RoadVitals

1999 Mercury Sable Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
Latest Feb 18, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 258 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
13
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
14

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Mercury Sable submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 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.

Owner reports naming airbag

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsSteering
Filed Feb 18, 2016

THE STEERING IS HORIBLE, ABOUT 3YEARS AGO CHANGED RACK APPION STEERING, AND JUST A WEEK AGO, PUT NEW STEERING PUMP ON, STILL.

NHTSA ID
10836880
Incident
Dec 28, 2015
Airbags
Filed Apr 27, 2006
Crash reported1 injury reported

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON OUR 1999 MERCURY SABLE [XXX] AFTER AN ACCIDENT. THE FRONT OF OUR CAR HIT THE SIDE OF A MINI-VAN WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO TIP THE MINI-VAN OVER. POLICE ESTIMATED WE WERE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH. *NM UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
10156205
Incident
Apr 24, 2006
Mileage
97,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 27, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE COVER OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS SEPARATING FROM THE DASH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED, BUT THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC.

NHTSA ID
10153812
Incident
Mar 27, 2006
Mileage
91,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Mar 20, 2006
Crash reported2 injuries reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT IMPACT COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALTHOUGH BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEATBELTS, THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DID NOT LOCK RESULTING IN FORWARD MOTION, WHICH CAUSED THE OCCUPANTS TO STRIKE THE DASH PANEL AREA. MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE HAD MODERATE DAMAGE. THE POLICE WERE ON THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER.

NHTSA ID
10153231
Incident
Feb 8, 2006
Mileage
86,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 12, 2003
Crash reported

WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN CRASH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10022921
Airbags
Filed Aug 1, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER WAS HIT ON SIDE OF VEHICLE, KNOCKING VEHICLE INTO A POLE, AND AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND EXPLODED. CONSUMER HIT STEERING WHEEL OPPOSITE TO AIR BAG.*AK

NHTSA ID
8015282
Incident
Mar 27, 2002
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Jul 10, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 40 MPH, AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ASH TRY WOULD NOT STAY INPLACE DUE TO CENTER COSOLE FAILURE AND WAS REPLACED. *YH

NHTSA ID
8013584
Incident
Jul 4, 2002
Airbags
Filed Jan 7, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 30 MPH SIDE IMPACT COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH SIDE AIRBAGS, HOWEVER THE FRONT AIRBAG SENSORS SHOULD HAVE BEEN TRIGGERED BECAUSE SIDE OF VEHICLE WAS SMASHED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *JB

NHTSA ID
8001626
Incident
Dec 21, 2001
Airbags
Filed Dec 5, 2001

STARTED FROM A STOPPED POSITION AND HEARD A LOUD BANG FROM UNDER THE CAR. LOOKED UNDER THE CAR TO SEE IF I HAD HIT SOMETHING.NOTHING IN SIGHT.AS I DROVE HOME, I NOTICED THE CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHTAND THE AIR BAG LIGHT BLINKED. DEALER INVESTIGATED AND STATED THAT I MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING VERY HARD BECAUSE THE SUB FRAME ASSEMBLY AND PASSENGER LOWER CONTROL ARM WERE BENT. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER AND HAVE NEVER HIT ANYTHING. REPAIR CHARGE WAS $2056. *AK

NHTSA ID
755308
Incident
Nov 17, 1999
Airbags
Filed Apr 27, 2001
Crash reported

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH UNDER RAINY CONDITIONS WHEN VEHICLE IMPACTED A CONCRETE EMBANKMENT, SLOPING CONCRETE UNDER AN OVERPASS. FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND NO DETERMINATION FOR THIS DEFECT HAS BEEN MADE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
886958
Incident
Mar 25, 2001
Airbags
Filed Jan 11, 2001
Crash reported

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON A SIDE STREET AND ANOTHER VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED. APPLIED BRAKES , AND BRAKES DIDN'T STOP VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF INCIDENT.*AK

NHTSA ID
878072
Incident
Oct 23, 2000
Airbags
Filed Sep 12, 2000
Crash reported2 injuries reported

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON CRASH AT 45 MPH. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. POLICE, FIRE, RESCUE, TOWING COMPANY, AUTOBODY AND DELAERSHIP ALL SAID "SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE, AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF, YOU SHOULD HAVE THIS CHECKED OUT." ATTEMPTED FOR THREE MONTHS TO GET FORD TO SEND A FORD REPRESENTATIVE TO INVESTIGATE. FORD LEGAL GOT INVOLVED, ALL THEY EVER SAID (VERBALLY) IS "THE CAR IS SAFE" AND REFUSED TO HAVE ANYONE FROM FORD LOOK AT THE SYSTEM. FORD LEGAL WAS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT AN INJURY LAWSUIT THAN A POSSIBLE DEFECT. FORD LEGAL TOLD ME "IF YOU SUSPECT THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH YOUR AIRBAGS, YOU SHOULD TAKE IT UP WITH YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY." FIGURE THAT ONE OUT!*AK

NHTSA ID
731105
Incident
Oct 8, 1999
Airbags
Filed Jun 13, 2000
Crash reported2 injuries reported

WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH CONSUMER RAN INTO A DUMP TRUCK, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID
863476
Incident
Jun 7, 2000
Airbags
Filed Jun 12, 2000
Crash reported2 injuries reported

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON CRASH WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, CRASHING INTO A DUMP TRUCK. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING INJURIES TO BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER . CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
863392
Airbags
Filed Mar 27, 2000

THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY FASTENED, DEALER PUT AN EXTENSION ON THE SEAT BELT BUT IT COMES LOOSE ALSO. NLM

NHTSA ID
551578
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Mar 13, 2000
Crash reported

VEICLE INVOLVED IN FRONT COLLISION WITH A 35-40 MPH IMPACT DUE TO FAILURE OF BRAKES. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
858358
Incident
Mar 11, 2000
AirbagsSteering
Filed Jul 2, 1999
Crash reported2 injuries reported

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH, SUDDENLY STEERING WHEEL WENT OUT OF CONTROL TO THE RIGHT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO DO A 180 DEGREE TURN, THEN ROLLED OVER TWO COMPLETE TURNS. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. DEALER/MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
841635
Incident
Jun 11, 1999

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .