RoadVitals

1995 Mercury Sable Powertrain (other) Problems

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

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) 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.
67
Latest Oct 6, 2015
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.
19%
of 350 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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1995 Mercury Sable submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 67 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 powertrain

The 25 most recent of 67, in the owner's own words

Body & structurePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 6, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION JERKED SEVERELY WITH EXTREME HESITATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHO STATED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED, WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 93V106000 (STRUCTURE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,219.

NHTSA ID
10780043
Incident
Sep 21, 2015
Mileage
103,219 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 1, 2002

THE NEEDLE ON THE SPEEDOMETER BOUNCES AT ABOUT 45MPH OR MORE. THE DEALER SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. IT WILL COST OVER $700 TO FIX IT. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, THEN FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR.*AK

NHTSA ID
762531
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 21, 2002

CONSUMER STATES SPEEDOMETER BROKE TWICE. *TT

NHTSA ID
564472
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 24, 2002

CONSUMER STATED THE ORIGINAL SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, HOWEVER THE REPLACEMENT HAS ALSO MALFUNCTIONED.*JB

NHTSA ID
564090
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 22, 2002

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO A HIGHER SPEED. SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE WAS ERRATIC. CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8002574
BrakesElectricalPowertrain (other)+1 more
Filed Jan 14, 2002

WHENE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ABOVE 60 MPH SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT REGISTER THE CORRECT SPEED. OPERATON IS VERY ERRATIC, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
8002106
Incident
Oct 21, 2001
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 24, 2001

SPEEDOMETER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE ON VEHICLE. NEEDLE IS BOUNCING, DOES NOT KNOW HOW FAST VEHICLE IS GOING. HAS TECHINICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSB 99-7-9 ON THIS PROBLEM. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ID
898179
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 16, 2001

THE SPEEDOMETER IS INOPERATIVE. NLM

NHTSA ID
785541
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 25, 2001

TWO WIRES HAD BEEN PLACED TOGETHER AT THE FACTORY CAUSING A RESISTANCE AND WIRES TO BURN, WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE AND BURNING RUBBER AND THEN ALL THE DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT. *SLC

NHTSA ID
561758
Incident
Feb 21, 2001
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 30, 2001

THE SPEEDOMETER WAS FAULTY AND THE CONNECTING CABLES WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE SPEEDOMETER HAS MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN, THE SPEEDOMETER MAKES A VERY HIGH PITCHED SQUEAKY NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING OVER THIRTY MPH, ALSO WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPS AROUND THE DIAL, GOING FROM TEN TO EIGHTY MILES IN SECONDS.*YH

NHTSA ID
561372
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 30, 2001

THE SPEEDOMETER WAS FAULTY AND THE CONNECTING CABLES WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE SPEEDOMETER HAS MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN, THE SPEEDOMETER MAKES A VERY HIGH PITCHED SQUEAKY NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING OVER THIRTY MPH, ALSO WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPS AROUND THE DIAL, GOING FROM TEN TO EIGHTY MILES IN SECONDS.*YH

NHTSA ID
561371
Body & structureElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Apr 18, 2001

WHILE DRIVING, FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE, CAUSING FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE TO DROP. *AK LOWER REAR SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT HAS BEEN REPLACED. FLUCTUATING SPEEDOMETER WAS REPLACED. STARTER AND WIRE HARNESS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. MUFFLER AND TAIL PIPE HAVE BEEN REPLACED. 2 FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND STRUT BEARING PLATES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
886261
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 23, 2001

CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING ERRATIC PERFORMANCE OF THE SPEEDOMETER, TAKEN TO FORD DEALERSHIP IN MARCH OF 1997, THEY REPLACED THE SPEEDOMETER HEAD, IN OCTOBER OF 2000 THE REPLACEMENT FAILED, ONCE AGAIN EXPERIENCING ERRATIC MOVEMENT WITH NO PARTICULAR PATTERN, THIS TIME IT WAS RELATIVELY BRIEF, IN NOVEMBER OF 2000, PERIODS OF ERRATIC PERFORMANCE BECAME MORE FREQUENT AND LASTED LONGER, FORD ADVISED UNLESS THEY COULD OBSERVE THE FLUCTUATIONS AS THEY WERE HAPPENING, THE CAUSE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. *JG

NHTSA ID
560476
Incident
Mar 26, 1997
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 5, 2001

