337 of the 7,190 complaints filed about the Mercury Sable are about the steering — 5% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1996.
337
Complaints
5%
Share of all complaints
14
Crashes
30
Fires
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I GOT IN MY CAR STARTED TO DRIVE AND HEARD SOMETHING SNAP THEN SMOKE CAME FROM THE HOOD AND THE CAR PULLED HARD RIGHT. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND PARKED THE CAR. THE COIL SPRING BROKE AND DUG INTO MY FRONT PASSENGER TIRE AND IT PULLED THE AXLE OUT OF THE CV JOINT.I WAS IN ALLENTOWN,PA. ON A MAIN ROAD IN THE CITY. FEB.8,2020.
NHTSA complaint #11321890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY SABLE WAGON. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11289653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND MADE IT VERY HARD TO STEER ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HAVE A ACCIDENT AFTER COMING TO A STOP THE STEERING WHEEL WAS OFF CENTER AND VERY HARD TO TURN HAD TO GET CAR TOWED.I FIND THIS TO BE A COMPLETE RIP OFF BECAUSE I SEE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF STEERING PROBLEMS OF THE SAME MATTER
NHTSA complaint #11289660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO HENNESSY FORD LINCOLN ATLANTA (LOCATED AT 5675 PEACHTREE INDUSTRIAL BLVD, ATLANTA, GA 30341, (770) 624-0200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
NHTSA complaint #11151501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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STEERING FROZE UP AND COULD NOT TURN TO LEFT / WAS HARD TO STEER AND THEN WHEN TRYING TO TURN LEFT COULD NOT DO IT, HAD TO MAKE RIGHT HAND TURNS. TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM (2015) THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALLS AND HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR/ COST ,ME $600.00 THERE WERE NO COMPLAINTS ON THE CAR FAX OF TROUBLE. .BOUGHT THE CAR IN NOV 2015 AND HAD TO HAVE STEERING FIXED IN JUNE OF 2016. TODAY I WENT TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS LATELY AND FOUND 51 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS CAR AND A LOT OF THEM WERE FOR STEERING AND POWER TRAIN. DON'T YOU THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. GOING TO LOOK FOR A NEW CAR AND NOT A FORD
NHTSA complaint #11073472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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
NHTSA complaint #10981455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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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.
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THE STEERING IS HORIBLE, ABOUT 3YEARS AGO CHANGED RACK APPION STEERING, AND JUST A WEEK AGO, PUT NEW STEERING PUMP ON, STILL.
NHTSA complaint #10836880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE SECOND POWER STEERING PUMP , IT IS HORRIBLE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL MOST OF THE TIME. ALSO, IT IS NOISY WHILE I'M DRIVING IT. IT HAD A NEW RACK AND PINION ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT . PARKING IN A PARKING LOT IS AWFUL AS IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MANEUVER AROUND OTHER CARS. TURNING CORNERS ,SOMETIMES IT'S OKAY AND OTHER TIMES REALLY HARD. NOT SURE IF THIS COMPLAINT BELONGS HERE, BUT HEATER DOESN'T WORK ,EITHER. FEELS LIKE A/C IS ON . HAD A FRIEND CHECK IT AND HE IS HAVING A HARD TIME FIGURING IT OUT. DON'T KNOW HOW TO ANSWER "DATE HAPPENED" AS IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN AUGUST.
