1999 Mercury SABLE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
237 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
67,850 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 98 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs is the most frequently named component, appearing in 36 of 237 complaints (15.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 37 | 15.6% |
| Steering behavior | 36 | 15.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 17 | 7.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 2.1% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 1.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs | 36 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 13 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 12 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 9 |
| Steering | 7 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 7 |
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 36; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 13; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 12; Air Bags:Frontal: 10; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 9; Steering: 7; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 18 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 30 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 18 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 16 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 18; 50,000 to 74,999: 30; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 8
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (30). 139 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 26 |
| 2001 | 30 |
| 2002 | 36 |
| 2003 | 27 |
| 2004 | 46 |
| 2005 | 29 |
| 2006 | 13 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2000: 26; 2001: 30; 2002: 36; 2003: 27; 2004: 46; 2005: 29; 2006: 13; 2007: 4; 2008: 3; 2009: 6; 2010: 1; 2011: 5; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2019: 2; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 37 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 36 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 17 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10021526 · 2003-05-27 (May 27, 2003)
VEHICLE ABS SYSYTEM IS INOPERATIVE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021526 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024743 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A FLAT ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THE CONSUMER CHANGED TIRE TO AN UNUSED SPARE AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE TO SERVICE STATION. WHILE DRIVING, THE SPARE BLEW OUT. UPON INSPECTION BY DEALER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN AND PIERCED BOTH TIRES, AND CAUSED DAMAGE. *AK FOUND THE ROTORS OUT OF ROUND. THE FRONT BRAKE ROTOR WERE MACHINED AND THE PADS HALF WORN. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024743 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004338 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)
VEHICLE'S STEERING GEAR HAS MALFUNCTIONED 3 TIMES AND MADE LOUD HOWLING NOISES. DEALER NOTIFIED. *TS *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 7,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004338 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005234 · 2003-02-03 (February 3, 2003)
RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED. CAUSING POWER STEERING PUMP TO BOIL OVER CONTINOUSLY. MAKING YOU THINK THAT THE PUMP WAS BAD.
Owner-reported narrative. 39,097 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005234 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031517 · 2003-07-24 (July 24, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION CAUSED VEHICLE TO STOP.*MR WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED, AND FAILED TO ACCELERATED WHEN THE PEDAL WAS PUSHED. *TS *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031517 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031939 · 2003-08-01 (August 1, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH ABS. *MR THE VEHICLE WAS IN TWO ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE INABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, WHERE THE ABS DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR REPAIR 7 TIMES. THE FOLLOWING ARE REPAIRS AND OR PROBLEMS THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED: TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED AFTER TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FOUND LOW, EXHAUST LEAK FIXED, WASHER FLUID WOULD SPRAY WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL AND LIGHTS WERE ON, SHAKING WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED/RESURFACED ROTORS, TRUNK LEAKED WATER, REPLACED MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH TO FIX WASHER FLU…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031939 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013658 · 2003-03-29 (March 29, 2003)
1999 MERCURY SABLE HEAD GASKET BLOWN. THERE WAS NO WARNING. DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT IN TOWN. THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, SMELL OF COOLANT, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR STOPPED. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013658 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10108283 · 2005-01-31 (January 31, 2005)
WHEN I DRIVE IN THE RAIN OR THROUGH A PUDDLE, THE STEERING COMPLETELY FAILS AND MY BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON. TWICE I HAVE COME SEVERELY CLOSE TO CRASHING MY CAR AS A RESULT OF LOSS OF STEERING COMPLETELY! *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10108283 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057026 · 2004-02-11 (February 11, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN STORM, ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY ASSY BROKE CAUSING THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING IMMEDIATELY, I STRUGGLED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. I HAD REPAIRED AT LOCAL SHOP IN LONG ISLAND ,NY , MECHANIC SAID NEW REPLACEMENT UNIT WAS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN ORIGINAL INDICATING THAT THERE WAS PROBLEM WITH DESIGN OF ORIGINAL UNIT.HAD I NOT BEEN ABLE TO STEER VEHICLE THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A COLLISION RESULTING IN INJURIES , ETC. I CHECKED RECALLS & THERE WERE NON RELATED TO THIS MECHANICAL FAILURE. I PAID $309.91 FOR REPAIRS TO VEHI…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,448 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057026 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086664 · 2004-08-11 (August 11, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE NY STATE THRUWAY, WITH MY ENTIRE FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE, THE CAR LOST POWER AND COMPLETELY STALLED OUT. IT WAS LATER FOUND TO HAVE THREE (3) CRACKED CAM SHAFTS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086664 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118704 · 2005-04-29 (April 29, 2005)
LAST THURSDAY OR FRIDAY, I HAD LEFT MY HOUSE TO FILL THE GAS TANK ON MY 1999 MERCURY SABLE WAGON. THE TANK WAS JUST ABOUT FULL WHEN A CHILD WALKED BY AND SHOUTED, HEY MISTER, SOMETHINGS COMING OUT FROM UNDER YOUR CAR. SURE ENOUGH, THE SERVICE STATION ATTENDANT AND I BOTH LOOKED, AND GASOLINE WAS POURING, AND I MEAN POURING FROM THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK. I CALLED AAA AND IMMEDIATELY HAD THEM TOW THE CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALER, CHAPMAN FORD, IN BRIDGETON, NJ. THEY HAVE REPLACED A CANNISTER HAVING TO DO WITH THE EMISSIONS, AND SOME OTHER PARTS. I…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118704 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10169724 · 2006-10-02 (October 2, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER FOR A BROKEN ROD, IT WAS DETERMINED THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING FROM THE CENTER SEAM. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE LEAK, BUT THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. 58,486 miles reported. Look up ODI 10169724 at NHTSA ↗