RoadVitals

1999 Mercury Sable Transmission Problems

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

Data refreshed

Transmission 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.
23
Latest Jan 19, 2007
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.
9%
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.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. 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. 23 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 transmission

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

EngineTransmissionVisibility
Filed Jan 19, 2007

TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 1999 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE MAY 22 2006, THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE HEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE SHE PURCHASED IT. THE VEHICLE OPERATES WITH A HIGH TEMPERATURE READING, AND THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO SLIP GEARS WHEN YOU APPLY THE GAS PEDAL AND BACK FIRES WHILE SWITCHING GEARS. THE DEALER HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE FAILURES THAT THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED WITH HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OCTOBER OF 2006 WAS THE LAST TIME SHE CORRESPONDED WITH THE DEALER AND THEY STILL HAVE DONE NOTHING TO HELP HER.

NHTSA ID
10179139
Incident
Oct 3, 2006
Mileage
12,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 4, 2006

TRANSMISSION TEMPORARILY FAILS TO SHIFT WHEN ACCELERATING OR BRAKING. *JB

NHTSA ID
10167310
Incident
Aug 27, 2006
Transmission
Filed Oct 21, 2004

CAR HAS ALWAYS SHIFTED HARD. AT APPROXIMATELY 90K MILES AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED TO FAIL EVIDENCED BY GEAR SLIPPAGE AND CAR DECELLERATING WHILE BEING DRIVEN. TRANSMISSION PUMP WAS ALSO "KNOCKING". CAR WAS TAKEN TO TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT A 10 CENT "O" RING HAD FAILED IN THE TRANSMISSION PUMP AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION PUMP HAD LITERALLY "COME APART". ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION PAN HAD A SMAL, SHINY INDENTION WHERE THE PUMP WAS LOCATED, FURTHER EVIDENCE OF WHERE THE PROBLEM POSSIBLY ORIGINATED. THEY HAD ALSO STATED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS TUARUS' AND SABLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY REBUILT AT A COST OF $1700.00 AND THE PUMP WAS REPLACED WITH ONE WITH A METALLIC "O" RING TO HELP ELIMINATE FURTHER FAILURES. I PERSONALLY TAKE GREAT CARE AND PRIDE WITH MY VEHICLES AND ON AVERAGE HAVE CHECKED ALL FLUID LEVELS, INCLUDING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID ON A BIMONTHLY BASES. THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS RATHER SUDDEN WITH NO WARNING, TO INCLUDE AN ENGINE LIGHT.

NHTSA ID
10096164
Incident
Sep 1, 2004
Mileage
90,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 29, 2004

1999 MERCURY SABLE SHIFT CABLE FAILED. POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING ACCIDENT AVOIDED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10082966
Incident
Jul 28, 2004
Transmission
Filed Aug 27, 2003

WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. CONSUMER MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
10037704
Incident
Jun 15, 2003
Body & structureBrakesEngine+4 more
Filed Aug 1, 2003
Crash reported3 injuries reported

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

NHTSA ID
10031939
Incident
Jun 12, 2002
Transmission
Filed Jul 24, 2003

PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION CAUSED VEHICLE TO STOP.*MR WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED, AND FAILED TO ACCELERATED WHEN THE PEDAL WAS PUSHED. *TS *JB

NHTSA ID
10031517
Incident
May 20, 2003
Transmission
Filed Dec 9, 2002
Crash reported

CONSUMER STATED WHEN PUT IN PARK THE VEHICLE ROLLED BAKWARDS ABOUT 4-6 IN. CAUSED DAMAGES. TS *TT

NHTSA ID
8023937
Incident
Nov 13, 2002
Mileage
21,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 30, 2002

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP OUT OF GEARS, CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO HAVE ANY POWER. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
8015152
Incident
Jun 28, 2002
EngineTransmission
Filed Jul 30, 2002

VEHICLE HAD A MASSIVE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK AND BROKE DOWN. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO REPLACED TRANSMISSION. TWO WEEKS LATER, LEAK BEGAN AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS CHECKED AGAIN BY DEALER ,WHO DETERMINED THAT GASKET WAS IS LEAKING. GASKET WAS REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS LATER, VEHICLE VEHICLE HAD 2 OIL LEAKS.*AK

NHTSA ID
8015142
Incident
Jul 1, 2002
Transmission
Filed Jun 9, 2002

TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE CABLE BROKE AT A BEND. *AK

NHTSA ID
762841
Incident
Jun 8, 2002
Transmission
Filed Apr 2, 2002

TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED TWIC WITHIN 8 MONTH PERIOD. *AK

NHTSA ID
760164
Incident
Jul 17, 2001
Transmission
Filed Jan 21, 2002

HARD UPSHIFT AND DOWNSHIFT WHILE COMING TO A STOP OR PULLING AWAY. ONCE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IT WOULD HAVE A TENDENCY AT TIMES TO LURCH FORWARD WHILE BRAKE WAS ON.. UPON TAKING THE TRANSMISSION DOWN, THE DEALER FOUND CLUTCH MATERIAL IN TRANSMISSION THE SS3 WAS STICKING, THE ACCUMULATOR O-RING WAS CUT THE FORWARD DRUM CK.VALL STICINT OVERDRIVE BAND BURNED AND NEEDED TO EXCHANGE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. THANKFULLY THE TRANY WAS UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, NOW THE REPAIRED ASSY IS ONLY COVERED FOR 12000 MILES OR 12 MONTHS WHICHEVER COMES FIRST AND WE ARE NATURALLY CONCERNED THAT THIS MIGHT BE A DEFECT AS THE FORD TAURES SEEMED TO HAVE TRANY PROBLEMS IN THE 1197 TO 1999 RANGE WHICH IS WHY WE DID NOT BUY ONE BUT WENT WITH THE SABLE AFTER CHECKING NHTSA REPORTS RE: THE VEHICLE ITSELF. *AK