ORIGINAL SPEEDOMETER STARTED "BOUNCING" AFTER 19100 MILES, I.E. THE SPEED INDICATOR WOULD SWING WILDLY BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN 40 AND 80 OR SO, ACCOMPANIED BY A BUZZING SOUND. THIS OCCURRED AT SPEEDS OVER 45-50 MPH. SPEEDOMETER WAS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE BY DEALER. THE REPLACEMENT SPEEDOMETER FUNCTIONED PROPERLY UNTIL THE WARRANTY-PERIOD ENDED, THEN WITH APPX. 25000 MILES ON THE REPLACEMENT SPEEDOMETER, IT STARTED ACTING THE SAME WAY. A LETTER OF COMPLAINT DIRECTED TO FORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY RESULTED IN A CALL SAYING THE DEALER WOULD CONTACT US. THEY NEVER DID. THE SPEEDOMETER IS STILL "BOUNCING" BEING UNRELIABLE AND NOISY WHEN DRIVING OVER 45-50 MPH. *AK

NHTSA ID
740472
Incident
Oct 10, 1997
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 12, 2001

SPEEDOMETER WILL STOP WORKING. NEEDLE WAS SHAKING . IF VEHICLE WOULD HIT A BUMP NEEDLE WOULD GO TO MAXIMUM SPEED AND NOT MOVE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN 3 YEARS. *AK THE SPEEDOMETER HAD FAILED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS. IT WAS REPLACED ONCE AND REPAIRED ONCE. *YH

NHTSA ID
878137
Incident
Jun 1, 1998
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 1, 2000

WHEN SPEEDOMETER GETS UP TO 45 MPH NEEDLE FLOPS TO 50/60/ 70, AND GOES UP AND DOWN. DRIVER CAN'T TELL HOW FAST SHE IS GOING.*AK

NHTSA ID
875840
Incident
Oct 1, 1999
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 21, 2000

SPEEDOMETER FAILED AT 67500, NEEDLE FLUCTUATES WILDLY AND UNUSABLE AS AN INDICATOR. RESEARCH OF YOUR DATABASE INDICATES UNUSALLY LARGE NUMBER OF IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS. FORD ISSUED AN ADVISORY TO DEALERS (ARTICLE 97-12-5) ON 6/9/97 REGARDING THE DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER. REQUEST NHTSA INITIATE AN INVESTIGATION AND SEEK A RECALL DUE TO THE DEFECT OF THE SAME ITEM AFFECTING A LARGE GROUP OF VEHICLES RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY. YOUR DATABASE INDICATES THAT THE MAJORITY OF OWNERS HAVE HAD MULTIPLE SPEEDOMETER FAILURES AND FORD IS UNWILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR INSTALLING WHAT MAY BE INFERIOR COMPONENTS AND THEREBY CREATING ADDITIONAL UNREASONABLE SAFETY RISKS. THERE APPEARS TO BE CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS A DEFECT AFFECTING A LARGE NUMBER OF SABLE/TAURUS VEHICLES AND FORD IS AWARE OF IT. PERHAPS FORD MAY BE RECEPTIVE TO ENTERTAIN A REQUEST FOR A RECALL BEFORE THIS DEFECT THE BECOMES MAGNITUDE OF AN EXPLORER ROLL-OVER TYPE ISSUE. PLEASE HELP!*AK

NHTSA ID
736699
Incident
May 30, 2000
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 7, 2000

CONSUMER SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T GIVE CORRECT READING. READING INDICATES VEHICLE IS GOING MUCH FASTER. DEALER'S SAFETY INSPECTION OF VEHICLE FOUND NOTHING WRONG. AFTER WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS DONE WIRING HARNESS WAS MOVED TOO CLOSE TO EXHAUST SYSTEM. VEHICLE ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE & STARTEDD SMOKING SEVERELY. WIRES ON EXHAUST WALL MELTED. DEALER SAID WIRES WERE MOVED BACKED TO WHERE THEY BELONGED & IT WOULD BE FINE.*AK

NHTSA ID
874583
Incident
Oct 20, 2000
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 19, 2000

SPEEDOMETER STARTED SWINGING WILDLY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 35 MPH. REPLACED AT 30000 MILES. PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN WITH REPLACED PART AND PERSISTS.

