Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Mercury Sable submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY SABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A SAFETY INSPECTION, WHERE THE MECHANIC NOTIFIED HER THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND THE BALL JOINTS WERE DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
CONSTANTLY HAVING TO SERVICE BRAKES ON MY 1997 MERCURY SABLE. I HAVE HAD BRAKE CALIPERS SEIZE UP TO THE POINT THE WHEEL WAS TOO HOT TO TOUCH AND I CURRENTLY HAVE BRAKE LINES RUSTED OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME IN ABOUT 2 YEARS THIS IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE FOR SUCH AN EXPENSIVE LUXURY MODEL AND FROM A SAFETY POINT OF VIEW IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO PUT ANYTHING IN THE WAY OF BRAKE LINES THAT WILL LEAK RUST OR OTHERWISE FAIL PREMATURELY. *TR
I HAVE READ DOZENS OF EXAMPLES OF THE SAME PROBLEM POSTED ON THIS SITE. IT APPEARS THAT MERCURY NEEDS TO MAKE A RECALL. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO MY BRAKE PEDAL RELEASED THE PRESSURE I HAD ON IT AND WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I TOOK IT INTO THE BRAKE SHOP AND HAD MY HOSES, CALIPERS, AND BREAK LINES ALL COMPLETELY REPLACED. WITHIN 6 MONTHS, THE EXACT SAME THING HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. I DO NOT HAVE $500 TO SPEND EVERY SIX MONTHS ON A CAR THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE RELIABLE AND DEPENDABLE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE CURB AND CAME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE PLASTIC STRIPS THAT HOLD THE BRAKE LINE TO THE BOTTOM SECTION OF THE VEHICLE WAS COLLECTING WATER THAT DID NOT EVAPORATE. AS A RESULT, THE TWO BRAKE LINES THAT DELIVERED OIL TO THE REAR BRAKES CORRODED AND ALL THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TWO MAIN LINES FROM THE BRAKE CYLINDER TO THE REAR TIRES. THE LINES WERE FLUSHED FIVE TIMES AFTER THE REPLACEMENT. THE REPAIR COST $567.13. MORE RECENTLY, THE VEHICLE LOST BRAKE POWER AGAIN AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE THROUGH A STOP SIGN AT 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP 150 YARDS LATER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE NOT TIGHTENED PROPERLY AND THE LINES HAD TO REPLACED AGAIN AT THE COST OF $611.45. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NO RECALLS WERE AVAILABLE AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,431. *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20-25 MPH THE BRAKES FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DETERMINED BOTH BRAKE LINES BELOW THE FRONT DRIVER DOOR WERE RUSTED CAUSING THE LINES TO BREAK OPEN. THE RUST WAS CAUSED FROM TWO PLASTIC STRIPS ATTACHED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE LINES FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE REAR TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. UPDATED 03/17/06. *JB
THE BRAKE FAILED WHEN APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT SHOP, MECHANIC INDICATED THE EXCESSIVE RUSTED IN THE BRAKE LINE MADE THE VEHICLE TO HAVE A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *LA
I SHOULD HAVE LEARNED THAT SABLE WAS A BAD CAR AFTER THE ENGINE OF MY MOTHER'S '87 SABLE EXPLODED, CAUGHT FIRE AND BUSTED THROUGH THE FLOOR OF THE CAR BESIDE THE GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE (1993). LUCKILY SHE WAS NOT IN THE CAR. THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OFF AND SITTING IN PARK FOR FIVE MINUTES WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I BOUGHT MY 97 SABLE IN 2001. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR WITH SO MANY CONSTANT PROBLEMS. I SPEND ABOUT $1200 A YEAR FIXING IT CONTINUALLY. I'M CURRENTLY HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIO GOING OUT WHILE IN REVERSE OR WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE. THE WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WON'T MOVE UP OR DOWN UNLESS THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER PRESS THE BUTTONS AT THE SAME TIME. THE INTERIOR LIGHT STAYS ON, SO WE HAVE TO UNPLUG THE FUSE TO GET IT TO GO OFF. THE SEAT BELT SAFETY LIGHT AND THE WINDOW BUTTON LIGHTS KEEP CLICKING ON AND OFF. ONCE AGAIN, THE STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN EVEN THOUGH THE POWER STEERING FLUID IS AT THE RIGHT LEVEL. I HAVE TO GET THE WHEELS ALIGNED SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR. THE CAR ALWAYS MAKES A HUMMING NOISE AND DOES NOT BLOCK OUT THE SOUND OF WIND. THE SHOULDER STRAPS OF SEAT BELTS ALWAY LOCK INTO PLACE TOO TIGHT. NAME THE PROBLEM... I'VE PROBABLY BEEN THROUGH IT. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD/ MERCURY AGAIN EVEN IF IT IS THE #1 SELLING CAR.
