23 of the
302 complaints about the 1999 Mercury Sable are about the
engine — 8% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
61,500 miles.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONSUMER DROVE OVER A SMALL PUDDLE OF WATER, WHICH CAUSED THE POWER STEERING TO LOCK UP. A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE STEERING FAILS WHENEVER THE SERPENTINE BELT GETS WET. THE BELT MUST DRY OFF BEFORE HE CAN GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED BETWEEN FIVE AND SIX TIMES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000. UPDATED 07/17/09. *LJ UPDATED 07/20/09.
NHTSA complaint #10269527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12,000 milesMacon, GA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 1999 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE MAY 22 2006, THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE HEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE SHE PURCHASED IT. THE VEHICLE OPERATES WITH A HIGH TEMPERATURE READING, AND THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO SLIP GEARS WHEN YOU APPLY THE GAS PEDAL AND BACK FIRES WHILE SWITCHING GEARS. THE DEALER HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE FAILURES THAT THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED WITH HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OCTOBER OF 2006 WAS THE LAST TIME SHE CORRESPONDED WITH THE DEALER AND THEY STILL HAVE DONE NOTHING TO HELP HER.
NHTSA complaint #10179139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Iron Mountain, MI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1999 MERCURY SABLE LS VIN - [XXX] CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW FROM COPPER COUNTRY FORD 12/16/98 WARRANTY - 36,000 MILES / 6 YEARS ----------------------------------------------- AT APPROX 36,095 MILES OCT 2004 I HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION STEERING. SEEING AS HOW I WAS OVER THE WARRANTY, I CALLED THE FORD MO. CO AND ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THEY WOULD DO. TOWN & COUNTRY FORD (LOCAL FORD DEALER IN MY TOWN) SAID THEY WOULD CHARGE ME FOR THE LABOR ONLY. APRIL 11, 2005 WITH APPROX 38,000 MILES IT STARTED TO LEAK OIL. I TOOK IT TO TOWN & COUNTRY AND THEY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW OIL PAN GASKET. THEY REPAIRED IT AT MY EXPENSE. APPROX A MONTH LATER, IT WAS LEAKING AGAIN. TOOK IT IN, AND THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT... OIL PAN GASKET NEEDED SOME TWEEKING, SO THEY SAID. I TOOK IT TO HAVE ITS NORMAL 3000 MI OIL CHECK DAYS LATER, AND THE MAN WHO LOOKED AT MY ENGINE SAID THE FAN BELT WAS SHREDDED, AND COULD NOT BELIEVE SOMEONE WAS WORKING ON MY ENGINE DAYS PRIOR AND DID NOT FIX IT OR TELL ME ABOUT IT. I HAD THE FAN BELT REPLACED. OCT 13, 2005 MY CAR IS STILL LEAKING OIL. I TOOK IT TO TOWN & COUNTRY FORD, AND NOW THEY TELL ME I NEED A NEW ENGINE.....BECAUSE THE BLOCK IS CRACKED. I ASKED IF MAYBE THE OIL LEAK THAT HAD STARTED IN APRIL MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO THE CRACKED BLOCK, TO WHICH I NEVER GOT AN ANSWER. WHEN I ASKED WHY THE BLOCK WAS CRACKED, THE ANSWER I GOT WAS "ITS MADE OF ALUMINUM, AND SOMETIMES THESE THINGS HAPPEN." CURRENT MILEAGE IS APPROX 40,000. I JUST CALLED THE FORD MOTOR CO AND THEY SAID THERE ARE NO PROGRAMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CAR TO HELP ME AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I REALIZE THAT IM OVER MILEAGE, AND THAT IM OVER THE WARRANTY....BUT I HAVE REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION AND NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE? [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] *NM UPDATED 07/18/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #10139858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clementon, NJ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
FUMES INSIDE CAR NOTICED, AND A SLIGHT STRANGE SOUND FROM CAR WHEN RUNNING. WHEN TAKEN TO SHOP TO FIND PROBLEM, A CRACK WAS NOTICED AT THE Y SHAPED PIPE CONNECTING TO BOTH CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. IN ORDER TO REPAIR THIS THE WHOLE SYSTEM HAS TO BE REPLACED EVEN THOUGH THE CONVERTERS ARE FINE.
NHTSA complaint #10104255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Osage Beach, MO
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
A BURNING ODOR WAS COMING FROM THE VENTS. CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE TURNING ON THE HEATER THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HEATER CORE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT FORD PUT THE WRONG FLUID INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM CAUSING CORE TO FAIL.
NHTSA complaint #10103119 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 70,000 milesWarner Robins, GA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM IS FAULTY. I HAVE HAD 3 FREEZE PLUGS REPLACED IN ENGINE OVER PAST YEAR AND A HALF AT COST OF $500.00 I AM TOLD IF THE OTHERS RUST BEHIND THE ENGINE IT WILL BE ANOTHER $500.00 JUST HAD THE SYSTEM FLUSHED LAST YEAR, NOW IT IS RUSTY AGAIN. COOLING SYSTEM IS CORROSIVE! DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?
