1996 Mercury Sable Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE RECURRED HOWEVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME FAILURE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10501255

Incident

Mar 12, 1997

Mileage

6,000 mi

RELEVANT INFORMATION---ENGINE WAS REPAIRED ON SEPT. 9/10, 2012 SAME MORNING AS THE ACCIDENT--CAR WAS DRIVEN TO BANK BUT AS I WAS LEAVING I COULD NOT PUT CAR INTO REVERSE. A GENTLEMAN PASSERBY WAS ABLE TO PUT IT INTO REVERSE WITH EFFORT AND A LOUD NOISE IN THE GEARS. I PROCEEDED TO MY EXERCISE CLASS WHICH LASTED ONE HOUR. HAD NO TROUBLE WITH REVERSE GEAR THIS TIME. ABOUT 1/2 HOUR LATER I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT AND IN A MATTER OF MINUTES THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING UP AND SHOT FORWARD ON ITS OWN, WENT OVER A CURB & SIDEWALK AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL AT HIGH SPEED. THE AIR BAGS WENT OFF AND WITH EFFORT I WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE FRONT DOOR. I HAD MINOR INJURIES--NOSE, CUT ON ELBOW, BANGED UP KNEES. THE ENGINE OF THE CAR KEPT ROARING FOR POSSIBLY 15 MINUTES UNTIL SOMEONE CUT THE CABLE TO THE BATTERY. THE POLICE REPORTED THAT I HAD STEPPED ON THE GAS INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE WHICH WAS TOTALLY FALSE. I REMEMBER DISTINCTLY THINKING--THERE'S SOMETHING TERRIBLE WRONG WITH MY CAR. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOT INTERESTED IN PURSUING THE CAUSE WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE REPAIR DONE ON THE ENGINE. THEY CALLED THE CAR A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10480074

Incident

Oct 2, 2012

Mileage

137,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE ENGINE MOUNT AND CARRIAGE FRAME RUSTED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SLIP FROM THE MOUNT. THE VEHICLE WAS EXPOSED TO EXTREME WINTER WEATHER AND ROAD SALTS. THE REPAIR SHOP CONCLUDED THAT A PIECE OF STEEL NEEDED TO BE ADDED TO EACH SIDE OF THE ENGINE MOUNT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.

NHTSA ID

10160024

Incident

May 1, 2006

Mileage

135,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE COLLAPSED DUE TO RUSTING. THIS CAUSED THE FRAME TO BREAK. ALSO, WHEN THE ENGINE COLLAPSED THE BALL JOINTS BROKE, CAUSING THE TIRES TO DISENGAGE FROM THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10073691

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ENGINE TROUBLE. THE CONSUMER THEN OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FLAMES. *PH THE CONSUMER FIRST NOTICED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WHEN THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED. UPON STOPPING HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE FRONT END. THE CONSUMER PUT THE FLAMES OUT WITH A SODA. *SC

NHTSA ID

10058074

Incident

Dec 25, 2003

I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR ONE YEAR AND ONE HALF. I BOUGHT IT FROM RAY HUDSON CHEVROLET IN LA CROSSE ,WIS. I HAD THE CAR TWO WEEKS AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE FRONT AND BACK BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS AT THE DEALERS EXSPENSE. I HAD TO HAVE A WHEEL BEARING REPLACED AND NOW AFTER A YEAR AND 1/2 I HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE MOTOR.

NHTSA ID

10071066

Incident

Apr 15, 2003

Mileage

67,000 mi

VEHICLE STALLED REPEATEDLY. THE IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*JB

NHTSA ID

10009682

Incident

Nov 17, 2002

Mileage

39,000 mi

THE WATER PUMP FAILED ON A 1996 MERCURY SABLE BECAUSE SAND FROM THE ENGINE CASTING GOT INTO THE WATER PUMP

NHTSA ID

10005561

Incident

Jan 23, 2002

Mileage

96,500 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND BLEW AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

NHTSA ID

8021932

Incident

Oct 26, 2002

CONSUMER RECENTLY HAD TAKEN HER VEHICLE FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A LEAKING HEAD GASKET. *SCC

NHTSA ID

567232

THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. AND THE SLIDDING DOOR WILL UNEXPECTLY OPEN WHILE TRAVELING.*JB

NHTSA ID

8009069

Incident

Apr 1, 2002

VEHICLE STALLS EVERY TIME IN RAINY WEATHER, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON 5 OCCASIONS, DEALER REPLACED SERPENTINE BELT AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS DESIGNING A GUARD TO PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF NEW GUARD. *TT

NHTSA ID

8005675

Incident

Dec 29, 1997

COOLANT TURNED TO ACID AND CAUSE CORRUSION TO HEATER PLUG AND WATER PUMP.DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

8005265

Incident

Oct 1, 2001

CAR STALLED, THOUGHT IT TO BE ALTENATOR, TOWED TO MY MECHANIC, FOUND THAT THE OIL PUMP GREAR WAS STRIPPED, AND ENGINE FROZE UP, DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICANT. HD TO REPLACE WITH REMANUFACTURED ENGINE, CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED AS REQUIRED FROM THE DAY IT WAS PURCHASED NEW, WITH ALL SERVICE RECORDS RETAINED. COST $4400.00 TO REPLACE. FEEL IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. WAS OUT OF WARRENTY, BUT ENGINE STILL ONLY HAD 31613 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ID

