1988 MERCURY SABLE Complaints

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE SUB-FRAME BODY MOUNT, RECALL ON COMPONENT HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED (98V-323). MJS

11/8/98 RETURNED HOME AFTER TAKING HUSBAND TO WORK 4 MILE ROUND TRIP. PARKED 2 DOORS DOWN, 20 TO 25 MINUTES, HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND GOT A TELEPHONE CALL FROM NEIGHBOR THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE , FIRE TRUCK ARRIVED AND SAID MY BATTERY CAUSED THE FIRE. MY CAR WAS RULED AS TOTALED. I DO HAVE A REPORT FROM THE FIRE MASHALL'S OFFICE. 2ND COMPLAINT, RELPACED 2 PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE AND 1 RETURN HOSE AND STILL HAD A POWER STEERING LEAK. ALSO 3 BATTERIES AND 2 TENSIONERS.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

REAR SUB-FRAME MOUNTS BROKE, CAUSING A PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. BOLTS ON THE MOUNTS DROPPED OFF/BUSHINGS ALSO FELL OFF. BOTH WERE CORRODED/RUSTY. *AK

POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKS FROM FAULTY CONNECTIONS, CAUSING FLUID TO IGNITE ON EXHAUST

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE IS JERKING, AND THE BATTERY LIGHT WON'T GO OF, AND THE VEHICLE IS STALLING. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT 35MPH OR OVER THE VEHILCE IS STALLING, VIBRATING AND THE CONSUMER CAN'T PICK UP SPEED AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. *AK

AROUND JAN 20, 1999 I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD PERTAINING TO THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SUB FRAME RETAINING BOLTS. WORK WAS DONE AT HERITAGE MOTORS IN SYRACUSE ON 1/29/99. HERITAGE NOTIFIED ME AT THE TIME THAT MY FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS WERE BROKEN AND RECOMMENDED THEY BE REPLACED. BECAUSE OF CONVENIENCE I TOOK THE CAR TO AZRIA REPAIR SERVICE. WHILE REPLACING THE MOTOR MOUNTS MR AZRIA OBSERVED THAT ONLY THE TWO REAR SUB FRAME BOLTS HAD BEEN REPLACED BY HERITAGE. HE SHOWED ME THAT ONE OF THE FRONT BOLTS WAS IN FACT ALREADY BROKEN AND THE OTHER FRONT BOLT WAS IN DANGEROUS CONDITION. HE EXPLAINED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS COULD NOT BE REPLACED WITHOUT DRILLING OR CUTTING ACCESS HOLES INTO THE FRAME IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE RUST-FROZEN NUTS AND BOLTS HOLDING THE SUB FRAME IN PLACE. HE SHOWED ME HOW REMOVAL OR AT LEAST LOOSENING OF THE SUB FRAME WAS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE MOUNTS. THE INACCESSIBLE AND FROZEN RETAINING BOLTS MADE HIS WORK UNNECESSARILY TIME CONSUMING AND COSTLY. HE ADVISED ME THAT THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY AND I THEREFORE AUTHORIZED HIM TO REPLACE THE TWO REMAINING BOLTS AS WELL AS THE MOTOR MOUNTS. MY CONTENTION IS THAT HERITAGE SHOULD HAVE REPLACED ALL THE BOLTS (FRONT AND REAR) AS PART OF THE SAFETY RECALL SINCE ALL THE BOLTS WERE KNOWN TO BE IN DANGEROUS CONDITION AND POSED A HAZARD TO THE VEHICLE. I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR PARTS AND LABOR PERTAINING TO THOSE ITEMS WHICH WERE KNOWN BY FORD TO BE DEFECTIVE AND POSED A SAFETY HAZARD TO THE VEHICLE. I AM RETAINING THE ORIGINAL PARTS IN CASE ANYONE WISHES TO EXAMINE THEIR CONDITION. MY BILL FROM AZRIA SERVICE WAS $575.41

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH STEERING WENT OUT WHICH LOCKED STEERING WHEEL IN A STRAIGHT POSITION. STEERING WHEEL WAS JERKING AND VIBRATING, AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE WITHOUT CAUSING ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT. *AK

CONSUMER HAS RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER, MANUFACTURER'S RECALL #98S36/NHTSA #98V323000, CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED, AND DEALER DID NOT REPLACE WHAT WAS SAID TO BE REPLACED IN THE LETTER. *AK