2004 Mercury Sable Problems

CAR ACCELERATED BY ITSELF TO ABOVE 55 MPH AT LOCAL ROAD, WHEN PUT TO PARKING, THE ENGINE KEPT RUNNING AT MORE THAN 3500 RPM, IT WAS CRAZY, NEARLY KILLED SOME KIDS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE RPMS INCREASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND EXHIBITED RAPID ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE FROM PARK INTO DRIVE. FRED BEANS FORD OF DOYLESTOWN (876 N EASTON RD, DOYLESTOWN, PA 18902), (215) 348-2901) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STOP LAMP SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16E026000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE RECALL WAS FOR THE YEAR 2003 VEHICLES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,800.

WHILE PARKED, TRIED TO PUT CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY BUT CAR WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. ONLY WAY TO GET CAR TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK IS TO APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKES THEN SHIFT CAR INTO NEUTRAL WHILE KEY TURNED TO OFF POSITION. BREAK LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED. I CHECKED ALL THE FUSES AND REPLACED THE BREAK LAMP BULBS TO TROUBLESHOOT ISSUE ACCORDING TO OWNERS MANUAL HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. WHEN RESEARCHING ONLINE I READ ABOUT THE SAME EXACT ISSUES OCCURRING IN SAME MODEL AND MAKE THAT WERE RECALLED. I WENT TO MY NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP TO INFORM THEM ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND GET SOME ASSISTANCE IN FIXING THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER THEY WOULD NOT HELP IN THE MATTER, AND STATED THAT MY PARTICULAR VIN # AND YEAR MODEL 2004 HAD NO RECALLS. THE RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR FAULTY BREAK LIGHT SWITCHES IN 2003 AND PREVIOUS YEAR MODELS OF MERCURY SABLES. I'VE READ ABOUT NUMEROUS ISSUES OCCURRING WITH OTHER 2004 MERCURY SABLE OWNERS THAT ALSO CANNOT GET HELP WITH THIS MATTER. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE NHTSA INVESTIGATES TO FIND OUT WHY 2004 MODELS ARE ALSO EXHIBITING SAME RECALL SAFETY ISSUES. THE PROBLEM OBVIOUSLY LIES WITH THE PART (SAME BREAK LIGHT SWITCH) FORD INSTALLED ON THESE VEHICLES AND NOT NECESSARILY THE YEAR THE VEHICLE WAS MADE. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PRIMARY MISSION AND ROLE OF THE NHTSA IS TO HELP KEEP THE PUBLIC SAFE AND INFORMED ABOUT POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUES. THEREFORE, I HOPE THEY NOT ONLY INVESTIGATE WHY FORD USED THE SAME FAULTY PART ON OTHER YEAR MODEL VEHICLES BUT ALSO ISSUE THE NECESSARY RECALL FOR SAID VEHICLES WITH THOSE PARTS. IF, WHILE TRAVELING WITH MY FAMILY, A CAR SLAMS INTO US BECAUSE NO BREAK LIGHTS WILL ENGAGE, WHOSE FAULT IS THAT? I'VE BROUGHT THIS SAFERY ISSUE CONCERN TO THE ATTENTION OF FORD AND NOW THE NHTSA. FAILURE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE PUTS THE PUBLIC IN DANGER!

THE CAR WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK, NOR DO THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORK AND SOMETIMES THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS VERY ISSUE. RECALL #04S12 OR 04V106000. HOWEVER THE RECALL STOPS AT 2003. MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME DEFECTIVE SWITCH IN IT BUT FORD IS REFUSING TO REPLACE IT. THEY CLAIM MY VEHICLE WAS MADE A FEW DAYS AFTER THE RECALL STOPPED. WELL THAT DOESN'T MAKE MY BRAKE PEDAL SWITCH ANY SAFER. I'M BEING HANDED A LINE OF CRAP BY FORD. THEY INSTALLED A DEFECTIVE SWITCH AND HAVE ADMITTED ITS DEFECTIVE AND WONT FIX MINE BECAUSE OF A MANUFACTURE DATE. WHAT COURT WOULDN'T PROSECUTE FORD IF I HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECTIVE SWITCH THAT THEY KNOW IS DEFECTIVE BUT REFUSE TO FIX IT. *TR

