Problem started when shifting from park to drive, car would lurch forward unless you had brake pedal pushed down as hard as you could. Then while leaving a stop light car would hesitate then pick up speed very slowly, finally the car will not go into reverse. Transmission shop said that transmission had to be replaced. $1800.00 !!
1996 Mercury Sable: jerking or lurching
14 of the 302 complaints about the 1996 Mercury Sable describe jerking or lurching.
- owner complaints
- 14
- of this car's complaints
- 5%
- recalls
- 3
Is there a fix? There are 3 recalls and 40 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below
Jerking or lurching by model year
What owners say
I have a mercury sable 1996, manufactured in 9/95. Vin number [xxx]. My car has 58,000 miles and the transmission is almost gone. I was informed that there is a recall on the transmissions for this car and I am looking for the necessary information to take with me to dealer for replacement. I have also noticed that my car jerks forward when am taking off from a stopped position. I have done all that I can to take care of this car but nothing I do has worked. There are so many complaints and recalls on this car and I really need help with my research to present to the dealer when I take this car in for repairs again. A website if there is one to help find my VIN #. Any recall information. Help! *nlm information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Car is a 1996 mercury sable, VIN [xxx], with a defective transmission. Car would lunge and jerk as car would slow and then re-accelerate (such as going into and out of a curve in town, or approaching a red light that changed to green before the car completely stopped.) car was first worked on 9/9/1999, at which time the car had 28,156 miles on it. The dealer replaced a sensor under warranty. The symptoms again started occurring about a year later. When serviced on 5/15/2001, the dealer could not find the source of the problem. Finally, the transmission failed in april 2002. The transmission was replaced 4/24/2002 with less than 47,000 miles on the car. The car had an extended warranty from ford. At the time of the failure, the warranty had expired for time (greater than 5 years) but not mileage. However, the car was covered by the warranty (time and mileage) during both the september 1999 and may 2001 services. Had the fault been properly diagnosed at either time while still under warranty, my contention is that the transmission would not have failed. I currently have the transmission. The gearing system has notches in the teeth. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
High idle when moving from park to drive, causing vehicle to lurch forward, and it will also travel couple feet if foot is not on brakes hard. Manufacturer issued a tsb, but it does not correct defect. *ak consumer states that this failure caused the liquid filled mounts to fail which also caused exhaust leak at manifold, the tsb number is 97-7-1, which states the PCM needed replaced due to an incorrect software identification block. Drive and serpentine belts failed.
When stopping at a light and taking off again the car takes a few seconds to move. When it does move, vehicle jerks forward hard enough to cause whiplash. Dealer says the vehicle needs a new transmission.
Transmission jerks when slowing down to stop.
We have had technicians, mechanics, and ford engineers working on this car. As of this date, they can not fix the problem, car will only go 20mph and will not fire on plugs 1 and 5. All parts that could be wrong have been replaced. A complete check of the car shows no other problem. Car also upon starting jerks.
Transmission causes the vehicle to jerk whenever vehicle starts from a stopping position. Vehicle in dealer shop at this time.
Driver loses ability to control vehicle speed. Vehicle goes 40 MPH without depressing the gas pedal, lurches after stops and idles over 2000 rpms. Dealer replaced the throttle control cable and valve-air by pass. (parts number 9715, 9f715)
Driver loses ability to control vehicle speed. Vehicle goes 40 MPH without depressing the gas pedal, lurches after stops and idles over 2000 rpms. Dealer replaced the throttle control cable and valve-air by pass. (parts number 9715, 9f715)
Driver loses ability to control vehicle speed. Vehicle goes 40 MPH without depressing the gas pedal, lurches after stops and idles over 2000 rpms. Dealer replaced the throttle control cable and valve-air by pass. (parts number 9715, 9f715)
Vehicle jumps and lurches out of gears while in motion.
Service bulletins that may apply
- Groan/buzz/vibration when the gear selector is in park with the vehicle parked on an incline
- New transmission cooler flusher - service tips
- Torque converter clutch not engaging when commanded and/or diagnostic trouble codes P0741 or P1744 stored...
- Some vehicles may exhibit a groan/buzz/vibration when the gear selector is in park
- Some vehicles may exhibit a park pullout clunk noise when shifting from park to another gear position
- Brake shift interlock
- Information regarding the new transmission cooler flusher- service tip
- Some vehicles equipped with AX4S transaxle, may exhibit a harsh 2-3 downshift may occur when coasting...
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- The automatic transmission park pawl shaft may not be free to rotate as intended. If the park pawl shaft does not rotate, it would prevent the park pawl from engaging the park gear when the shift lever is in the park position.
- Risk
- This condition could result in the vehicle rolling as if in neutral with the shift lever in the park position.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the park pawl shaft rotation and those shafts with restricted rotation will be replaced with a shorter shaft that will not restrict rotation.
Recall number 96V176000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)
- What is wrong
- The park pawl abutment bracket has a sharp edge which can cause the parking pawl to hang up and not engage the park gear. This would allow the vehicle to move even though the gear shift indicator shows that the vehicle is in park.
- Risk
- Unintended and unexpected vehicle movement can result in personal injury and property damage.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the park pawl abutment bracket.
Recall number 96V166000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- The park pawl shaft was improperly positioned when the roll pin that retains it was installed during transmission assembly. If the shaft was not properly positioned, the roll pin may not have lined up with the groove in the shaft and have been crushed at assembly. Also, a burr could have been raised on the shaft.
- Risk
- This could result in the park pawl occasionally not engaging when the transmission selector lever is placed in the park position. This could result in the vehicle rolling as if in neutral if the vehicle operator does not apply the parking brake.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the park pawl shaft roll pin. If the roll pin is damaged, both the roll pin and the park pawl shaft will be replaced. In addition, owners will be reminded to fully apply the parking brake, in addition to placing the transmission in park.
Recall number 96V086000 · Recall details
Questions about the 1996 Mercury Sable jerking
Is jerking or lurching a common problem on the 1996 Mercury Sable?
14 of 302 owner complaints about the 1996 Mercury Sable (5%) mention jerking or lurching. The model year with the most reports is 1996.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 1996 Mercury Sable?
There are 3 recalls and 40 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 1996 Mercury Sable
Stalling 11Transmission failure 10Headlights 8Overheating 8Sudden acceleration 8Engine failure 7Slipping 7ABS 6Check engine light 6Fire or smoke 6Fuel pump 6Power steering loss 6Grinding brakes 5Door locks 5Seat belt 5Steering noise 5Won't shift 5Wipers 5
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