While driving about 65 MPH the vehicle stalled. The consumer restarted the vehicle but it would not shift.
1997 Mercury Sable transmission complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 43, newest first, as owners wrote them.
At about 100,000 easy highway miles, we had to replace the torque converter, then the entire transmission, plus for the last two years minor engine repairs to the tune of about $350 every other month, the window won't go down anymore, and now--4 months after the transmission replacement--we have lost overdrive and the engine light is on, again! We have never had a car with this many problems, and will never buy a ford/mercury anything again. Our suburban was more reliable.
About a year back I had transmission problem on my sable at 70,000 miles. It would move in reverse but no forward motion. The vehicle was towed and the transmission was rebuilt at cottman transmission at the cost of over $2000 and loss of vehicle use for a week. A month later, it failed with exactly similar symptoms. It was towed to the same facility and repaired under warranty in four days. Six months later, and exactly a month after the warranty on repair work expired (74,000 miles), the transmission started to visibly down shift while driving (at all speeds). Took it back to repair facility - was told it's internal transmission problems - once again! I just can't believe this. I can't afford to waste 4,000 on transmission jobs on this car when it's not even worth that much. I scanned through the other complaints and found some other instances when this transmission had given problems to owners. Just wondering how many dissatisfied owners would it take for ford to realize that there is a "real" problem with their sable/mercury transmissions! I had two ford taurus's in the past, and this is third from ford family. I am going to stop spending money on ford cars if this is the level of quality that I get for my money.
I purchased a 1997 mercury sable in july 1977 from don jackson spartan lincoln mercury dealer. I have had continuous trouble with the transmission, the brakes, the "plastic" bucket holding reserve antifreeze (cracked and leaked antifreeze) and now the windshield wipers work when they want to work (intermittently and steadily). When I contacted don jackson lincoln-mercury at those times when the parts acted up to ask them if there had been any recalls or problems (and I cited each area each time I called), I was told there were no problems reported in any of these areas with the 97 sable. I found there on the internet that there are many. I have paid $2000 for the transmission repair, $550 for brakes, $80 for the antifreeze bucket, and went to purchase a wiper motor ($85) when I was told by the auto store clerk to check the internet, which I am now doing. I find that jackson spartan l/m dealer has not been honest with me and I was not notified by don jackson spartan l/m of these fallacies. What can I do?
While parking the vehicle engage from drive to reverse and the transmission failure to move didn't work. Dealer fixed the transmission. Please provide further information. Ts
Consumer stated that while driving at any speed and without the transmission failed causing the vehicle not to accelerate. Dealer notified. Ts
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Vehicle will accelerate without foot pressing the throttle. Speedometer doesn't register speed, vehicle's speed was increasing. Dealer will be replacing speed control chip for sixth time. Also, consumer has checked to see if cruise control did not engage. Dealer has duplicated the problem. Please provide more information.
Speedometer would momentarily operate erratically. Needle would jump back and forth while driving, sometimes it operated normally. Dealer was not contacted at this time. *ak consumer adds accelerator possibly contributed to erratic operation of the speedometer.
Consumer stated had to flush radiator out at least five times because of dirty water, it is written in owner's manual that the radiator should be flushed 1 time every 100,000 miles.*jb while flushing the radiator, water got into the transmission and the transmission had to be replaced several times. *yh consumer states that ever since recall 98823 was completed on vehicle, radiator has constantly needed flushed, now causing problems with the transmission. Consumer heard a noise in the front wheel area, dealer replaced right front wheel bearing.
Without any indication of approaching failure, the transmission failed on me. The car from parked position could be backed in reverse gear to the street, but would not go forward in "d" it does go forward, but takes up too much engine RPM - slippage?- to pick up speed. Then you can switch gears to 2nd and 3rd (d with overdrive off) and 4th (with od engaged) gear. I haven't risked topping 45 MPH in my test run. Apparently there is some problem with transmission that does not allow it to move forward when put in "d" and seems like taking too much RPM to pick up load when gears are changed manually. I have browsed through this web site for complaints launched by other '97 sable owners, but I could not find any one with similar problem.
