1988 MERCURY SABLE Structure Problems

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE SUB-FRAME BODY MOUNT, RECALL ON COMPONENT HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED (98V-323). MJS

REAR SUB-FRAME MOUNTS BROKE, CAUSING A PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. BOLTS ON THE MOUNTS DROPPED OFF/BUSHINGS ALSO FELL OFF. BOTH WERE CORRODED/RUSTY. *AK

AROUND JAN 20, 1999 I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD PERTAINING TO THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SUB FRAME RETAINING BOLTS. WORK WAS DONE AT HERITAGE MOTORS IN SYRACUSE ON 1/29/99. HERITAGE NOTIFIED ME AT THE TIME THAT MY FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS WERE BROKEN AND RECOMMENDED THEY BE REPLACED. BECAUSE OF CONVENIENCE I TOOK THE CAR TO AZRIA REPAIR SERVICE. WHILE REPLACING THE MOTOR MOUNTS MR AZRIA OBSERVED THAT ONLY THE TWO REAR SUB FRAME BOLTS HAD BEEN REPLACED BY HERITAGE. HE SHOWED ME THAT ONE OF THE FRONT BOLTS WAS IN FACT ALREADY BROKEN AND THE OTHER FRONT BOLT WAS IN DANGEROUS CONDITION. HE EXPLAINED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS COULD NOT BE REPLACED WITHOUT DRILLING OR CUTTING ACCESS HOLES INTO THE FRAME IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE RUST-FROZEN NUTS AND BOLTS HOLDING THE SUB FRAME IN PLACE. HE SHOWED ME HOW REMOVAL OR AT LEAST LOOSENING OF THE SUB FRAME WAS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE MOUNTS. THE INACCESSIBLE AND FROZEN RETAINING BOLTS MADE HIS WORK UNNECESSARILY TIME CONSUMING AND COSTLY. HE ADVISED ME THAT THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY AND I THEREFORE AUTHORIZED HIM TO REPLACE THE TWO REMAINING BOLTS AS WELL AS THE MOTOR MOUNTS. MY CONTENTION IS THAT HERITAGE SHOULD HAVE REPLACED ALL THE BOLTS (FRONT AND REAR) AS PART OF THE SAFETY RECALL SINCE ALL THE BOLTS WERE KNOWN TO BE IN DANGEROUS CONDITION AND POSED A HAZARD TO THE VEHICLE. I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR PARTS AND LABOR PERTAINING TO THOSE ITEMS WHICH WERE KNOWN BY FORD TO BE DEFECTIVE AND POSED A SAFETY HAZARD TO THE VEHICLE. I AM RETAINING THE ORIGINAL PARTS IN CASE ANYONE WISHES TO EXAMINE THEIR CONDITION. MY BILL FROM AZRIA SERVICE WAS $575.41

RUSTED BODY MOUNTS SEPARATED CAUSING SUBFRAME TO DROP/STEERING TO STIFFIN, REAPAIRED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.

INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BREAKS.

3 OF 4 INSIDE DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN OFF.

PAINT ON HOOD, TRUNK LID AND ROOF HAS DISCOLORED SEVERLY.

OWNER SPENDS AN EXHORBITANT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO KEEP FREON IN THE VEHICLE. SERVICE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE POOR DESIGN OF SNAP FIT LINES USING "O" RINGS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM CAUSES THE A/C SYSTEM TO LEAK IN ENOUGH PLACES TO CAUSE LOSS OF FREON INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. OTHER MANUFACTURERS USE THREADED CONNECTIONS.

HAD 3 FAILURES ON INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES. ALL 3 BROKE AND REQUIRED PURCHASING REPLACEMENTS FORM MERCURY DEALER AT A COST OF $30.00 EACH. THE 3 SNAPPED DOOR HANDLES OCCURRED AT DIFFERENT TIMES OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS. I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR THE DOOR HANDLES.

INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES FRONT AND BACK PASSENGERS' SIDE ARE INOPERATIVE, THEY BROKE. *AK

THE REAR SUB-FRAME BOLT CAME OUT AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FALL ONTO THE STEERING AND THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. *AK CONSUMER STATES ALSO NEED TO HAVE AIR CONDITION REPAIRED A LINE WAS RUBBED THROUGH.*JB

THE SUB-FRAME MOUNTS RUSTED AND DROPPED THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLES ON 3 OF THE FOUR DOORS AND YOU CANNOT GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

REAR FRAME SUBFRAME MOUNTS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL (93V-106).

3 INSIDE DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF, DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE/OUTSIDE. *AK

REAR SUBFRAME MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED, RESULTING IN HEAVY SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD PRIOR TO RECALL (93V-106). *AK