CAR WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK, NOR WILL BRAKE LIGHTS OPERATE WHEN PEDAL DEPRESSED. EXACT SYMPTOMS AS DESCRIBED IN PREVIOUS MODEL YEAR RECALLS. ONLY WAYTO GET CAR OUT OF PARK IS TO PLACE IN NEUTRAL AFTER TURNING KEY IN IGNITION TO FIRST AVAILABLE POSITION, THEN APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL TO RELEASE SHIFT LOCK. *TR

WHILE PARKED, TRIED TO PUT CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY BUT CAR WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. ONLY WAY TO GET CAR TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK IS TO APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKES THEN SHIFT CAR INTO NEUTRAL WHILE KEY TURNED TO OFF POSITION. BREAK LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED. I CHECKED ALL THE FUSES AND REPLACED THE BREAK LAMP BULBS TO TROUBLESHOOT ISSUE ACCORDING TO OWNERS MANUAL HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. WHEN RESEARCHING ONLINE I READ ABOUT THE SAME EXACT ISSUES OCCURRING IN SAME MODEL AND MAKE THAT WERE RECALLED. I WENT TO MY NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP TO INFORM THEM ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND GET SOME ASSISTANCE IN FIXING THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER THEY WOULD NOT HELP IN THE MATTER, AND STATED THAT MY PARTICULAR VIN # AND YEAR MODEL 2004 HAD NO RECALLS. THE RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR FAULTY BREAK LIGHT SWITCHES IN 2003 AND PREVIOUS YEAR MODELS OF MERCURY SABLES. I'VE READ ABOUT NUMEROUS ISSUES OCCURRING WITH OTHER 2004 MERCURY SABLE OWNERS THAT ALSO CANNOT GET HELP WITH THIS MATTER. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE NHTSA INVESTIGATES TO FIND OUT WHY 2004 MODELS ARE ALSO EXHIBITING SAME RECALL SAFETY ISSUES. THE PROBLEM OBVIOUSLY LIES WITH THE PART (SAME BREAK LIGHT SWITCH) FORD INSTALLED ON THESE VEHICLES AND NOT NECESSARILY THE YEAR THE VEHICLE WAS MADE. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PRIMARY MISSION AND ROLE OF THE NHTSA IS TO HELP KEEP THE PUBLIC SAFE AND INFORMED ABOUT POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUES. THEREFORE, I HOPE THEY NOT ONLY INVESTIGATE WHY FORD USED THE SAME FAULTY PART ON OTHER YEAR MODEL VEHICLES BUT ALSO ISSUE THE NECESSARY RECALL FOR SAID VEHICLES WITH THOSE PARTS. IF, WHILE TRAVELING WITH MY FAMILY, A CAR SLAMS INTO US BECAUSE NO BREAK LIGHTS WILL ENGAGE, WHOSE FAULT IS THAT? I'VE BROUGHT THIS SAFERY ISSUE CONCERN TO THE ATTENTION OF FORD AND NOW THE NHTSA. FAILURE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE PUTS THE PUBLIC IN DANGER!

CAR WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK, NOR WILL BRAKE LIGHTS OPERATE WHEN PEDAL DEPRESSED. EXACT SYMPTOMS AS DESCRIBED IN PREVIOUS MODEL YEAR RECALLS. ONLY WAYTO GET CAR OUT OF PARK IS TO PLACE IN NEUTRAL AFTER TURNING KEY IN IGNITION TO FIRST AVAIALBLE POSITION, THEN APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL TO RELEASE SHIFT LOCK. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM W/ A FAILED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY. IT'S TOO DANGEROUS OF A PROBLEM TO NOT HAVE A RECALL. MANY OTHER MODEL VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. WHY NOT THIS MODEL?

WHILE PARKED, TRIED TO PUT CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY BUT CAR WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. ONLY WAY TO GET CAR TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK IS TO APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKES THEN SHIFT CAR INTO NEUTRAL WHILE KEY TURNED TO OFF POSITION. BREAK LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED. I CHECKED ALL THE FUSES AND REPLACED THE BREAK LAMP BULBS TO TROUBLESHOOT ISSUE ACCORDING TO OWNERS MANUAL HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. WHEN RESEARCHING ONLINE I READ ABOUT THE SAME EXACT ISSUES OCCURRING IN SAME MODEL AND MAKE THAT WERE RECALLED. I WENT TO MY NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP TO INFORM THEM ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND GET SOME ASSISTANCE IN FIXING THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER THEY WOULD NOT HELP IN THE MATTER, AND STATED THAT MY PARTICULAR VIN # AND YEAR MODEL 2004 HAD NO RECALLS. THE RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR FAULTY BREAK LIGHT SWITCHES IN 2003 AND PREVIOUS YEAR MODELS OF MERCURY SABLES. I'VE READ ABOUT NUMEROUS ISSUES OCCURRING WITH OTHER 2004 MERCURY SABLE OWNERS THAT ALSO CANNOT GET HELP WITH THIS MATTER. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE NHTSA INVESTIGATES TO FIND OUT WHY 2004 MODELS ARE ALSO EXHIBITING SAME RECALL SAFETY ISSUES. THE PROBLEM OBVIOUSLY LIES WITH THE PART (SAME BREAK LIGHT SWITCH) FORD INSTALLED ON THESE VEHICLES AND NOT NECESSARILY THE YEAR THE VEHICLE WAS MADE. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PRIMARY MISSION AND ROLE OF THE NHTSA IS TO HELP KEEP THE PUBLIC SAFE AND INFORMED ABOUT POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUES. THEREFORE, I HOPE THEY NOT ONLY INVESTIGATE WHY FORD USED THE SAME FAULTY PART ON OTHER YEAR MODEL VEHICLES BUT ALSO ISSUE THE NECESSARY RECALL FOR SAID VEHICLES WITH THOSE PARTS. IF, WHILE TRAVELING WITH MY FAMILY, A CAR SLAMS INTO US BECAUSE NO BREAK LIGHTS WILL ENGAGE, WHOSE FAULT IS THAT? I'VE BROUGHT THIS SAFERY ISSUE CONCERN TO THE ATTENTION OF FORD AND NOW THE NHTSA. FAILURE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE PUTS THE PUBLIC IN DANGER!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECURITY LIGHT RANDOMLY FLASHED AND THE ALARM RANDOMLY SOUNDED WITHIN LESS THAN THAN TWO DAYS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE RPMS INCREASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND EXHIBITED RAPID ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.

STARTED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH. PRESSED HARD ON BRAKES TO STOP, PUT IT ON PARK MODE. STILL RPM WAS AROUND 4000. TURNED OFF ENGINE. WHEN CRANKED BACK, RPM KEPT ON INCREASING WITHOUT FOOT ON ACCELERATOR. TAPPED HARD ON ACCELERATOR COUPLE OF TIMES, RPM WENT BACK TO NORMAL. *TR

MY COMPLAINT IS FOR A 2004 MERCURY SABLE SL PREM WAGON WITH A 4F50N TRANSMISSION. IT HAS APPROX 18500 MILES. WHILE DRIVING CLOSE TO HOME, THE DASH 'TRANSMISSION' LIGHT CAME ON, BUT ALMOST INSTANTLY WENT OFF. I CALLED THE DEALER, WHO I USE FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR. THEY ADVISED IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A FLUKE OR NOTHING, TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED NEXT TIME. THE NEXT DAY I BACKED THE CAR OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY,NO LIGHT CAME ON. I STARTED TO DRIVE, THE HILL, THE LIGHT CAME ON AND IMMEDIATELY THE CAR STOPPED MOVING FORWARD. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD, THAT IT MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST TO US OF OVER $3,000. THIS TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT EXPECTATION AND SUDDENLY. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC, I COULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER. THIS SEEMS TO FIT IN WITH THE PROBLEMS INDICATED IN NHTSA ACTION NO. EA09016. *TR

WHILE DRIVING HOME AT 11PM ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2006 MY CAR STOPPED MOVING AS I WAS MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS IN ORDER; THE CAR SIMPLY WOULD NOT MOVE. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO COAST ACROSS THE ROAD AND STOP THE CAR IN A SAFE LOCATION. AS I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA, THE ROAD WAS EMPTY OR I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. I WALKED TO A NEARBY BAR WHERE I CALLED AAA TO COME AND TOW THE CAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOME, THEN AFTER MY HUSBAND DETERMINED IT WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM, WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED IT THE PREVIOUS MARCH. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHOT AND NEEDED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED! I WAS SHOCKED AS I HAD SERVICED THE TRANSMISSION AS RECOMMENDED AT 35,000 AND THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 52,000 ON IT. *TR

