FaultScore

1996 Mercury Sable acceleration problems

17 of the 391 complaints about the 1996 Mercury Sable are about the throttle and cruise control — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 56,000 miles.

F

17

Complaints

4

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Vehicle Speed Control 11 64.7%
Accelerator Pedal 4 23.5%
Cruise Control 1 5.9%
Linkages 1 5.9%

Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Mercury Sable year

1989 13 2.6%
1990 13 2.6%
1992 22 4.4%
1993 28 5.7%
1994 21 4.2%
1995 22 4.4%
1996 17 3.4%
1997 28 5.7%
1998 33 6.7%
1999 16 3.2%
2000 72 14.5%
2001 62 12.5%
2002 56 11.3%
2003 29 5.9%
2004 15 3.0%
2005 38 7.7%
2008 10 2.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 6,000 miles Silver Spring, MD

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE RECURRED HOWEVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME FAILURE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

NHTSA complaint #10501255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 93,350 miles Reading, PA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS I HAVE BEEN NOTICING THAT MY ENGINE "REVS" AS I TRY TO STOP.THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITENT BUT SEEMS TO BE OCCURRING MORE OFTEN. I HAD THE DEALER CHECK IT OUT-THE 1ST TIME I BELIEVE THEY JUST DID A TEST DRIVE AND SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. ABOUT 1 1/2 MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND I BUMPED INTO A SECURITY GATE AT WORK. AS I APPROACHED THE CLOSED GATE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AS I "EASED" UP TO THE CARD READER TO OPEN THE GATE, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO REV AND CAR INCHED FORWARD AS I TRIED TO APPLY MORE BRAKE EFFORT. AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE IDLE RETURNED TO NORMAL. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER 2 DAYS LATER AND PAID FOR A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC-AGAIN NOTHING WAS FOUND AND I WAS TOLD IT COULD BE ALMOST ANYTHING, AND THEY HAD NO SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT TO DO. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD REPLACE "RANDOM" PARTS BUT IT WOULD COST ALOT OF MONEY TO DO SO. I AM NOT POSITIVE BUT THIS HAPPENED TO ME AT LEAST 4 TIMES. THE CAR REVS FOR A FEW SECONDS AS I BRAKE TO STOP AND THEN RETURNS TO NORMAL IDLE.

NHTSA complaint #10128651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 56,000 miles Bradenton, FL Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED WHEN THE GEAR WAS PLACED IN REVERSE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING POWER ASSIST AND BRAKES. THE VEHICLE STOPPED WHEN IT HIT AN OBJECT. THE DRIVER THEN PUT VEHICLE INTO DRIVE AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE THEN MADE SEVERAL TURNS BEFORE STOPPING AGAIN. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED.

NHTSA complaint #10048531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED INTO SOME NEARBY TRASH CANS AND A WOODEN FENCE. *JG

NHTSA complaint #10006304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Annandale, VA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES CONSUMER WILL ALSO STEP ON GAS PEDAL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA complaint #8008580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jersey City, NJ

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

AT 14,000 MILE VEHICLE COMMENCES TO ACCELERATE INTERMITTENTLY AND MOMENTARILY WHILE BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED FROM A STOP POSITION. SUDDEN ACCELERATION WOULD LAST FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE OR LESS. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #894745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Livonia, MI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE IN PARK ENGINE WOULD IDLE AT A VERY HIGH SPEED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT ANY GIVEN SPEED VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN, AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *CONSUMER HAS NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA complaint #887682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cincinnati, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN VEHICLE SHIFTS GEARS RPMS STAY AT 1800-2000, WILL NOT GO DOWN, CONSUMER HAS TO SHUT OFF ENGINE AND RESTART. TO DEALER WHO REPLACED AIR BYPASS VALVE, THEN THROTTLE POSITIONER, COERRECTED PROBLEM FOR A SHORT TIME ONLY.*AK AIR BYPASS VALVE AND THROTTLE POSITIONER SENSOR WERE REPLACED ON WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #886597 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Randalls Town, MD

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

HIGH IDLE WHEN MOVING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD, AND IT WILL ALSO TRAVEL COUPLE FEET IF FOOT IS NOT ON BRAKES HARD. MANUFACTURER ISSUED A TSB, BUT IT DOES NOT CORRECT DEFECT. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS FAILURE CAUSED THE LIQUID FILLED MOUNTS TO FAIL WHICH ALSO CAUSED EXHAUST LEAK AT MANIFOLD, THE TSB NUMBER IS 97-7-1, WHICH STATES THE PCM NEEDED REPLACED DUE TO AN INCORRECT SOFTWARE IDENTIFICATION BLOCK. DRIVE AND SERPENTINE BELTS FAILED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #882211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fredericksburg, VA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

WHILE STOPPING AT A LIGHT AND WHEN DEPRESSING GAS PEDAL VEHICLE STALLED. ALSO, GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMAITON.

NHTSA complaint #875621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Johnson City, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

IDLE RACES AND DOES NOT COME DOWN ONCE FOOT IS TAKEN OFF ACCELERATOR. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #555436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Quitman, AR

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

IDLE SPEED (RPM) HAS BEEN STEADLY INCREASING UP TO 2500RPM, MY WHEELS SLIDE DURING BRAKING PULLING INTO MY GARAGE WITH ENGINE RACING. THROTTLE IS STICKING.

NHTSA complaint #721029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort Mohave, AZ Crash 2 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CENTER BLOCK BUILDING. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPOLY, AND MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BY BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #838811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marblehead, MA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DRIVER LOSES ABILITY TO CONTROL VEHICLE SPEED. VEHICLE GOES 40 MPH WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL, LURCHES AFTER STOPS AND IDLES OVER 2000 RPMS. DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE CONTROL CABLE AND VALVE-AIR BY PASS. (PARTS NUMBER 9715, 9F715)

NHTSA complaint #530790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marblehead, MA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DRIVER LOSES ABILITY TO CONTROL VEHICLE SPEED. VEHICLE GOES 40 MPH WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL, LURCHES AFTER STOPS AND IDLES OVER 2000 RPMS. DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE CONTROL CABLE AND VALVE-AIR BY PASS. (PARTS NUMBER 9715, 9F715)

NHTSA complaint #530888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marblehead, MA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DRIVER LOSES ABILITY TO CONTROL VEHICLE SPEED. VEHICLE GOES 40 MPH WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL, LURCHES AFTER STOPS AND IDLES OVER 2000 RPMS. DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE CONTROL CABLE AND VALVE-AIR BY PASS. (PARTS NUMBER 9715, 9F715)

NHTSA complaint #530697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Orland Park, IL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLE SPEEDS UP WHEN COMING TO A STOP . PROBLEM IS SPORADICALLY. MANUFACTURER IS UNABLE TO FIX VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #815122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Mercury Sable problems

← Full 1996 Mercury Sable report