20 of the
391 complaints about the 1996 Mercury Sable are about the
electrical system — 5% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
89,500 miles.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY SABLE WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED ON SEPT 10,09 AT 3:30, THE NEXT DAY, AT 6:30 PM THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRED AND STATED THAT IT WAS AS ELECTRICAL FIRE. A FIRE REPORT IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE INSURANCE HAS NOT ADVISED THE CONTACT IF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED OR NOT. AN INSURANCE ADJUSTER WILL PROVIDE THE FINDINGS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 10/20/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED TWICE. UPDATED 10/23/09.
NHTSA complaint #10283986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 39,000 milesSarsoda, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
VEHICLE STALLED REPEATEDLY. THE IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED.
NHTSA complaint #10009682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dallas, TXFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH,VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER OPENED HOOD AND FIRE WAS COMING UNDER THE ENGINE.DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #8018333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chillicothe, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #765758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cathedral City, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
CAR STALLED, THOUGHT IT TO BE ALTENATOR, TOWED TO MY MECHANIC, FOUND THAT THE OIL PUMP GREAR WAS STRIPPED, AND ENGINE FROZE UP, DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICANT. HD TO REPLACE WITH REMANUFACTURED ENGINE, CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED AS REQUIRED FROM THE DAY IT WAS PURCHASED NEW, WITH ALL SERVICE RECORDS RETAINED. COST $4400.00 TO REPLACE. FEEL IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. WAS OUT OF WARRENTY, BUT ENGINE STILL ONLY HAD 31613 MILES ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #755572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alamogordo, NM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THEY FIX IT AND IT STILL KEEPS ON BREAKING DOWN. DRIVER DOOR WON'T LOCK, ROOF LIGHT STAYS ON, PANEL LIGHT INDICATING ALL DOORS ARE OPEN STAYS LIT. THEN IT GOES OFF AND THEN ON. ITS A CONTINOUS THING THAT HAPPENS. YESTERDAY. 11-28-01 IT WOULD NOT START. I BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY AND SOMETIMES IT STARTS AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. DO I QUALIFY TO GET A LOANER VEHICLE UNTIL THEY FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THEY DON'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY ANSWERS YET. MY VEHICLE IS PAID OFF SINCE OF LAST MONTH. ERLINDA L. PICAZO
NHTSA complaint #755071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baltimore, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
I HAVE A NUMBER OF WORRIES WITH MY VEHICLE. THE FOLLOWING ARE: WHEN PLAYING THE RADIO/TAPE DECK, YOU HEAR A LOUD BUZZING NOISE COMING THROUGH THE SPEAKERS EVEN IF THE RADIO IS TURNED DOWN; WHEN STEERING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT YOU'LL HEAR A CRANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF CAR; CAR DOES NOT ABSORB BUMPS AT ALL, IT ROCKS, MAKES KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM SOMEWHERE NEAR WHEELS; WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 50-70 MPH, CAR WILL SWAY, LIKE A WIND IS BLOWING IT AWAY; FEUL SENSOR WILL FLOAT, YOU CAN NOT COUNT ON IT TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE; TRUNK HOOD FLIPS UP IN THE AIR SO FAST AND HARD, I HAVE STUNTED MY FINGERS BEFORE ON IT; THE DOORS ON THE CAR HAVE A SHARP EDGE TO IT, IF YOU DON'T STAND BACK WHEN OPENING THE DOOR, IT CAN GASH YOUR LEG; WIND SHIELD ARE A BLIND SPOT, TO LONG, WIPERS ARE SO STRONG THEY VIBRATE THE CAR, UNUSUALLY STRONG; BACK WINDOW ON LEFT SIDE (PASSENGER) WILL NOT ROLL UP, OR ROLL DOWN SOMETIMES; ASSEMBLY OF LIGHT MOLDINGS/FIXTURES IN BACK OF CAR ARE OFF(NOT EVENLY LINED UP), SO IS THE LEVELING OF TRUNK LID; CAR JUMPS WHEN STARTING IT UP, LIKE IT'S READY TO PULL OFF, EVEN WHEN YOUR FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE; WHEN MOVING THE GEARS THE CAR MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE, AND JUMPS ALSO; BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF AT TIMES; CAR LOSES POWER AT TIMES, EVEN AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN FEBRUARY, 2001; KEYLESS ALARM SYSTEM IS SENSITIVE, SOMETIMES A INCONVIENCE, IF YOU PICK KEYS UP AND TOUCH THE PANIC, OR TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON IT CAN BE SET OFF IN THE HOUSE, BEHIND A BRICK WALL.