I CONTACTED KEN GRODY FORD IN BUENA PARK,CA 2-3 MONTHS AGO TO ASK IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON MY CAR? THE MANAGER I SPOKE WITH TOLD ME "NO!" HE ALSO MAILED ME A COPY OF HIS "OASIS" SEARCH WHICH SHOWED NO RECALLS! HELP! [XXX] PLEASE MAIL ME RECALL ALERTS ON MY CAR! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS HIT, THE DRIVER SEAT FELL BACKWARDS AND BENT TO THE LEFT SIDE. THE OCCUPANT WAS WEARING A SEATBELT AND WAS INJURED RECEIVING COMPRESSION FRACTURES IN THE SPINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP WHICH DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.

THE DRIVER SIDE, THREE POINT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY COMES UNLATCHED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THIS IS EVEN AFTER THE BELT TONGUE IS IN PLACE, YOU HEAR A CLICK FROM THE LATCH CLOSING AND LOCKING AND THE BELT HAS BEEN PULLED ON TO TEST THE CONNECTION. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY AND THE ATTENDANT SAID THAT THE SEAT BELT LATCH WAS LIKELY NOT WORKING DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE VEHICLE IS 10 YEARS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 200,000 MILES AND IS VERY MUCH STILL DRIVABLE. THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO CHARGE THE VEHICLE OWNER OVER $300.00 FOR THE REPAIR AND WILL NOT REPAIR WITHOUT PAYMENT. THE SEAT BELTS SHOULD BE GUARANTEED TO WORK PROPERLY OVER THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT AN EXPENSIVE FIX AS VERY FEW PEOPLE DRIVE THEIR CARS OVER 120,000 MILES AS IS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERNAL STEEL CABLE OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT FRACTURED AND RESULTED IN THE SEAT BELT BECOMING INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 107,000.

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING ON A CITY STREET. I DON'T KNOW WHY BUT IT APPEARS TO BE A CRITICAL SAFETY PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND ONLY HAS 78,000 MILES , VERY LOW FOR A 2004 VEHICLE. FORD MOTOR DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL OF ANY KIND ON THIS CAR. I AM A RETIRED SENIOR CITIZEN AND THIS IS MY ONLY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION.

SIDE IMPACT ON A 2004 SABLE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES INCLUDING SCAPULA FRACTURE AND PNEUMOTHORAX, PNEUMOMEDIASTINUM AND SUBCUANEOUS AIR TRACKING, ALONG WITH HEAD WOUNDS/LACERATIONS. PATIENT REQUIRED ICU AND MULTIPLE CT SCANS ALONG WITH X-RAYS. PASSENGER AIRBAG ALSO DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURY TO PASSENGER FROM SEAT BELT AND BOUNCE-BACK FROM HITTING THE DOOR SECONDARY TO AIRBAG FAILURE TO DEPLOY.*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON THE FIRST 4 TO 5 ATTEMPTS. LATER WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER, STALLING THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE NEEDED TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT TO CAUSE THE INERTIA SWITCH TO BE TRIPPED. THE SWITCH WAS RESET AND THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.*AK UPDATED 8/16/2006 - THERE HAD BEEN NO ACCIDENT. *NM