NHTSA ID
757150
Incident
Dec 26, 2001
ElectricalFuel systemTransmission
Filed Jul 2, 2001

CONSUMER STATES SHE ATTEMPTED TO PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE ENGINE FELT AS IF IT WAS GOING TO FALL OUT, CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR A TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL AND REPAIRS ON THREE OCCASSIONS.*JB

NHTSA ID
561835
Incident
Oct 1, 2000
Transmission
Filed Mar 7, 2001

TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE SNAPPED, VEHICLE WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS. *SLC

NHTSA ID
882390
Incident
Jan 1, 2001
Transmission
Filed Mar 2, 2001

VEHICLE WAS STANDING STILL WITH PARK GEAR ON WHEN CONSUMER TURNED VEHICLE ON, AND VEHICLE WENT FORWARD WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AIK

NHTSA ID
882012
Incident
Mar 2, 2001
Transmission
Filed Jan 13, 2001

ODOR OF HOT TRANSMISSION FLUID / OIL ENTERING INTERIOR AT VENTS, VEHICLE AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE. MOST NOTICABLE AT COMPLETE STOP. NO LEAKS VISIBLE, SUSPECT FUMES FROM TRANSMISSION VENT BEING DRAWN INTO AIR INTAKE FOR AC SYSTEM PAST THE OPENING OF THE HOOD HINGES AT COWL. *AK

NHTSA ID
739307
Transmission
Filed Sep 23, 2000

ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT BUT AVOIDED FATALTIES. *AK

NHTSA ID
732325
Incident
Sep 22, 2000
Transmission
Filed May 31, 2000

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH KEYS IN IGNITION. WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK. NEIGHBOR CHECKED UNDER HOOD & FOUND TRANSMISSION WIRES FOR SHIFT LEVER HAD SNAPPED. WIRES WERE UNHOOKED BEFORE LEVER WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP & SERVICE TRUCK TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
862786
Incident
Apr 30, 2000
Transmission
Filed Jan 31, 2000

WHEN SHIFTING THE CAR INTO REVERSE IT WOULD HESITATE AND WOULD EVENTUALLY SHIFT AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. AFTER A COUPLE DAYS THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE FROM PARK BUT WOULD IF IT WAS FIRST PUT INTO DRIVE AND THEN REVERSE. THEN IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR AND WOULD FREELY COAST ON AN INCLINE. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED ON A FLATBED FROM MY DRIVEWAY TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD IT FOR 5 DAYS, DID NOT FIX IT CORRECTLY AND I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK IN FOR SERVICE. THE SHIFT CABLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
718124
Incident
Jun 11, 1999
BrakesTransmission
Filed Oct 1, 1999

NOTE******I DID NOT HAVE ANY FAILURES!! MY REASON FOR WRITING IS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE FREQUENT SHIFTING OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES VIBRATE AT HIGH SPEED USUALLY BETWEEN 55-70 WHEN BRAKING. TO BE FAIR I REPORTED AND HAD THE CAR SERVICED WHEN THE BRAKES FIRST VIBRATED. THE SERVICE MANAGER REPORTED THAT THERE WERE HEAT MARKS ON THE DISC'S. MY PRINCIPAL DRIVING IS HIGHWAY WITH LIMITED BRAKING. THE DEALER SHAVED THE ROTORS (WHICH BOTHERED ME GIVEN THAT THERE WAS LESS THEN 10,000 MILES AT THE TIME), AND THE VIBRATION DISAPPEARED. I AM HOWEVER ONCE AGAIN SEEING SOME SLIGHT VIBRATION. TIRE WEAR APPEARS TO BE NORMAL. GETTING BACK TO THE ROTORS, I AM CONCERNED THAT THE LIFE OF THE ROTORS HAVING BEEN CUT WILL BE SHORT. AS FOR THE TRANSMISSION THIS HAS JUST STARTED, AND I HAVEN'T YET SCHEDULED A SERVICE CALL. I HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO OWN EITHER TAURUS'S OR SABLES'S AND THE RECURRING PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THE TRANSMISSIONS. WHAT DO YOU GUYS SAY?

NHTSA ID
712626
Transmission
Filed Jun 4, 1999
Crash reported

VEHICLE ROLLED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WHILE IN PARK , RESULTING IN A MINOR COLLISION. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *ADJ

NHTSA ID
838885
Incident
May 28, 1999
Transmission
Filed Dec 2, 1998

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH DEALER HONORING MFR. RECALL NOTICE # 98S-31 & NHTSA RECALL 98V-288 000 CONCERNING FORD/ TRANSMSSION OIL COOLER LINE . AN INCORRECT TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE WAS INSTALLED, THE LINE CONTACTS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM MODULE SUPPORT BRACKET AND OVERTIME. CAN WEAR AND DEVELOP A LEAK ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD OR CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
831641
Incident
Nov 16, 1998

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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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .