1993 MERCURY SABLE Suspension Problems

IN 1993 I HELPED MY MOTHER PURCHASE A NEW MERCURY SABLE IN RACINE, WISCONSIN WHERE SHE LIVED. BY 2001 MY MOTHER WAS AT AN AGE SHE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING FOR SEVERAL REASONS. THE BIG EVENT WAS WHEN SHE BROKE HER HIP AND WE ALSO LEARNED SHE WAS STARTING TO LOSE HER SHORT TERM MEMORY. IN LATE 2001 WE HAD THE 1993 MERCURY SABLE WITH ONLY ABOUT 30 TO 35,000 MILES STORED PENDING DECIDING IF ANOTHER FAMILY COULD USE THE CAR. IN EARLY 2002 WE HAD THE TITLE TRANSFERRED TO MY SON AND HE STARTED TO DRIVE THE CAR. HE TOLD US WITHIN A WEEK THERE WAS A TERRIBLE NOISE AND WE HAD THE CAR CHECKED AT OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER IN LEXINGTON ILLINOIS. THERE SERVICE MANAGER, DANNY, TOLD ME BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. I FOUND THIS VERY ODD BECAUSE OF THE LOW MILES ON THE CAR AND IT WAS NOT DRIVEN MUCH IN THE WINTER SALT. I HAD DANNY SAVE BOTH OF THE OLD SPRINGS FOR ME BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD COVER THE EXPENSE. BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SPRINGS WERE BROKEN IN THE SAME AREA AND THE ORIGINAL PAINT WAS ON THE SPRINGS, INDICATING TO ME THEY HAD VERY LITTLE IF ANY SALT DAMAGE. I STILL HAVE THE SPRINGS IN STORAGE. I ALSO LEARNED LATER THAT FORD HAD SOME SORT OF RECALL FOR FRONT COIL SPRINGS, BUT THEY NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED BY DECEMBER 2001. FORD DID NOT PAY THE $340 BILL THAT I PAID TO REPLACE THE SPRINGS IN EARLY 2002. YOU MIGHT ASK, WHY AM I DOCUMENTING THIS NOW. TWO REASONS, ONE I JUST LEARNED OF THE WEB SITE AND TWO, I OWN A 2000 FORD TAURUS AND JUST RECEIVED A LETTER ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS. APPARENTLY, FORD DID NOT LEARN FROM THE EARLIER PROBLEM. I LEARNED LATER HOW THE BROKEN SPRINGS COULD HAVE CAUSED TIRE FAILURE AND A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. ALTHOUGH MY MOTHER ALWAYS HAD HER CAR SERVICED AT THE DEALER, THEY APPARENTLY NEVER CHECKED IT FOR THE RECALL ITEM. I FEEL THERE NEEDS TO BE A MORE ACCOUNTABLITY ON THE PART OF THE MANUFACTURER(FORD) TO ASSURE ALL CARS ARE CHECKED. MY MOTHERS CAR WAS OVERLOOKED, PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF HER AGE.*AK

Mileage: 33,000

MY 1993 MERCURY SABLE WAS SUBJECT TO A FRONT SUSPENSION RECALL IN 1998 (NHTSA ITEM # 615138). THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED AGAIN ON MY CAR, SAME PROBLEM, SAME REASON (CORROSION). THE ORIGINAL RECALL HAS EXPIRED SO I HAVE NO OPTIONS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. FORD DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, THEY SIMPLY REPAIRED THE DAMAGE WITH PARTS SUBJECT TO THE SAME DEFECTS. THEY WILL NOT HELP ME SO I'M LODGING THIS COMPLAINT.*AK

Mileage: 165,285

ABOUT 1 MONTH AFTER THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER MY HEAD GASKETS WERE REPLACED, MY SABLE STARTED TO HESITATE WHEN WARM. THE VEHICLE HAS NO POWER. THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, AIR FILTER AND THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED WITH NO EFFECT. THE TIMING HAS ALSO BEEN FOUND TO BE RIGHT ON.

Mileage: 106,000

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS SNAPPED, CAUSING THE SUSPENSION TO FALL. THE DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THE SPRINGS PUNCTURED THE FRONT TIRES. RECALL# 98V094000 THE SALES DEALER HAD GONE OUT OF BUSINESS. *SCC *JB

Mileage: 48,100

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, WHEN THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. *AK *JB

FRONT COIL SPRING RECALL WAS DONE IN DECEMBER OF 1999, AFTER THAT CONSUMER ALWAYS HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. DURING ROUTINE REPAIR WORK MECHANIC FOUND PASSENGER FRONT COIL SPRING BROKEN.*AK

STEERING HAS BINDING NOISE, FRONT END SUSPENSION RATTLES AND VIBRATES.

ENTIRE VEHICLE STARTS TO VIBRATE UNCONTROLLABLY. DEALER DENIED PROBLEM. AK SCC ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****751026

Mileage: 42,000

CONSUMER HAD DRIVEN OVER A DITCH. THEN, FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING DID BREAK AND PUNCTURED TIRE.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CAR OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE ENGINE FAN MALFUNCTIONED WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO OVERHEAT.

