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).
1996 Mercury Sable transmission complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 69, newest first, as owners wrote them.
While driving, the transmission slips and would not shift into other gears. Cause unknown. Please give any further details.
After putting vehicle in park it rolled forward. Had to apply brakes for vehicle to stop. Vehichle was not on a hill.
Transmission has not worked properly since consumer purchased automobile. He had taken automobile back to the dealer for transmission repairs five times.*ak transmission shifts improperly and bangs in to gear in certain down shift circumstance. The transmission dealer replaced a switch and adjusted two bands.
When reverse is engaged it takes several minutes before it will engage. Most transmissions when put in gear work imediately. I have always had a problem with this car. I have paid every time to have this problem fixed and it constantly reverts to the same problem.
The vehicles engine compartment caught fire, the consumer stated he recently had the transmission and that may have been the cause of the problem (ohio traffic crash report). Nlm
Coolant turned to a rusty sluggy mixture. Freeze out plugs had to be replaced and system flushed. New coolant was added and it is already turning brown again. Ford did do the work for free, but told me I was on my own if it occured again. Have learned through various people that the same thing is happening to their sable and taurus cars. Transmission has also had to repaired at a cost to me of $1750.00. When you come to a stop the car will then not go forward. You have to press in on the gas and make it lunge forward, sometimes causing the tires to "burn rubber" ! We brought this problem to the service department three years ago and each time we took the car in the service staff informed us that there was no problem. On last visit is when the coolant problem was discoverd. Was told that our car had "cancer" and should get rid of it, but not at their dealership. The problem with the transmission was a forward engagement piston. The company that made the repair had three other sables in the shop with the exact same problem - each with no support from ford. Each were paying $1750.00. Help!!!
I have a number of worries with my vehicle. The following are: when playing the radio/tape deck, you hear a loud buzzing noise coming through the speakers even if the radio is turned down; when steering from left to right you'll hear a cranking noise coming from the front end of car; car does not absorb bumps at all, it rocks, makes knocking noise coming from somewhere near wheels; when driving on highway at a speed of about 50-70 MPH, car will sway, like a wind is blowing it away; feul sensor will float, you can not count on it to tell you how much gas you have; trunk hood flips up in the air so fast and hard, I have stunted my fingers before on it; the doors on the car have a sharp edge to it, if you don't stand back when opening the door, it can gash your leg; wind shield are a blind spot, to long, wipers are so strong they vibrate the car, unusually strong; back window on left side (passenger) will not roll up, or roll down sometimes; assembly of light moldings/fixtures in back of car are off(not evenly lined up), so is the leveling of trunk lid; car jumps when starting it up, like it's ready to pull off, even when your foot is on the brake; when moving the gears the car makes a knocking noise, and jumps also; brake light comes on and goes off at times; car loses power at times, even after the transmission was replaced in february, 2001; keyless alarm system is sensitive, sometimes a inconvience, if you pick keys up and touch the panic, or trunk release button it can be set off in the house, behind a brick wall.
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.
While driving 45 MPH vehicle shuddered, then stopped, engine still running. Also, transmission had failed.
The transmission gave out, original transmission replaced at 50,000 miles.
While driving transmission slips out of gear and goes into neutral. This problem becomes more pronounced when making a turn or slowing down.
Vehicle neutrals out at a stop/ a tsb has been issued.
Cracked tranmission case, pin came out of gear.
When pulling onto a ramp transmission does not pick up when accelerator is applied. This is an intermittent problem. Dealer has been contacted.
A clutch plate within transmission broke in 3 places. Transmission needs to be replaced. But, manufacturer is not providing or selling new transmission because it keeps failing.
Dealership replaced the defective rack and pinion assembly with another defective unit resulting in vehicle fire due to leakage of fluid.
When automobile is placed in park, it does not automatically go into park. Also, when the automobile is on a hill, it will move until emergency brake is on. In addition, it is hard to shift out of park. Recall 96v176ooo has been issued which deals with the same problem. However, this vehicle is not covered under the recall due to VIN.
When shifting gear from park to drive and without foot depressed on the brake pedal, vehicle was able to move out of gear due to transmission interlock system malfunctioning. Consumer has contacted dealer. Please provide any further details.
The transmission will shifts into neutral when the vehicle is in drive in a stopped position. In order to get it back into drive, the car has to be put in park and reshifted into drive again.
Transmission exhibits a shudder. Common practice on other similar vehicles. It also sticks when put into gear.
The transmission failed causing the vehicle to roll out of park and the vehicle will not go over 30 MPH because the high gears were broken. Nlm
The battery was inexplicably drained 6 weeks after we purchased the car. Two days ago, the car slipped into neutral without warning whenever I turned or slowed down. Now, it slips into neutral all of the time.
Well, the transmission I have, im on my second one (they sorta replaced/rebuilt my old one) is no different than the old one. I mean at least it uses the 2nd gear, which the other one never did. Now I thought this was an isolated incident until I asked around. Two of my friends have sable's in their families, one is a '96 like mine, the other a '97 and both of their cars have had serious transmission troubles. My friend's '96 doesnt even work anymore, hes rather angry about that and my other friends '97 is shaky. Im worried now because im out of warranty, I only have a little over 20k on my car, I drive it really nicely, this shouldnt have happened. I feel its my duty to tell you guys I believe this should be recalled, someone will get seriously hurt from this one day im sure, but im sure it would take 50+ people before anyone does anything and that isnt going to happen, so im left with this great car and a terrible transmission. If you think you could get a recall going on these transmissions, or you need any info, call me before 1am cdt please at 972‑964‑1713
While pulling from a parking space, a piece of metal broke off on the inside of the transmission causing the gears to lock up and also the transfer case crack from the inside out. Dealer has been contacted, complete transmission rebuilt.
Automatic transmission burnt up after 2 mile trip
Without the key in the ignition and vehicle in the park position, the vehicle rolls forward on flat surface. Please give any further details.
When driving at any rate of speed vehicle will intermittently shutdown without warning. Cause unknown. Please give any further details.
During accelleration from stop to make left turn, transmission dissengaged. Rear bearing failure caused dissintegration of transmission. Dealer suspected faulty components/assembly but was unwilling to cover under warrantee which expired only 5000 miles earlier. Contacted manufacturer who claimed no responsibility.
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.
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