1992 Mercury Sable

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/29/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AFTER PARKING BRAKE WAS RELEASED. ALSO BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. DEALERS STATED ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS FAULTY. *AK

• 12/27/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  NO WARNING, CAR HESITATED, THE A WHITE PLUME OF SMOKE CAME FROM EXHAUST.*AK

• 12/23/1998· POWER TRAIN

  NO SUMMARY.

• 12/23/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HEAD GASKET FAILED.

• 12/21/1998· STRUCTURE

  THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND TRANSMISSION MOUNT FAILED. THEY BROKE DUE TO CORROSION. FORD ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB # 92M77) ON THIS PROBLEM STATING THAT THEY WOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM ONLY IF THE MOUNTS WERE TO BREAK AND ONLY UP UNTIL JULY 31ST, 1996 OR 60,000 MILES/6 YEARS. LUCKILY THE FAILURE WAS CAUGHT IN TIME, OTHERWISE AN ACCIDENT AND/OR INJURY WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. I THINK THAT IF A DEFECTIVE PART WAS INSTALLED AND A DEFINITE OUTCOME WAS KNOWN, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. ALL NORTHERN U.S. STATES THAT USE ROAD SALT WERE NOTIFIED OF THIS TSB. I THINK A FAILED MOTOR OR TRANSMISSION MOUNT IS DEFINITELY A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK. THERE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A JUST TSB GIVING THE OWNER ONLY A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE THE DEFECTIVE PART WERE TO FAIL. IT IS ALMOST CERTAIN THAT ANY PROLONGED CONTACT WITH ROAD SALT WOULD CAUSE FAILURE. THERE IS NO WAY A MOTOR MOUNT SHOULD FAIL ON THAT NEW OF A CAR.

• 12/17/2004· AIR BAGSCrash

  THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN A FRONTAL CRASH AT 35-40 MPH AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *JB

• 12/17/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING HOT, OVERHEATING. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS THE WATER PUMP. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE PUMP, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED 3 TIMES WITHIN A SMALL PERIOD OF TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

• 12/17/1997· STRUCTURE

  THREE OUT OF FOUR MOTOR MOUNTS AT THE REAR SUB-FRAME WHICH SUPPORTS ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION BECAME DETACHED PRIOR TO RECALL; RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED BY DEALER CLAIMING THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE PRIOR PROGRAM EVENTHOUGH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS GIVEN OWNER A PROGRAM NUMBER (93V-106.002). *AK

• 12/17/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  DIFFICULTY ACCESSING HORN BUTTONS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.

• 12/15/2000· STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING.AFTER PUMP REPLACED HOSES BLEW.2000 MILES LATER,HEAD GASKET BLEW.

• 12/14/1994· SUSPENSION

  FRONT END PROBLEMS.

• 12/12/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A RECALL FOR A HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT ON 94 & 95 TARUS & SABLES WITH 3.8 L ENGINES, I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 92 3.8L SABLE, THE HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED BY A MECHANIC THIS PAST SUMMER. FORD REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND OR SERVICE PROBLEM WHEN NOTIFY. WHAT RECOURSE AS A CONSUMER DO I HAVE ? *AK

• 12/10/1996· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE MOUNTS FAILED. *AK

• 12/09/1998· POWER TRAIN

  POWER TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH

• 12/08/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE MOTOR MOUNT FAILED.

• 12/08/1995· POWER TRAIN

  THE CONSUMER IS HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

• 12/07/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE ENGINE SUPPORT MOUNTS BROKE OFF, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DEALER HAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED 2 ENGINE MOUNTS WHICH BROKE. OWNER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR COST OF REPAIR OF DEFECTIVE PARTS. *AK *ML

• 12/04/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  MOUNTING BOLT FAILED JUST AFTER RECALL PERIOD.

• 12/04/1997· STEERING,SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN

  AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. IN ADDITION, INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS AND LOWER BALL JOINT/CONTROL ARM/STRUTS/SHOCKS FAILED. *AK

• 12/03/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HEAD GASKET VALVE COVER FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT.

• 12/03/1998· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  WHENEVER THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH TURNS ON HEADLIGHTS, CAN SMELL ELECTRICAL WIRES BURNING. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK

• 12/03/1996· STEERING

  WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING GIVES OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. HAD THE POWER STEERING RACK REPLACED 6 TIMES BUT VEHICLE STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING. *AK *JB

• 12/02/1997· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMIISION FAILED TWICE.(ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER)

• 12/02/1996· STEERING

  THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE IS LEAKING FLUID ONTO THE ENGINE AND THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *AK *JB

• 12/01/2000· SEATS

  DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT SEAT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL, AND VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

• 12/01/1995· STEERING

  INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS BROKE, LACK OF PROPER STEERING CONTROL. TT

• 11/30/1994· STEERING

  STEERING LOCKS UP INTERMITTENTLY . *AK

• 11/29/2005· TIRES

  THE CONSUMER'S GENERAL TIRES DEVELOPED SEPARATION BETWEEN THE TREAD AND THE CORE. *TS *SC

• 11/29/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WITH OUT NO WARNING I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND NOTICED THAT MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS GOING UP. I WAS ON A BUSY 3 LANE HIGHWAY AT QUITTING TIME TRYING TO GET OFF A EXIT TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION. I CAME TO AN INTERSECTION AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SMOKE EVERYWHERE, SMOKING UP THE WHOLE INTERSECTION TO WHERE NO MOTORIST COULD PROCEED. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS ANTI-FREEZE COMING OUT OF MY EXHAUST. I HAD THE CAR TAKEN TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE MECHANIC INFOMED ME THAT THIS YEAR OF CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINES AND THE HEAD GASKETS. I NOTICED THAT MY HEATER WAS NOT PUTTING OUT ANY HEAT AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON. SO I DECIDED TO RESEARCH THIS MODEL AND SEE IF THERE WAS ANY WARRANTY OR RECALLS ON THIS TYPE OF THING AND TO MY SURPRISE THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ON GOING PROBLEM THAT FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT. I BOUGHT THIS CAR EXACTLY 1YR AGO THIS MONTH FROM A FORD DEALER AND I FEEL THAT THIS DEALER KNOWING THE PROBLEMS THAT THIS CAR HAS HAD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SELLING ME A LEMON. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER WITH THIS BEING MY ONLY CAR AND I AM LOOKING AT $1000.00 TO $1500.00 TO EITHER REPLACE THE MOTOR OR FIX IT. NOW DOES FORD THINK THAT I'M GOING TO BUY ANOTHER MOTOR AND TAKE THE CHANCE ON THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENING AGAIN. I THINK THAT FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. IS IT GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE THEY WILL DO SOMETHING. THIS HEAD GASKET BLOWS WITH NO WARNING AND CAUSED TREMENDOUS SMOKE WHICH BLOCKS OTHER MOTORISTS VIEW. THIS IS A DEFECT DUE TO FORD AND FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO PAY FOR THERE DEFECT NOT ME. I COULD SEE IF THIS WAS A ISOLATED ISSUE BUT IT IS NOT AND I'M SURE THAT THERE ARE MANY MORE PEOPLE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO AND THEY HAVE NEVER BOTHERED TO REPORT IT. SOMEONE NEEDS TO STEP IN AND MAKE FORD RESPONSIBLE.*AK

• 11/28/1995· POWER TRAIN

  AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, REPLACED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES IN 60K MILES, AUTOMATIC WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO GEARS. TT

• 11/26/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT HIGH SPEED THERE WAS A SLIGHT SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END. AT 48,000 MILES THE ROTORS HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE PITS ARE TOO DEEP TO MACHINE OUT. *AK CONSUER WAS ADVISED THAT ROTORS WERE CORRODED TO TURN DOWN AND WOULD BE TO THIN FOR SAFE BRAKING BEYOND LIMIT, ALSO BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AT 48,000.*JB

• 11/22/1994· WHEELS

  REAR WHEELS MISALIGNED. *AW

• 11/22/1994· STEERING

  PLAY IN RACK/PINION CAUSES VEHICLE TO WANDER. *DH

• 11/21/1994· VISIBILITY

  HEATER HOSE BURST, LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. *AW

• 11/18/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN BRAKING HARD, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKES. I HAD TO USE THE E-BRAKE AND PUMP THE REGULAR PEDAL TO STOP. BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM LINE LOCATED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT NEXT TO DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL WELL. *LA

• 11/18/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE MOUNTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO DETERIORATION.

• 11/17/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I AM AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE FORD 3.4 L EARLY HEAD GASKET FAILURE, NOW THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME. I HAD TO SPEND OVER $900 TO GET THE REPAIR DONE. THIS HAS IN TURN PUT ME AND MY FAMILY INTO A SERIOUS FINANCIAL SITUATION. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MANY OF THESE ENGINES, BUT IT WAS FOR 7 YEARS, LEAVING MY CAR OUT OF THAT. HOWEVER, SINCE IT HAS ONLY 65,000 MILES ON IT, I THINK FORD SHOULD RETHINK THEIR POLICY. I ALSO HAVE LEARNED THAT THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE HEAD GASKET TO BLOW AGAIN. HOW CAN FORD BE ALLOWED TO LET THIS GO ON AND ON AND ON FOR THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES? SURE, YOU CAN GET IT FIXED IF IT IS UNDER THE WARRANTY, EXTENDED OR REGULAR, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE FAILURE LATER AND THEN EVEN AGAIN AT SOME POINT. I THINK THE SITUATION IS FAR WORSE THAT FORD IS ADMITTING, THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY MORE CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM AND THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM LONG AFTER THE 7 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR MANY OF THE CARS AFFECTED. HOW CAN I HAVE MY 17 YEAR OLD CHILD GO OUT IN THE CAR AND GET STRANDED WHO KNOWS WHERE. WE LIVE IN AN AREA THAT CAN HAVE SOME LONG, DARK ROADS. SO, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR ITSELF MAY NOT BE A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM, IT IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY THREAT IF SOMEONE BREAKS DOWN IN A BAD AREA. IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS?? IS FORD BEING ALLOWED TO COVER THIS UP LIKE THEY DID WITH THE TIRES AND LIE ABOUT HOW MANY VEHICLES ARE REALLY AFFECTED AND TO WHAT EXTENT? AT THE EXPENSE OF ALL OF US WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR A REPAIR THAT SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY IN THE FIRST PLACE. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO BE AFRAID TO DRIVE SOMEWHERE AT NIGHT, BEING A WOMAN, WITH THE RISK OF BREAKING DOWN ON A DARK ROAD SOMEWHERE? WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR EVEN ONCE, NO MATTER WHEN IT HAPPENS, ESPECIALLY WITH 65,000 MILES ON IT. I DO NOT EVEN KNOW IF THIS IS THE FIRST TIME FOR THIS VEHICLE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED IT USED.*AK