RATTLING NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE HITS BUMPS DUE TO PASS REAR STABILIZER LINK FAILURE. YH

WHILE DRIVING AND GOING OVER A BUMP HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE LIKE SOMETHING WAS LOOSE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THE DEALER SAID CONSUMER NEEDED NEW SPRINGS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING FRONT OF CAR SHAKING UPON STOPPING. ALSO, BRAKE ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

REAR STABILIZER BAR (SWAY BAR LINKS) OF THE VEHICLE BROKE. YH

SWAY BAR FAILED. MJS

R+R SWAY BAR BUSHINGS FAILED. NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

EXCESSIVE WEAR ON FRONT TIRES, CAN NOT KEEP FRONT END ALIGNMENT CORRECT, TIRES WEAR ON INNER SIDES, VEHICLE SHUDDERS WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, VEHICLE ALSO SHUDDERS FOR NO REASON WHEN DRIVING , THIS COMES AND GOS . TIRES REPLACED AT 33,000, 85,000 MILES AND AS OF THIS WRITING NEW TIRES NEED( 110,000) NEW TIRES PUT ON 7/98 85,000 MILES, RECALL DONE 12/98 FOR FRONT SHIELDS TO PREVENT EXCESSIVE WEAR.

VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER RECALL 98V094000, FRONT COIL SPRINGS. THE FENDER HAS BEEN TRIMMED VERY SLOPPY. DEALER SAID IT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE BETTER, BUT IT'S TOO LATE. *AK

FRONT SPRING COIL BROKE WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. CONSUMER HAS HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. CONSUMER CAME ACROSS A RECALL FOR THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS , THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. *AK *ML

COIL SPRINGS BROKE, AND WERE REPLACED WITH FORD REPLACEMENT PARTS. HOWEVER, THEY BROKE AGAIN WITHIN A 1 YEAR AFTER RECALL REPAIRS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. 98V-094. *AK

THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SPRING CRACKED, AND PUT A HOLE IN THE TIR, CAUSING THE TIRE TO DEFLATE. I WAS PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. WHAT WOULD HAVE THIS BEEN LIKE IF THIS HAD HAPPENED SATURDAY ON THE WAY BACK FROM BALTIMORE AT 65 OR 70 MPH? BOTH SPRINGS WERE REPLACED AT FORD'S EXPENSE LAST YEAR WHEN BOTH WERE BROKEN. THESE ARE FORD REPLACEMENT PARTS, I THOUGHT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE CORRECTED THIS PROBLEM. I HAD MY WIFE, SON-IN-LAW, AND MY TWO GRANCHILDREN IN MY CAR THIS AFTERNOON ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65MPH. I AM CALLING FORD TOMORROW (MONDAY) ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND PROBABLY WON'T BE TO NICE. THANK YOU AND PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

RECALL REPAIR ON RECALLED COIL SPRING GUARD PERFORMED, BUT NOW THE GUARD HITS WHILE DRIVING(MAKING NOISE).

RECALL 98V094000, FRONT COIL SPRING . DEALER COULD NOT PLACE THE SPRING CATCHER BRACKET/SHIELD IN WHICH PREVENTS THE FRONT COIL SPRING FROM PUNCTURING THE TIRE WHEN IT BREAKS. BUT THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR THE SHIELD WHICH CAUSED A BANGING NOISE, AND RUB AGAINST THE TIRE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A BLOWOUT. DEALER REMOVED BRACKET AFTER THREE TRIES AT INSTALLING BRACKET, LAST TIME IT WA SRUBBING ON TIRE. MANUFACTURER SAID CASE WAS CLOSED. *AK

RECALL REPAIR WORK NOT COMPLETED ON TWO COMPONENTS (HEADLAMP SWITCH 98S01 AND COIL SPRINGS), DUE TO DEALERSHIP PROBLEMS.

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A RECALL CONCERNING THE FRONT COIL SPRING. MANUFACTURER RECALL #98S15/98MO2, NHTSA RECALL #98I002000. IT WAS REPAIRED ONCE WITH A SHIELD TO PROTECT THE TIRE AND THE SPRING FINALLY BROKE. THE SHIELD DID NOT PROTECT THE TIRE COIL SPRING, SPLIT TIRE IN HALF WHILE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 15MPH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

FRONT END WELDS BROKE. MJS

REAR SWAY BAR REPLACED. MJS

DEFECTIVE COIL SPRING (WHICH WERE RECALLED) CAUSED 3 SETS OF TIRES TO WEAR PREMATURELY ON ONE SIDE MORE THAN THE OTHER.

SPRINGS AND COILS FAILED.

HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL98I002000, CONCERNING FRONT COIL SPRINGS. CALLED DEALERSHIP. WAS INFORMED THAT NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. CANNOT ORDER PARTS. WOULD HAVE WAIT FOR MANUFACTURER TO SEND PARTS TO DEALER. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER.DEALER REPLACE TWO FRONT SPRINGS. RECALL NUMBER 981002000. *AK.ET.

