RoadVitals

1994 Mercury Sable Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
28
Latest Oct 3, 2004
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 387 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
6

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1994 Mercury Sable submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 28 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

The 25 most recent of 28, in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Oct 3, 2004

THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE BECAME CLOGGED WITH COROSION DEBRIS AND THE BRAKE LOCKED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10093538
Incident
Jul 17, 2004
Mileage
84,600 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 3, 2004

REAR STEEL BRAKE PIPE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION.*AK

NHTSA ID
10093536
Incident
Aug 15, 2004
Mileage
85,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesEngine+4 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004

THE KEY INSERT DOES NOT ALIGN, HAVE HAD 2 TRANSMISSIONS IN 5 YEARS. (I KNOW TO CHECK MY FLUIDS) NEW ENGINE, & THE PAINT IS AWFUL. ENGINE, MOTOR, GAS, GASPS AND JERKS WITH ME. HAVE HAD MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED, NOTHING HELPS. HEATER COIL(?) WENT OUT, I HAVE NO HEAT NOW. WE HAD TO BYPASS. THE REST I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO REPAIR. I HATE THIS CAR. I AM WORRIED EVERYTIME I GET IN IT THAT MY MOTHER AND I ARE NOT GOING TO GET HOME. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED SO MANY TIMES, THE MAN WHO DOES THE TOWING KNOWS ME AND MY CAR ON SIGHT. I WILL NOT GO MORE THAN 30 MILES FROMT HE HOUSE. MY MECHANIC EVEN HATES THE CAR. I CALL HIM AN ANGEL, BECAUSE HE HAS KEPT IT RUNNING.

NHTSA ID
10070159
Incident
Sep 15, 2003
Brakes
Filed Jul 8, 2002

BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, AND CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
8013387
Incident
Jul 2, 2002
Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning
Filed Jul 8, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A CLUNK NOISE, DEALER STATED SUBFRAME BUSHING SLEEVES WERE CRACKED CAUSING BUSHING TO MOVE AND MAKE THE CLUNK NOISE. *SLC *DT

NHTSA ID
566460
Incident
Oct 15, 2001
Brakes
Filed Mar 12, 2002

WHEN PARKING BRAKE IS ENGAGED IT WILL DISENGAGES BY ITSELF. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
8005431
Brakes
Filed Feb 28, 2002

EMERGENCY BRAKE DISENGAGES BY ITSELF WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO POSSIBLY ROLL BACK ON AN INCLINE. PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
8004741
Incident
Feb 7, 2002
Brakes
Filed Jan 29, 2002

THERE IS A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE AND REPLACED BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS BECAUSE OF NORMAL WEAR. . PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8003065
Brakes
Filed Nov 1, 2001

WHILE PUTTING ON BRAKES THEY SQUEAK VERY LOUDLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
898631
Incident
Oct 31, 2001
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+2 more
Filed Feb 24, 2001

REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED DUE TO MAKING NOISE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
785317
Incident
Sep 1, 1999
BrakesTransmission
Filed Feb 1, 2000

TRANSMISSION FAILED IN 1998 AT 42000 MILES, ALSO HAVE REAR BRAKE PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ID
718152
Incident
Jan 28, 2000
Brakes
Filed Nov 12, 1999

ANTI- LOCK BRAKE FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CAR WAS INSPECTED BY THE SERVICING DEALER AND WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE THE ABS COMPUTER AT A COST OF $1,500. FAILURE TO DO SO, REPORTED THE SERVICE MANAGER, WOULD RESULT IN CONTINUING DEGRADATION OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO THE POINT OF COMPLETE FAILURE. I WILL PROVIDE VIN INFORMATION IF REQUIRED FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. WITH ONLY 29,000 MILES ON A WELL MAINTAINED CAR, FAILURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS SHOCKING. *AK

NHTSA ID
714703
Incident
Oct 1, 1999
Brakes
Filed Oct 22, 1999

THE ABS SYSTEM EXPERIENCING FAILURE WHICH IS CAUSING THE ABS WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON. *YC