• 11/17/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS AND EXTENDED REPAIRS ON THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALERTELLS US THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT LISTED UNDER THE RECALL NOTICES, HOWEVER, REPLACEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE ON MOTOR MOUNTS, STRUTS, BRACKETS, AS WELL AS OTHER SITUATIONS. FORD CORP. WILL NOT ASSIST US. WE TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF OUR VEHICLES AND PARTS JUST SEEM TO CORRODE AND FALL OFF. WE FEEL WE ARE ENTITLED TO SOME FORM OF COMPENSATION. $4,000 IN REPAIRS ALONE IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. PRIOR WE HAVE HAD MAJOR BRAKE REPAIRS INCLUDING SEIZED CALIPERS ON BOTH SETS AND BRAKE BOOSTER CABLE, COOLING SYSTEM FAILURES, HEAD GASKET FAILURES, BALL JOINTS, SPRINGS/COILS, STRUTS, ETC. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER RECALL NOTICES, WHEN ALL INDICATIONS POINT TO THE FACT THAT IT IS AND WE ARE HAVING DIFFICULTIES IN THOSE AREAS. PLEASE ASSIST US IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE. WE DID GO THROUGH A REVIEW PROCESS WITH FORD AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO ASSIST US. THE DEALER FELT THEY COULD HAVE GIVEN US SOMETHING TOWARDS A NEW PURCHASE. HE ALSO SAID OUR ONLY RECOURSE IS TO GO THROUGH THE LEGAL CHANNELS. WE ARE AT A POINT THAT WE HAVE PUT SO MUCH MONEY INTO THE VEHICLE THAT OUR RESOURCES ARE LIMITING IN THE PURCHASE OF ANOTHER CAR.

• 11/15/1995· SUSPENSION

  STRUTS FAILED TWICE. *DSH

• 11/15/1994· STEERING

  STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, ALSO SCRAPING NOISE WHEN TURNING WHEEL. *SKD

• 11/14/2005· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE CONSUMER STRUCK A DEER AND EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STOPPING WITH THE BRAKES. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT HOOD AND HEADLIGHTS. NO POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. HE DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. UPON INSPECTION THERE WAS CORROSION ON BRAKE LINES. HE SUSPECTED THIS WAS DUE TO DISSIMILAR METAL CORROSION AND ROAD SALTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. *AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB THE BRAKE LINE BURST.

• 11/12/1994· STEERING

  PREMATURE WEAR OF TIE ROD ENDS. *AK

• 11/08/1996· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT THE CONSUMER PLACING HIS FOOT ON THE GAS; IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR HAD TO BE PLACED IN NETURAL. PLEASE DESCRIBE IN DETAIL. *AK

• 11/08/1995· STRUCTURE

  PLASTIC TRIM PANEL SEPARATED, PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. TT *SLC

• 11/07/1995· STRUCTURE

  PLASTIC TRIM PANEL ON THE DRIVER DOOR IS SEPARATING. TT

• 11/06/1995· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE STARTER HAS FAILED 3 TIMES IN 7 MONTHS. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

• 11/03/2004· STRUCTURE

  WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH REAR SUB FRAME MOUNT BUSHING SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. RECALL 98V323000 FOR THE SUB FRAME MOUNT BOLTS WAS ISSUED. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

• 11/03/2004· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,EQUIPMENT

  I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY SO I PUT ON THE CRUISE CONTROL, WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES THE CAR SLOWED DOWN, THEN WHEN I REASLED THE BRAKES THE CAR RADILY SPEED UP, AND IT IS HARD TO SHUT IT OFF.*AK

• 11/03/1999· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT COMPLETELY TURN OFF AND MOVE TO "STOWED" POSITION WHEN THE CONTROL KNOB IS TURNED OFF; THE BLADES STAY UP A LITTLE ON THE WINDSHIELD. WIPER MOTOR CONTINUES TO MAKE WIPERS MOVE SLIGHTLY. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. I JUST USED TODAY'S DATE AS T HE DATE OF THE INCIDENT BECAUSE IT HAPPENED AGAIN THIS MORNING.

• 11/02/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  MOTOR HAS FAILED, AND DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK