1991 MERCURY SABLE Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

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 BRAKE PADS ALL THE TIME.

VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE, THE ENGINE DID NOT TURN OVER. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND TECHNICIAN STATED HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN. *AK *SLC

ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

THERE WAS NO HEAT AND ENGINE OVERHEATED, CAUSING TEMPARATURE TO RISE. CONSUMER HADTO TURN OFF CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO AVOID OVER HEATING. WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF TAIL PIPE. *AK

IT APPEARS THAT THE HEAD GASKETS ARE PREMATURELY FAILING ON THE 3.8 LITRE ENGINES MANUFACTURED BY FORD ON MODELS 1988 TO PRESENT. THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN TSB #98-4-9 EXPLAINING THE COMPLAINT BUT HAVE FAILED TO REPAIR THIS KNOW PROBLEM OR MAKE RESOLUTION TO THE COMPLAINTS. *AK

HEAD GASKETS FAILED WITH ONLY 57,000 MILES ON CAR. VEHICLE IS A 1991 MERCURY SABLE WAGON WITH A 3.8 L 6 CYLINDER ENGINE. CAR HAS ALLWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. I THINK FORDS WARRANTY SHOULD BE FOR ANY 3.8 LITER 6 CYL. VEHICLE PERIOD!!!!!!!. *AK

MY 1991 SABLE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPAIRED DUE TO THE FRONT ENGINE MOUNT BOLT FELL-OUT, OR BREAKAGE. AFTER REPAIRS WAS MADE THE FRONT ENGINE MOUNT BOLT CAME OUT OR BREAK OUT TWO OTHER TIMES AS OF 23 OCTOBER 2000. MY SABLE WAS PURCHASED IN WASHINGTON STATE AND REGISTERED IN ALASKA, HOWEVER IT IS LOCATED IN MARYLAND WHERE I LIVE FOR THE PASSED TWO YEARS. *AK

REPLACED HEAD GASKET AND O2 SENSORS. THIS IS THE SAME FLAWED ENGINE DESIGN AS THOSE THAT FORD ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON FORD HAS NOT INCLUDED THE '91 ENGINES.

REPLACED HEAD GASKET AND O2 SENSORS. THIS IS THE SAME FLAWED ENGINE DESIGN AS THOSE THAT FORD ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON FORD HAS NOT INCLUDED THE '91 ENGINES.

RECALL FOR THE ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS WAS ISSUED, DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE HE DIDN'T LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE THERE IS HEAVY SALTING OF THE ROADS IN THE WINTER. NLM

MERCURY/FORD TOLD ME 4-19-00 THAT ONLY '93 & '94 3.8 LITER ENGINES WITH HEADGASKET FAILURES WOULD BE FIXED IF LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. I HAD PLANNED TO KEEP THE CAR FOR 2-3 MORE YEARS BASED ON LOW USAGE AS I COMMUTE TO DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS VIA BUS--BUT NOW THE CAR DOESN'T APPEAR WORTH FIXING. *AK

MY ENGINE FAILED, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, AS A RESULT OF FAULTY HEAD GASKETS. MY FORD DEALER TOLD ME WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR IN THAT FORD HAD INSTALLED DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS IN CERTAIN MODELS, INCLUDING MINE, IN THE EARLY 1990S, AND THAT THESE GASKETS FAILED, CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE OIL, WHICH IN TURN DAMAGED THE BEARINGS AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE. MY FORD DEALER ALSO TOLD ME THAT FORD HAD A PROGRAM TO HELP THOSE WITH 1994 AND 1995 CARS. I WROTE FORD TO ASK IT TO REIMBURSE ME, BUT FORD WAS RUDE AND ENTIRELY UNHELPFUL. WHY SHOULD IT RECOMPENSE ONLY THE OWNERS OF THE 1994 AND 1995 CARS, IF THE OLDER MODELS (1991-1993) ALSO HAD THESE DEFECTIVE GASKETS? MY DEALER TOLD ME I WAS AMAZINGLY LUCKY THAT THE ENGINE HADN'T FAILED EARLIER, AND THAT NO ACCIDENT HAD OCCURRED. PLEASE HELP ME GET FORD TO REIMBURSE ME FOR BUYING A NEW ENGINE AS A RESULT OF ITS PRODUCT DEFECT. THANK YOU. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, AND THE VEHICLE IS HARD TO TURN. VEHICLE WILL GO ANY OTHER WAY BESIDES THE WAY CONSUMER IS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, AND THERE IS A LEAKAGE WITHIN THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET AND TRANSMISSION, AND SMOKE IS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK

MY CHILDREN AND I WERE ALMOST KILLED RECENTLY WHEN WE WERE DOING 70 MPH ON I-85 AND THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. I HAD TALKED WITH MECHANICS IN GERMANY WHEN IT DID IT TO MY HUSBAND ON THE AUTOBAHN ONCE COMING FROM FRANKFURT. WE WERE TOLD THE CAR REACHES A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE AND HAS AN AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE READS NORMAL SO WHY WOULD THE CAR SHUT DOWN AT NORMAL TEMPERATURE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CAN HAPPEN AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS. I WAS LUCKY I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR TO THE SIDE WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES AND COAST TO A STOP. AFTER 30 MINUTES OF SITTING THE CAR WILL START AND GO. IT WILL THEN GET TO THAT TEMPERATURE AND SHUTOFF AGAIN. AFTER THIS HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME IN GERMANY MY HUSBAND AND I NEVER DROVE THE CAR OF THE MILITARY POST BECAUSE WE WERE AFRAID OF AN ACCIDENT. WE RECENTLY HAVE COME BACK TO THE STATES AND HAVE TO DO A LOT OF TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE, THIS IS WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I RECENTLY SAW SEGMENT ON DATELINE OR ONE OF THOSE SHOWS WHERE THIS HAD HAPPENED TO A FORD TAURUS AND EVIDENTLY THE PEOPLE WERE KILLED OR INJURED SERIOUSLY. WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO MY SABLE WAS THE SAME THING THIS FORD TAURUS WAS EXPERIENCING. I WOULD APPRECIATE ALL THE HELP IN THE MATTER, AS I CAN'T DRIVE FAR FROM HOME BECAUSE OF THE SERIOUSNESS.

THREE OF THE FOUR MOTOR MOUNTS WERE FOUND TO HAVE BROKEN/CRACKED.

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THERE IS A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER FOR REPAIR SERVICE, AND DEALER NOTICED THAT FRONT RIGHT MOTOR MOUNT AND RIGHT REAR MOTOR MOUNT WERE BROKEN.*AK

ENGINE MOUNTS BROKE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FALL OUT OF THE ENGINE WELL. DEALER WAS OF NO ASSISTANCE *AK

WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10MPH WHEN A BURNING ODOR WAS NOTICED. STOPPED THE VEHICLE & LIFTED THE HOOD. FLAMES SHOT OUT FROM NEAR THE ENGINE AREA WHERE FAN WAS LOCATED. THE PLASTIC COVERING FAN AND RADIATOR WAS BURNING, WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. *AK

ENGINE MOUNTS REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL DUE TO BEING LOOSE, HOWEVER RECALL DOES NOT INCLUDE MOTOR MOUNTS, ONLY SUBFRAME MOUNTS. (98V-323)

DURING TRANSMISSION REPAIR, FOUND THAT FAN BELT, MOTOR MOUNTS AND OUTER CV-BOOTS ARE BAD AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. (MJS)

DURING TRANSMISSION REPAIR, FOUND THAT FAN BELT, MOTOR MOUNTS AND OUTER CV-BOOTS ARE BAD AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. (MJS)

E.G.R. VALVE FAILED. (MJS)

OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED. (MJS)

WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT BODY MOUNTS BROKE, CAUSING UPON ACCELERATION THE ENGINE TO RISE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLL. CONSUMER HAD TO GET REAR MOTOR MOUNTS FIXED. PREVIOUSLY HAD FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS FIXED THREE TIMES. ALSO, TRANMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE JERKS AND CUTS OFF AT TIMES. *AK

FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WHICH SEEMS TO BE INHERENT TO THIS ENGINE. THE FORD DEALER WHERE I HAD IT REPAIRED FOR 1300 CHANGE SEZ FORD PAID FOR THIS REPAIR ON 94/95 OR 95/96 ENGINES WHICH ARE BASICALLY THE SAME,BUT HAVE NOT EXTENDED THIS RECALL TO 1991 MODELS. HE SAID TO SAVE MY RECEIPT INCASE THEY DO. IF THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THIS ENGINE. WHY DONT THEY FIX ALL OF THEM?

VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW BY OWNER'S MOTHER, WHEN AIR CONDITIONER FAILED, AND MERCURY DID NOT FEEL PROBLEM WAS DUE TO ENGINE MOUNTS, EVEN THOUGH OWNER'S MECHANIC CONFIRMED. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RECALL REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM.THE BODY MOUNTS ARE LOOSE WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO DROP. RECALL NUMBER 93V106002. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE.

RADIATOR FAILED RESULTING IN LEAKING.

THE RADIATOR FAN SEIZED, CAUSING THE WIRES TO THE FAN MELT TOGETHER AND RESULTED IN A FIRE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

ENGINE/TRANSMISSION FAILED.

MOTOR MOUNTS UNDER CARRIAGE BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.

FRONT END NOISE DUE TO DEFECTIVE ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS.

VEHICLE STALLS CONTINUOUSLY.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. IN ADDITION, REPLACED HEAD GASKET/POWER STEERING LINE/ENGINE/THERMOSTAT. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. IN ADDITION, REPLACED HEAD GASKET/POWER STEERING LINE/ENGINE/THERMOSTAT. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. IN ADDITION, REPLACED HEAD GASKET/POWER STEERING LINE/ENGINE/THERMOSTAT. *AK

MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED.

PREMATURE FAILURE OF HEAD GASKETS DUE TO OPPOSING METALS, IRON ANDALUMINUM IN ENGINE CAUSING EXCESS HEAT. *AK

ALL ENGINE MOUNTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED APPROXIMATELY ONCE A YEAR.

WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, DEALER NOTICED THE CARRIAGE AND MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH MOTOR MOUNTS AND CARRIAGE. *AK

ENGINE MOUNTS FAILED TWICE.

PREMATURE FAILURE OF HEAD GASKETS CAUSED BY OPPOSING METALS IN ENGINE WHICH RESULT IN EXCESS HEAT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY, SNAPPING W/WHEELS FACING OUTWARD. OWNER HAS RETURNED SOME PARTS BACK TO FORD MFG, LSO REPLACED ENGINE MOUNTS. *AK

MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK

MOTOR MOUNT FAILED.

HEATER BYPASS HOSE FAILED.

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

VEHICLE STALLED. (NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE REPORT) *DSH

ENGINE MOUNT FAILURE, TWO ENGINE MOUNTS WERE SHEARED, ONLY ONE ENGINE MOUNT IS HOLDING ENGINE IN PLACE. *AK

VALVE COVER FAILED, CAUSING OIL LEAK. *DSH

FRONT/REAR MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED. *DSH

ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE (2ND VEHICLE ON #601337). *TT

MOTOR MOUNTS BROKEN.

BROKEN REAR MOTOR MOUNT HAD TO BE REPLACED. TT

MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED TO HOLD THE MOTOR. TT

OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED, RESULTING IN ROUGH IDLE/HESITATION.

REPLACED THERMOSTAT.

HEATER HOSE FAILURE.

MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE, CAUSED VEHICLE TO SHAKE, PRIOR TO RECALL.

EXCESSIVE BREAKING OF MOTOR MOUNTS, AND MALFUNCTIONING TRANSMISSION. TT

ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED. *AK