NHTSA complaint #10093214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 53,000 milesHamburg, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ON THE NY STATE THRUWAY, WITH MY ENTIRE FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE, THE CAR LOST POWER AND COMPLETELY STALLED OUT. IT WAS LATER FOUND TO HAVE THREE (3) CRACKED CAM SHAFTS.
NHTSA complaint #10086664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Northville, MIFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THEN BECAME FULLY ENGULFED. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10058075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,448 milesPhila, PA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN STORM, ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY ASSY BROKE CAUSING THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING IMMEDIATELY, I STRUGGLED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. I HAD REPAIRED AT LOCAL SHOP IN LONG ISLAND ,NY , MECHANIC SAID NEW REPLACEMENT UNIT WAS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN ORIGINAL INDICATING THAT THERE WAS PROBLEM WITH DESIGN OF ORIGINAL UNIT.HAD I NOT BEEN ABLE TO STEER VEHICLE THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A COLLISION RESULTING IN INJURIES , ETC. I CHECKED RECALLS & THERE WERE NON RELATED TO THIS MECHANICAL FAILURE. I PAID $309.91 FOR REPAIRS TO VEHICLE. VIN# [XXX], I RETAINED BROKEN ORIGINAL PULLEY & BRACKET ASSEMBLY. *AK UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #10057026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Troy, AL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
PROBLEM FIRST NOTICED AS ENGINE OVERHEATED AND A COOLANT LEAK OCCURRED... DEBRIS IN COOLING SYSTEM CREATES A BLOCKAGE AND HEATER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. STILL OVERHEATS AFTER RADIATOR FLUSHES TO CLEAN SYSTEM. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY THE MECHANIC TO EITHER SELL THE CAR OR REPLACE THE ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #10045646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Voorhees, NJCrash3 injured
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
PROBLEMS WITH ABS. *MR THE VEHICLE WAS IN TWO ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE INABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, WHERE THE ABS DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR REPAIR 7 TIMES. THE FOLLOWING ARE REPAIRS AND OR PROBLEMS THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED: TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED AFTER TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FOUND LOW, EXHAUST LEAK FIXED, WASHER FLUID WOULD SPRAY WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL AND LIGHTS WERE ON, SHAKING WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED/RESURFACED ROTORS, TRUNK LEAKED WATER, REPLACED MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH TO FIX WASHER FLUID PROBLEM, ABS NOT WORKING WHEN THERE WAS A PANIC STOP, LEFT AND RIGHT SPINDLE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, FRONT END ROTORS WERE REPLACED AGAIN, WHEEL ALIGNMENT, THE ABS DID NOT ENGAGE AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, AND REPLACED LEFT SIDE OUTER TIE ROD END. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10031939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesColumbia, SC
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1999 MERCURY SABLE HEAD GASKET BLOWN. THERE WAS NO WARNING. DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT IN TOWN. THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, SMELL OF COOLANT, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR STOPPED. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10013658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Harrogate, TN
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #765474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lithonia, GA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE HAD A MASSIVE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK AND BROKE DOWN. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO REPLACED TRANSMISSION. TWO WEEKS LATER, LEAK BEGAN AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS CHECKED AGAIN BY DEALER ,WHO DETERMINED THAT GASKET WAS IS LEAKING. GASKET WAS REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS LATER, VEHICLE VEHICLE HAD 2 OIL LEAKS.
NHTSA complaint #8015142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sauk Rapids, MN
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE SHUTS OFF ALL THE TIME. MECHANIC KEEPS REPLACING ALTERNATORS.*AK
NHTSA complaint #8007647 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lakewood, CO
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, CANNOT DUPLICATE T PROBLEM AND IS UNABLE TO REMEDY.
NHTSA complaint #8001081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baltimore, MD
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE . CONTACTED DEALER.*AK SUDDENR ENGINE SURGE, WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR WHEN STOPPED WITH FOOT ON BRAKE,.
NHTSA complaint #888872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Staten ISL, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
THE SEPENTINE BELT BROKE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #560555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Staten ISL, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
FAULTY ENGINE SENSOR CAUSED THE COOLANT LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY AND THE VEHICLE TO STALL, THE VEHICLES ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A FAULTY BEARING ROD IN THE MOTOR. NLM
NHTSA complaint #560555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rock Island, TN
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE WAS BACKFIRING DUE TO AN UNKNOWN COMPONENT WHICH CONSUMER FELT COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN A FIRE. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES, AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF BACKFIRING. THIS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 75% OF TIME DURING START UP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.
NHTSA complaint #886483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jacksonville, AL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
THE DASH LIGHT HAS COME ON TWICE AND IT HAD TO BE SERVICED FOR PROBLEMS WITH THE SENSOR AND A VALVE NOT WORKING PROPERLY IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE LINKAGE BROKE ONCE IN A PARKING LOT. IT HAD TO BE TOWED IN ON FLATBED.
NHTSA complaint #735560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cinnaminson, NJ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE OIL PUMP WENT WIDE OPEN, LOSS OF ENTIRE ENGINE OIL INVENTORY. MOTOR SEIZED, CRANK BROKE. LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint #726158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fair Heaven, NJ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
REPORTING RAW FUEL IS GETTING INTO THE VAPORIZED SYSTM, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA ON THIS MATTER OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #849911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.