1999 MERCURY SABLE Complaints

PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION CAUSED VEHICLE TO STOP.*MR WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED, AND FAILED TO ACCELERATED WHEN THE PEDAL WAS PUSHED. *TS *JB

TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING WHILE TRAVELLING 50 MPH. PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. NO LIGHTS INDICATING BRAKE FAILURE LIT. PUT ON FLASHERS, MOVED TO BRAKEDOWN LANE, EXITED HWY, UP HILL SPEED DROPPED, ALLOWED DRIVER TO COME AGAINST A CURB AND STOP. BRAKE FLUID IN RESEVOIR IS ALL VERY BLACK. VEHICLE HA BEEN TOWED TO A SHOP.

MY SON, JOHN, HAS HAD THE ACCELERATOR CABLE ON HIS 1999 MERCURY SABLE, FAIL THREE TIMES IN THE LAST THREE YEARS. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE WAS YESTERDAY IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE GULF FREEWAY WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. THE FAILLURE RESULTS IN DISCONNECTION OF THE ACCELERATOR CABLE FROM THE PEDAL, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF MANUAL THROTTLE CONTROL. HE WAS FORTUNATE TO REACH THE FREEWAY SHOULDER BEFORE HE STOPPED. WE CALLED THE DEALER WHO HAD REPLACED THE CABLE TWICE BEFORE FOR THE SAME FAILURE AND HE SAID HIS ONLY FIX WAS TO REPLACE THE SAME CABLE AGAIN. SINCE WE ALREADY KNEW THAT TO BE UNSAFE, WE "JURY RIGGED" A FIX OURSELFVES THAT WE THINK IS OK. I AM A RETIRED NASA ENGINEER AND MY ASSESSMENT OF THE DESIGN, ESPECIALLY IN VIEW OF THE THREE FAILURES, IS THAT IT IS INADEQUATE AND UNSAFE. I CANNOT TELL WHETHER THE FAILURE MODE IS GENERIC OR FOR SOME REASON, PECULIAR TO OUR CAR. THE DEALER COULD ONLY OFFER THAT WE SHOULD CALL FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS. I TALKED TO THEM AND THEY COULD ONLY REFER ME BACK TO THE DEALER. AFTER SOME ARGUMENT THEY FINALLY AGREED TO TAKE DOWN THE INFORMATION AND FORWARD IT TO SOME APPROPRIATE PARTY. THEY OFFERED BE NO ASSURANCE THAT THERE WOULD BE FOLLOW-UP OR WAY FOR ME TO FOLLOW-UP THEIR ACTION. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT TO INSURE SOME KIND OF FOLLOW-UP ON THESE FAILURES. *AK

RIMS ON 1999 MERCURY SABLE ARE CORRODING (NOT EASILY VISABLE, BUT WHEN YOU PULL THE TIRES OFF). WILL CAUSE LEAKAGE OF AIR OUT OF TIRES. DEALERSHIPS WILL NOT EVEN LOOK AT PROBLEM, SAYS THEY ARE NOT COVERED.*AK ALSO WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL OCCASIONALLY JUST COME ON.

I OWN A 1999 MERCURY SABLE WITH ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES. FOR THE PAST YEAR MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN ON BY THEMSELVES WHILE I'M DRIVING. MY HANDS ARE ON THE WHEEL SO IT'S NOT AS IF I'M SETTING THEM OFF. HAVE THERE BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS LIKE MINE? WHAT IS THE CAUSE? IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS CONDITION? THANK YOU. D THANK YOU . DONNA O. *NLM

WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN CRASH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

VEHICLE'S DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DEFECTIVE. *MR WHEN PUSHED INTO THE SOCKET TO SECURE THE DRIVER, IT WOULD POP OUT AND WOULD NOT REMAIN UNLESS FORCED. THE BELT WOULD ALSO TIGHTEN AND FIT SNUG TO THE POINT WHERE THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO LEAN FORWARD. (THE CONSUMER WOULD BE UNABLE TO SEE IF ANYONE WAS COMING) THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX THE VEHICLE. *SCC *JB

FRONT COIL SPRING FAILURE, SLICED RIGHT FRONT TIRE WHILE STILL IN DRIVEWAY AFTER PUTTING IN DRIVE. *AK

VEHICLE ABS SYSYTEM IS INOPERATIVE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

ORIGINALLY THE PROBLEM BEGAN AS A SMALL LEAK INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DURING RAINFALL. NOW IS A MAJOR LEAK DURING SMALLEST RAINFALL. COOLING/HEATING DUCTS BEGAN TO EMIT STRONG MUSTY ODOR. NOW AIR WILL NOT PASS THROUGH ANY DUCTS OTHER THAN FLOOR OR DEFROST (A/C ONLY PASSES THROUGH DEFROST OUTLET). LEAK DOES NOT OCCUR GOING THROUGH CAR WASH WHICH MAY BE REASON DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME "THERE IS NO LEAK, YOU MUST BE BRINGING THE WATER INTO THE CAR SOME OTHER WAY." THE AMOUNT OF WATER ENTERING IS SIGNIFICANT! *NLM