1998 Mercury Sable Brakes Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. DUE TO THE BRAKE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AT AN INTERSECTION WITH AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK AND FACE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,000.

NHTSA ID

10781703

Incident

Oct 10, 2015

Mileage

179,000 mi

BRAKES LINE LEAKING FLUID DUE TO CORROSION OF METAL,LOST ALL BRAKE FLUID WHEN BRAKES WERE PUT ON. *JB

NHTSA ID

10199296

Incident

Aug 10, 2007

Mileage

57,234 mi

MY BRAKE LINE[METAL],RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH. 1.NO INDICATION OF BRAKE FAILURE. 2.SEVERAL OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS DROVE MY CAR TO THE GROCERY STORE,THANKFULLY THIS IS WHERE THE BRAKES GAVE OUT. 3.MERCURY DEALERSHIP REPLACED LINE FOR ABOUT $275.*AK

NHTSA ID

10113886

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

Mileage

85,195 mi

IN 1998 I PURCHASED A NEW MERCURY SABLE. STOPPING DISTANCE HAS BEEN INADEQUATE SINCE NEW. RETURNED TO DEALER 3 TIMES, CHECKED AND STATED EVERYTHING WAS FINE. IN PANIC STOPS IT FEELS AS IF ONLY THE REAR WHEELS ARE BRAKING. NOW, AFTER 95,000 MILES I HAVE CHANGED THE REAR BRAKE PADS 3 TIMES AND REAR ROTORS ONCE, BUT THE ORIGINAL FRONT PADS ARE STILL ON THE CAR - JUST NOW NEEDING REPLACEMENT. FRONT ROTORS EXCELLENT - NO OUTER RIDGE. OBVIOUSLY, FRONT BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING EFFECTIVELY - NORMALLY FRONT BRAKES PROVIDE ABOUT 60% OF BRAKING POWER. ON NOVEMBER 19 2004 I REAR-ENDED ANOTHER CAR IN A CHAIN-REACTION PANIC STOP. BODY DAMAGE IS NOW REPAIRED, BUT I HESITATE TO PUT IT BACK IN SERVICE WITHOUT DETERMINING AND REPAIRING THE BRAKE PROBLEM THAT HAS EXISTED SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. I WROTE FORD ABOUT THE PROBLEM YEARS AGO BUT RECEIVED NO ANSWER. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO RECORD THAT I EVER COMPLAINED ABOUT INADEQUATE BRAKING. CAR WAS CHECKED AT BRAKEMASTERS, BUT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. WITH MILLIONS OF SABLES AND TAURUSES BUILT BY FORD, I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE THE ONLY CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM. I WONDER HOW MANY OF THESE CARS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN REAR-END COLLISIONS WITH THE OWNERS NEVER REALIZING THAT THEY HAD A BRAKING PROBLEM? I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE FRONT BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING, SO I CAN REPAIR THE PROBLEM!*AK

NHTSA ID

10104410

Incident

Nov 19, 2004

Mileage

94,950 mi

IN 1998 I PURCHASED A NEW MERCURY SABLE. STOPPING DISTANCE HAS BEEN INADEQUATE SINCE NEW. RETURNED TO DEALER 3 TIMES, CHECKED AND STATED EVERYTHING WAS FINE. IN PANIC STOPS IT FEELS AS IF ONLY THE REAR WHEELS ARE BRAKING. NOW, AFTER 95,000 MILES I HAVE CHANGED THE REAR BRAKE PADS 3 TIMES AND REAR ROTORS ONCE, BUT THE ORIGINAL FRONT PADS ARE STILL ON THE CAR - JUST NOW NEEDING REPLACEMENT. FRONT ROTORS EXCELLENT - NO OUTER RIDGE. OBVIOUSLY, FRONT BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING EFFECTIVELY - NORMALLY FRONT BRAKES PROVIDE ABOUT 60& OF BRAKING POWER. ON NOVEMBER 19 I REAR-ENDED ANOTHER CAR IN A CHAIN-REACTION PANIC STOP. BODY DAMAGE IS NOW REPAIRED, BUT I HESITATE TO PUT IT BACK IN SERVICE WITHOUT DETERMINING AND REPAIRING THE BRAKE PROBLEM THAT HAS EXISTED SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. I WROTE FORD ABOUT THE PROBLEM YEARS AGO BUT RECEIVED NO ANSWER. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO RECORD THAT I EVER COMPLAINED ABOUT INADEQUATE BRAKING. CAR WAS CHECKED AT BRAKEMASTERS, BUT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. WITH MILLIONS OF SABLES AND TAURUSES BUILT BY FORD, I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE THE ONLY CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM. I WONDER HOW MANY OF THESE CARS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN REAR-END COLLISIONS WITH THE OWNERS NEVER REALIZING THAT THEY HAD A BRAKING PROBLEM? *AK