NHTSA ID
851510
Incident
Oct 15, 1999
Brakes
Filed Aug 19, 1999

ABS SENSOR LIGHT WOULD COME ON. WHENEVER THIS OCCURRED IT CAUSED FRONT WHEELS, EXCPEPT ONE ON RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE, TO LOCK UP. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. SEEKING HELP NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
845488
Incident
Aug 30, 1995
BrakesEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Aug 3, 1999
Crash reported4 injuries reported

I HAVE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FEUL PUMP REPLACED , NEW HEAD PUT ON CAR, TRANSMISSION SCREEN AND FILTER REPLACED BECAUSE OF LEAKAGE, BRAKES REPLACED ROTORS TURNED, BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT, REAR AXLE LOOSE. SQUEALING NOISE ON PASSANGER SIDE WHEN TURNING OR GOING AROUND A CURVE. THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS CAR ALSO I THINK HAS A PROBLEM IT HESITATES WHEN YOU FIRST CRANK UP THE CAR IT WON' T GO IT ACTS LIKE YOU ARE IN NEUTRAL FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN IT GOES. I HAVE ALSO HAD SOME TYPE OF COLLANT RING AROUND THE TIMING CHAIN REPLACED THE ENGINE WOULD GET HOT AND START SMOKING IT SMELLED LIKE ANTI-FREEZE . MOST OF THE REPAIR WORK HAS BEEN DONE UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRENTY BUT THIS CAR DOES HAVE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID
709534
Incident
Jun 5, 1999
Body & structureBrakesEngine
Filed Aug 3, 1999

MOTOR MOUNTS AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS FAILED CAUSING NOISE, PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE OF THE SUB-FRAME MOUNTS (26-FEB-99) (98S36). MJS

NHTSA ID
547724
Incident
Aug 1, 1998
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed May 23, 1999
Crash reported

CAR ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY, BRAKES APPLIED, BUT COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE; HAD TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
706793
Incident
May 22, 1999
BrakesTransmission
Filed Apr 30, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
706142
Incident
Mar 1, 1996
BrakesHeating & air conditioningDriver assistance+1 more
Filed Apr 18, 1999

1,WHEN VEHICLE IDLES THERE IS A THUMPING NOISE COMMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE RADIATOR . 2. THE ABS SYSTEM BOUNCES EXTREMELY VIOLENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. 3. CRUISE CONTROL WORKS ONLY WHEN IT WANTS TO, AS IF SHORTING. 4. A/C DIED AND WILL NOT TAKE A CHARGE. *AK

NHTSA ID
705752
Brakes
Filed Mar 4, 1999

HOSE FAILED DUE TO INCORRECT ROUTING - IT WAS WORN THROUGH BY THE STRUT BRACKET

NHTSA ID
704030
Incident
Feb 18, 1999
Brakes
Filed Nov 5, 1998

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ROTORS GOING OUT OF ROUND. PROBLEM WOULD REOCCUR WITHIN 30000; DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE COST MUST GO TO CONSUMER. OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, ROTORS WERE TURNED DOWN. HE SAID THAT SOME FORD ROTORS ARE TOO SENSITIVE AND IF SOMEONE DOESN'T TIGHTEN THE LUG NUTS PROPERLY, THE ROTORS EASILY DISTORT. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
830232
Incident
Sep 15, 1998
Brakes
Filed Nov 28, 1997

BRAKE CALIPERS LOCK UP CAUSING OVERHEATING, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO ROTORS AND PADS.

NHTSA ID
525575
Incident
Nov 7, 1997
Brakes
Filed Jul 3, 1997

BRAKE PROBLEMS; THE BRAKES WARPED AND THE ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED EVERY 3,000 MILES OR THE VEHICLE IS UNSTOPABLE. THERE IS 46,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. FORD IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARP EVERY 3000-3500 MILES AND THE DEALER REPLACES THE ROTORS AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER FEELS UNSAFE DRIVING WITH BAD BRAKES. *YH

NHTSA ID
813780
Brakes
Filed Nov 26, 1996

WHEN DRIVING ALONG AND TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE DRIVER HAS TO PUMP THE BRAKES HARD IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
805618
Brakes
Filed Nov 1, 1995

ABS: WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AND HITTING BUMP AT SAME TIME, PEDAL COMES UP IN AIR; PEDAL HARD CAUSING NO BRAKES. TT

NHTSA ID
974298
Incident
May 15, 1994

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .