2001 Mercury Sable: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed Jan 6, 2009 · Suspension · 79,342 miles · KY

Drove 10 hours from louisville kentucky to carlisle pennsylvania. Stopped at a holiday inn for the night. No problems noted with the car during the drive. When attempting to back up 2001 mercury sable in hotel parking lot, a grinding noise was heard coming from the right rear side of the vehicle. Tire was removed by aaa and the right rear suspension spring coil was found to be failed with a portion missing. The remaining end of the coil had embedded itself into the inner wall of the right rear tire creating a gouge. The tire did not rupture. The car was towed to l.b. Smith ford lincoln mercury located at 1100 market st. Lemoyne, pa 17043 (717) 697-2273 by aaa. The right rear coil spring was found to be broken. One (1) part no. 4f1z*5560 was removed and replaced. One ast*52* shock absorber assembly was removed and replaced. One rear tire was removed and replaced with a 9007*1004552* p215/60r6 tire. The tire was mounted and balanced. All four wheels were aligned. Total charge for the repair by the dealership was $504.47.

Filed Apr 3, 2008 · Suspension · 39,600 miles · MA

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 mercury sable. While driving 50 MPH, the contact heard a grinding noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an automotive shop and it was discovered that the coil springs in both rear tires failed. The dealer stated that there was no recall for the rear coil springs. The powertrain was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 39,600.

Filed Jan 30, 2007 · Suspension · 58,000 miles · IL

I have experienced a rear coil spring failure as described in complaint ea06-002. While backing my car out of my driveway I heard a grinding noise that got louder the faster I went. I stopped and looked under the car and noticed a black ring on the inside of the passenger rear tire. I removed the wheel and noticed that a gouge had been dug into the inside of the tire by a spring that looks to have been welded to the strut. It appears that the weld failed causing the spring to detach. I consider myself lucky because this did not happen while I was driving on the highway. At highway speeds this failure could have caused a crash that could have resulted in injury or even death. Coincidently I recently received a recall notice in the mail stating that this exact failure could happen to the front struts and that I should bring the car to a lincoln/mercury dealer to have them fixed. I was going to schedule an appointment to do so, but this has happened. It seems as though there should be a recall on the rear strut assemblies as well. Ford/lincoln/mercury performed the recall repair on the front coil/strut assemblies. They offered to repair the rear coil/strut assemblies for approximately $850.00. (both rear coil/strut assemblies, rear alignment, and a tire) they stated that both rear coil/strut assemblies should be replaced because they expect that the drivers rear will fail soon also. Most disturbing is that ford/lincoln/mercury said that they would be replacing the failed coil/strut assemblies with the same parts. Parts that will fail in this manner in the future! There needs to be a recall on the rear coil/strut assemblies in addition to the front. They have the same design defect and someone will eventually die in a crash caused by the coil piercing a tire at driving speed. I have not repaired my car yet, but I plan to have it repaired soon. I would welcome an inspection.

Filed Oct 24, 2005 · Suspension · 54,000 miles · MI

(1) I removed the right rear tire to inspect the brakes when I discovered that the coil spring had fractured and was making contact with the sidewall of the tire. Had I not investigated the brake grinding sound, I would not have realized the spring was broken. It is not a question of if, but when the tire would have blown out. (2) the minimum results of the spring failure is that when the spring finally wore through the tire, I would have been stranded somewhere. The maximum consequences is that when the tire finally wore through, I could have lost control of my vehicle and been involved in a severe automobile accident. (3) at present the vehicle is undrivable and sits on blocks in the garage. Ford motor company and the dealerships are taking no responsibility for the faulty spring even though a year earlier a recall was initiated on the front springs of the same vehicle. The repairs on the front springs was at no cost to me. Since ford does not consider the broken spring to be a problem, I don't want ford to replace the springs as the service parts may be from the same manufacturer of the faulty springs currently on the vehicle. The springs on both sides of the vehicle are to be replaced by an independent repair facility. I will request the facility to return the broken spring to me.

Filed Aug 23, 2005 · Suspension · 80,000 miles · OH

Dt: the consumer stated that the two rear springs broke while driving. The vehicle was a 2001 mercury sable. The consumer received a recall on the front springs, but not on the rear springs. While driving the consumer heard a grinding noise and took the car to a goodyear dealer to have brakes checked. The mechanic found that the springs were broken. The consumer had no idea when the springs broke. The car was not driven that much. The consumer talked to the dealership, and they said that the car was not under warranty and it was the consumer's tough luck. Ford said the same thing about the warranty. Ford was not willing to help the consumer with the expenses for the repairs. The repair work was done with no help from ford. *ak

Filed Apr 11, 2002 · Electrical, Engine · MA

When trying to start vehicle, the key would stick, dash is completely inoperable, consumer could hear something running and vehicle would become very hot, dash did not light up, so there was no warning, vehicle made a grinding sound. Took to dealer, ignition has been changed twice.*ak. Consumer states the power windows were inoperable, the radio did not work, there was no air conditioning or heat, the windshield wipers were inoperative, there was a noise coming from the flywheel, and the dashboard did not light up.