FaultScore

1994 Mercury Sable transmission problems

102 of the 534 complaints about the 1994 Mercury Sable are about the transmission — 19% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 108,184 miles.

C

102

Complaints

1

Crashes

2

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 72 70.6%
Power Train 13 12.7%
Manual Transmission 6 5.9%
Torque Converter 3 2.9%
Clutch Assembly 3 2.9%
Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle) 2 2.0%
Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch 1 1.0%
Cooling Unit AND Lines 1 1.0%
Differential Unit 1 1.0%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Mercury Sable year

1988 25 3.0%
1989 21 2.6%
1990 21 2.6%
1991 109 13.2%
1992 65 7.9%
1993 50 6.1%
1994 102 12.4%
1995 99 12.0%
1996 71 8.6%
1997 51 6.2%
1998 26 3.2%
1999 28 3.4%
2000 31 3.8%
2001 22 2.7%
2002 23 2.8%
2003 30 3.6%
2004 12 1.5%
2005 26 3.2%
2008 11 1.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 131,368 miles Cocoa, FL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 1994 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PURCHASED A VEHICLE ON THE AFTERNOON OF 03/16/2007, AND THE FOLLOWING MORNING 03/17/2007 THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT WORK, AND TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS POURING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COULD POUR IT IN THE TOP AND WATCH IT COME OUT OF THE BOTTOM. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THEY WOULD COME AND GET THE VEHICLE REPAIR IT AND CHARGE HIM FOR IT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 131,368 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10185526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 195,000 miles Ferndandale, MI

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CONTACT STATED: WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE ENGINE MAKES A LOUD NOISE. ALSO, THE FRONT SUSPENSION SPRINGS BROKE WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #10119465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 133,295 miles Clearlake, CA

POWER TRAIN

I HAVE HAD CONSTANT OVERHEATING PROBLEMS WITH THS CAR. THE PROBLEMS RANGE FROM CRACKED FLUSH/FILL VALVES, TO HOSES,TO WATER PUMP FAILURE. 03/30/2002 TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. A MECHANIC AT A LOCAL SHOP RECOMMENDED ADDING FLUID. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND EACH TIME THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED ADDING FLUID. NO LEAK WAS DETERMINED. PROBLEM CONTINUED UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN 07/2003.

NHTSA complaint #10069437 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,000 miles Conway, AR

POWER TRAIN

HATCH GLASS CAME LOOSE STARTED LEAKING(56000) FUEL PUMP STARTED ACTING UP GET HOT AND HANG UP(75000) NO RECALL. STATE FARM SHOWED THEY PAID FOR TOWING ON MANY, FORD PRODUCTS THAT USED THE SAME PUMP STILL NO RECALL. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS DOWN, OR SHIFTS OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING SMITH FORD CONWAY WAS SUPPOSED TO CHECK THE HEADS FOR LEAKS SIX MONTHS LATER THE HEAD GASKET BLEW,AND THE AIR WENT OUT AT THIS TIME I WAS TOLD THE THE DATE THIS CAR WAS ORIGINALLY PUT IN SEVICE MADE IT OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS CAR IS SITTING IN MY GARAGE WITH MOTOR OUT OF IT BECAUSE FORD DIDN'T DO ITS JOB. PAINT PEELED OFF THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR POST.

NHTSA complaint #10070028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grand BAY, AL

POWER TRAIN

THE KEY INSERT DOES NOT ALIGN, HAVE HAD 2 TRANSMISSIONS IN 5 YEARS. (I KNOW TO CHECK MY FLUIDS) NEW ENGINE, & THE PAINT IS AWFUL. ENGINE, MOTOR, GAS, GASPS AND JERKS WITH ME. HAVE HAD MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED, NOTHING HELPS. HEATER COIL(?) WENT OUT, I HAVE NO HEAT NOW. WE HAD TO BYPASS. THE REST I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO REPAIR. I HATE THIS CAR. I AM WORRIED EVERYTIME I GET IN IT THAT MY MOTHER AND I ARE NOT GOING TO GET HOME. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED SO MANY TIMES, THE MAN WHO DOES THE TOWING KNOWS ME AND MY CAR ON SIGHT. I WILL NOT GO MORE THAN 30 MILES FROMT HE HOUSE. MY MECHANIC EVEN HATES THE CAR. I CALL HIM AN ANGEL, BECAUSE HE HAS KEPT IT RUNNING.

