1996 Mercury Sable Suspension 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

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL STABILIZER ARM WOBBLED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND IT WAS DETERMINED, THE FRONT UNDERCARRIAGE AND ENGINE MOUNTS WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS EXPOSED TO EXTREME WINTER WEATHER AND CORROSIVE ROAD SALTS. THE REPAIR SHOP CONCLUDED THAT DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE CORROSION, THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.

NHTSA ID

10160028

Incident

Jun 16, 2006

Mileage

184,000 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

WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER'S FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT FRONT PASSENGER UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION.*AK

NHTSA ID

10073672

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE SPRING PUNCTURE THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE WAS PLACE IN REVERSE THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED. WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO REPLACED THE TIRE HE NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING BROKE WHICH IN TURN PUNCTURED THE TIRE. *SCC *NLM

NHTSA ID

10031707

Incident

Jul 26, 2003

THE LEFT FRONT SPRING PIERCED THE FRONT TIRE, AFTER IT HAD BROKEN IN TWO WHILE CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, DEALER FOUND PASSENGER SPRING, STABLIZER LINK, AND STRUT BEARING BROKEN, BOTH SPRINGS WERE REPLACED.*JB MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *TT

NHTSA ID

562548

Incident

May 30, 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

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

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH THE RUBBER ON THE TIRE CAME OFF AND DAMAGED THE BUMPER/ FENDER, AND PART OF THE RUBBER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH DAMAGED THE OTHER VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD. ALSO, SOME TYPE OF NOISE WITHIN THE VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE WAS GOING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. *AK

NHTSA ID

847167

Incident

Sep 6, 1999

ENGINE FAILS TO START.

NHTSA ID

523619

Incident

Dec 17, 1996

FAILED SWAY BAR LINKS CAUSED CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING.

NHTSA ID

519545

Incident

Feb 22, 1996

LARGE VIBRATION SOUND HEARD WHEN VEHICLE MAKES RIGHT HAND TURNS, FRONT END SUPENSION/AXLE REPAIRED AND LUBED SWAY BAR BUSHINGS. *AK

NHTSA ID

508469

Incident

Jan 25, 1996