Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
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 1999 Mercury Sable submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 30 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.
The 25 most recent of 30, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKES HESITATED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.
1999 MERCURY SABLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TOTAL BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE IN VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND CAR WOULD NOT STOP. I USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO SAFELY STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO AND A REPAIR CENTER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
THE BRAKES ON THE 1999 MERCURY SABLE THAT I PURCHASED 4 YEARS AGO HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AND/OR REPLACED 4 TIMES! NOW THEY ARE GOING OUT AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THE ROTORS TURNED, AND EVERY OTHER THING THAT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED. WHEN I ASKED THE LAST MECHANIC WHY MY BRAKES KEEP GOING OUT, HE STATED THAT THIS SIZE OF FORD WAS NOT SUPPLIED WITH AN APPROPRIATE BRAKE FOR THE SIZE OF CAR. I ASKED WHAT COULD BE DONE TO REMEDY THE SITUATION, AND WAS INFORMED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING THE BRAKES. I THINK THIS IS A HORRIBLE ANSWER. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT FORD WILL DO FOR ME. I LIVE IN OREGON AND AM SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINS, BUT I DON'T DARE GO OVER ANY OF THE MOUNTAIN RANGES BECAUSE GOING DOWNHILL AND APPLYING THE BRAKES MAKES THE ENTIRE CAR SHIMMY AND IT FEELS LIKE I WILL LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND THAT IT WON'T STOP. I HAVE TO MAKE WEEKLY TRIPS OVER THE MOUNTAINS, SO I ALWAYS RENT A CAR. THIS IS GETTING TO BE TOO EXPENSIVE. I OWN MY CAR FREE AND CLEAR AND WOULD LIKE THE BRAKES TO STAY FIXED ONCE I GET THEM FIXED BEFORE THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. *TR
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS TONE RINGS CRACKED. THE DRIVER FELT THE ABS PUMP. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THE TONE RINGS ARE WEARING AND CRACKED, AND THE AXLE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAS HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED . *AK
WAS DRIVING IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC NEAR HOLLAND TUNNELS IN NYC WHEN BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. WENT TO STOP AND PEDAL TRAVELED COMPLETELY TO FLOOR. HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. 2 HOUR WAIT FOR TOW TRUCK, SO DECIDED TO TRY DRIVING AGAIN AFTER 1 HOUR. BRAKES APPEARED TO FUNCTION NORMALLY THEREAFTER, ALTHOUGH A LITTLE SPONGY AT FIRST. *JB
CONSUMER REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT FOR THE 1999 MERCURY SABLE ABS MODULE.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM FIRST BEGAN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE AND STICKING WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES WAS NOT DIAGNOSED PROPERLY WHICH LED TO UNNECESSARY COSTLY BRAKE REPAIR BILLS. *JB
TOTAL CASASTROPIC BRAKE FAIURE. WITH MY WIFE DRIVING WE ENCOUNTERED A TOLL PLAZA ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY IN NEW JERSEY. MY WIFE ATTEMPED TO SLOW THE CAR AND AT THAT POINT EXCLAIMED, "I HAVE NO BRAKES"....WE WENT THOUGH THE TOLL BOOTHS AND STOPPED THE CAR ABOUT 100 FEET AWAY USING THE EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE. I OPENED THE HOOD, AND CHECKED THE LEVEL OF BRAKE FLUID, IT WAS FULL. I GOT BEHIND THE WHEEL AND STARTED THE CAR AND PUT IT IN DRIVE. I TOO FOUND THE BRAKE PEDAL ON 'ON THE FLOOR' WITH NO STOPPING POWER, EVEN AT LOW CRAWL/IDLE SPEED. I AGAIN STOPPED THE CAR USING THE ONLY MEANS, THE PARKING BRAKE. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED USING A NEW JERSEY AUTHORIZED TOW COMPANY TO THEIR FACILITIES. THEY CHEKED THE CAR, DROVE IT, PULLED ALL FOUR WHEELS AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. THEY TEST DROVE THE CAR AND FOUND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE MY PROBLEM, BRAKES WORKED NORMALLY. WE DROVE HOME ABOUT 150 MILES USING CAUTION AND THE BRAKES WORKED NORMALLY AS THEY ARE WORKING NOW. WE ARE TWO MATURE, WELL EXPERIENCED DRIVERS, AND I AM IN THE AUTO PARTS/REPAIR BUSINESS. I KNOW WITH CERTAINTY THAT I HAD NO BRAKES AT THE TOLL PLAZA, AND MY WIFE CONFIRMS THAT. BRAKE PEDAL WAS ON THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT EVEN HOLD THE CAR STILL AT IDLE SPEED. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT WENT WRONG, BUT IT IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY DANGERIOUS DEFECT, WHICH CAN CAUSE MANY FATALITIES. THERE SHOULD BE REDUNDANTCY IN THE BRAKKE SYSTEM AND THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED, WHATEVER THE REASON. THE CAR IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION IF NECESSARY. I HAVE NOT DECIDED ON A FURTHER COURSE OF ACTION AT THIS POINT. THANK YOU
ON SUNDAY AUG. 17TH I DROVE ONTO A STEEP EXIT FROM A 4 LANE HIGHWAY TO A FIVELINE HIGHWAY. I HAD NO BRAKES. THE LIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RAMP STAYED GREEN (THERE WERE ABOUT 40 CARS WAITING TO ENTER THE INTERSECTION)--I CROSSED ALL FIVE LANES AND CRASHED MY CAR INTO A DIRT BANK. I HAD NO BRAKES --THE MAN FOLLOWING ME SAID (AND TOLD THE POLICE) THAT HE SMELLED A BURNING ORDOR OR BRAKE SMELL AND HAD COMMENTED TO HIS WIFE THAT HE THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY BRAKES BEFORE THE INCIDENT. HE ADVISED THE POLICE. THE POLICE CHECKED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WAS ON THE FLOOR. I WAS ADVISED YESTERDAY (8/19) THAT STATE FARM IS TOTALLING THE CAR--THAT THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. NOW THERE IS NO WAY THAT SOMETHING DID NOT GO WRONG WITH THOSE BRAKES--MY FATHER AND I WERE ALMOST KILLED. I WANT TO KNOW IF OTHER FORD SABLES OR TAURUS--1999 MODELS HAVE HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM?*AK
PROBLEMS WITH ABS. *MR THE VEHICLE WAS IN TWO ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE INABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, WHERE THE ABS DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR REPAIR 7 TIMES. THE FOLLOWING ARE REPAIRS AND OR PROBLEMS THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED: TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED AFTER TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FOUND LOW, EXHAUST LEAK FIXED, WASHER FLUID WOULD SPRAY WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL AND LIGHTS WERE ON, SHAKING WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED/RESURFACED ROTORS, TRUNK LEAKED WATER, REPLACED MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH TO FIX WASHER FLUID PROBLEM, ABS NOT WORKING WHEN THERE WAS A PANIC STOP, LEFT AND RIGHT SPINDLE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, FRONT END ROTORS WERE REPLACED AGAIN, WHEEL ALIGNMENT, THE ABS DID NOT ENGAGE AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, AND REPLACED LEFT SIDE OUTER TIE ROD END. *SCC *JB
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A FLAT ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THE CONSUMER CHANGED TIRE TO AN UNUSED SPARE AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE TO SERVICE STATION. WHILE DRIVING, THE SPARE BLEW OUT. UPON INSPECTION BY DEALER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN AND PIERCED BOTH TIRES, AND CAUSED DAMAGE. *AK FOUND THE ROTORS OUT OF ROUND. THE FRONT BRAKE ROTOR WERE MACHINED AND THE PADS HALF WORN. *SCC *JB
TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING WHILE TRAVELLING 50 MPH. PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. NO LIGHTS INDICATING BRAKE FAILURE LIT. PUT ON FLASHERS, MOVED TO BRAKEDOWN LANE, EXITED HWY, UP HILL SPEED DROPPED, ALLOWED DRIVER TO COME AGAINST A CURB AND STOP. BRAKE FLUID IN RESEVOIR IS ALL VERY BLACK. VEHICLE HA BEEN TOWED TO A SHOP.
