1995 Mercury Sable transmission problems

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION JERKED SEVERELY WITH EXTREME HESITATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHO STATED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED, WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 93V106000 (STRUCTURE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,219.

NHTSA complaint #10780043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I BOUGHT A 1995 MERCURY SABLE. THE PERSON I BOUGHT IT FROM SAID IT HAD ALL NEW BRAKES, SPRINGS, FILTERS, SENSORS, RADIATOR, ETC. WHEN I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC LAST WEEK (FRIDAY), HE SAID THERE IS A NUMBER OF ILLEGAL THINGS ON IT AND IT NEEDS 1500$ WORTH OF WORK TO MAKE IT SAFE. HE SAID IT WAS A LEMON AND I SHOULD CONTACT THE PERSON THAT SOLD IT TO ME, SO I DID, I BROUGHT HIM TO THE MECHANIC SO HE COULD HEAR EVERYTHING ILLEGAL AND UNSAFE AND BROKEN ABOUT IT. HE STATED IN FRONT OF THE MECHANICS THAT HE WOULD BE REFUNDING MY MONEY ON MONDAY (TODAY). WHEN I CALLED TODAY THEY TOLD ME TO BAD I'M NOT GETTING MY MONEY BACK. WE BOUGHT IT AS IS AND OH WELL. I HAVE A DETAILED LIST OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FROM MY MECHANIC.

NHTSA complaint #10317799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

IN JULY '1996, PURCHASED A BRAND NEW MERCURY SABLE WAGON FROM RISING SUN, MD DEALER. THE CAR HAD ONLY ACCRUED 52,000 MILES IN 2000 AT WHICH POINT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM FIRST MANIFESTED WITH PROGRESSIVELY ROUGHER DISENGAGE UPON BRAKING FOR GRADUAL LURCHING STOP. TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY DEALER IN NEWARK, DE AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS "NORMAL FOR AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION". NOW, WITH 63,100 MILES, THERE IS HESITATION IN ENGAGING FROM A STOPPED POSITION AND WHIT DOES ENGAGE, IT CATCHES WITH A CHIRP OF THE TIRES ON THE DRIVE WHEELS. ALTHOUGH UNPREDICTIBLE IN OCCURRENCE, IT IS HAPPENING WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY, REGARDLESS OF BEING WARM OR COLD.

NHTSA complaint #10025203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

WHEN THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE LUNGED. ALSO WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE THE GEAR SHIFT MOVED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED VEHICLE HAD A CRACKED PRETENSIONER. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10015478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I CONTACTED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY COMPLAINING ABOUT A FAULTY TRANSMISSION IN MY 1995 MERCURY SABLE THAT SUDDENLY WENT OUT ON ME WHEN I WAS ON MY WAY HOME IN DECEMBER OF 2002. THE CAR HAD BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS SINCE THE FIRST DAY I GOT IT AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS OKAY, THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD CORRECT ITSELF. MY CAR HAD BEEN SKIPPING FOR A WHILE, THEN IT WOULD STOP, SO I THOUGHT NO MORE OF IT. I BOUGHT MY CAR IN EXCELLENT CONDITION FROM A CAR DEALER (NOT A FORD DEALERSHIP) AND PRINTED A CARFAX JUST TO DOUBLE CHECK FOR ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS. I FOUND NONE. AFTER REPLACING THE RADIATOR, FIXING THE ALTERNATOR, AND REPLACING THE BRAKE SYSTEM IN THE THREE YEARS THAT I HAVE HAD MY CAR, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. IT ONLY HAS 123,000 MILES ON IT. I CONTACTED YOUR WEB SITE AND DISCOVERED 19 OTHER COMPLAINTS BESIDES MINE ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL CAR. AS A MATTER OF FACT, ONE MAN REPLACED HIS SIX TIMES!!! THEN, TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THEY CONTACTED ME AND TOLD ME TO GO LOOK AT ANOTHER CAR AT FAIRWAY. WELL, THERE'S A FAIRWAY FORD HERE IN ANDERSON, SC. I GO UP THERE AT 10 LIKE I'M SUPPOSED TO, AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. I CALL THE BRANCH BACK AND THEY TELL ME THAT THEY DON'T OWN ANY FORD PLACES IN SC, THAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO ALBANY, GA. THAT IS A GRAND TOTAL OF 600+ MILES AND 10 HRS AWAY ROUND TRIP. I GO ALL THE WAY DOWN THERE FOR THE MANAGER TO TELL ME BASICALLY THAT I WENT DOWN THERE TO TRADE IN A CAR. I HAD TOLD THEM THAT MY CAR IS NOT RUNNING, BUT APPARENTLY, THEY DON'T LISTEN VERY WELL. SO, I'M STILL OUT OF A CAR AND THE ONE I HAVE IS NOT TRADABLE IN THE CONDITION ITS IN. I STILL OWE $1700 AND ITS GOING TO COST ME AT LEAST THAT MUCH IF NOT MORE TO FIX IT. ALL I WANT IS FOR THEM TO FIX THIS PART THAT THEY KNOW IS FAULTY, BECAUSE OTHER CONSUMERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I JUST HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE SOMEONE GETTING KILLED ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS PART QUITS ON THEM BEFORE FORD WILL RECALL THESE CARS AND FIX THEM. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10010607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN ACTING UP EVER SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR IN 1999. IT ONLY HAD 86000 MILES ON IT AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR NEEDED TO BE DRIVEN FOR A WHILE AND IT WOULD STRAIGHTEN ITSELF OUT. WELL, NOW IT'S SITTING IN MY FRONT YARD NEEDING A $1700 TRANSMISSION IN IT. LUCKY FOR ME, I WAS ON MY WAY HOME ON A BACK ROAD INSTEAD OF ON A HIGHWAY WITH TRAFFIC ZOOMING BY.

NHTSA complaint #10007906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

CONSUMER STATES SPEEDOMETER BROKE TWICE.

NHTSA complaint #564472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8014883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED TO SLOW DOWN TO 30 MPH, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP, TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE RECONDITIONED.*AK

NHTSA complaint #8011101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

THE NEEDLE ON THE SPEEDOMETER BOUNCES AT ABOUT 45MPH OR MORE. THE DEALER SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. IT WILL COST OVER $700 TO FIX IT. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, THEN FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #762531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

CONSUMER STATED THE ORIGINAL SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, HOWEVER THE REPLACEMENT HAS ALSO MALFUNCTIONED.

NHTSA complaint #564090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

THE SPEEDOMETER WAS FAULTY AND THE CONNECTING CABLES WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE SPEEDOMETER HAS MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN, THE SPEEDOMETER MAKES A VERY HIGH PITCHED SQUEAKY NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING OVER THIRTY MPH, ALSO WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPS AROUND THE DIAL, GOING FROM TEN TO EIGHTY MILES IN SECONDS.

NHTSA complaint #561371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

THE SPEEDOMETER WAS FAULTY AND THE CONNECTING CABLES WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE SPEEDOMETER HAS MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN, THE SPEEDOMETER MAKES A VERY HIGH PITCHED SQUEAKY NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING OVER THIRTY MPH, ALSO WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPS AROUND THE DIAL, GOING FROM TEN TO EIGHTY MILES IN SECONDS.

NHTSA complaint #561372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING ERRATIC PERFORMANCE OF THE SPEEDOMETER, TAKEN TO FORD DEALERSHIP IN MARCH OF 1997, THEY REPLACED THE SPEEDOMETER HEAD, IN OCTOBER OF 2000 THE REPLACEMENT FAILED, ONCE AGAIN EXPERIENCING ERRATIC MOVEMENT WITH NO PARTICULAR PATTERN, THIS TIME IT WAS RELATIVELY BRIEF, IN NOVEMBER OF 2000, PERIODS OF ERRATIC PERFORMANCE BECAME MORE FREQUENT AND LASTED LONGER, FORD ADVISED UNLESS THEY COULD OBSERVE THE FLUCTUATIONS AS THEY WERE HAPPENING, THE CAUSE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

NHTSA complaint #560476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

CONSUMER STATED THE ORIGINAL SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, HOWEVER THE REPLACEMENT HAS ALSO MALFUNCTIONED.

