10 of the 326 complaints about the 1997 Mercury Sable are about the fuel system — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 39,469 miles.
10
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, AND FUEL PUMP WAS THE CAUSE AS STATED BY SERVICE TECHNICIAN.*AK CONSUMER RECOMMENDED THAT THE WIRING INSIDE THE TANK BE ENCLOSED INTO A PROTECTIVE COVERING OVER ALL WIRES.
NHTSA complaint #10048139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
ON MAY 26, 2001 THE 1997 MERCURY SABLE ENGINE COMPLETELY STOPPED AT 45 MILES PER HOUR ON A COUNTRY ROAD. IT WAS TOWED TO TOM'S AUTO SERVICE IN NEW CARLISLE, INDIANA WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A CORRODED WIRE TO THE FUEL PUMP WAS THE PROBLEM. THEN ON JULY 12, 2001 THE MERCURY SABLE DID THE SAME THING AND WAS AGAIN TOWED TO TOM'S IN NEW CARLISLE, INDIANA WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A CORRODED WIRE INSIDE OF THE GAS TANK WAS THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC INFORMED US THAT HAD THE FUSE NOT BLOWN FIRST, THE GAS TANK WOULD HAVE EXPLODED. HE THEN STATED THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES BEFORE ON OTHER FORD VEHICLES AND THAT IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. WE WANT FORD TO REIMBURSE US FOR THE REPAIRS AND TOWING CHARGES AND TO INFORM OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS THAT THERE IS A POTENTIAL DANGER IF THE WIRES ARE NOT IMMEDIATELY REPLACED. WE NEVER HAD AN PRIOR INDICTATION FROM THE VEHICLE THAT THERE WAS ANY SORT OF PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT SPIT OR SPUTTER OR SLOWLY LOSE POWER, IT JUST COMPLETELY STOPS AND MUST BE COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #748742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT START, DEALER FOUND CHAFFED WIRES TO THE FUEL PUMP WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE, HOWEVER WHEN CONSUMER PICKED UP VEHICLE IT STALLED AGAIN JUST 3 MILES FROM DEALERSHIP, FORD STATED THEY WOULD REIMBURSE 50% OF CONSUMER'S COST, HOWEVER CONSUMER FEELS THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART AND IS REQUESTING FULL REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #559758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
STARTED CAR, PROCEEDED TO LEAVE PARKING LOT AND SABLE STALLED. UNABLE TO RESTART. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. FIRST ATTEMPT AT REPAIR REPLACED FUSE TO FUEL PUMP. LEFT DEALERSHIP AND VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN, 3 MILES AWAY FROM DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO SAME DEALERSHIP. INVOICE 177076 READS "PREVIOUS REPAIR AS STATED ON RO-FUSE BLOWN. FOUND UND FAULTY SENDER AND PUMP TO FUEL TANK. PERFORMED MED EXTENSIVE TESTS TO REVEAL PROBLEM. REMOVED FUEL TANK FROM VEHICLE AND TESTED SENDER UNIT AND PUMP ASSEMBLY. FOUND CHAFFED WIRES INSIDE FUEL CELL WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. REPAIR PARTS AND REASSEMBLED TANK TO VEHICLE. RETESTED AND PARTS SEEM TO BE WORKING AS DESIGNED."
NHTSA complaint #740751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC DUE TO 2 WIRES IN FUEL PUMP THAT GOT CAUGHT UNDERNEATH A CLAMP, CAUSING WIRES TO FRAY AND SHORT CIRCUIT AND BLOW FUSE, RESULTING IN POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #875765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP WIRE WITHIN FUEL TANK WHICH WAS RUBBING ON THE OUTGOING METAL SUPPLY LINE SHORTED OUT, CAUSING A FUSE TO BLOW OUT. ALSO, COULD LEAD TO A POSSIBLE FUEL TANK FIRE/EXPLOSION.
NHTSA complaint #863106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
WIRING WITHIN THE GAS TANK HAS NO COVERING CAUSING THE HOSE CLAMP TO RUB AGAINST AN ELECTICAL WIRING, RESULTING IN A FIRE HAZARD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS PLACED A COVERING OVER THE WIRING. *AK
NHTSA complaint #854630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
WHEN THE VEHICLE GETS DOWN TO A HALF A TANK OF GAS GAS GUAGE INDICATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS ON EMPTY. ALSO THE FUEL GAUGE COMES ON. DEALER CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #850405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
WHEN THE VEHICLE GETS DOWN TO A HALF A TANK OF GAS GAS GUAGE INDICATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS ON EMPTY. ALSO THE FUEL GAUGE COMES ON. DEALER CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #850405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.