NHTSA complaint #10070159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,472 miles Bristol, TN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

PURCHASED 1994 MERCURY SABLE 60,000 ORIGINAL MILES, THE VEHICLE WOULD BE OK COLD WITHIN 5 MILES OF DRIVING THE CAR WOULD SLIP OUT OF GEAR AT STOPS OR IF YOU COASTED, CAN'T PUT IN REVERSE AT AFTER WARM. CONSULTED THE INTERNET AND FOUND HORROR STORIES OF OTHER OWNERS. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY NO NOTHING OF THESE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #10054740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Anoka, MN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, THEN BEGINNING TO TAKE OFF, TRANSMISSION WOULD HESITATE. LATER, IT WOULD KICK IN. IT WAS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. CONSUMER THEN TOOK VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THAT HE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. HE HAD IT REPAIRED BY HAVING THE ALUMINUM PISTOLS REPLACED WITH STEEL PISTOLS. CONSUMER HAD TO PAY $2200.00 TO HAVE TREPAIRS DONE, AND NEEDED HELP.

NHTSA complaint #10037684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 79,000 miles Ames, IA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1994 MERCURY SABLE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE MOUNTS FAILED AT 79000 MILES. ALUMINUM CLUTCH PISTON REPLACED WITH STEEL ONE AT MY COST OF 1800.00. FORD REPLACED THESE FOR FREE IN CANADA ON A PREVIOUS TRANSMISSION MADE IN THE SAME YEAR WHY NOT MINE? WHY CAN'T I FEEL GOOD ABOUT BUYING AMERICAN MADE CARS? FORD!

NHTSA complaint #10029332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rock Island, IL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. CONTACTED DEALER. PROBLEM CAUSED BY A SHUT TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #8011940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greenville, NC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DROVE VEHICLE AT 65 MPH FOR ABOUT 70 MILES. AT STOP LIGHT ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AND SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER VEHICLE. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND A MODERATE AMOUNT OF ENGINE OIL WAS COMING FROM THE OIL PAN SEAL. HAD CARD TOWED BACK TO FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED. DEALER CLAIMS TRANSMISSION HAD NO FLUID IN IT. VECHICLE WAS JUST SERVICED TWO DAYS BEFORE THIS TRIP AND WORKED FINE. WHEN PULLED OFF CHECKED OIL AND TRANSMISSION. OIL WAS DOWN SOME, BUT NOT ALL. TRANMISSION HAD FLUID INDICATING ABOVE THE OK TO DRIVE MARK. WAS ABLE TO MOVE CAR BACK AND FORWARD FOR TOW TRUCK TO ATTACH. TRANSMISISON REBUILT BY FORD AT 88000 IN 1998 TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. OIL PAN GASKET REPLACE JUNE 0F 2001 AT 117,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #760567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Northfield, NH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I WAS DRIVING CAR FOR EST. 60 MILES AT HIGHWAY SPEED THEN FOR ABOUT ANOTHER 10 MILES AT 30-40 MPH. I CAME TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHERE THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE FOR A MOMENT THEN STOPPED. I DROVE TO THE NEXT STOP SIGN WHERE THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE AGAIN. WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE OUT OF THE INTERSECTION THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #760554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lincoln Park, MI

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE TRAVELING HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE. SOON AFTERWARDS VEHICLE DECELERATED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED, TECHNICIAN NOTICED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8006299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grinnell, IA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

FRONT PISTON IN TRANSMISSION CRACKED. THIS CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO LOSE PRESSURE AT SLOW SPEEDS AS IF IT WENT INTO NUETRAL. THIS WAS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS WHEN STOPPED TO TURN LEFT. WHILE WAITING FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO PASS THE TRANS WOULD LOSE PRESSURE RESULTING IN THE NUETRAL CONDITION. WHEN THE TRAFFIC PASSED AND THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TURN I WOULD STEP ON THE GAS BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THEN AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS, AND SINCE THE ENGINE SPEED HAD NOW INCREASED, THE TRANS PRESSURE WOULD INCREASE AND THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY GO INTO GEAR AND LURCH INTO THE LEFT TURN. HOWEVER A FEW SECONDS OF TURNING OPPORTUNITY HAD NOW BEEN LOST AND THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS A LITTLE CLOSER THAN I AM COMFORTABLE WITH. I WOULD NOT LET MY FAMILY DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL IT WAS FIXED. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER AND HE IMMEDIATLY KNEW THE CAUSE, WHICH INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IN FACT HE HAD ANOTHER CUSTOMER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, SAME KIND OF CAR, SAME TIME. IT COST ME $1,400 TO GET THE TRANS REBUILT. THE DEFECTIVE PART IS AND ALUMINUM RING THAT IS FORMED FROM SHEET METAL. DURING THE FORMING PROCESS THE METAL WAS STRETCHED TOO THIN. THIS WAS EVIDENT BY THE STRESS MARK OR SMILE ON THE DEFECTIVE PART. THE REPEATED APPLICATION OF PRESSURE EVENTUALLY RESULTED IN THE CRACK WHICH LET THE HYDRAULIC PRESSURE TO LEAK PAST THE PISTON. AGAIN THIS VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA complaint #759735 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Winfred, SD

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES AT STOP; LUNGES INTO GEAR AT 1/3 THROTTLE, LIKE POPPING A CLUTCH.

NHTSA complaint #756492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Jose, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. IN ORDER TO DRIVE FORWARD CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO MOVE GEAR SHIFT TO REVERSE AND DRIVE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP TOLD CONSUMER THAT SHE NEEDESD A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #8001094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oklahoma, OK

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE HEAD GASKETS ON MY CAR WHICH IS A 94 MERCURY SABLE W/ A 3.8 LITER V6 ENGINE. THE HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED ON MY CAR AND I WAS NOT INFORMED OF A EXTENDED WARRANTY NOT EVEN WHEN I CALLED MY DEALER AND ASKED FOR A QUOTE ON THE 94 SABLE WHICH I WAS QUOTED1350.00 , IF THE ENGINE IS GONE TO THEN 3000.00. I FEEL IT IS UNFAIR I AM BEING PENALIZED FOR A FAULTY PART I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF AND ONLY 300 MILES AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, THE COPY OF THE WARRANTY STATES TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET CHANGED EVEN IF THERE IS NO PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #754269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stoughton, MA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #745331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

THE Rock, GA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP OUT OF GEAR,/OWN SHIFT AT HIGH SPEEDS WHEN DRIVING AT OR ABOVE 65 MPH. DEALERSHIP REPLACED VSS SENSOR WHEN THIS HAPPENED FIRST TIME. WHEN CONSUMER STARTS OUT, VEHICLE WILL AUTOMATICALLY DOWN SHIFT INTO NEXT LOWEST GEAR, REGARDLESS OF SPEED. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM WITH FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON. A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST STATED THAT EXTREME TEMPERATURES WILL CAUSE STEEL PISTON TO CRACK CAUSING THIS DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.

NHTSA complaint #886127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Bridgewater, MA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #785317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

MT. Sterling, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED TEMPORARILY WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #881331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Charlottesville, VA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED. NLM

NHTSA complaint #558470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Syosset, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT ONLY 28500 MILES, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A REFUND. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #876977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Myrtle Beach, SC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE IS BUCKING WHILE DRIVING, TRANSMISSION IS ALSO NOT STAYING IN GEAR. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #553944 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Davie, FL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #733494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Davie, FL

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.

NHTSA complaint #733494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dover, DE

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #732348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fremont, CA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH REPAIRED. *MJS

NHTSA complaint #554293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fremont, CA

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH REPAIRED. *MJS

NHTSA complaint #554293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Westerville, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #870462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baton Rouge, LA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

A PART INSIDE TRANSMISSION BOX IS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING DAMAGE. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT ONLY 50,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #867698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1994 Mercury Sable problems

← Full 1994 Mercury Sable report