1996 Mercury Sable Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A SQUEAKING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDER THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN SLOWING DOWN, MAKING TURNS, AND REVERSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRADLE AND SUBFRAME BUSHING WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING AT CERTAIN SPEEDS AND MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10851657

Incident

Jan 5, 2015

Mileage

80,000 mi

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER HAD TO TURN VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART VEHICLE TO REGAIN POWER STEERING.*AK *SCC

NHTSA ID

8013326

Incident

Jun 24, 2002

RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY IN FEB 2000. CURRENTLY, IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*AK CONSUMER STATES DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION THE FIRST TIME, AND NOW THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN THEY ARE REFUSING, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP THAT THINGS JUST HAPPEN.*JB

NHTSA ID

895203

Incident

Feb 1, 2000

I HAVE A NUMBER OF WORRIES WITH MY VEHICLE. THE FOLLOWING ARE: WHEN PLAYING THE RADIO/TAPE DECK, YOU HEAR A LOUD BUZZING NOISE COMING THROUGH THE SPEAKERS EVEN IF THE RADIO IS TURNED DOWN; WHEN STEERING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT YOU'LL HEAR A CRANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF CAR; CAR DOES NOT ABSORB BUMPS AT ALL, IT ROCKS, MAKES KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM SOMEWHERE NEAR WHEELS; WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 50-70 MPH, CAR WILL SWAY, LIKE A WIND IS BLOWING IT AWAY; FEUL SENSOR WILL FLOAT, YOU CAN NOT COUNT ON IT TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE; TRUNK HOOD FLIPS UP IN THE AIR SO FAST AND HARD, I HAVE STUNTED MY FINGERS BEFORE ON IT; THE DOORS ON THE CAR HAVE A SHARP EDGE TO IT, IF YOU DON'T STAND BACK WHEN OPENING THE DOOR, IT CAN GASH YOUR LEG; WIND SHIELD ARE A BLIND SPOT, TO LONG, WIPERS ARE SO STRONG THEY VIBRATE THE CAR, UNUSUALLY STRONG; BACK WINDOW ON LEFT SIDE (PASSENGER) WILL NOT ROLL UP, OR ROLL DOWN SOMETIMES; ASSEMBLY OF LIGHT MOLDINGS/FIXTURES IN BACK OF CAR ARE OFF(NOT EVENLY LINED UP), SO IS THE LEVELING OF TRUNK LID; CAR JUMPS WHEN STARTING IT UP, LIKE IT'S READY TO PULL OFF, EVEN WHEN YOUR FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE; WHEN MOVING THE GEARS THE CAR MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE, AND JUMPS ALSO; BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF AT TIMES; CAR LOSES POWER AT TIMES, EVEN AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN FEBRUARY, 2001; KEYLESS ALARM SYSTEM IS SENSITIVE, SOMETIMES A INCONVIENCE, IF YOU PICK KEYS UP AND TOUCH THE PANIC, OR TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON IT CAN BE SET OFF IN THE HOUSE, BEHIND A BRICK WALL.*AK

NHTSA ID

744401

Incident

Dec 31, 1999

WHEN DRIVING AND UPON MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURNS CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END. CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER NOTED THAT RIGHT HAND TIE ROD FAILED AT 25 THOUSAND MILES. ALSO, LEFT HAND SIDE TIE ROD FAILED AT 44 THOUSAND MILES DUE TO POOR OR NO LUBICATION. TIE RODS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

876717

WHEN VEHICLE IS PLACED INTO A DRIVING GEAR POWER STEERING GOES OUT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

876700

DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE UNIT RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO LEAKAGE OF FLUID. *MJS

NHTSA ID

552682

Incident

Jun 25, 1999

WHILE DRIVING INNER TIE ROD UNTHREADED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE UNDRIVEABLE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

862179

Incident

May 12, 2000

WHEN MAKING A SHARP RIGHT TURN VEHICLE MADE A GROANING NOISE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. DEALER DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO RACK AND PINION STEERING. RACK AND PINION STEERING HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES. ALSO, POWER STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, ALONG WITH THE PRESSURE AND RETURN HOSES. VEHICLE IS STILL UNDRIVEABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

859290

Incident

Mar 1, 2000

POWER STEERING GOES ON AND OFF AT WILL, CAUSING CONSUMER'S WINDOWS NOT TO OPERATE. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS AFTER VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

858859

Incident

Mar 19, 2000

WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATES THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE, REVERSE OR OVERDRIVE THE POWER STEERING ALMOST GOES COMPLETELY OUT AND THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL ELECTRICAL POWER. (STEERING, RADIO, LOCKS, DASH INSTRUMENTS). *AK

NHTSA ID

719870

Incident

Mar 3, 2000

POWER STEERING ASSIST IS LOST DURING DEACCELERATION DURING COLD WEATHER (<320F) MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO TURN VEHICLE. LOCAL DEALER REVIEWED PROBLEM AND COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE DURING FIRST TWO VISITS. THIRD VISIT THEY WANT TO START SWOPING OUT COMPONENTS OUT AT HIGH $ COST. FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CONTACTED WITH NO RESULTS. DEALER REQUESTED TO CONTACT FACTORY REGIONAL REP. FOR REVIEW FOR DEBUGGING AND FACTORY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. NO RESULTS TODATE 2/17/00. *AK

NHTSA ID

718910

Incident

Dec 21, 1999

WHILE TRAVELING CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AS RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT.ALSO, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

NHTSA ID

856385

MY 1996 MERCURY SABLE HAS DEVELOPED SEVERAL POWER STEERING PROBLEMS 1 MONTH AFTER WARRANTY WHICH FORD DEALER REFUSES TO FIX. *AK

NHTSA ID

710876

Incident

Jul 20, 1999

POWER STEERING GEAR AND THE RETURN LINE IS LEAKING STEERING FLUID. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. RACK & PINION ASSEMBLY (ORIGINAL) IS DEFECTIVE. *YC

NHTSA ID

846643

WHEN MAKING A HARD TURN LOUD NOISE LIKE BANGING OCCURS IN THE STEERING. DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM YET. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

832600

Incident

Dec 9, 1998

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN NO STEERING, WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

827594

Incident

Aug 25, 1998

RACK AND PINION FAILED, WAS REPLACED AND THE REPLACEMENT FAILED THREE MONTHS LATER.

NHTSA ID

538745

Incident

Apr 1, 1998

POWER STEERING RACK GEAR ASSEMBLY FAILED.

NHTSA ID

537389

Incident

Jun 1, 1997

CLUNKING AND POPPING NOISE FROM POWER STEERING UNIT DURING RIGHT TURNS, AT ANY SPEED.

NHTSA ID

536725

Incident

Jan 25, 1998

WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATES THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE, REVERSE OR OVERDRIVE THE POWER STEERING ALMOST GOES COMPLETELY OUT AND THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL ELECTRICAL POWER/ WINDOWS/RADIO, ETC. THE VEHICLE WILL BE CHECKED BY DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

822369

Incident

Apr 12, 1998

LEFT LATCH ON THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAD SNAPPED LOOSE.

NHTSA ID

999999999

ENGINE FAILS TO START.

NHTSA ID

523619

Incident

Dec 17, 1996

WHEN IT RAINS AND WATER GETS INTO THE ENGINE THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AND EXPERIENCES LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE DEALER SAID THAT THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE, AND ADVISED THE OWNER NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHEN IT RAINS. OWNER ALSO NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER BY MAIL OF THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

816601

Incident

Sep 23, 1997

STEERING FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

606043

Incident

Sep 1, 1996