NHTSA complaint #564090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO A HIGHER SPEED. SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE WAS ERRATIC. CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8002574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

WHENE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ABOVE 60 MPH SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT REGISTER THE CORRECT SPEED. OPERATON IS VERY ERRATIC, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #8002106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING ERRATIC PERFORMANCE OF THE SPEEDOMETER, TAKEN TO FORD DEALERSHIP IN MARCH OF 1997, THEY REPLACED THE SPEEDOMETER HEAD, IN OCTOBER OF 2000 THE REPLACEMENT FAILED, ONCE AGAIN EXPERIENCING ERRATIC MOVEMENT WITH NO PARTICULAR PATTERN, THIS TIME IT WAS RELATIVELY BRIEF, IN NOVEMBER OF 2000, PERIODS OF ERRATIC PERFORMANCE BECAME MORE FREQUENT AND LASTED LONGER, FORD ADVISED UNLESS THEY COULD OBSERVE THE FLUCTUATIONS AS THEY WERE HAPPENING, THE CAUSE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

NHTSA complaint #560476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I BOUGHT THE CAR IN NASHUA, NH BUT NOW LIVE IN FLORIDA. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS THIS: WHILE I AM TRYING TO SLOW DOWN, THE CAR ACTUALLY "LURCHES" FORWARD AND THEN WHEN I LET MY FOOT OFF THE BREAK, IT "SLAMS" INTO GEAR. I CONTACTED THE SERVICE SUPERVISOR AT THE LINCOLN-MERCURY DEALERSHIP IN DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA . HE TOLD ME HE HAS HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM OCCURING SEVERAL TIMES WITH OTHER SABLES AND KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT PART IT IS. HE ESTIMATES ABOUT $800-$1200 IN REPAIR COSTS. HE TOLD ME THAT IT COULD GO AT ANYTIME AND I WILL BE LEFT STRANDED SOMEWHERE BECAUSE MY CAR WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR. MY BROTHER IN LAW HAD SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS SABLE. I THINK IT IS A DEFECT IN THE SABLE'S TRANSMISSION - I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN A 6 YEAR OLD CAR.

NHTSA complaint #753367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

SPEEDOMETER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE ON VEHICLE. NEEDLE IS BOUNCING, DOES NOT KNOW HOW FAST VEHICLE IS GOING. HAS TECHINICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSB 99-7-9 ON THIS PROBLEM. CONTACTED DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #898179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

THE SPEEDOMETER WAS FAULTY AND THE CONNECTING CABLES WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE SPEEDOMETER HAS MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN, THE SPEEDOMETER MAKES A VERY HIGH PITCHED SQUEAKY NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING OVER THIRTY MPH, ALSO WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPS AROUND THE DIAL, GOING FROM TEN TO EIGHTY MILES IN SECONDS.

NHTSA complaint #561371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

THE SPEEDOMETER WAS FAULTY AND THE CONNECTING CABLES WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE SPEEDOMETER HAS MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN, THE SPEEDOMETER MAKES A VERY HIGH PITCHED SQUEAKY NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING OVER THIRTY MPH, ALSO WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPS AROUND THE DIAL, GOING FROM TEN TO EIGHTY MILES IN SECONDS.