NHTSA ID
731900
Incident
Jun 15, 1998
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 19, 2000

MY FIRST SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STARTED SWING BETWEEN 45 AND 85 AT CONSTANT REAL SPEED, WHENEVER I DROVE AROUND 60 MPH REAL SPEED. AT THAT TIME MY CAR HAD 29,000 MILES IN AUG 1997. I CHANGED MY SPEEDOMETER FROM FORD DEALER UNDER FORD WARRANTY. I HAD EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEMS AT 46,000 MILES IN NOV 1998 WITH MY SECOND SPEEDOMETER. I CHANGED SPEEDOMETER AGAIN FROM FORD DEALER. I HAVE EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM AT 61,000 MILES IN JUN 2000 WITH MY THIRD SPEEDOMETER. I THINK 95 SABLE HAS SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THEIR SPEEDOMETER. IT IS REALLY DANGEROUS, SINCE I CANNOT FIGURE OUT MY SPEED, IF I RUN FASTER THAN 50 MILES. I'M HAVING EXACTLY THE SAME SPEEDOMETER PROBLEMS APPROX EVERY ONE AND HALF YEARS (ABOUT 16,000 MILES) AFTER THE FIRST SPEEDOMETER. FORD DEALER ASKED $ 600 TO INSTALL ANOTHER NEW SPEEDOMETER, SINCE THE PART WARRANTY IS ONE YEAR. I REALLY DON'T WANT TO DRIVE WITHOUT KNOWING MY SPEED ON HIGHWAYS. THEN I HAVE TO SPEND $600 EVERY ONE AND HALF YEARS TO MAINTAIN SPEEDOMETER. I THINK FORD SHOULD DO SOMETHING FOR MY SPEEDOMETER, SINCE SPEEDOMETER IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT INSTRUMENT ON HIGHWAYS. *AK

NHTSA ID
724231
Incident
May 23, 2000
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 11, 2000

SPEEDOMETER IS INACCURATE WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD. SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE BOUNCES AT HIGH SPEEDS 45 OR HIGHER. WILL GO UP TO 85 AND BACK DOWN TO 45. AT LOWER SPEEDS READING IS NOT ACCURATE. YOU HAVE NO IDEA OF YOUR ACTUAL SPEED. SPEEDO HEAD WAS REPLACED 07/98 AT 49,760 MILES SPEEDOMETER FAILED AGAIN 06/2000 AT 70,165 FIRST REPLACMENT AT MY EXPENSE WAS $382.88. SECOND REPLACEMENT IS $600 AGAIN AT MY EXPENSE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY DID NOT WARRENTY EITHER REPAIR. THIS IS A REAL SAFTEY HAZARD IN NOT KNOWING WHAT SPEED YOU ARE TRAVELING IN SCHOOL ZONES, WORK ZONES ETC.. PROBLEMS OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED.

NHTSA ID
723871
Incident
Jul 27, 1997
Powertrain (other)Visibility
Filed Apr 22, 2000

DRIVERS SIDE WIDOW POPS OUT WHILE CLOSING THE DOOR. ALSO THE DEALER INSTALLED A SPEEDOMETER TWO YEARS AGO IN MAY OF 1998 FOR $400.00 COST TO US WHICH WAS'NT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFTY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT NO COST TO US. THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED AGAIN IN DECEMBER OF 1999. NOW THE DEALER IS ASKING FOR ANOTHER $500.00 (PRE-PAID) TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I FIND THIS TO BE EXCESSIVE. WHAT CAN WE DO NOW? *AK

NHTSA ID
721796
Incident
Jun 1, 1999
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 21, 2000

WHEN VEHICLE REACHES 45MPH SPEEDOMETER OSCILATES. DRIVER IS NOT ABLE TO TELL HOW FAST THE VEHICLE IS GOING. THE DEALER, NORTH GATE LINCOLN IN TAMPA, FL, REFUSES TO REPAIR VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
860711
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 21, 2000

SPEEDOMETER DEFECTIVE, TWO TIMES IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS. *AK

NHTSA ID
721770
Incident
Dec 1, 1999
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 7, 2000

THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPS ERRACTICALLY WHENEVER THE SPEED EXCEEDS 40MPH OR A BUMP IS ENCOUNTERED ON THE ROAD. BASED ON THE DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT THIS FAILURE CAUSES I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN INSTITUTED TO ADDRESS THIS VERY SERIOUS DEFECT. BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS REGISTERED ON THIS SITE ALONE IT IS EVIDENT THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I HAVE CONTACTED THE FORD/MERCURY PEOPLE TO NO AVAIL, I TRUST THAT THIS AGENCY CAN RECTIFY THIS MATTER BEFORE THE SPEEDOMETER FAILURES RESULT IN UNNECESSARY INJURIES OR DEATHS. *AK

NHTSA ID
711229
Incident
Aug 17, 1999

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 .