NHTSA ID

10104369

Incident

Nov 19, 2004

CONSUMER WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT BRAKE PROBLEMS. WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR, AND BRAKES FAILED. ALSO, INTERIOR LIGHT STAYED ON. *AK

NHTSA ID

10063220

Incident

Mar 15, 2004

THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL WERE DESIGNED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER, WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO ACCELERATE WHEN TRYING TO BRAKE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10054201

Mileage

30,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10029487

Incident

Jul 2, 2003

Mileage

59,000 mi

NAR 05/28/2003 *MR FAILURE IN THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. *CB

NHTSA ID

10021717

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

ABS BRAKING LIGHT APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD. THE MECHANIC FROM THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PART. *SCC

NHTSA ID

8017600

Incident

Jul 1, 2002

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARK OR FOOT IS TAKING OF GAS PEDAL TO BRAKE, IT WILL ACCELERATE.HAS TO APPLY A LOT OF PRESSURE TO BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE. THIS CAUSES BRAKES AND ROTORS TO WARP. REPLACED PART; HOWEVER, PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

8014204

Incident

Aug 10, 2001

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY,TOOK AN EXIT, APPLIED BRAKES AND BRAKES DIDN'T HOLD.*AK

NHTSA ID

8009725

Incident

May 11, 2002

NO BRAKE LIGHT APPEARING ON LIGHT BULBS SOCKET. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK BRAKE LIGHT IS ONLY WORKING WHEN CAR IS IN REVERSE, THERE IS NO FUSE INFORMATION FOR BRAKE LIGHT IN THE USERS MANUAL AND FORD MOTOR CO CAN NOT FIND SPECS. *MJ

NHTSA ID

8009173

Incident

Apr 1, 2002

BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL ARE DESIGNED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. DRIVER CAN UNINTENTIONALLY APPLY BOTH AT THE SAME TIME OR GAS PEDAL WHEN INTENDING TO APPLY THE BRAKE PEDAL. *AK CONSUMER HAS ALMOST HAD THREE ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE GAS PEDAL. *JG

NHTSA ID

8008372

Incident

May 1, 1999

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL SHAKE WHILE APPLYING BRAKES. ALSO, MOTOR MOUNTS WERE DEFECTIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID

8005865

Incident

Mar 1, 2002

I HIT SAND THAT IS ON THE ROAD TO HELP YOU FROM SLIDING ON BLACK ICE,BUT IN MY CASE IT MADE MY CAR GO SLIDING AND I HIT CURB ON RIGHT SIDE OF ME,WHICH KNOCKED MY HANDS OFF STEERING WHEEL.BY THE TIME I HAD MY HANDS BACK ON THE WHEEL AND BRAKING I WAS ON LEFT SIDE OF ROAD.AT THIS POINT I WAS OFF THE ROAD AND ON THE MUD, WHICH MY BRAKES DIDN'T DO ME ANY GOOD I JUST KEEP GOING UP AND OVER INTO THE CANYON WHERE I WENT DOWN ABOUT 15-20 WHERE I HIT AN OAK TREE HEAD ON.THE BACK OF MY CAR WENT UP IN THE AIR AND WENT SIDE WAYS SLAMMED DOWN ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF CAR.DURING ALL THIS NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.I RECEIVED 31 STITCHES IN FACE AND SEPARATED RIBS AND BRUISED WREST AND BUMPS AND BRUISES. *AK

NHTSA ID

756893

Incident

Dec 18, 2001

SPRING CLIP FOR REAR BRAKE PADS HAS SNAPPED AND DISCONNECTED DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE TWICE. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WITH 17,000 AND 19,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO EFFECTIVELY REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8000799

THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTICAL IN BOTH INSTANCES, THE REAR CALIPERS ON THOSE TWO OCCASIONS FAILED TO FULLY RELEASE RESULTING IN RAPID AND PREMATURE PAD WEAR. ON BOTH OCCASSIONS THE PROBLEM WAS NOT NOTICABLE UNTIL THERE WAS METAL TO METAL CONTACT. AT THAT POINT THE FAILURE CAUSED EXTREME HEAT TO BE GENERATED TO THE POINT OF SCORCHING THE WHEEL . THE SHOP THAT DID THE LAST REPAIR , THEY ARE VERY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO, CHECKED THE FRONT BRAKES AND THE ONLY WORK DONE WAS TO MACHINE THE THE ROTORS TO ELIMINATE A SLIGHT SHIMMY. I AM VERY EASY ON MY CAR AND THAT I DID NOT NEED FRONT PADS AT 75000 MI SEEMS TO INDICATE SO.*AK

NHTSA ID

747311

Incident

Jun 20, 2001

WHILE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 MPH AND SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN, BRAKES WOULD NOT COMPLETELY ENGAGE TO STOP VEHICLE. ENGINE ACCELERATED WHILE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN VEHICLE. THEN, ON MAY 14TH, 2001 CONSUMER'S WIFE WENT TO STOP VEHICLE WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AND BRAKES DID NOT WORK/ WOULD NOT BRING VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. ENGINE ACTED AS THOUGH IT WANTED TO ACCELERATE. *AK THE BRAKE HAD FAILED TWICE. *YH

NHTSA ID

888158

Incident

May 1, 2001

BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR,UNABLE TO STOP IN 150-200 FEET DISTANCE...CRASHED. *AK

NHTSA ID

740898

Incident

Jan 15, 2001

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. PEDAL WENTDOWN TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. WAS TRAVELING 40MPH. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK BLOWN 5 AMP FUSE (RADIO,RCC,IPC CIRCUTE) WERE FOUND AFTER THE ACCIDENT. *YH

NHTSA ID

880284

Incident

Jan 15, 2001

BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES DUE TO PREMATURE FAILURE. BRAKES USUALLY ONLY LAST ABOUT 4-5MONTHS. *AK THE SAME CONDITIONS AND NOISE REOCCURED. *YH

NHTSA ID

879407

Incident

Jun 1, 2000

REAR BRAKE PADS COMPLETELY WORN, NEEDING REPLACEMENT AND MACHINING OF ROTORS. DEALER THOUGHT FRONT BRAKES HAD BEEN SERVICED BECAUSE PADS WERE IN SUCH GOOD SHAPE. ALL BRAKE PARTS WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FROM TIME VEHICLE WAS BUILT. DEALER CLAIMS REAR BRAKES DO 70% OF STOPPING ON THIS CAR BY DESIGN.*AK

NHTSA ID

738310

Incident

Dec 23, 2000

MY CAR MADE A LOW ROARING NOISE FROM THE REAR END AFTER ABOUT 3 MONTHS, SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT DIDN'T OCCUR AGAIN FOR A FEW WEEKS I DIDN'T WORRY ABOUT IT, HOWEVER, AFTER I HAD IT FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS THE NOISE GOT WORSE AND I WAS TOLD I NEEDED NEW BRAKE PADS, THESE WERE INSTALLED THE SAME DAY, A FEW WEEKS LATER THE SAME NOISE OCCURRED AGAIN AND THIS TIME I WAS TOLD I NEEDED NEW TIE ROD ENDS, THESE WERE INSTALLED THAT DAY, THEN IT WAS MY BRAKE PADS LATER IT WAS THE ROTORS, BRAKE PADS AND SHOES, I STILL HAVE THE NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE CAR AND NOW MY BRAKES ARE STILL NOT RIGHT, I CAME DOWN A HILL LAST WEEK AND WHEN I HIT MY BRAKES THERE WERE NONE, THE DEALER IS SAYING IT IS THE FACT THAT I DRIVE A LOT FORD MOTOR CO IS SAYING THEY AREN'T RESPONSIBLE AND BUD SHELL IS SAYING IT IS MY FAULT CAN YOU HELP ME I HAVE HAD THIS CAR IN THE SHOP FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM ABOUT 10 TIMES SINCE SEPT 1999 I AM AFRAID THAT MY BRAKES WILL FAIL ME AGAIN IN A MORE DANGEROUS SITUATION THAN THE LAST TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID

736761

Incident

Jun 1, 1999

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

726021

Incident

Nov 11, 1999