1999 Mercury Sable problems

What is wrong

On certain passenger vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia, the front coil springs could fracture due to corrosion associated with salt used on the roadways during the winter. A fractured spring could move past the spring seat and contact a front tire.

Risk

If this occurs, the tire may rupture resulting in a rapid air loss, which could result in a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will install protective spring shields. In addition, ford is extending the warranty coverage of the front coil springs in all other states, for fracture only, up to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles, whichever occurs first. If the vehicle has already accumulated more than 150,000 miles, this coverage will last until july 31, 2005. If either front coil spring fractures, dealers will replace both front springs at no charge to the owner. An interim notice was sent to owners on august 2, 2004. Parts are now available for the 2000-2001 my vehicles and owners were sent a letter on january 10, 2005, advising them to bring in their vehicles for repair parts are expected to be available for the 1999 my vehicles by the end of february 2005 and owners of these vehicles will be notified then. Owners should contact ford at 1‑800‑392‑3673.

Recall number 04V332000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The seat belt retractor may have a pin shaft in the switchable elr/alr mechanism that is incorrectly formed. In some circumstances, the switching mechanism could become nonfunctional, preventing the seat belt webbing from being extracted from the retractor. It is also possible that malfunction of the mechanism could prevent the belt from being switched into the alr mode. The elr mechanism is not affected by this condition.

Risk

If the mechanism malfunctions and does not allow the webbing to be extracted, the lap and shoulder belt could not be worn by a vehicle occupant. In the event that the mechanism does not allow the alr mode to be engaged, the operator may be unable to properly install a child seat in that seating position.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect the lap and shoulder belt assemblies. Assemblies with julian date codes of 200 through 223 are suspect and will be replaced.

Recall number 99V250000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equpped with the "california" emissions package. An incorrect transmission oil cooler line was installed. The line contacts the anti-lock braking system module support bracket and over time, can wear and develop a leak.

Risk

Transmission fluid leakage onto the exhaust manifold or catalytic converter can result in a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will install the appropriate transmission oil cooler line.

Recall number 98V288000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A dash insulator retainer clip was not fully assembled to the accelerator cable dash fitting. The clip can disengage from the accelerator cable and fall into the accelerator pedal arm pivot area.

Risk

If this condition occurs, the engine may not fully return to idle. Also, the insulator may not stay in the intended location and could interfere with the accelerator cable.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect these vehicles to ensure proper installation of the accelerator cable clip, and re-install if needed.

Recall number 98V204000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with manual seat tracks. The front seat belt buckle attaching stud may have been improperly heat treated. This heat treatment may have resulted in cracks developing in the stud.

Risk

If the stud is cracked, in the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of personal injury.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the seat belt buckle mounting bracket and stud assembly.

Recall number 98V198000 · Recall details

Odi possesses 130 vehicle owners questionnaires (voq) alleging front suspension coil spring failure in the subject (model year 1999-2000) vehicles.an additional 11 voqs concerning my 2001 vehicles have been found, bringing the total to 141.more than 75% of these reports allege that the broken spring damaged or punctured the adjacent tire.all of these reports originated in the salt belt states located in the northeast quadrant of the united states and canada.ford will conduct a safety recall (04v‑332) covering vehicles soldor currently registered in connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia, to install spring shields in my 1999-2001 taurus/sable vehicles to prevent a fractured spring from damaging the nearby tire.ford will additionally notify owners of all my 1999-2001 taurus/sable vehicles that warranty coverage for spring fractures has been extended to 10 years of age or 150,000 miles.odi analyzed ford?s warranty and complaint data and found that 99% of the spring fractures occurred in the states covered by the recall.the other incidents occurred in the states of florida, north carolina, texas, alabama, and georgia.in view of the coverage of the spring failures by the recall campaign, odi is closing the preliminary evaluation.odi will continue to monitor the performance of the subject vehicles throughout the remainder of the country.

PE04044

A total of 161 front suspension spring failures are known to odi and ford from all sources, 59 of these leading to tire damage.these failures are concentrated in the corrosion states, where 253,814 subject vehicles were sold.warranty and consumer complaint data show that the subject fleet experienced a spring fracture rate of 0.009% at 30,000 miles and 0.03% at 60,000 miles.these rates are very low when compared to previous investigations of coil spring fracture:recalled '93 taurus (ea97-026): 0.1% at 30,000 miles and 0.34% at 60,000 miles; and recalled '98 windstar (ea00-027): 0.11% at 30,000 miles and 1.25% at 60,000 miles.the subject vehicles also experienced failure rates substantially lower than those of comparable-aged non-recalled windstars subject to ea00-027 (my '95-'97).given these circumstances, further expenditure of agency resources is not justified in this matter.the preliminary evaluation is therefore closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that no safety-related defect exists.the agency will take further action in the future if circumstances warrant.

PE02080