NHTSA complaint #744401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Galvenston, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ENGINE WILL JUST DIE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO COME TO A STOP. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #877986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Euless, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
A/C CONTROL LIGHTS INOPERABLE - DEALER STATES MUST REPLACE ENTIRE DASH INCLUDING RADIO. REPLACEMENT COST $800.00 PLUS LABOR.
NHTSA complaint #735051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fayetteville, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
I REALLY NEED THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED ITS VERY DANGEROUS I RECENTLY SAW A RECALL SECTION IN THE NEWSPAPERS WITH THIS PROBLEM SIMILAR TO MINE SOMETHING ABOUT A TFI SWITCH OR SOMETHING HAVING TO DO WITH THE VEHICLES STALLING WELL I BOUGHT MY CAR WITH A 2 MONTH WARRANTY AN HAVE SINCE HAD THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED AND IVE TAKEN IT TO THE FORD DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO HAVE THEM DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM FIRST THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT THEN I ASKED THEM TO PLEASE TRY AND DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM THEN THEY ENDED UP SAYING IT WAS THE TFI SWITCH OR SOMETHING SO THEY REPLACED THAT BUT THAT WASNT THE PROBLEM THIS IS STILL HAPPEING SO DID I PAY FOR SOMETHING I DIDNT NEED BUT THATS NOT THE ISSUE THE ISSUE IS THIS CAR
NHTSA complaint #734475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbus, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING POWER STEERING/ BRAKES/DASH, AND LIGHTS TO FAIL. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #858212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbus, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATES THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE, REVERSE OR OVERDRIVE THE POWER STEERING ALMOST GOES COMPLETELY OUT AND THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL ELECTRICAL POWER. (STEERING, RADIO, LOCKS, DASH INSTRUMENTS).
NHTSA complaint #719870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palmdale, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
THE BATTERY WAS INEXPLICABLY DRAINED 6 WEEKS AFTER WE PURCHASED THE CAR. TWO DAYS AGO, THE CAR SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING WHENEVER I TURNED OR SLOWED DOWN. NOW, IT SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL ALL OF THE TIME.
NHTSA complaint #715504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hutchinson, KS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
HOT WIRE TO FUEL PUMP RUBBING AGAINST SENDING UNIT, WEARING THROUGH THE INSULATION RESULTING IN BLOWN FUEL PUMP FUSES. NLM
NHTSA complaint #547687 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Taunton, MA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROX. 65-70 MPH NOTICED ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT COMING ON. PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF VEHICLE, AND LOOKED UNDER HOOD. NOTICED ENGINE COOLANT OVERFLOWING ONTO GROUND. TRIED TO START VEHICLE, BUT ENGINE WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY DEALER ,AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ENGINE HAD SUCKED UP THE WATER FROM THE AIR FILTER WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE HEAD TO CRACK. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER, AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #844723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jackson, MS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION. , THEN CHANGED COMPUTER SETTINGS, FUEL MILEAGE CUT BY 1/3.
NHTSA complaint #707399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hartville, MO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATES THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE, REVERSE OR OVERDRIVE THE POWER STEERING ALMOST GOES COMPLETELY OUT AND THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL ELECTRICAL POWER/ WINDOWS/RADIO, ETC. THE VEHICLE WILL BE CHECKED BY DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #822369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Coral Spring, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR JUST DIES AND AFTER WAITING 15 MINS. THE CAR WILL RESTART.
NHTSA complaint #804198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pembroke Pines, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
AFTER 10 MINUTES OF BEING PARKED THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, UNDER THE BATTERY. PLEASE DESCRIBE IN DETAIL.
NHTSA complaint #803930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tempe, AZ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
KEY IS TAKEN OUT OF IGNITION IN ON POSITION AND CAR WILL STILL RUN.
NHTSA complaint #984697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.