1999 MERCURY SABLE Complaints

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V332000; MERCURY ISSUED A FRONT COIL SPRINGS RECALL. THIS VEHICLE IS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THE DEALER STILL DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. *JB

FUMES INSIDE CAR NOTICED, AND A SLIGHT STRANGE SOUND FROM CAR WHEN RUNNING. WHEN TAKEN TO SHOP TO FIND PROBLEM, A CRACK WAS NOTICED AT THE Y SHAPED PIPE CONNECTING TO BOTH CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. IN ORDER TO REPAIR THIS THE WHOLE SYSTEM HAS TO BE REPLACED EVEN THOUGH THE CONVERTERS ARE FINE.*AK

WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE. AS A RESULT, THE TIRE WAS PUNCTURED. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AFTER DRIVING MY 1999 MERCURY SABLE STATION WAGON IN MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN, I LOSE POWER STEERING DURING TURNS. THE ALTERNATOR LIGHT ALSO COMES ON. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO EXCESSIVE BELT SLIPPAGE FROM WATER. IT GOES AWAY IF I STOP FOR A FEW SECONDS TO LET THE BELT REGAIN TRACTION. THIS CONDITION OCCURS UNEXPECTEDLY IS A RISK TO LOSS OF CONTROL DURING THE PERIOD OF TIME WITHOUT POWER STEERING. *JB

REAR RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA RECALL 99V25000. ALSO, RACK AND PINION STEERING HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF A SEAL LEAK.*AK *TC

CAR WAS TWO YEARS OLD WHEN PURCHASED, AND HAD 60K MILES. I NOTED THAT CAR WOULD SHAKE, ESPECIALLY DURING BRAKING. I ALSO NOTED THAT VEHICLE PULLED TO ONE SIDE DURING BRAKING. I TOOK CAR TO SHOP AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKE DISCS HAD TO BE TURNED DUE TO WARPAGE. (I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS COMMON ON THESE VEHICLES, INCLUDING TUARUS') THIS ELEVIATED MOST OF THE PROBLEMS, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE TIE RODS, AND TIE ROD ENDS WERE WORE OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I PERSONALLY LOOKED AT THE ORIGINAL TIE RODS AFTER THEY WERE REPLACED AND NOTED THAT THEY WERE WORE OUT. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE POSSIBLY RESULTED IN PREMATURE BRAKING AND LOSE OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A NOTABLE DIFFERENCE IN THE BRAKING DISTANCE AND ABILITY TO CONTROL VEHICLE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL TIE RODS, AND ENDS.

CAR HAS ALWAYS SHIFTED HARD. AT APPROXIMATELY 90K MILES AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED TO FAIL EVIDENCED BY GEAR SLIPPAGE AND CAR DECELLERATING WHILE BEING DRIVEN. TRANSMISSION PUMP WAS ALSO "KNOCKING". CAR WAS TAKEN TO TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT A 10 CENT "O" RING HAD FAILED IN THE TRANSMISSION PUMP AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION PUMP HAD LITERALLY "COME APART". ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION PAN HAD A SMAL, SHINY INDENTION WHERE THE PUMP WAS LOCATED, FURTHER EVIDENCE OF WHERE THE PROBLEM POSSIBLY ORIGINATED. THEY HAD ALSO STATED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS TUARUS' AND SABLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY REBUILT AT A COST OF $1700.00 AND THE PUMP WAS REPLACED WITH ONE WITH A METALLIC "O" RING TO HELP ELIMINATE FURTHER FAILURES. I PERSONALLY TAKE GREAT CARE AND PRIDE WITH MY VEHICLES AND ON AVERAGE HAVE CHECKED ALL FLUID LEVELS, INCLUDING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID ON A BIMONTHLY BASES. THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS RATHER SUDDEN WITH NO WARNING, TO INCLUDE AN ENGINE LIGHT.

PROBLEMS WITH TIRE EQUIPMENT ON VEHICLE.*MR THE VEHICLE'S RIMS CUT THE TIRES AND VALVE STEMS. THE CONSUEMR HAS SPENT OVER $150N ON TIRE REPAIRS. *NM

THE INCIDENT I AM WRITING ABOUT RELATES TO THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS ON THE 1999 MERCURY SABLE. AFTER MANY MONTHS OF HAVING PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCKS NOT RESPONDING TO THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE CONTROLS, I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC. $450 LATER THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO REPLACE THE PROBLEM PARTS WITH THE STATEMENT THAT MERCURY WAS HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS SERIES OF LOCKING MECHANISM'S AND IT APPEARED MERCURY HAD A WIDE SPREAD, PERVASIVE PROBLEM. I CONSIDER THIS AN UNSAFE CONDITION AS IT PREVENTS THE DRIVER FROM INSURING THAT ALL DOORS ARE LOCKED WHEN TRANSPORTING YOUNG CHILDREN WITHOUT THE DRIVER EXITING THE VEHICLE OR CRAWLING ACROSS TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE TO LOCK THE PASSENGER SIDE DOORS. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO TRACK THIS PROBLEM AND HOW CAN MERCURY BE REQUIRED TO CONSIDER THIS A RECALL ISSUE AND TAKE STEPS TO CORRECT AND REPLACE THE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM? *NM

THE VEHICLE FRONT COILS SPRING FAILED 5 MONTHS PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. *NM THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. RECALL# 04V332000. *SC *JB