FaultScore

1996 Mercury Sable suspension problems

13 of the 391 complaints about the 1996 Mercury Sable are about the suspension — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 132,000 miles.

A

13

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Suspension 3 23.1%
Front 2 15.4%
Lower Ball Joint 2 15.4%
Upper Ball Joint 2 15.4%
Rear 1 7.7%
Coil Springs 1 7.7%
Shock Absorber 1 7.7%
Stabilizer BAR 1 7.7%

Suspension across every Mercury Sable year

1990 11 1.1%
1991 12 1.2%
1992 21 2.2%
1993 58 6.0%
1994 16 1.7%
1995 31 3.2%
1996 13 1.3%
1997 17 1.8%
1998 27 2.8%
1999 49 5.1%
2000 170 17.6%
2001 222 23.0%
2002 268 27.7%
2003 51 5.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 80,000 miles Frankfort, KY

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A SQUEAKING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDER THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN SLOWING DOWN, MAKING TURNS, AND REVERSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRADLE AND SUBFRAME BUSHING WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING AT CERTAIN SPEEDS AND MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA complaint #10851657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 184,000 miles Lake Orion, MI

SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL STABILIZER ARM WOBBLED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND IT WAS DETERMINED, THE FRONT UNDERCARRIAGE AND ENGINE MOUNTS WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS EXPOSED TO EXTREME WINTER WEATHER AND CORROSIVE ROAD SALTS. THE REPAIR SHOP CONCLUDED THAT DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE CORROSION, THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.

NHTSA complaint #10160028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kenova, WV

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE COLLAPSED DUE TO RUSTING. THIS CAUSED THE FRAME TO BREAK. ALSO, WHEN THE ENGINE COLLAPSED THE BALL JOINTS BROKE, CAUSING THE TIRES TO DISENGAGE FROM THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10073691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kenova, WV

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE COLLAPSED DUE TO RUSTING. THIS CAUSED THE FRAME TO BREAK. ALSO, WHEN THE ENGINE COLLAPSED THE BALL JOINTS BROKE, CAUSING THE TIRES TO DISENGAGE FROM THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10073691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kenova, WV

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER'S FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT FRONT PASSENGER UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION.

NHTSA complaint #10073672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kenova, WV

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER'S FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT FRONT PASSENGER UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION.

NHTSA complaint #10073672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Orwell, OH

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE SPRING PUNCTURE THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE WAS PLACE IN REVERSE THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED. WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO REPLACED THE TIRE HE NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING BROKE WHICH IN TURN PUNCTURED THE TIRE. *SCC *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10031707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Colgate, WI

SUSPENSION

THE LEFT FRONT SPRING PIERCED THE FRONT TIRE, AFTER IT HAD BROKEN IN TWO WHILE CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, DEALER FOUND PASSENGER SPRING, STABLIZER LINK, AND STRUT BEARING BROKEN, BOTH SPRINGS WERE REPLACED.*JB MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #562548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Plainville, MI

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER

CONSUMER IS HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE, ENGINE OVERHEATS AND AT TIMES STALLS.*AK RADIATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES, HEADGASKETS WERE REPLACED AND FINALLY ENGINE WAS REPLACED. SHOCKS WERE REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #890304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baltimore, MD

SUSPENSION:FRONT

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE CUTS OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL POWER. ALSO, WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURN THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #882435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tampa, FL

SUSPENSION

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH THE RUBBER ON THE TIRE CAME OFF AND DAMAGED THE BUMPER/ FENDER, AND PART OF THE RUBBER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH DAMAGED THE OTHER VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD. ALSO, SOME TYPE OF NOISE WITHIN THE VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE WAS GOING FROM SIDE TO SIDE.

NHTSA complaint #847167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Auburn, NY

SUSPENSION:FRONT

LARGE VIBRATION SOUND HEARD WHEN VEHICLE MAKES RIGHT HAND TURNS, FRONT END SUPENSION/AXLE REPAIRED AND LUBED SWAY BAR BUSHINGS.

NHTSA complaint #508469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cambridge, MA

SUSPENSION:REAR

FAILED SWAY BAR LINKS CAUSED CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING.

NHTSA complaint #519545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Mercury Sable problems

← Full 1996 Mercury Sable report