VEHICLE ABS SYSYTEM IS INOPERATIVE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
CONSUMER NOTICED THE FRONT END SHIMMIED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. DEALER DETERMINED THAT FRONT ROTORS NEEDED TO BE GROUNDED. THIS HAPPENED FIRST AT 25000 MILES, A SECOND TIME AT 48000 MILES. MR ROTORS GROUNDED AGAIN AT 50000 MILES . DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED THAT ROTORS BE REPLACED ON NEXT SERVICE. *TT *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, AND BRAKING DOWN HILL THERES A VERY BAD SHIMMY IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER, DEALER REPLACED ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. CONSUMER STATES 20,000 MILES LATER PROBLEM REOCCURED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT 50MPH PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
1) RACK & PIONION ROD: AT APPROXIMATELY 55000 MILES, THE RACK AND PINION SEAL BLEW OUT. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE POWER STEERING TO FAIL AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE WAS NO VIABLE REASON FOR THIS COMPONENET TO FAIL. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY KIND OF AN ACCIDENT. REPAIRS WERE APPROXIMATELY $700. 2) FRONT AXLE/ABS: A PROBLEM WITH BRAKING BEGAN AND RESULTED IN BRAKES SLIPPING AND VIBRATING, CAUSING A SOUND OF METAL ON METAL. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RING/GEAR ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF THE AXEL WAS ORIGINALLY INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. THE GEAR SHOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 3/8" FROM THE BOLTS FOR THE FRONT WHEELS. HOWEVER, IN THIS INSTANCE, THE GEAR HAS BEEN GRINDING AWAY THE BOLTS. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF THE GEAR "SLIPPING" IT IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN THE SAME SPOT. THIS CAUSES METAL SHAVINGS TO FALL ONTO THE ABS SENSOR AND RESULTS IN THE ABS NOT WORKING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH DUE TO THE ABS NOT WORKING. FORD DOES NOT SEEM TO WANT TO FIX THIS ITEM EVEN THOUGH IT IS CLEAR THAT THE CAR ORIGINALLY CAME FROM THE MANUFACTURER WITH THIS PROBLEM.*AK
WHEN DRIVING, I HAVE SEEN A FEW OTHER RECENTLY-BUILT MERCURY SABLE WAGONS "MISSING" THEIR REAR MIDDLE BRAKE LIGHT. THANKS! *AK
WHEN CONSUMER PLACED FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ANY DECELERATION OF THE VEHICLE, AS A RESULT THE DRIVER SWERVED INTO A DRIVEWAY AND PARKING LOT, AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKE A FEW TIMES THE BRAKING POWER RETURNED, A MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A MASTER CYLINDER SEAL FAILURE, AFTER THIS REPLACEMENT THE PROBLEM REOCCURED.
I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE BRAKE ROTORS WARPING EVERY SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS.THEY USALLY TURN OR REPLACE THE ROTOS.I CALLED FORD IN DETROIT ON THE PROBLEM BUT THEY ARE SAYING ITS NOMAL WEAR AND TEAR.BUT IF YOU GO TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAY THEY REPLACE ALOT OF THESE ROTORS AND THAT THIS IS NORMAL .BUT WHEN MY CAR GOES OUT WARRNITY AT ITS 3/36000 MILES THE PROBLEM WILL BECOME MY PROBLEM.I DON'T THINK THIS NORMAL AND SHOULD BE RESEARCHED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT FORD HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE ROTORS BUT THEY PUT IT OFF ON CUSTOMERS DRIVING HABITS.I WORK AT A COMPETORS DEALERSHIP AND DRIVE ALL DAY AND DON'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH THE VAN THAT I DRIVE ON A DAILY BASIS.IF YOU COULD HELP IT WOULD BRE APPRECIATED... THANK YOU. *AK
WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC GOING DOWNHILL VEHICLE STARTED TO SHIMMER. ALSO, VEHICLE SHOOK SO HARD THAT IT PULLED STEERING WHEEL OUT OF DRIVER'S HANDS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE.*AK CONSUMER HAD THE ROTORS REPLACED AND NOW EVERYTHING OPERATES AS NORMAL, AS THE ROTORS WOULD HEAT UP, THE PULSATION WOULD INCREASE. *SLC
IN WET ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES TIRES SQUEAL, AND VEHICLE SLIDES. BRAKE PEDAL FEELS NORMAL. THIS HAPPENS ONLY INTERMITTENTLY.*AK
REAR ROTORS WERE REPLACED,ON ADVISE OF FORD DEALER. SUPPOSEDLY CAUSED BY SAND AND SALT ON HIGHWAY IN WINTER. YET, NO SUCH PROBLEM EXISTS ON FRONT ROTORS.*AK
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES, THE PEDAL HAD TO BE PUSHED DOWN FURTHER THAN NORMAL, AND THE BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO WORK SMOOTHLY, WHILE TRYING TO STOP FOR A LIGHT, THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETLEY AND WARNING SIGNAL DID NOT COME ON, CONSUMER SWERVED ONTO THE SHOULDER PUT THE CAR IN LOW GEAR AND HAD PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED, VEHICLE WAS TOWED IN AND INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER CONTAINED BLACK FLUID, AND THAT THE CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER LOST ALL BRAKES AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, DEALER FOUND LEAK IN REAR CYLINDER AND REPLACED BOTH CYLINDERS, CONSUMER FELT LUCKY BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AND NO INJURIES. *SLC
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.
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