1998 MERCURY SABLE Complaints

WHILE THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER WAS BACKING THE CONSUMER CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE NOTICED A SCRAPING NOISE. TOW TRUCK DRIVER FOUND THAT THE COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE LEFT TIRE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FRONT SPRINGS, STRUTS, SWAY BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TC

IN 1998 I PURCHASED A NEW MERCURY SABLE. STOPPING DISTANCE HAS BEEN INADEQUATE SINCE NEW. RETURNED TO DEALER 3 TIMES, CHECKED AND STATED EVERYTHING WAS FINE. IN PANIC STOPS IT FEELS AS IF ONLY THE REAR WHEELS ARE BRAKING. NOW, AFTER 95,000 MILES I HAVE CHANGED THE REAR BRAKE PADS 3 TIMES AND REAR ROTORS ONCE, BUT THE ORIGINAL FRONT PADS ARE STILL ON THE CAR - JUST NOW NEEDING REPLACEMENT. FRONT ROTORS EXCELLENT - NO OUTER RIDGE. OBVIOUSLY, FRONT BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING EFFECTIVELY - NORMALLY FRONT BRAKES PROVIDE ABOUT 60% OF BRAKING POWER. ON NOVEMBER 19 2004 I REAR-ENDED ANOTHER CAR IN A CHAIN-REACTION PANIC STOP. BODY DAMAGE IS NOW REPAIRED, BUT I HESITATE TO PUT IT BACK IN SERVICE WITHOUT DETERMINING AND REPAIRING THE BRAKE PROBLEM THAT HAS EXISTED SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. I WROTE FORD ABOUT THE PROBLEM YEARS AGO BUT RECEIVED NO ANSWER. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO RECORD THAT I EVER COMPLAINED ABOUT INADEQUATE BRAKING. CAR WAS CHECKED AT BRAKEMASTERS, BUT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. WITH MILLIONS OF SABLES AND TAURUSES BUILT BY FORD, I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE THE ONLY CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM. I WONDER HOW MANY OF THESE CARS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN REAR-END COLLISIONS WITH THE OWNERS NEVER REALIZING THAT THEY HAD A BRAKING PROBLEM? I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE FRONT BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING, SO I CAN REPAIR THE PROBLEM!*AK

IN 1998 I PURCHASED A NEW MERCURY SABLE. STOPPING DISTANCE HAS BEEN INADEQUATE SINCE NEW. RETURNED TO DEALER 3 TIMES, CHECKED AND STATED EVERYTHING WAS FINE. IN PANIC STOPS IT FEELS AS IF ONLY THE REAR WHEELS ARE BRAKING. NOW, AFTER 95,000 MILES I HAVE CHANGED THE REAR BRAKE PADS 3 TIMES AND REAR ROTORS ONCE, BUT THE ORIGINAL FRONT PADS ARE STILL ON THE CAR - JUST NOW NEEDING REPLACEMENT. FRONT ROTORS EXCELLENT - NO OUTER RIDGE. OBVIOUSLY, FRONT BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING EFFECTIVELY - NORMALLY FRONT BRAKES PROVIDE ABOUT 60& OF BRAKING POWER. ON NOVEMBER 19 I REAR-ENDED ANOTHER CAR IN A CHAIN-REACTION PANIC STOP. BODY DAMAGE IS NOW REPAIRED, BUT I HESITATE TO PUT IT BACK IN SERVICE WITHOUT DETERMINING AND REPAIRING THE BRAKE PROBLEM THAT HAS EXISTED SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. I WROTE FORD ABOUT THE PROBLEM YEARS AGO BUT RECEIVED NO ANSWER. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO RECORD THAT I EVER COMPLAINED ABOUT INADEQUATE BRAKING. CAR WAS CHECKED AT BRAKEMASTERS, BUT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. WITH MILLIONS OF SABLES AND TAURUSES BUILT BY FORD, I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE THE ONLY CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM. I WONDER HOW MANY OF THESE CARS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN REAR-END COLLISIONS WITH THE OWNERS NEVER REALIZING THAT THEY HAD A BRAKING PROBLEM? *AK

THE CABIN AIR FILTER EQUIPMENT LEAKS RAINWATER INTO THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS CREATES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF MOISTURE IN THE VEHICLE, HENCE CAUSING EXCESSIVE FOGGING OF THE WINDOW GLASS, OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD, PRESENTING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR COLLISION DUE TO REDUCED VISIBILITY. *JB

WHILE PARKED FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE TIRE WAS PUNCTURED. ONE MONTH LATER, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FAILED. *AK CONSUMER DOESN'T KNOW IF FIRST FAILURE WAS OCCURRED WHILE PARKED OR WHILE MOVING IT OUT OF 3FT OF SNOW. CONSUMER COULDN'T SEE IT UNTIL MOVED FROM SNOW, 2ND FAILURE OCCURRED IN THE PARKING LOT. BOTH TIMES IT RIPPED A 12' WHOLE IN THE TIRE. CONSUMER NEIGHBOR ALSO HAS THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE AND THE SAME PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE BOTH COIL SPRINGS AND TIRES.*SB

CONSUMER PRESSED DOWN ON ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. INTERNAL FAILURE. HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING LEFT SPRING POPPED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE, CAUSING IT TO BLOW OUT. ONE YEAR LATER THE SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED WITH THE RIGHT SIDE. *AK

RECALL 04V332000 CONCERNING FRONT COIL SPRINGS FAILURE. DEALERSHIP DID NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OVERDRIVE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THIS CAUSED THE SPEEDOMETER TO DROP TO ZERO, AND THE SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. ALSO, HORN BECAME INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

THE ENGINE ON MY SABLE WAGON ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN AFTER IT IS PUT INTO PARK, AND MANY TIMES BEFORE I TAKE IT OUT OF PARK. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS!