO REASONS, ONE I JUST LEARNED OF THE WEB SITE AND TWO, I OWN A 2000 FORD TAURUS AND JUST RECEIVED A LETTER ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS. APPARENTLY, FORD DID NOT LEARN FROM THE EARLIER PROBLEM. I LEARNED LATER HOW THE BROKEN SPRINGS COULD HAVE CAUSED TIRE FAILURE AND A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. ALTHOUGH MY MOTHER ALWAYS HAD HER CAR SERVICED AT THE DEALER, THEY APPARENTLY NEVER CHECKED IT FOR THE RECALL ITEM. I FEEL THERE NEEDS TO BE A MORE ACCOUNTABLITY ON THE PART OF THE MANUFACTURER(FORD) TO ASSURE ALL CARS ARE CHECKED. MY MOTHERS CAR WAS OVERLOOKED, PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF HER AGE.*AK

MY 1993 MERCURY SABLE WAS SUBJECT TO A FRONT SUSPENSION RECALL IN 1998 (NHTSA ITEM # 615138). THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED AGAIN ON MY CAR, SAME PROBLEM, SAME REASON (CORROSION). THE ORIGINAL RECALL HAS EXPIRED SO I HAVE NO OPTIONS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. FORD DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, THEY SIMPLY REPAIRED THE DAMAGE WITH PARTS SUBJECT TO THE SAME DEFECTS. THEY WILL NOT HELP ME SO I'M LODGING THIS COMPLAINT.*AK

I DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION FOR ALL THE ABOVE BUT COULD FIND IT IF NECESSARY. I AM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEAD GASKET WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM THAT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO AND, LIVING ON A SMALL PENSION AND SOCIAL SECURITY, DO NOT HAVE THGE MONEY TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE VEHICLE.

CAR HAS STALLED SINCE FIRST DAY WHEN STOPPING AND UPON ACCELERATION ENGINE STALLS AND WON'T CRANK,ALSO HAD BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS,POWER WINDOWS NOT WORKING,TACHOMETER NOT WORKING,WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS MISING WHEN BOUGHT. *AK

AFTER DRIVING FOR 30-45 MINUTES HEADLIGHTS FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY. NHTSA RECALL 98V009000 FOR A CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS ISSUED. *AK

THE IGNITION SWITCH AND CYLINDER WAS EXTREMELY HOT WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO TOUCH IT. WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND CYLINDER BECAME HOT, THE TURN SIGNALS AND FOUR WAY FLASHERS WENT OUT. *JB THE IGNITION KEY WOULD BECOME HOT TOUCH AS WELL. *SCC *JB

IN EARLY JANUARY 2008, MY MERCURY SABLE 3.0 WAGON, BEGAN TO HAVE TRANSMISSION (AX4S) PROBLEMS OF ERADICT UPSHIFTING AND DOWNSHIFTING WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AND CLIMBING A HILL. IN ADDITION WHEN I CHECKED THE FLUID LEVEL WHEN THE MOTOR IS HOT IT APPEARS LOW IN ATF FLUID, BUT WHEN THE MOTOR HAS COOLED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID STICK INDICATES THE TRANSMISSION FULL AT THE RIGHT LEVEL. I HAVE BECOME AWARE THAT THE AX4S HAS A HISTORY OF "INADEQUATE INTERNAL LUBRICATION OF CRITICAL PARTS AND A WEAK FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON THAT CRACKS AND LEAKS PRESSURE" THAT LEADS TO COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. MY CAR IS NO LONGER OPERATIONAL DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE ESTIMATED COST ON AVERAGE FROM TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOPS IN MY AREA IS 2200.00. I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THE CAR AND REALIZE NOW THAT THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION HAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF FAILURE AND FORD IS AWARE OF THE FACTORY DEFECTS BUILT INTO THE TRANSMISSION. I WOULD LIKE FORD TO REPAIR MY TRANSMISSION AT THERE EXPENSE SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THESE PROBLEM FOR YEARS YET CONTINUED TO MANUFACTURE AND INSTALL THIS TRANSMISSION INTO THERE VEHICLES BEING SOLD TO THE PUBLIC. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. TOWED VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. *AK *JB

I BELIEVE THIS CAR WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR FAULTY BOLTS HOLDING THE ENGINE FRAME(REAR BOLTS. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN OCTOBER OF 2006. IN DECEMBER OF 2011 I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER FOR A STEERING PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE REAR BOLTS AND IT COST ME ALMOST $400 DOLLARS. JUST RECENTLY I DISCOVERED THIS CAR HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN THE, I BELIEVE 1998 RECALL NOTICE FOR REPLACING THE REAR BOLTS BECAUSE OF THE DANGER OF THEM RUSTING OUT. MY QUESTION IS: IS THERE THE POSSIBILITY THAT I CAN STILL BE COVERED UNDER ANY FORD/MERCURY TERMS, SOMETHING LIKE A FORD MOTORS GOODWILL PROGRAM. ONE BOLT WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND BROKEN AND THE OTHER JUST RUSTED BUT NOT YET BROKEN. SHOULD THE FORD/MERCURY DEALER I BROUGHT THE CAR TO HAVE KNOWN THAT THIS WAS A RECALLED VEHICLE AND DISCUSSED THIS WITH ME. MILEAGE AT THAT TIME WAS 79,524. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A HALT AT A STOP SIGN, ACCELERATION WAS ATTEMPTED, AND THE BOLTS THAT HELD THE MOTOR FRAME FELL OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE'S VIN# DID NOT FIT UNDER ANY RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED OR REPAIRED.

I DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION FOR ALL THE ABOVE BUT COULD FIND IT IF NECESSARY. I AM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEAD GASKET WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM THAT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO AND, LIVING ON A SMALL PENSION AND SOCIAL SECURITY, DO NOT HAVE THGE MONEY TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE VEHICLE.

STEERING HAS BINDING NOISE, FRONT END SUSPENSION RATTLES AND VIBRATES.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN RD GAS PEDAL STUCK MY DAUGHTER ROAD THE BRAKE UNTIL SHE COULD GET OFF ROAD .SHE CALLED I WORK THE LINKAGE FOR THE GAS BY HAND THAT FREED IT UP TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC HE TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE SAID ITS NOT RELEASING FAST ENOUGH HE TRIED A COUPLE THINGS VACUUM HOSES AND SOME OTHER PARTS THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM HE WENT ON LINE AND FOUND THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE CABLE AND TOLD ME TO CALL FORD. *TR

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. *SLC

THE TRANSMISSION IS JUST ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR.THE AIR CONDITIONING NEVER WORKED VERY WELL. DECEMBER 1998 THE AIR CONDITIONING QUIT WORKING COMPLETELY. THE CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING IN 1996. ONE OF THE POWER WINDOWS QUIT WORKING IN 1997. THE HEADLINER NEAR THE BACK WINDSHIELD STARTED HANGING DOWN IN 1998. OUR LATEST PROBLEM IS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. WE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED 11/1/98 AT A COST TO US OF $1,788.00. PLUS IT COST US OVER $100.00 TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. THE FORD COMPANY HASN'T DONE ANYTHING TO HELP US.

DRIVER INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT AND AIR BAG DEPLOYED CAUSING MAJOR INJURIES.*MR THE IMPACT OF THE AIRBAG CAUSED CATARACTS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY ALONG WITH GLAUCOMA, WHILE THE CHEMICAL BURNED THE CONSUMER'S FACE AND MELTED HER EYES.*TS *JB

CONSUMER RECEIVED A CODE 35 WARNING FOR AIR BAG. VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO ADVISED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW AIR BAG MODULE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN RD GAS PEDAL STUCK MY DAUGHTER ROAD THE BRAKE UNTIL SHE COULD GET OFF ROAD .SHE CALLED I WORK THE LINKAGE FOR THE GAS BY HAND THAT FREED IT UP TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC HE TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE SAID ITS NOT RELEASING FAST ENOUGH HE TRIED A COUPLE THINGS VACUUM HOSES AND SOME OTHER PARTS THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM HE WENT ON LINE AND FOUND THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE CABLE AND TOLD ME TO CALL FORD. *TR

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THE CAR SHUTS OFF AT RANDOM I'VE REPLACED THE BRAIN NO LUCK OH WELL THE PROBLEM IS THE CAR SHUTS OFF AT RANDOM SITTING DRIVING 1-100 MILES AN HOUR OH YEAH I GOT PULLED OVER FOR DOING 85 CAR SHUT OFF AT THAT SPEED BUT THAT'S NOT ALL SHUTS OFF COLD WARM 1 MIN 10 MIN DOESN'T MATTER WHEN EVER IT FEELS THE NEED IT DOES IT IM SO AFRAID OF THE CAR I WANT TO GIVE IT BACK TO FORD SO IT CAN KILL THEM I WILL NO LONGER EVEN TOUCH THIS VEHICLE I WANT SOME ONE TO TAKE IT AWAY ITS BEEN SITTING FOR ALMOST 6 MONTHS I HAVE NO IDEA THE PARTICULAR DATE BUT LIKE I SAID IM AFRAID OF THE VEHICLE... *TR

THE SEAT BELTS ARE NOT BE ABLE TO LOCK WHEN I PULL IT REALLY FAST. I TRIED ALL OF THE SEAT BELTS IN MY CAR NONE OF THEM WERE BE ABLE TO LOCK WHEN I PULLED THEM VERY FAST. I ASKED A CAR SHOP GUY TO CHECK THEM FOR ME HE SAID ALL OF THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. *NLM

FRONT DRIVERS SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK UPON IMPACT, CAUSING INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

FORD 3.8L HEAD GASKET FAILURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE

CAR HAS STALLED SINCE FIRST DAY WHEN STOPPING AND UPON ACCELERATION ENGINE STALLS AND WON'T CRANK,ALSO HAD BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS,POWER WINDOWS NOT WORKING,TACHOMETER NOT WORKING,WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS MISING WHEN BOUGHT. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE OF GARAGE, AND HEARD AN EXPLOSION COMING FROM GARAGE. WHEN HE WENT TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON, WINDOWS OF VEHICLE HAD SHATTERED ALL OVER GARAGE . VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE COMING FROM DASHBOARD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE HOOD FLEW UP, CAUSING POOR DRIVER VISIBILITY, RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE HOOD LATCH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE HAD VISIBLE WIRES AND THE TIRE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THERE WAS A KNOT IN THE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THREE THOUSAND MILES LATER, THE TREAD ON BOTH FRONT TIRES WAS COMPLETELY WORN AND THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE TREAD HAS WORN ON THE FRONT TIRES AGAIN, AND THE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHICH DETERMINED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE TO CAUSE THE ABNORMAL WEAR OF THE FRONT TIRES.

THE FIRESTONE FR 680 TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING. *MJS