Transmission fails pulling out in traffic, when I bought the car they denied it until I made manager drive w/me they rebuilt it free, after fighting with them, I did not have the car a week. They rebuilt it, 1 yr later happened again, said cannot find anything, took it to another dealer, said they always have problems with transmission in these due to the torque converter too strong for the transmission. They know they made a mistake. Oil is black, they know something is wrong but they are not going to recall because they would have to recall the car.
The transmission failed causing the vehicle not to move while at a stop light.
Vehicle is revving while engine is running. Mph does not move, but rpms go up, possibly due to bands within transmission that are slipping. Please provide further information.
While driving 70 MPH and all of a sudden vehicle slowed to 30 MPH, transmission had gone out. Dealer found metal shavings.
When driving vehicle overheated which prevented clutch from going into gear. Also, passenger's side rear door would not open from either inside or outside. Consumer has contacted the dealer.*ak the cam shaft sensor was broken. The torque converter failure.
Transmission blew apart. Crack in case may have occurred first, causing internal problems (still had fluid) or transmission blowing apart may have caused crack in case (per repairman).
Bought the car in aug 1999- brought the car back in sept 1999 for the transmission. Shifting very hard into gear. Dealership had car for aweek or so claimed to have fixed the problem. Problem has been re-occuring for over 3 monthe brought back into dealer. Had car another week and said they found nothing wrong. That they ajusted the idol ( has been stalling as well) and did a few other minor things.. Not only did they not fix the problem but it's now worse then before.. .. What do I do ... I have only had the car for a little over a year and am having repeated trouble with this problem? Should I have to pay to have a new transmission put in seeing how the problem has been occuring since I bought the car .. I don't feel that is right..... Any information you can provide is greatly appericated. Thank you...
While driving at normal highway speed all of a sudden vehicle cut off. Driver was able to pull to the side of the road safely, turned off the ignition, and got out of vehicle. This was when driver and family noticed vehicle was on fire. Vehcle was towed to the dealership. Cv boot exploded and threw grease onto the catalytic converter, which started the fire. Vehicle was being repaired. Please provide any further information.
While traveling a hot oil smell was coming from vehicle. Also, transmission fluid was leaking, contacting the catalytic converter. Please provide further information.
Vehicle exhibits an intermittent neutral condition after driving and coming to a stop (I found service bulletin number 983112 on nstha web site) almost caused an accident when brake was released vehicle rolled onto busy highway and I had to come to a complete stop almost struck by semi. Mercury dealer did not find a problem. I can never tell when this is going to happen. There is absolutely no warning.
A loose ground wire was causing the vehicle to idle rough.
Transmission shifts hard during deceleration/acceleration, particulary in stop and go traffic. Turning to the right results in growling noise from under hood. Interior lights stay on as does door ajar light and warning chime for leaving keys in ignition.
Transmission case had 6" crack , differential joint disintergrated, and fluid leaked on to catalytic converter that could have caused a fire.
Thats it the transmission went out at 45,000, the wheel bearing went out soon after purchased, the interior electrical went out soon after purchase also the power seat quit working.
While driving transmission completely malfunctioned, cause unknown. Also tachometer needle registering too high, smoke coming from under the hood, and oil smell.
Transmission shifts erratically. Yh
From the day I purchased my brand new 1997 mercury sable I have had transmission problems. The dealership replaced the trans at approx 31,600 miles. Now the cooler line is leaking extremely bad. I am unable to drive it and need to have it towed to the dealer. The vehicle has 49,000 miles so 18,000 miles after the transmission was replaced, again I am having transmission problems. Please advise.
Transmission does not engage into gears easily and is delayed on occasions, unable to rectify problem after several repair attempts. Mjs
While waiting ata stop sign transmission jumped out of gear.
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