After leaving a stop, the car was able to move, then all of a sudden, the car would not change gears and stayed in a nuetral position. After safely parking the car, it will not shift into drive or reverse. Looking online I see numerous consumer with the same issue and the cost is more than the car is worth, but is a known issue that the manufacturer will not take the blame on.
Mercury Sable won't shift problems
32 of the 4,888 owner complaints about the Mercury Sable describe stuck in gear or won't shift, most of them for the 1996 model year.
- owner complaints
- 32
- worst model year
- 1996
- typical mileage
- 96,512
Is there a fix? There are 5 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
- 20054
- 20042
- 20033
- 20022
- 20011
- 20004
- 19991
- 19981
- 19971
- 19965
- 19951
- 19943
- 19922
- 19902
Often reported together
Jerking 3Hesitation 3Transmission failure 2Sudden acceleration 1Stalling 1Slipping 1Adaptive cruise 1
What owners say
While parked, tried to put car in reverse to back out of driveway but car will not shift out of park. Only way to get car to shift out of park is to apply emergency brakes then shift car into neutral while key turned to off position. Break lights will not illuminate when brake pedal applied. I checked all the fuses and replaced the break lamp bulbs to troubleshoot issue according to owners manual however problem still exists. When researching online I read about the same exact issues occurring in same model and make that were recalled. I went to my nearest ford dealership to inform them about this issue and get some assistance in fixing the problem. However they would not help in the matter, and stated that my particular VIN # and year model 2004 had no recalls. The recall was issued for faulty break light switches in 2003 and previous year models of mercury sables. I've read about numerous issues occurring with other 2004 mercury sable owners that also cannot get help with this matter. This is obviously a safety issue and it is my hope that the federal safety agency investigates to find out why 2004 models are also exhibiting same recall safety issues. The problem obviously lies with the part (same break light switch) ford installed on these vehicles and not necessarily the year the vehicle was made. It has always been my understanding that the primary mission and role of the federal safety agency is to help keep the public safe and informed about potential safety issues. Therefore, I hope they not only investigate why ford used the same faulty part on other year model vehicles but also issue the necessary recall for said vehicles with those parts. If, while traveling with my family, a car slams into us because no break lights will engage, whose fault is that? I've brought this safery issue concern to the attention of ford and now the federal safety agency. Failure to address this issue puts the public in danger!
When entering the car after a basketball game I started the vehicle and tried to go into reverse but the car remained in neutral as it would not shift into gear. Prior to this I had never noticed any issues with the transmission. I was told by our mechanic the torque converter had given out and needs to be replaced. After doing extensive research I found there are hundreds if not thousands of other mercury sable owners that have experienced the exact same issue with their transmission. Ford recalled the same part on other similar make and models vehicles. This needs to be recalled of mercury sables as well.
Brake light switch at pedal faulty with same symptoms as recall the federal safety agency I.d. # 04v10600...brake lights won't activate when pedal depressed while driving or parked and when parked transmission range selector is stuck in park position. These symptoms could cause an accident from the rear and or leave family members stranded. Curiously this recall doesn't list the recalled switches part number and certainly ford motors won't admit that a few were installed on 2004 models.
I pulled up to a stoplight. When it turned green, I depressed the accelerator and the vehicle's engine revved as though it were in neutral. When shifted into any forward gear or reverse gear, it would not move. It was as though it were stuck in neutral. The transmission specialist said it was a common problem, knew exactly what it was, and quipped that he was surprised mine had lasted this long. Upon researching online, it appears that this is an incredibly widespread problem. In fact, ford knows it is a problem as it has recalled two of their minivans that contain the very same transmission. It is the same part failing. Why does it warrant a recall in one vehicle but not another??
I was driving the car. Came to a stop and pressed the gas pedal to accelerate. The car started out ok and the MPH reached 15mph and then there was nothing. It was like the car was in neutral. I had to coast off the side of the road. Had t have the car towed home. Spoke with several ford dealerships service mechanics and everyone of them said that they were almost 100% that it was the torque converter (inside the transmission). And could also be the whole transmission. The car wont go into gear. You can move the gearshift flawlessly thru the gears and nothing the car wont move. I was also told by every ford mechanic that this is a huge problem with that year of car and that transmission (ax4n). Then to find out that ford knows of the problem and no recall! Then I find out today that ford issued a recall on the ford windstar for the transmissions (which are the same transmissions that are in the sable and in the ford taurus, the model # tranny ax4n). If ford can issue a recall on the windstar for the same problem as the sable and taurus why cant they issue a recall on all of them? The cost to fix my sable is anywhere from $1300 to $1800 and that's if its only the torque converter and not the whole tranny which would cost in the $3500 to $4500 range. And both quotes are coming from ford mechanics who have done numerous sables etc with this same problem. I am a single mother and definitely do not have the money to have my car fixed!!!! Apparently this is a huge problem and I feel along with so many others that ford should do a recall and fix it for free!!!! Especially when they recall the windstar for the same tranny and same problem! This is an ongoing problem and ford should address it and take care of it. Because as of right now I sit without a car. I have had other ford cars and never a problem that's the only reason I purchased this one. If I would only knew.....
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mercury sable. The contact powered the vehicle on and attempted to shift gears when the vehicle would not shift. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 35,200.
Driving a 2005 mercury sable gs at 30 MPH, transmission comes out of drive gear and will not shift into any gear but park. Stuck in the middle of a major intersection for hours, needed to be towed. Repairs include rebuild of transmission and torque converter. There was no warning, lights, or strange behavior just suddenly occurred.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 mercury sable. The contact stopped into a service station and turned off the vehicle. He restarted the vehicle and attempted to shift into gear; however, it would not shift until approximately 20 minutes later. The contact drove home and noticed that the rear brake lights were not illuminating. Through online research, the contact discovered the federal safety agency campaign id number 04v106000 (exterior lighting:brake lights:switch); however, his VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 101,000.
Car cruised just fine 25 miles to town, got all my stuff done in town, pulled up to a stop sign on a hill and the car would not move, engine ran just fine, the transmission would not shift into gear, car only has 110k on it, had to roll back off the road and stop, park gear worked, after an hour car still would not shift into gear, 4 days later I went out to try it again and the thing went into all gears and took off.
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines
- 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
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with ax4s automatic transaxles. The low/intermediate servo cover can separate from the transaxle while the vehicle is being driven. If this occurs, transmission fluid will leak contacting the catalytic converter.
- Risk
- The catalytic converter temperature may be hot enough to ignite the transmission fluid and cause a vehicle fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the transmission and replace these servo covers.
Recall number 97V097000 · Recall details
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 Mercury Sable won't shift
Which Mercury Sable years have stuck in gear or won't shift problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1996 (5 complaints), 2000 (4 complaints) and 2005 (4 complaints).
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