NHTSA complaint #561372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

THE SPEEDOMETER IS INOPERATIVE. NLM

NHTSA complaint #785541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

SPEEDOMETER HEAD REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #561758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING, FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE, CAUSING FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE TO DROP. *AK LOWER REAR SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT HAS BEEN REPLACED. FLUCTUATING SPEEDOMETER WAS REPLACED. STARTER AND WIRE HARNESS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. MUFFLER AND TAIL PIPE HAVE BEEN REPLACED. 2 FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND STRUT BEARING PLATES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #886261 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

ORIGINAL SPEEDOMETER STARTED "BOUNCING" AFTER 19100 MILES, I.E. THE SPEED INDICATOR WOULD SWING WILDLY BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN 40 AND 80 OR SO, ACCOMPANIED BY A BUZZING SOUND. THIS OCCURRED AT SPEEDS OVER 45-50 MPH. SPEEDOMETER WAS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE BY DEALER. THE REPLACEMENT SPEEDOMETER FUNCTIONED PROPERLY UNTIL THE WARRANTY-PERIOD ENDED, THEN WITH APPX. 25000 MILES ON THE REPLACEMENT SPEEDOMETER, IT STARTED ACTING THE SAME WAY. A LETTER OF COMPLAINT DIRECTED TO FORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY RESULTED IN A CALL SAYING THE DEALER WOULD CONTACT US. THEY NEVER DID. THE SPEEDOMETER IS STILL "BOUNCING" BEING UNRELIABLE AND NOISY WHEN DRIVING OVER 45-50 MPH.

NHTSA complaint #740472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

SPEEDOMETER WILL STOP WORKING. NEEDLE WAS SHAKING . IF VEHICLE WOULD HIT A BUMP NEEDLE WOULD GO TO MAXIMUM SPEED AND NOT MOVE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN 3 YEARS. *AK THE SPEEDOMETER HAD FAILED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS. IT WAS REPLACED ONCE AND REPAIRED ONCE.

NHTSA complaint #878137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION HESITATES FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL SLAM INTO GEAR. NOW I HEAR THE TRANSMISSION WHINING IN PARK OR NEUTRAL. IT STARTED DOING IT ALL OF A SUDDEN. I HAVE NOTICED ALOT OF COMPLAINTS WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND THE ONES IN THE FORD TAURUS. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A TRANSMISSION GOING BAD AT ONLY 74,000 MILES, WHEN IT IS DRIVIN SAFELY AND RESPONSIBLY. I HAVE MADE SURE THE OIL WAS ALWAYS FULL, AND I EVEN CHANGED THE OIL AND THE FILTER IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT DID NOT HELP!

NHTSA complaint #738872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

WHEN SPEEDOMETER GETS UP TO 45 MPH NEEDLE FLOPS TO 50/60/ 70, AND GOES UP AND DOWN. DRIVER CAN'T TELL HOW FAST SHE IS GOING.

NHTSA complaint #875840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

SPEEDOMETER FAILED AT 67500, NEEDLE FLUCTUATES WILDLY AND UNUSABLE AS AN INDICATOR. RESEARCH OF YOUR DATABASE INDICATES UNUSALLY LARGE NUMBER OF IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS. FORD ISSUED AN ADVISORY TO DEALERS (ARTICLE 97-12-5) ON 6/9/97 REGARDING THE DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER. REQUEST NHTSA INITIATE AN INVESTIGATION AND SEEK A RECALL DUE TO THE DEFECT OF THE SAME ITEM AFFECTING A LARGE GROUP OF VEHICLES RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY. YOUR DATABASE INDICATES THAT THE MAJORITY OF OWNERS HAVE HAD MULTIPLE SPEEDOMETER FAILURES AND FORD IS UNWILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR INSTALLING WHAT MAY BE INFERIOR COMPONENTS AND THEREBY CREATING ADDITIONAL UNREASONABLE SAFETY RISKS. THERE APPEARS TO BE CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS A DEFECT AFFECTING A LARGE NUMBER OF SABLE/TAURUS VEHICLES AND FORD IS AWARE OF IT. PERHAPS FORD MAY BE RECEPTIVE TO ENTERTAIN A REQUEST FOR A RECALL BEFORE THIS DEFECT THE BECOMES MAGNITUDE OF AN EXPLORER ROLL-OVER TYPE ISSUE. PLEASE HELP!

NHTSA complaint #736699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.