WIFE WAS JUST RETURNING WITH NEIGHBOR, WHOM SHE HAD JUST DROPPED OFF, WHEN SHE WAS TURNING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY. SHE STEPPED ON THE BRAKES & THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR & THE BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I CAME HOME, IT WAS OBVIOUS WHAT HAD HAPPENED AS THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER THE DRIVEWAY. I HAD CAR TOWED THE NEXT MORNING TO HAMMONASSET FORD, MERCURY, LINCOLN DEALERSHIP IN MADISON, CT. AFTER INSPECTING THE CAR TODAY THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT. INFORMED ME THAT THE METAL BRAKE LINES FROM THE FRONT TO THE REAR OF THE CAR HAD RUSTED THROUGH, CAUSING THE LOSS OF BRAKES.FORTUNATELY THE INCIDENT OCCURRED IN A DRIVEWAY AND THERE ARE NO INJURIES. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AT 65 ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THE RESULTING NO BRAKES DUE TO THIS DEFECT IN THE BRAKE FLUID LINES COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. IF SABLES & TAURUSES ARE PRONE TO RUST THROUGH OF BRAKE LINES, I BELIEVE THE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED & THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED.*AK
HIGH BRAKE LIGHT LENS ON 1997 MERCURY SABLE STATION WAGON CAME OFF. WHILE ON MY WAY TO GET IT REPLACED AT A DEALER, I NOTICED ANOTHER 1997 MERCURY SABLE STATION WAGON WITH THE SAME LENS MISSING! PRIOR COMPLIANT FILED HERE CLAIMS THAT REPLACEMENT OF THIS LENS WILL COST ME $150.00! WHY SHOULD THE CONSUMER HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS? IT IS OBVIOUSLY A FACTORY DEFECT. I AM GLAD THAT IT IS NOT LIFE THREATENING, BUT STILL...... R.P.*AK
I HAVE HAD 5 OCCURRENCES OF ENGINE SURGING WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AND APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE SURGE IS SO STRONG THAT THE BRAKES MUST BE REPEATEDLY PRESSED DOWN HARD TO STOP AND HELD DOWN TO THEIR MAXIMUM CAPABILITY. IN 3 OF THE 5 OCCURRENCES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, REAR END COLLISIONS WERE AVOIDED BY MERE INCHES. *AK
HIGH BRAKE LIGHT LENS ON 97 MERCURY SABLE STATION WAGON CAME OFF. IN DISCUSSION WITH CO-WORKER HE MENTIONED THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS MODEL. HE THOUGHT THE LENS WAS GLUED ON THE ASSEMBLY. ENTIRE ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $150.00. *JB
I PURCHASED A 1997 MERCURY SABLE IN JULY 1977 FROM DON JACKSON SPARTAN LINCOLN MERCURY DEALER. I HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION, THE BRAKES, THE "PLASTIC" BUCKET HOLDING RESERVE ANTIFREEZE (CRACKED AND LEAKED ANTIFREEZE) AND NOW THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO WORK (INTERMITTENTLY AND STEADILY). WHEN I CONTACTED DON JACKSON LINCOLN-MERCURY AT THOSE TIMES WHEN THE PARTS ACTED UP TO ASK THEM IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY RECALLS OR PROBLEMS (AND I CITED EACH AREA EACH TIME I CALLED), I WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS REPORTED IN ANY OF THESE AREAS WITH THE 97 SABLE. I FOUND THERE ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE ARE MANY. I HAVE PAID $2000 FOR THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR, $550 FOR BRAKES, $80 FOR THE ANTIFREEZE BUCKET, AND WENT TO PURCHASE A WIPER MOTOR ($85) WHEN I WAS TOLD BY THE AUTO STORE CLERK TO CHECK THE INTERNET, WHICH I AM NOW DOING. I FIND THAT JACKSON SPARTAN L/M DEALER HAS NOT BEEN HONEST WITH ME AND I WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY DON JACKSON SPARTAN L/M OF THESE FALLACIES. WHAT CAN I DO?
PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT OR EXTEND, IT WILL STICK IN EITHER THE RETRACTING POISTION OR EXTENDED POSITION.*AK CONSUMER STATES SEAT BELT FAILURE STILL PERSISTS AND HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE, CONSUMER STATES THE SEATBELTS WILL LOCK UP AND NOT RELEASE, CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINED OF THE BRAKES SQUEAKING, HOWEVER DEALER COULD FIND NO PROBLEM.*JB
WHILE GEAR SHIFT INDICATED VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL ENGINE SURGED AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO AN UNKNOWN SPEED BEFORE CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. ALSO, POWER STEERING AND POWER ASSIST BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE DURING THIS INCIDENT. DEALERSHIP HAS YET TO EXAMINE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK
BRAKES WENT OUT WHILE TRAVELING 10-15MPH. EMERGENCY BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO STOP. THIS WAS FIRST TIME THAT CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM. DEALER WILL BE INFORMED.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
CONSUMER HAS PROBLEM WITH SUSPENSION. VEHICLE SITS SO LOW TO THE GROUND THAT IN SNOW LIKE WEATHER, BRAKES FREEZE UP, AND PERFORM POORLY UNTIL CAR IS FULLY WARMED UP. CONSUMER NOW BELIEVES THAT HER CLAIMS WERE TOO HASTY AND THAT ALL LOW RIDING CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM, CAR SIMPLY IS NOT SUITED FOR COUNTRY DRIVING CONDITIONS. *AK *ML
AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS RECIRCULATING OUTSIDE AIR EXCEPT WHEN ON MAXIMUM SETTING. NLM
CONSUMER HAD EXPERIENCED A BRAKE FAILURE WHILE PARKING VEHICLE IN FRONT OF A BUILDING, VEHICLE CONTINUED ON THROUGH THE BULIDING BEFORE STOPPING. *AK *JB
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL VIBRATE, WHICH IS CAUSED BY WARPED ROTORS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
AT A STOP SIGN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN AT ANY SPEED UNDER 25 MPH THERE IS A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPAIRED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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