1991 Mercury SABLE: complaints, problems and recalls

THE CONSUMER VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SYMPTOMS OF NHTSA RECALL # 98-V-323-000 WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT. THE CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019777 at NHTSA ↗

THE LEFT REAR SUB-FRAME MOUNT BROKE. THE RIGHT REAR SUB-FRAME MOUNT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO BREAK. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020010 at NHTSA ↗

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHEN THE CONSUMER MADE LEFT TURNS. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020062 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE BUSHINGS ARE MADE OF A VIBER MATERIAL THAT WEARS OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STEER IMPROPERLY. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026456 at NHTSA ↗

NORTHPORT FORD IN COMMACK, NY FAILED TO PROPERLY PERFORM SAFETY RECALL 98S36 FOR THE SUBFRAME ON MY 1991 MERCURY SABLE. THE SUBFRAME SUBSEQUENTLY BROKE FREE CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY MOTOR MOUNTS, TRANSMISSION AND STEERING COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CLOSEST FORD DEALER IN PATCHOGUE NY. FORD AGREED TO REINSTATE THE RECALL FOR THE DEALER TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. THE DEALER CALLED FORD WITH THE PRICE OF THE SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE AND FORD WITHDREW THE OFFER TO REPAIR. THEY WANTED TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK AT A PRICE THEY DECIDED ON. I AM ON DISABIL…

Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028532 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATES THE HEAD LAMP SENSOR SWITCH BURNED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER THE VIN NUMBER IS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE. *MR

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066634 at NHTSA ↗

OTHER THAN THE REST OF MY PROBLEMS WITH THE ABOVE MY NEWEST COMPLAINT IS THAT I JUST FOUND OUT THAT DUE TO THE FACT FORD INSTALLED AN ALUMINIM PISTON WHERE THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A STEEL ONE WHICH IS THE ONLY ONE AVAILABLE NOW SINCE YOU DISCOVERED YOUR PROBLEMS. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW AND I'M BEING TOLD IT WILL COST BETWEEN $1200.00 - $1500.00 TO FIX DUE TO FORD'S POOR DESIGN. THIS IS NOT MY FIRST SABLE WAGON. THE FIRST ONE HAD ALL KINDS OF A/C PROBLEMS AND I'M GETTING TIRED OF PAYING FOR YOUR MISTAKES. MY A/C IS OUT NOW, I REPLACE B…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10070144 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE DELAY TO DISENGAGED THE SPEED CONTROL. THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE PUMPED SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL THE DRIVER REGAINED CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE'S SPEED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER # 97V025000 BUT MISPLACED IT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO REFUSED TO PRODUCE A NEW LETTER BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS TOO OLD. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE THE SPEED CONTROL MALFUNCTIONING ENTAILED A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK.

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167502 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 1991-08-06 (August 6, 1991)

FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SEVERE CORROSION IF OPERATED IN AREAS WHERE CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND SODIUM CHLORIDE ARE USED EXTENSIVELY.

Consequence: SEVERELY CORRODED ROTORS MAY FRACTURE OR SEPARATE NEARTHE INNER EDGES OF THE BRAKE DISCS RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS,HIGHER THAN NORMAL PEDAL EFFORTS, LOUD GRINDING NOISES, AND MODERATE PULLS WHENTHE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS MAY INCREASE MINIMUMSTOPPING DISTANCES, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH FULL CAST FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.

Reported: 1992-05-11 (May 11, 1992)

CHILDREN CAN ACCIDENTALLY LOCK THEMSELVES IN THE FOOTWELL AREA OF THE REAR-FACING THIRD SEAT, OR IN THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT IN STATION WAGONS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN OPTIONAL THIRD SEAT. ONCE THE COMPARTMENT IS CLOSED IT CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE.

Consequence: THERE IS A DANGER OF AIR DEPRIVATION, HYPERTHERMIA,AND/OR PANIC RESPONSE TO A CHILD WHO HAS LOCKED HIMSELF OR HERSELF INTO THECOMPARTMENT, WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF ASPHYXIATION.

Remedy: REPLACE THE SELF-LATCHING ASSEMBLY CURRENTLY USED IN THE REAR STORAGE COMPARTMENT WITH A LATCH ASSEMBLY THAT CAN ONLY BE CLOSED WITH A KEY.

Reported: 1997-02-26 (February 26, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L ENGINES AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. WATER CAN ACCUMULATE WITHIN THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT. IF ENOUGH WATER ACCUMULATES, IT COULD FREEZE WITHIN A LOW AREA OF THE CABLE ROUTING WHEN EXPOSED TO A LONG TERM COLD SOAK AT TEMPERATURES AT LEAST SEVERAL DEGREES BELOW FREEZING.

Consequence: DRIVER CONTROL OF VEHICLE SPEED USING THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM OR THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD BE DIMINISHED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.

Reported: 1998-12-16 (December 16, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGNIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT CAN EXPERIENCE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IF SUBJECTED TO LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN FRACTURE AND LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWS THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.

Consequence: IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.