NHTSA complaint #10806809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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THE ENGINE CRADLE/FRAME SUPPORTING THE ENGINE & TRANSMISSION AND SUSPENSION AND STEERING ASSEMBLIES FAILED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION CAUSING THE REAR MOUNT AT THE BODY CONNECTION ON BOTH SIDES TO SEPARATE AND DROP ABOUT 3" CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING. THE DROP OF THE CRADLE AND ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION PULLED DOWN ON THE STEERING SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT UNDER THE DASH CAUSING THE STEERING TO BIND UP AND ALSO CAUSING THE ENTIRE STEERING AND SUSPENSION GEOMETRY TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT GARAGED, WAS PURCHASED NEW BY ME, WAS NOT IN INVOLVED IN ANY FLOOD DAMAGE, WAS NOT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SALT WATER AND THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS SPRAYED EACH TIME I FREQUENTLY WASHED THE VECHICLE. THE ENGINE CRADLE IN ADDITION TO THE REAR MOUNT FAILURE HAS EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION THRUOUT THE STRUCTURE. AS SOMEONE WHO PAYS ATTENTION TO MY VEHICLE I BEGAN TO NOTICE RUST/CORROSION ON THE ENGINE CRADLE ABOUT 5 YEARS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITHOUT FINDING ANY. I'M WIRTTING THIS AFTER FINALLY SEEING A COMPLAINT ON A 2001 FORD TAURUS CRADLE/FRAME FAILURE AND THINK THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION SHOULD BE MADE PUBLIC. THANKFULLY I WAS GOING AT A SLOW SPEED AND WAS ABLE TO VEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HAD I BEEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE EVENT WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC NOT ONLY TO ME BUT OTHERS ON THE ROAD ALSO. LOVED MY VEHICLE IT RUNS GREAT AND WAS LOOKING FOWARD TO MORE MILES WITH IT, UNFORTUNATELY THE REPAIR WOULD BE A MAJOR UNDERTAKING AND EXPENSE AND MY SABLE IS TO HEAD TO THE JUNK YARD ON A FLATBED.
NHTSA complaint #10761626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVING ON OHIO TURNPIKE 07/19/2014. WITH NO POWER STEERING IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION WHILE ENTERING A SERVICE PLAZA. ALSO SUBSEQUENT MANEUVERING ON CITY STREETS WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. SUBSEQUENT REPAIR (07/23/2014) OF LOWER CRADLE, AND INSTALLED NEW (UPDATED) MOTOCRAFT RACK AND PINION UNIT. NEW ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED PER TSB. VEHICLE TOOK 3 DAYS TO REPAIR. COST TO REPAIR VEHICLE WAS OVER $1000. FORD ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (09-5-7) ON MARCH 23, 2009 BUT TO MY KNOWLEDGE HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10641991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT 55 CAR GOES TOTALLY DEAD. WAS ABLE TO PUT IN PARK AND RESTART. AFTER THIS HAPPENED ON 3 OTHER OCCASIONS THE NEXT 4 MONTHS TOOK TO A LOCAL, THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND SAID TO BRING IT BACK IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN. ABOUT 3-4 WKS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN SO I WAS TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALER THAT I BROUGHT IT FROM 60 MILES AWAY, ON WAY TO DEALERSHIP IT DIED ON ME TO MORE TIMES ONCE GOING 55 AND THEN ON THE INTERSTATE DOING 75. THE MECHANIC THERE SAID IT NEEDED TO HAVE ITS COMPUTER UPDATED. HE DID AND I HAVE NOT HAD ANYMORE PROBLEM WITH IT NOW THE PAST 2 1/2 YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #10633173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,650. UPDATED 8/28/14*CN UPDATED 09/12/2014
NHTSA complaint #10607836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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THIS WAS THE THIRD INCIDENT IN WHICH THE CAR STOPPED ON ME. ONCE BEFORE I WAS LEAVING MY APARTMENT AND ANOTHER TIME WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON MY WAY TO CHURCH. DURING ALL THREE INCIDENTS, I HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TRY TO RESTART THE CAR. THE THIRD TIME I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE DASH BOARD ALL OF A SUDDEN LITE UP AND ONE OF THE MESSAGES WAS "LOW PRESSURE". THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND SO DID THE GAS PEDAL. I HAD JUST ENOUGH TIMES TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (GOOD THING THERE SIDE STRIP. I HAD MY 5 YEAR GRANDSON IN THE CAR SO THAT WAS REALLY SCARY. THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED EVER SINCE,I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, THE DIAGNOSTIC SUGGESTS REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, IGNITION CYLINDER, ANTI-THEFT AND IGNITION.
NHTSA complaint #10605961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT (VERY HARD) TO TURN. TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD SERVICE AGENT AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE STEERING RACK WAS LOOSE. A NEW RACK WAS INSTALLED AND RETESTED. FORD SERVICE TOLD ME THAT THE CAR WAS HAZARDOUS AND IT HAD TO BE REPAIRED RIGHT THEN AND THERE. ASKED FORD MANUFACTURE TO BE REIMBURSE AND WAS DENIED. REPAIR WAS DONE ON DECEMBER 31, 2012.
NHTSA complaint #10604303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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THIS WAS THE THIRD INCIDENT IN WHICH THE CAR STOPPED ON ME. (ONE OTHER TIME WHEN I WAS LEAVING MY APARTMENT AND ONE WEDNESDAY EVENING ON MY WAY TO BIBLE STUDY; BOTH TIMES HAD TO COAST TO THE ROAD SIDE AND TRY AND GET IT TO START AGAIN). THE THIRD TIME I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT THE SPEED LIMIT OF 40 MPH. THE CAR'S DASH BOARD LITE UP; GAVE ME ONE MESSAGE THAT SAID "LOW PRESSURE. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE GAS PEDAL LOCKED; I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE BEFORE IT COMPLETED LOCKED UP AND STOPPED ONE ME. HAD MY YEAR OLD GRANDSON IN THE CAR WITH ME. I LET THE CAR SIT FOR A WHILE AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN. DROVE IT BACK TO MY APARTMENT AND PARKED IT. HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT SINCE THEN - HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW - THEY WANT TOO MUCH TO HAVE IT REPAIRED; THEY SAY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CYLINDER INSIDE THE IGNITION AND THAT I ALSO NEED A NEW KEY - WANT $1200 TO REPAIR IT. I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS TRYING TO GET IT TO STARTED FOR ABOUT THE PAST 6 MONTHS - HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS; PAID THEM BUT NO ONE HAS SOLVED THE ISSUE. FORD STATES THAT MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL (OR THOUGH ONE LADY THERE SAID IT WAS). I BELIEVE THAT IF IT ISN'T, IT SHOULD ME. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I CAN DO TO GET THIS ISSUE SOLVED? HAS COST ME LOTS OF MONEY, TIME AND FRUSTRATION AND I AM STILL WALKING.
NHTSA complaint #10598879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, SHE HEARD A POPPING NOISE AS THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT CAN NO LONGER TURN TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
NHTSA complaint #10588124 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN NEIGHBORHOOD SITUATIONS OR OTHER SITUATIONS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN BEYOND THE ON THE DESIRED SPEED THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO BE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP INCREASES THE STOPPING DISTANCE NEEDED TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN IT ALSO CAUSES THE ENGINE TO RACE EVEN WHEN PLACED IN NEUTRAL. RECENTLY WHY STOP AT A STOP SIGN THE CAR WAS PUSHING IT SOUTH FORWARD SO HARD I HAD A HARD TIME KEEPING IT STOP AND IT ACTUALLY MOVED ME BEYOND THE STOP SIGN INTO A ONCOMING TRAFFIC. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION THERE WILL B FATALITIES IF THIS IS NOT CORRECTED. THIS SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION EVEN ALLOWS ME TO DRIVE UP HILLS WITHOUT HAVING MY FOOT PLACED ON THE GAS CAR WILL NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP EASILY. THIS STARTED IN MARCH AND IT'S HAPPENING EVERYDAY CAUSING WEAR AND TEAR ON THE BRAKES IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO STEER AND I AM IN FEAR WHILE DRIVING. I'VE NOW STARTED TO DRIVE WITH THE BRAKES ON 100 PERCENT OF THE TIME IN ORDER TO KEEP THE CAR AT A CONTROLLABLE SPEED I'VE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ON MINE SIMILAR TO THIS I BELIEVE IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE AND I'M HOPING FOR A SPEEDY RECALL BY FORD TO CORRECT THE CAUSE. SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND AND I THINK THEY LINKED IT TO EITHER THE ACCELERATOR CABLES OR THE CRUISE CONTROL .WHILE DRIVING IN NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC AT 25 MILES AN HOUR THE CAR CAN ACCELERATE ABOVE 50 VERY DANGEROUS!!!!!!
NHTSA complaint #10542399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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ACCELERATOR STOPPED RESPONDING AND VEHICLE STALLED SHORTLY AFTER.
NHTSA complaint #10513359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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2008 FORD MERCURY SABLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POWER STEERING FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PUMP FAILED. ALSO, THE REAR BRAKES WERE SEVERELY WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10511093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.