1997 Mercury Sable Steering Problems

BALL JOINT AND TIE-ROD REPLACEMENTS NEEDED VERY FREQUENTLY (1-2 TIMES A YEAR). ON BOTH A 1997 SABLE WAGON AND 1999 SABLE SEDAN. EACH VEHICLE HAS HAD SEVERAL BALL JOINTS AND TIE-RODS REPLACED, SOME COVERED BY MFG AS THE FREQUENCY WAS SO OFTEN. EACH TIME WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE BALL-JOINT AND/OR TIE-ROD, ON ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER, NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO "SAFETY" REQUIREMENTS. IF THIS IS THE CASE THAN THE FREQUENCY HAS ME CONCERNED THAT IF THE 'ISSUE" WAS NOT CAUGHT IN TIME THERE COULD BE AN INJURY OR DEATH. THE 1997 SABLE WAGON WENT IN FOR A STARTER REPLACEMENT TODAY 3/16/06 AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THE LOWER OUTER TIE-ROD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS TIE-ROD WAS REPLACED 11K MILES AGO ON 12/3/04 AND THE CAR WAS INSPECTED ON 12/5/05. *JB

NHTSA ID

10152852

Incident

Mar 16, 2006

Mileage

12,000 mi

THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. IT DIDN'T TURN. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY DROVE IT. THE DEALER REPLACED 2 PARTS IN THE STEERING, BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINED. THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A BINDING NOISE AND GETS REALLY TIGHT. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP THE WINDOWS WILL NOT ROLL DOWN. *JB *TT *NM

NHTSA ID

10119643

Incident

Aug 21, 2004

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.

NHTSA ID

10070190

Incident

Apr 15, 2003

Mileage

70,000 mi

DURING RAINY WEATHER, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SPLASHES WATER INTO THE ENGINE FAN BELT ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE FAN BELT TO SLIP AND SQUEAL. THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILS TO TURN RESULTING IN HARD STEERING AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, THE GENERATOR FAILS TO TURN RESULTING IN BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATION. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEELWELL BAFFLE ASSEMBLY INSTALLED BY THE MFG DOES NOT ADEQUATELY SHIELD THE FAN BELT ASSEMBLY FROM RAIN WATER INTRUSION. A TEMPORARY, THOUGHT INADEQUATE FIX, IS TO APPLY "BELT DRESSING" TO THE FAN BELT. REF COMPLAINT #551260. *AK

NHTSA ID

10025424

Incident

Jul 5, 2003

1997 MERCURY SABLE. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10019276

Incident

Aug 15, 1999

Mileage

54,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN VEHICLE GOES THROW A PUDDLE OFF WATER THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. DEALER CONTACTED. TS

NHTSA ID

8020995

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

NHTSA ID

899928

Incident

Nov 27, 2001

CONSUMER HAS HAD TIE RODS CHANGED BECAUSE THEY WERE BROKEN, THIS CAUSED STEERING AND BRAKE PROBLEMS. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER YET. *AK

NHTSA ID

887789

Incident

Apr 1, 2001

DOME LIGHT ALWAYS ON DUE TO DOOR SWITCH STUCK. VERY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT. DEALER SAID REOCCURING PROBLEM IN MODEL AND SAID I CAN FIX IT MYSELF BY REMOVING DOOR PANEL. ASKED IF I HAD OTHER "ELECTRICAL" PROBLEMS. I SAID EMERGENCY (HAZARD) LIGHTS DON'T WORK. HE SAID MODEL HAS AWFUL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND WANTED TO KNOW IF I USE THE AUTOMATIC LIGHTS EQUIPPED ON THE CAR. SAID I TRIED BUT IT WAS FAULTY. NEVER BOTHERED USING IT SINCE. HE GAVE ME AN ESTIMATION ON REPAIRS STATING IT IS MANUFACTURE DEFECT BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.*AK

NHTSA ID

739155

Incident

Dec 5, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

722586

Incident

Nov 10, 1999

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AT 13,000 MILES DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CORE. DEALERR REPLACED IT ANOTHER PUMP WHICH ALSO BECAME DEFECTIVE WITHIN 2 DAYS.*AK

NHTSA ID

859474

UPON DRIVING DURING RAIN OR DAMP WEATHER STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, THE BATTERY LIGHT FLASHES AND THE FAN BELT MAKES NOISE. YH

NHTSA ID

551260

HAD STEERING RACK & PINION REPLACED 1 YEAR AGO. CURRENTLY, RACK & PINION NEEDS REPLACING AGAIN FOR SAME PROBLEM. WAS MAKING NOISES WHEN EVER TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. WOULD BE HARD TO RETURN IT BACK TO ORIGINAL POSITION. *AK

NHTSA ID

844510

Incident

Jun 11, 1999

WHEN DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS AND MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM A STOPPED POSITION, POWER STEERING IS LOST AND ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. ALSO, DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE. THIS LOSS OF POWER AND STEERING WHILE ENTERING TRAFFIC IS ALARMING! IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE BELT IS SLIPPLING DUE TO THE MOISTURE BEING SPRAYED UP FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. I HAVE INSPECTED THE BELT AND IT IS IN FINE CONDITION. THERE IS NO MANUAL ADJUSTMENT FOR THE BELT TENSIONER (SPRING LOADED). THIS PROBLEM STARTED AT 24,000 MILES. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND HAVE SEEN ANOTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINT. I BELIVE THAT THIS PROBLEM MUST BE REVIEWED BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES STEERING WHILE ENTERING TRAFFIC AND IS KILLED! I REALIZE THAT REPLACING THE BELT MAY MAKE THE PROBLEM GO AWAY, HOWEVER, THIS IS AN OBVIOU. *AK

NHTSA ID

708191

RACK & PINION STEERING FAILED -- ONLY 4K MILES OVER WARRANTY -- NO FINANCIAL REMEDY FROM FORD FOR THIS SERIOUS SAFETY FAILURE. CUSTOMER SERVICE AT FORD CLAIMS NO ABILITY TO HELP.*AK

NHTSA ID

706694

Incident

May 20, 1999

WHEN RIDING OVER PUDDLES THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, AND THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. THE VEHICLE STUTTERS FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN GOES BACK TO NORMAL. DEALER DOESN'T HAVE A SOLUTION FOR PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

828070

WHILE DRIVING INNER TIE ROD BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, RESULTING IN AN COLLISION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

824248

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED LIMIT AND SUDDENLY STEERING FAILED, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND SKIDDED 360 DEGREES, RESULTING IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION. BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.

NHTSA ID

534143

VIBRATION AT SPEEDS ABOVE 65MPH.

NHTSA ID

511375

Incident

Nov 13, 1996