755572

Incident

Oct 24, 2001

COOLANT INSIDE VEHICLE HAS DETERIORATED, CAUSING ENGINE TO RUST. PLEASE ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

896468

Incident

May 18, 2001

I WAS TRAVELING HOME FROM MY FIRST LONG DISTANCE TRIP FROM NAPA, CA. TO VENTURA, CA. WHEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE CARS TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT STRAIGHT TO HOT, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR LOST TOTAL POWER, RESULT? TWO BLOWN HEAD GASKETS, NUMEROUS COOLING PARTS REPLACED. WHEN FORD WAS CONTACTED ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT FOR A KNOWN DEFECT (HEAD GASKETS) THEY SAID THE GOODWILL POLICY DOESN'T COUNT IN MY CASE BECAUSE I TOOK IT TO A REPAIRSHOP OTHER THAN FORD. SO HERE I AM OUT $2,724.62 REPAIR COSTS $400. TOWING COST AND ANOTHER $250. IN RENTAL COST. I BELIEVE THAT I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED MY COSTS EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED BY FORD, BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE EXTENDED "GOODWILL" WARRANTY UNTIL AFTER THE FACT. SO HERE IS ANOTHER SOB STORY ABOUT DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS NOT BEING FIXED. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO FIX IT. *AK

NHTSA ID

748760

Incident

Apr 22, 2001

VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING. COOLING SYSTEM BROKE DOWN TO SOON AND CAUSED EROSION. FORD DEVELOPED A REPAIR KIT FOR COOLING SYSTEM. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER PAID HALF OF THE COST. *AK

NHTSA ID

890988

Incident

Apr 22, 2001

CONSUMER IS HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE, ENGINE OVERHEATS AND AT TIMES STALLS.*AK RADIATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES, HEADGASKETS WERE REPLACED AND FINALLY ENGINE WAS REPLACED. SHOCKS WERE REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

890304

Incident

Jun 1, 2001

THE VEHICLES ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE, THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECENTLY HAD THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM

NHTSA ID

561537

Incident

Apr 12, 2001

FRONT FROST PLUG BROKE AND COOLANT LEAKED. CONSUMER HAD ENGINE REPLACED . FORD HAD A TSB / VOLUNTARY RECALL ON VEHICLE FOR THAT PROBLEM. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

889304

Incident

May 1, 2001

COOLANT TURNED TO A RUSTY SLUGGY MIXTURE. FREEZE OUT PLUGS HAD TO BE REPLACED AND SYSTEM FLUSHED. NEW COOLANT WAS ADDED AND IT IS ALREADY TURNING BROWN AGAIN. FORD DID DO THE WORK FOR FREE, BUT TOLD ME I WAS ON MY OWN IF IT OCCURED AGAIN. HAVE LEARNED THROUGH VARIOUS PEOPLE THAT THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO THEIR SABLE AND TAURUS CARS. TRANSMISSION HAS ALSO HAD TO REPAIRED AT A COST TO ME OF $1750.00. WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP THE CAR WILL THEN NOT GO FORWARD. YOU HAVE TO PRESS IN ON THE GAS AND MAKE IT LUNGE FORWARD, SOMETIMES CAUSING THE TIRES TO "BURN RUBBER" ! WE BROUGHT THIS PROBLEM TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THREE YEARS AGO AND EACH TIME WE TOOK THE CAR IN THE SERVICE STAFF INFORMED US THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. ON LAST VISIT IS WHEN THE COOLANT PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERD. WAS TOLD THAT OUR CAR HAD "CANCER" AND SHOULD GET RID OF IT, BUT NOT AT THEIR DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION WAS A FORWARD ENGAGEMENT PISTON. THE COMPANY THAT MADE THE REPAIR HAD THREE OTHER SABLES IN THE SHOP WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM - EACH WITH NO SUPPORT FROM FORD. EACH WERE PAYING $1750.00. HELP!!!*AK

NHTSA ID

745185

Incident

Apr 6, 2001

WHEN VEHICLE SHIFTS GEARS RPMS STAY AT 1800-2000, WILL NOT GO DOWN, CONSUMER HAS TO SHUT OFF ENGINE AND RESTART. TO DEALER WHO REPLACED AIR BYPASS VALVE, THEN THROTTLE POSITIONER, COERRECTED PROBLEM FOR A SHORT TIME ONLY.*AK AIR BYPASS VALVE AND THROTTLE POSITIONER SENSOR WERE REPLACED ON WARRANTY. *YH

NHTSA ID

886597

Incident

Nov 1, 1997

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE CUTS OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL POWER. ALSO, WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURN THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

882435

HIGH IDLE WHEN MOVING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD, AND IT WILL ALSO TRAVEL COUPLE FEET IF FOOT IS NOT ON BRAKES HARD. MANUFACTURER ISSUED A TSB, BUT IT DOES NOT CORRECT DEFECT. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS FAILURE CAUSED THE LIQUID FILLED MOUNTS TO FAIL WHICH ALSO CAUSED EXHAUST LEAK AT MANIFOLD, THE TSB NUMBER IS 97-7-1, WHICH STATES THE PCM NEEDED REPLACED DUE TO AN INCORRECT SOFTWARE IDENTIFICATION BLOCK. DRIVE AND SERPENTINE BELTS FAILED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

882211

Incident

Mar 27, 1997

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE SHUDDERED, THEN STOPPED, ENGINE STILL RUNNING. ALSO, TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID

881693

Incident

Feb 26, 2001