1997 Mercury Sable Body & structure Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE SUB FRAME THAT HOLDS THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION TOGETHER WAS DETACHED FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO RUST. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISE; HOWEVER, DURING THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS COVERED WITH RUST. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR RELATED WARRANTIES AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

NHTSA ID

10421114

Incident

Aug 18, 2011

Mileage

99,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY SABLE. IN COLD WEATHER, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL SHUT, BUT NOT LATCH UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN 3-4 MILES WITH THE HEATER ON FULL BLAST. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED FOR THE PAST TWO WINTERS. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS THE CONTACT'S RESPONSIBILITY. WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS SHUT, ONE OF THE TRIM PANELS DETACHES FROM THE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL DUE TO DETERIORATION OF THE PLASTIC ATTACHMENTS (CHRISTMAS TREE). HE WAS INFORMED NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE FAILURE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT HARMFUL. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DOES NOT LATCH BECAUSE THE PLASTIC MECHANISM DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE CONTACT HAS TO MANUALLY WORK THE DOOR HANDLE TO REACTIVATE THE LATCH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT AN ISSUE, AND THAT THE DOOR NEEDED TO BE TAKEN APART AND RELUBRICATED AT HIS EXPENSE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. UPDATED 04/21/08 *BF

NHTSA ID

10223169

Incident

Dec 15, 2006

Mileage

94,000 mi

THIS WAS A FAILURE THAT FORTUNATELY WAS CAUGHT BEFORE A CRASH. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED LAST DECEMBER. FROM THE TIME I PURCHASED IT THERE WAS A CLUNKING SOUND THAT CAME FROM UNDER THE FRONT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER MY HUSBAND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS MOVING BACK AND FORTH (FRONT TO BACK) WHEN THE CAR WOULD START OUT AND BACK UP. HE CONTINUED TO MONITOR IT FOR A FEW DAYS WHEN IT STARTED TO SOUND IF IT WERE WHIRRING AND GRINDING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. HE TOOK IT TO A REPAIR PLACE, FISHER AUTO BODY AND REPAIR IN SOMERSET. THERE THEY FOUND THE FOLLOWING, THE FRONT STRUTS WERE BAD, THE DRIVER SIDE WAS LEAKING AND HAD LITTLE FUNCTION, THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS WEAK; THE FRONT SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY MOUNT HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND HAD SEPERATED; THE REAR MOTOR MOUNT WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED; THE REAR SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (TO CURE THE CLUNKING); THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEARING HAD GONE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (TO REPAIR THE WHIRRING SOUND), PLUS STRUT MOUNT, CUSHION, ETC. THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR WAS NEARLY $1600. ALTHOUGH I SUSPECT THE WEAK STRUTS ALLOWED THE SUBFRAME TO SLAM TO THE GROUND ON HILLS OR SHARP GULLEYS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE FRONT MOUNTS BREAKING, THEY WERE CLEARLY NOT DESIGNED TO STAND UP IN THE LONG RUN. THE SAME DESIGN WAS USED ON THE 93 TAURUS FOR INSTANCE AND YOU RECALLED THE REAR MOUNTS AND REQUIRED A BEEFED UP MOUNTING PLATE AND DESIGN. YOU SHOULD FORCE FORD (MERCURY) TO DO THE SAME WITH THIS CAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

10096535

Incident

Sep 25, 2004

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE FIRE IN MY 1997 MERCURY SABLE STATION WAGON STARTED WHILE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. IT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 11HOURS BEFORE THE FIRE STARTED ABOUT 1:30 AM . THE RIGHT REAR SECTION SHOWED THE MOST DAMAGE BUT THE ENTIRE INTERIOR WAS DESTROYED. THE GAS TANK WAS FULL BUT DID NOT EXPLODE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNKNOWN. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THE CAR A TOTAL LOSS.*AK

NHTSA ID

764027

Incident

Jul 7, 2002

THE FLOOR PAN UNDER OUR CAR THAT HOLDS OUR REAR SUSPENSION AND WHEELS IN PLACE. *AK

NHTSA ID

744787

Incident

Apr 17, 2001

AUTOMATIC LOCK ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DOES NOT STAY LOCKED. CONSUMER ENTERS THE AUTOMOBILE AND LOCKS ALL FOUR DOORS. ONCE THE ENGINE STARTS, DRIVER'S SIDE LOCK POPS OPEN. THIS OCCURS ABOUT 70% OF THE TIME WHEN CONSUMER STARTS THE AUTOMOBILE. ALSO, AREA DEALER HAVE BEEN RECEIVING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME AUTOMOBILE. *AK

NHTSA ID

860941

Incident

Jan 15, 2000

AUTOMATIC POWER LOCKS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY UNLOCK WHILE DRIVING. APPOINTMENT BEING MADE AT THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

860243

Incident

Apr 5, 2000

THE TRUNK LIGHT BURNED A SHOPPING BAG AND STARTED TO SMOKE WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

842707

Incident

Jul 9, 1999

DOOR MALFUNCTIONED. *YC

NHTSA ID

607747