1998 MERCURY SABLE Complaints

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT VEHICLE SHUTTING DOWN. WHEN THIS HAPPENED ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON. WHILE STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT VEHICLE SHUT OFF. IT WOULD RESTART AFTER A MINUTE OR TWO. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TOO THE DEALER, AND THEY PUT IT ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE, BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK

MY 1998 MERCURY SABLE WITH 3.0 LITER ENGINE APPARENTLY IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE NO ENGINE BRAKING WHEN COASTING. THE ENGINE COMPUTER PREVENTS THE ENGINE FROM RETURNING TO IDLE. OTHER HAVE TOLD ME THAT THIS OCCURS WITH OTHER FORD TAURUS' AND SABLES. THIS CONDITION RESULTS IN EXCESSIVE SPEED BUILDING UP WHEN GOING DOWNHILL - ESPECIALLY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. *NM

CONSUMER WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT BRAKE PROBLEMS. WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR, AND BRAKES FAILED. ALSO, INTERIOR LIGHT STAYED ON. *AK

PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH MANY MERCURY/FORD CARS AND TRUCKS. FAULTY DOOR SENSORS INDICATE UNSAFE CONDITION (DOORS NOT CLOSE/LATCH). TWO VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONDITIONS RESULT FROM THIS FALSE INDICATION: *JB (A) THE DRIVER IGNORES THE FALSE INDICATOR WHICH PUTS THE DRIVER AND ALL OCCUPANTS AT RISK WHEN AN ACTUAL UNSAFE CONDITION DOES EXIST. (B) THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AND CANNOT BE EXTINGUISHED. THIS RESTRICTS NIGHT TIME VISIBILITY AND CAUSES AN UNSAFE CONDITION TO EXIST. (C) THE DRIVER'S DOOR CANNOT BE LOCKED. THIS PRESENTS A POTENTIAL SECURITY ISSUE TO THE DRIVER. THESE FAULTY SENSORS (OR FAULTY DESIGN) HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN MERCURY/FORD PRODUCTS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. *JB

THIS IS THE 2ND YEAR IN A ROW THAT I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM FLUSHED BECAUSE IT IS GETTING SOMETHING IN IT FROM THE ENGINE AND THEN BLOCKING THE HEATER CORE. MY MECHANIC (A NEGHBOR) INDICATED THAT HE HAS STARTED SEEING THIS PROBLEM IN A LOT OF SABLES & TARAUSES AT 4 YEARS OR MORE.*AK

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE BROADSIDE. MY CAR'S FRONT END WAS TOTALED, ALONG WITH THE FRAME CRACKING. WHAT DID NOT HAPPEN WAS THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOST. *JB

THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL WERE DESIGNED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER, WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO ACCELERATE WHEN TRYING TO BRAKE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT APPEARS AND WILL NOT GO OFF. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED SINCE IT WAS BROKE. AS A RESULT, IT IMPAIRED THE CONSUMER'S VISION AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CONSUMER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES AND HIS PREGNANT FIANCE' WAS WENT INTO EARLY LABOR. *PH

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. CONSUMER PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, CALLED A TOW TRUCK, AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED.*AK

THE DRIVER PRESSED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATED PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE DEALER FOUND INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NLM