Mercury Sable Complaints (1994)

387 consumer complaints on file.

#734812October 20, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I AM A MERCURY SABLE 1994 OWNER. AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK TODAY, I BEGAN TO HAVE ENGINE TROUBLE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A NEARBY GARAGE. I WAS INFORMED LATER THIS MORNING THAT I HAD BLOWN A HEAD GASKET. THE GARAGE SUGGESTED THAT I TOW THE CAR TO A NEARBY FORD DEALER, NOVATO FORD. REMEMBERING THAT FORD HAD ISSUED A LETTER REGARDING HEAD GASKETS AND BEFORE TOWING TO THE NOVATO FORD DEALERSHIP, I DECIDED TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION, THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THAT HE ALSO REMEMBERED THIS "HEAD GASKET" SITUATION AND PUT ME ON HOLD. WHEN HE RETURNED HE INFORMED ME THAT SINCE MY MILEAGE WAS OVER 100,000 (CURRENTLY 105,693), I WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. I THEN CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE 800 392-3673 AND REFERENCED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE UNDER SERVICE PROGRAM, #98M01. QUOTING THE LETTER - THE LETTER STATES, "FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS PROVIDING EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE UNDER SERVICE PROGRAM, #98M01, TO OWNERS OF 1994 AND 1995 TAURUS AND SABLE AND 1995 WINDSTAR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L FWD ENGINE. REASON FOR THIS PROGRAM: PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKETS MAY OCCUR AND MAY RESULT IN ENGINE OVERHEATING OR IN EXTREME CASES COULD CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE IF THE OVERHEAT CONDITION IS IGNORED. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE IS FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S COMMITMENT TO CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AND WE ARE TAKING THIS ACTION AS PART OF OUR ONGOING EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN YOUR CONFIDENCE IN OUR PRODUCTS." I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. I EXPLAINED THAT I ACQUIRED THE CAR IN 1997 AT 44,000 MILES. UPON RECEIVING THE JUNE 1998 LETTER, I DID GO TO MY LOCAL HILLTOP FORD DEALERSHIP AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK OUT THE HEAD GASKET(S). I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE FINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#734752October 19, 2000
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, STEERING
COMPRESSOR LOCK UP,BROKE SURPENTINE BELT,WRAP AROUND DAMPER DAMAGED OIL SEAL &DAMPER BROKE OR CRACK A/C LINES. REPLACED A/C COMPRESSOR A/C MUFFLER ASSY & O RINGS & EVAC & RECHARGE SYSTEM....REAR PASSENGER DOOR, REPLACED WINDOW MOTOR , PASSENGER DOOR , REPLACED WINDOW MOTOR & SWITCH. STEERING HANGS UP OR GETS STUCK,MAKES WINING NOISE, FRONT END RATTLES,POPS &MAKES CRACKING NOISE,REAR AXLE SOUNDS LIKE ITS GOING TO FALL OUT,WORSE CAR I'VE EVER OWNED!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#873167October 17, 2000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT SLOW SPEEDS VEHICLE JUST SHUTS DOWN. ALSO, IF THE WEATHER IS VERY HOT AND THE A/C IS RUNNING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF. VEHICLE STARTS UP AGAIN ONCE IT COOLS OFF. TIME VARIES DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR TWO YEARS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE PROBABLY NEEDED A FUEL PUMP OR FUEL TANK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#734133October 12, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MY MERCURY SABLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS CONDITION HAS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. IN EACH SITUATION, THE WEATHER WAS VERY WARM AND THE ENGINE HOT. IN ONE CASE, I WAS TRAVELLING AT 60 MPH IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND HAD TO QUICKLY GET TO THE BERM OF THE ROAD NARROWLY ESCAPING INJURY OR DEATH. IN THE REMAINING OCCURRANCES, THE ENGINE STALLED WHEN IN CITY TRAFFIC. I KNOW VEHICLES MAY BE RECALLED IN CALIFORNIA FOR THIS TYPE OF DEFECT AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT PART TO REPLACE FOR MY OWN SAFETY EVEN IF NOT RECALLED. ALSO, HOW CAN I IDENTIFY THE BAD PARTS SO THAT I KNOW THAT THE NEW PART I'M INSTALLING ISN'T ALSO DEFECTIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#734156October 12, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MY CAR HAS STALLED ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT OTHER TIMES STOPPED AND AT OTHER TIMES AFTER STARTING THE CAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR BACK AT THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND I AM STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#872891October 12, 2000
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
WHEN PUTTING ON BRAKES STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VERY BADLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC. MECHANICSAID THAT 2 INNER TIE RODS WERE DEFECTIVE, AND THAT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SHAKING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733494October 5, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
MY TRANSMISSION MAKES A LOUD THUMP NOISE WHEN THE CAR IS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE. ALSO WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN PRESS THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR SEEMS TO BE IN NEUTRAL AND THEN AFTER A FEW SECONDS GOES INTO GEAR AND LAUNCHES FORWARD. WHILE DRIVING, MY SPEEDOMETER WILL BE ACCURATE, AND THEN JUST READ ZERO FOR A WHILE AND THEN WILL START WORKING AGAIN. MY AIR CONDITIONING WAS NOT WORKING FOR A WHILE AND IT JUST RECENTLY STARTED WORKING AGAIN, BUT OFTEN MAKES A LOUD HIGH PITCHED SCREAMING NOISE. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT ONE OR MORE OF MY MOTOR MOUNTS IS LOOSE OR BROKEN BECAUSE WHEN I SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION INTO GEAR, THE ENTIRE ENGINE SEEMS TO JUMP UP AND THEN COME DOWN AND JERK THE WHOLE CAR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#732348September 23, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
TRANSMISSION: AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING AWHILE AND THE CAR GEARS DOWN FOR WHAT EVER REASON, THE AR WON'T RESPOND TO ACCELERATION FROM GEAR DOWN. WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED TO CONTINUE FORWARD OR REVERSE MOTION THE CAR WON'T RESPOND. FINALLY AFTER EITHER HAVING SAT FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES OR AFTER HAVING REVED THE ENGINE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THE TRANSMISSION WILL ENGAGE. AIR CONDITIONING: THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS ALREADY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED THE AC ONCE AND IT DID WORK FOR A SHORT PERIOD AFTERWARDS. THE AC DOESN'T BLOW COLD AIR. ALL OF THE MAJOR COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#732144September 21, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
HEAD GAASKET RECALL. DEALER SAID WATER PUMP IS ALSO SUSPECT IN THIS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#870462September 14, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY, STEERING:RACK AND PINION
CONSUMER HAD TRANSMISSION SERVICED AT 31,000 MILES. 9 MONTHS LATER, CONSUMER WAS BACKING CAR OUT OF GARAGE AND COULDN'T SHIFT GEARS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND SHE WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION.*AK A/C MAIN LINE FAILED. RADIATOR FAILED. RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#730277September 5, 2000
TIRES
ON MAY 26, 1999, I WAS DRIVING PAST JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN ON I-90 AT 65 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR STARTED SHAKING AND I HEARD A THUMP ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE. I ALSO SAW TIRE TREAD FLY OUT FROM UNDER MY CAR IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. I GOT OUT TO SEE WHICH TIRE WAS FLAT. THERE WAS NO FLAT TIRE, HOWEVER ON CLOSER INSPECTION, I SAW THAT ALL OF THE TREAD CAME OFF OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. I MANAGED TO LIMP ALONG ON THE SHOULDER AND EXIT I-90. I WENT TO THE CLOSEST TIRE CENTER ( GOODYEAR ) AND BOUGHT FOUR NEW TIRES. I AM SENDING THIS REPORT BECAUSE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE P235 FIRESTONE/BRIDGESTONE TIRES. I THINK THE NHTSA SHOULD START INVESTIGATING OTHER TIRE SIZES BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO ME LAST YEAR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROMPT CONSIDERATION IN THIS VERY IMPORTANT MATTER.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 205/65R15S )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#869514September 5, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS, CAUSING POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING TO LOCK UP. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND CANT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK LIGHTS FLICKERING OFF WHILE DRIVEING AT NIGHT DUE TO SWITCH FAILURE BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#554293September 1, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL RELATED TO THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE, ADDITIONAL REPAIRS MADE PRIOR TO KNOWLEDGE (ALTERNATOR, THERMOSTAT, ENGINE SEALS, BELTS), CONSUMER IS BEING DENIED RECALL REPAIR DUE TO MILEAGE. *MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#553944August 22, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE IS BUCKING WHILE DRIVING, TRANSMISSION IS ALSO NOT STAYING IN GEAR. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728705August 22, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
A RECALL (OOM09) WAS ISSUED IN MARCH OF 2000 EXTENDING A RECALL ISSUED IN OCTOBER, 1999. BECAUSE I DID NOT RECEIVE THE LETTER I WAS NOT APPRISED OF THE WARNING SIGNALS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. IF I HAD RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER I WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE AUTO TO A DEALER AND HAD THE HEAD GASKETS CHECKED. THE HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS HESITANT ABOUT REPAIRING THE AUTOMOBILE BECAUSE AT THE TIME OF FAILURE THE MILEAGE EXCEEDED THE 100,000 MILE/7 YEAR RECALL PARAMETER. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE OR REPAIR 9 MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THIS AUTOMOBILE; ALTERNATOR, FUEL LINE, TRANSMISSION, CLUTCH, AIR CONDITIONER, BELTS, THERMOSTAT (DESTROYED BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE HEAT PRECIPITATED BY HEAD GASKET FAILURE), ETC. I THINK FORD SHOULD BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DAMAGE AND SHOULD REPAIR THE AUTOMOBILE AT THEIR EXPENSE BECAUSE OF LACK OF NOTIFICATION. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN OCTOBER AND FORD SHOULD HAVE HAD ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION VIA THE COMPUTER DATABASE. FORD IS HESITANT TO REPAIR THE CAR AND IS IN THE MIDST IF A WAITING GAME. THIS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867937August 16, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER RECEIVED LETTER REGARDING EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR HEAD GASKETS. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM IT BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE. CONSUMER WAS DEFINTELY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE STALLING/ OVERHEATING, AND HEAVY BLACK SMOKE. ALSO, LOSS OF COOLANT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867698August 14, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
A PART INSIDE TRANSMISSION BOX IS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING DAMAGE. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT ONLY 50,000 MILES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#866350July 31, 2000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
VEHICLE CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING DUE TO THE FUEL INJECTORS HEATING UP FUEL IN THE GAS TANK. WHEN FUEL GETS HOT VEHICLE CUTS OFF, AND THE AIR CONDITIONER DOES NOT FUNCTION. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE AND CAN'T FIX IT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#725940July 24, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MECHANIC STATES THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 3.8 L ENGINES AND WHEN FIXED HEAD GASKETS USUALLY WILL GO. NOSAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#865820July 21, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY AT 62000 MILES. DEALER STATED IT COULD NOT BE REPLACED WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION BECAUSE ALL TRANSMISSION KEPT BLOWING UP POSSIBLY DUE TO A DEFECT IN VALVE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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