10 of the
391 complaints about the 1996 Mercury Sable are about the
seat belts — 3% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
166,000 miles.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SEAT, HE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. HE MENTIONED THAT ALTHOUGH HE WAS PROPERLY WEARING HIS SEAT BELT AND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, IT FAILED TO PROTECT HIM. HE MENTIONED THAT HIS HEAD AND RIGHT HAND HIT INTO THE WINDSHIELD AND SHATTERED IT. HE ALSO SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND INJURIES TO HIS KNEES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 166,000. UPDATED 06/01/11*LJ UPDATED 06/13/11
NHTSA complaint #10383088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ravenna, MICrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE SIDE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE PASSENGER.*AK THE CONSUMER WAS INQUIRING ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10029583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Minneapolis, MN
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE SEAT BELTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT SEAT, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE BECAME INOPERABLE AT APPROXIMATELY 50000 MILES. WE DIDN'T NOTICE THAT THEY WERE INOPERABLE, ONLY THAT THE BELTS WOULD CATCH IN THE DOOR WHEN WE SHUT THE DOOR. AFTER A WHILE, AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT, WE REALIZED THAT THE REASON THAT THE BELTS WERE GETTING CAUGHT IN THE DOOR WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT RETRACTING PROPERLY. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, WALSER LINCOLN-MERCURY AT THE ABOVE ADDRESS. THE SEAT BELTS ON BOTH SIDES WERE REPLACED ON 1/8/02. THE PASSENGER SEAT IS USED FOR LESS THAN HALF OF THE MILES DRIVEN. I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF ONE OF THE BELTS FAILED BUT DON'T THINK THAT BOTH BELTS SHOULD FAIL. THAT SEEMS LIKE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IS LIKELY.
NHTSA complaint #756696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Union, OHCrash
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
WHEN VEHICLE CAME TO REST IN A DITCH DRIVER NOTICED THAT REAR CENTER SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN CSS PROPERLY, IT SLID DOWN BETWEEN FRONT AND REAR SEATS.
NHTSA complaint #882579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
East Lansing, MI
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS BROKEN, CAUSING SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERABLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #880014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jeffersonville, IN
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
REAR CENTER SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETURN/RETRACT. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #550577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pensacola, FL
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
HAD REC'D RECALL NOTICE #98V198000 IN MAIL. CONTACTED DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE FOR APPT. HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED. BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HEATER CORE WHICH WAS REPLACED 6 TIMES. COOLANT SYSTEM BLOWING INTO VEHICLE. CAN SMELL IT. MECHANIC CAN NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #848321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kingsviller, MD
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER SEAT BELT ISN'T WORKING DUE TO THE LATCH THAT COME ACROSS THE CONSUMER'S CHEST WON'T COME OUT.
NHTSA complaint #834772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Omaha, NE
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT LATCH CAME APART.
NHTSA complaint #541464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ashville, NC
SEAT BELTS
WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT LOCKS UP, CAUSING CONSUMER TO RELEASE BELT FROM BUCKLE SO THAT SEAT BELT CAN UNLOCK. CAUSE UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #809705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.