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER CONCERNING FRONT COIL SPRINGS. CONTACTED DEALER, NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO REMEDY RECALL PROBLEM. RECALL NUMBER 981002000. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THE DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF THE COIL SPRING SHIELDS ADDED TO CATCH THE COIL SPRING WHEN IT FRACTURES. THE SHIELDS ADD AN ADDITIONAL PLACE FOR ROAD SALT TO COLLECT WHICH WILL HASTEN FAILURE. IT WAS ALSO NECESSARY TO CUT THE INNER FENDER TO ALLEVIATE RUBBING BETWEEN THE SPRING SHIELDS AND THE INNER FENDER. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT A SPRING FAILURE WILL RESULT IN THE SUSPENSION COLLAPSING AND CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DUE TO THE TIRE CONTACTING THE SUSPENSION AND INNER FENDER.

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR FRONT COIL SPRINGS. SINCE THE DATE THAT THEY RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER THE PARTS HAVE BEEN UNAVAILABLE. THE RECALL NUMBER IS 98I002000. PARTS ARRIVED 4-DEC-1998. *AK *ML

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH DEALER. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN JULY, AND SINCE THE DATE THAT THEY RECEIVED THE LETTER, THE PARTS UNDER THE RECALL HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE. RECALL NUMBER 98I0020000. *AK

VEHICLE HAS BROKEN DOWN FIVE TIMES IN FIVE WEEKS DUE TO TRANSMISSION MOUNT BREAKING. ALSO, ENERTIA SWITCH FAILURE/VEHICLE PULLING AND SHAKING AFTER RIGHT FRONT TIRE CHANGED/IGNITION SWITCH STUCK. *AK

WHENEVER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN THERE IS A VERY LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE SHIELD OF THE COIL SPRING, AND WHEN DRIVING UP AND DOWN IN THE PARKING LOT OR THE DRIVEWAY, THE LOUD NOISE IS STILL THERE. THE DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR FRONT COIL SPRINGS. HOWEVER, THE COIL SPRINGS HAVE NOT BEEN AVAILABLE SINCE JULY 1998 WHEN THE LETTER WAS RECEIVED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACED. RECALL NUMBER 98I100200. *AK

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE THERE IS A VERY LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE NOISE IS STILL THERE. CONSUMER THINKS THE PROBLEM IS COMING FROM THE FRONT COIL SPRING THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. *AK

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 98I002000 IN MAIL. CALLED DEALERSHIP FOR APPOINTMENT. TOOK VEHICLE IN ON APPOINTED DAY. AFTER ARRIVING, WAS INFORMD BY SERVICE MANAGER, THAT PARTS FOR COIL SPRINGS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. DOES NOT KNOW WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE, BUT WOULD CALL OWNER WHEN THEY COME IN. *AK

HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#98V094000) IN THE MAIL. CALLED DEALER & SET UP AN APPOINTMENT. TOOK VEHICLE ON THAT DAY. AFTER ARRIVING AT DEALER'S, WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT PARTS FOR FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE NOT AVAILABLE, AND DOES NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WILL BE. WOULD CONTACT OWNER WHEN THEY COME IN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A THUMPING SOUND. MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE, STATED ONE SIDE WAS LOWER THAN THE OTHER. ANOTHER MECHANIC STATED THE COIL SPRING IN THE REAR CAUSED TIRES TO GO OUT. *AK

DEALER DENIED RECALL SERVICES OF FRONT COIL SPRING.

REAR STRUTS AND ROD BUSHINGS REPLACED, FUEL LEAKING DUE TO FUEL LINE FAILURE.

REAR STRUTS AND ROD BUSHINGS REPLACED, FUEL LEAKING DUE TO FUEL LINE FAILURE.

BRAKE PADS FAILED, REAR RADIUS ARM WELD FAILURE RESULTING IN NOISE.

OUTER TIE ROD ENDS FAILED, REAR AXLE SEAL LEAKING DUE TO FAILURE.

COIL SPRING BROKE WHEN PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND A SHARP EDGE PUNCTURED THE TIRE.

REAR SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM FAILED.

SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BROKE. CORROSION PIT OBSERVED AT ORIGIN OF FRACTURE. COATING ON SPRING FAILED IN AREA OF FRACTURE.

LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CAUSING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO DROP.

THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 60-65MPH. *AK CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE DROPPED ALL AT ONCE WHILE DRIVING, SPRING WEDGED AGAINST TIRE CAUSING A SUDDEN STOP.*JB

COIL SPRING BROKE AT THE LOWER END OF THE SPRING AS IT LEAVES THE SUPPORT PLATE ON THE STRUT. THE SPRING THEN TELESCOPES OVER THE STRUT. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL COULD HAVE RESULTED.

FRONT END OUT OF ALIGNMENT, CAUSING UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. *DH

VEHICLE VEERS TO RIGHT. *SD

REAR SHOCKS WORN. *SD