THIS COMPLAINT CONCERNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE STATIONWAGON. IT WAS PURCHASED 5 DAYS BEFORE THE INCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING IN RURAL POWAY ON AUGUST 3, 2004. I APPARENTLY DROVE OVER A PEBBLE OR SOMETHING - I HEARD A "THUNK" UNDER THE CAR. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THE CAR LOST POWER, AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP A FEW FEET LATER. *AK APPARENTLY THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE FUEL LINE AND/OR FUEL PUMP WERE INJURED. AND MOST OF A TANKFUL OF GAS SPEWED OUT INTO THE ROAD. I MANAGED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR SAFELY, THIS TIME. NO ONE HIT THE CAR, THIS TIME. NO FIRE RESULTED FROM ALL OF THAT GASOLINE, THIS TIME. BUT I'M BOTHERED BY TWO THINGS: 1) IS THE FUEL LINE, AND/OR FUEL PUMP, SO EXPOSED AND SO FRAGILE THAT A PEBBLE WILL CAUSE MAYHEM IN THE SYSTEM? 2) IS THERE ANY WAY TO GET A MORE GRADUAL STOPPING OF THE CAR, SO AS TO GET FURTHER OUT OF TRAFFIC THAN I WAS ABLE TO? THIS, AS I SEE IT, IS BAD ENGINEERING. I SHOULD ADD, IN CASE YOU ARE WONDERING - I'M NOT A DITZY TEENAGER. I'M A 54 YEAR OLD WOMAN, AND UP TO NOW A PRETTY GOOD DRIVER.

DRIVING ALONG RESIDENTIAL AREA, EXTREMELY LOUD BANG WITH BURNING RUBBER SMOKE. STOPPED IN ROAD LOOKED UNDER HOOD FOUND NOTHING WRONG. TRIED TO DRIVE AGAIN AND THERE WAS A BUMPING NOISE AND MORE RUBBER SMELL AND SMOKE. REPEAT INSPECTION DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVERS WHEEL CLEARANCE WAS DROPPED AND RUBBING ON THE WHEEL. SEARCH OF INTERNET SHOWS THAT SPRINGS ARE ROUTINELY BREAKING AND CAUSING INJURY AND DEATH.

NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE08036 WE PURCHASED A SET OF MICHELIN TIRES ON OCT, 06, FROM NTB IN FREDERICKSBURG, VA TO PUT ON MY 2004 MERCURY SABLE. WITHIN THE PAST 2 MTHS, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR VALVE STEMS. THE FIRST WENT FLAT, I TOOK IT BACK TO NTB, THEY REPLACED IT. WITHIN 2 WEEKS, ANOTHER TIRE WAS LEAKING AIR. I TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER, REPLACED THAT VALVE STEM. THE NEXT MORNING I DROVE TO WORK, WHEN I PARKED THE CAR, I HEARD AIR AND ANOTHER TIRE WAS LEAKING AIR. I HAD THE LAST TWO VALVE STEMS REPLACED. THE VALVE STEMS BROKE OFF. THE LAST TIRE DEALER , LITTLE TIRE IN FREDERICKSBURG, VA, GAVE ME ONE THEY TOOK OFF MY CAR AND SAID THEY LOOKED AS IF THE VALVE STEMS HAD DRY-ROTTED. I CONTACTED NTB ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ASKING IF THERE WAS A DEFECT OR RECALL ON THE VALVE STEMS. THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD CHECK IT OUT AND I HAVE NEVER HEARD BACK. I DO THINK THESE VALVE STEMS NEED TO BE RECALLED. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. LUCKILY, I PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO MY CAR AND TIRES AND NOTICED THE LEAKAGE BEFORE THE TIRE WENT COMPLETELY FLAT OR BLEW OUT BUT NOT ALL PEOPLE DO THAT. THIS IS DEFINITELY A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. *TR

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, I SMELLED BURNING PLASTIC. I ROLLED UP THE WINDOW THINKING IT WAS ANOTHER VEHICLE. A FEW MINUTES LATER I NOTICED AN ODD MELTING LOOK ON THE REAR WINDSHIELD, AND A STRONGER BURNING PLASTIC SMELL. IMMEDIATELY I TURNED OFF THE REAR DEFROST, AND CRACKED THE WINDOW TO LET THE FUMES ESCAPE. APPROXIMATELY A MILE LATER (WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH) THE REAR WINDSHIELD EXPLODED. THE GLASS INITIALLY STAYED INTACT, BUT PRIOR TO ME DRIVING TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP (3 MILES FROM THAT POINT), THE SHARDS BEGAN FALLING INTO THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. I AM GRATEFUL THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE BACK SEAT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. THE COWL ON THE WINDSHIELD HAS BECOME WARPED AND IS FAILING. THE FAILURE ALLOWS WATER TO LEAK INTO THE VEHICLE. THE WEATHER CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THE COWL HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED TWICE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY FUTURE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000.