28 of the
326 complaints about the 1997 Mercury Sable are about the
throttle and cruise control — 9% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
53,894 miles.
C
28
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Vehicle Speed Control
1967.9%
Accelerator Pedal
621.4%
Cruise Control
27.1%
Linkages
13.6%
Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Mercury Sable year
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN BRAKING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD INCREASE ABNORMALLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD SLIGHTLY PULL FORWARD AS IF IT WERE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. AS THE CONTACT WAS APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP, SHE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE MECHANIC DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL AS A PRECAUTION AND THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
NHTSA complaint #10460825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 78,000 milesNiagra Falls, NYCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO AND DESTROYED THE CONTACT'S GARAGE DOOR. HE STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE WAS TO PLACE IT IN PARK. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND IS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 78,000. UPDATED 12/31/07 *BF UPDATED
NHTSA complaint #10202339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Morganville, NJ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
NAR 04/01/2003. THE SPEED SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES WITHIN 6 YEARS. WHEN THE SPEED SENSOR FAILED, IT CAUSED THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE TO GO TO ZERO WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL MOVING. THE GEARS CHANGED RANDOMLY AND THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT.
NHTSA complaint #10015032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wayland, MA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION.
NHTSA complaint #10094412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 43,000 milesNorth Little Rock, AR
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN THERE WOULD BE A PROBLEM WITH RESUMING DRIVING. THE GAS PEDAL WILL BE DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE. AFTER A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD RESPOND. DEALER HAS EXAMINED THE VEHICLE TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10065006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 64,788 milesBooneville, MS
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE HAD 5 OCCURRENCES OF ENGINE SURGING WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AND APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE SURGE IS SO STRONG THAT THE BRAKES MUST BE REPEATEDLY PRESSED DOWN HARD TO STOP AND HELD DOWN TO THEIR MAXIMUM CAPABILITY. IN 3 OF THE 5 OCCURRENCES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, REAR END COLLISIONS WERE AVOIDED BY MERE INCHES.
NHTSA complaint #10025337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
East Greenbush, NY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH DID NOT WORK. *JB THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING RECALL #98V028000, 97V097000, 99V12400, AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE NOT VALID. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10009110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Revere, MA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT FOOT PRESSING THE THROTTLE. SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T REGISTER SPEED, VEHICLE'S SPEED WAS INCREASING. DEALER WILL BE REPLACING SPEED CONTROL CHIP FOR SIXTH TIME. ALSO, CONSUMER HAS CHECKED TO SEE IF CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT ENGAGE. DEALER HAS DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8015583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RIO Rico, AZ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKING AND VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO ACCELATE UNTIL SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.*AK. CONSUMER STATED WHEN VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT MOVE, THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED ON ANOTHER OCCASION, HOWEVER THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED AT THAT TIME, THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR ASSEMBLY, BUT THE PROBLEM REOCCURED.
NHTSA complaint #8011803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RIO Rico, AZ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SPEEDOMETER WOULD MOMENTARILY OPERATE ERRATICALLY. NEEDLE WOULD JUMP BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES IT OPERATED NORMALLY. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK CONSUMER ADDS ACCELERATOR POSSIBLY CONTRIBUTED TO ERRATIC OPERATION OF THE SPEEDOMETER.
NHTSA complaint #8011810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Monona, WI
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A WHILE, AND WHEN STARTING UP HAS TO APPLY EXTRA FORCE TO ACCELERATOR TO GET VEHICLE TO MOVE, THIS HAPPENDS 1 - 3 TIMES PER WEEK.*AK
NHTSA complaint #8007464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Portsmouth, RICrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE GEAR SHIFT INDICATED VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL ENGINE SURGED AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO AN UNKNOWN SPEED BEFORE CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. ALSO, POWER STEERING AND POWER ASSIST BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE DURING THIS INCIDENT. DEALERSHIP HAS YET TO EXAMINE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.
NHTSA complaint #899928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cleveland, TN
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHEN STEPPING ON GAS PEDAL RPMS GO UP BUT ENGINE DOESN'T RESPOND. THIS HAPPENS IN THE MORNING AND ACTS INTERMITTENTLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER FUEL PUMP NEEDED REPLACEMENT.
NHTSA complaint #893410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hampton, GA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I PURCHASED MERCURY SABLE IN JULY 1999 AS A NEW VEHICLE (DEALER DEMO). I EXPERIENCED FIRST PROBLEM ABOUT A YEAR AGO DURING TWO SEPARATE WEEKS AND THOUGHT NO MORE ABOUT IT UNTIL THIS MONTH. I LEFT CHURCH AND WENT UP A SLIGHT INCLINE TO A STOP SIGN; WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND TRIED TO PULL OUT INTO THE TRAFFIC, THE CAR BEGAN ROLLING BACKWARDS. I BRAKED AND LOOKED TO BE SURE I HAD NOT SOMEHOW PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL; IT WAS IN DRIVE. I AGAIN TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND THE CAR CONTINUED BACKWARD, HALF WAY DOWN THE BLOCK. I PUSHED HARD ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKED FORWARD. LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LATER, I SAT AT A RED LIGHT ON FLAT LAND AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I TOUCHED THE GAS PEDAL, IT REVVED UP BUT DID NOT MOVE. I BRAKED, PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL THEN BACK IN DRIVE AND IT JERKED FORWARD. WHEN I TOOK IT TO ALLAN VIGIL FORD ON TARA BOULEVARD IN JONESBORO, GEORGIA, THE SERVICE MANAGER QUOTED A PRICE OF MORE THAN $2,500. TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION. ON A CAR ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 70,000 MILES!!!! I HAVE READ OTHER REPORTS ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING TROUBLE WITH FORD TRANSMISSIONS. MY SON IN LAW, JOSEPH KAIGLER, HAS A 2001 TAURUS WHICH HE RETURNED AFTER LESS THAN A MONTH TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED. PLEASE HELP! SHORT OF PAYING $2,500, IS THERE ANOTHER REMEDY I MAY GAIN.
NHTSA complaint #745623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Coldwell, NJ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY MPH WHEN COULD LET ACCELERATOR GO AND VEHICLE WILL NOT DECELERATE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND PROBLEM WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. *AK A LOCAL SERVICE STATION DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE IDLER CONTROL AND REPLACED IT. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #889026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marshall, MI
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
ACCELERATOR STICKS IN WIDE OPEN POSITION. APPEARS TO BE FREEZING SIMILAR TO NHTSA 97V074. WIFE HAD A NEAR ACCIDENT AT HIGH SPEED TODAY.
NHTSA complaint #738403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sterling Heights, MI
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
VEHICLE IDLE SPEED DOES NOT RETURN TO NORMAL. ENGINE IS RACING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. VEHICLE DOES NOT SLOW DOWN WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED, VEHICLE CONTINUES TO RUN AT 30 PLUS MILE PER HOUR WITHOUT PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, REQUIRING CONSTANT APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM GETTING OUT OF CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN VARIOUS WEATHER, HAS HAPPENED AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN AS MUCH AS 100 MILES ON FREEWAYS AND AFTER DRIVING AS LITTLE AS 5 MILES IN THE CITY. PROBLEM WAS OCCURING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN INTO THE CREST LINCOLN MERCURY DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, DEALER STATED THAT DIAGNOSTICS INDICATED THERE IS NO PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #725624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chicago, IL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON-GOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH HIGH SURGE / ENGINE ACELERATION. PROBLEM OCCURS IN STOP/GO TRAFFIC AT HIGHWAY SPEED OR AT A STOP POSTION. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON FIVE OCCASIONS. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #854270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Zelienople, PA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING AT SL0W SPEEDS / COMING TO A STOP.
NHTSA complaint #548456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pittaburg, PA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES , BUT PROBLEM REOCCURS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #846082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Happiesburg, MI
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP, ITJUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND ACCELERATED. ALSO, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE THAT CAME FROM TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOUR TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #841910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kenmore, NY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT HIGH SPEED WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD. CONSUMER TURNED OFF VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #838834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Shingle Springs, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENGINE THROTTLE STICKS AT 1200 TO 2500 RPM WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #707150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Syosset, NY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AFTER 5 MINUTES TURNED OFF, RETURNED TO CAR, TURNED IT ON AND PUT IT INTO REVERSE, VEHICLE THEN EXPODED BACKWARDS UP AN EMBANKMENT AND CRASHED INTO TREES.
NHTSA complaint #704421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Westminster, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE WILL REV UP. THE GAS PEDAL HAS TO BE APPLIED IN ORDER TO STOP IT. DEALER HAS SEEN 3 TIMES AND FINDS NO PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #835206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Haledon, NJ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES WHILE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE OR SLOWING DOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #831914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brooklyn, WI1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHENEVER USING THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS, FINGERS WOULD GET CUT. CRUISE CONTROL HAVE VERY SHARP EDGES THAT CUT DEEPLY WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED.
NHTSA complaint #820531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rockville Center, NY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
RECALL # 97V025000, DEALER DOES NOT HAVE PARTS AVAILABLE. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #815332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.