1995 MERCURY SABLE Electrical System Problems

WHEN DRIVING DRIVER SMELLED BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER STATED THAT WIRE MELTED, CAUSING THE BURNING SMELL. *AK

Mileage: 120,000

CAR STALLS IN WARM WEATHER. ON ONE OF MANY STALLED OCCASIONS I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND WHEN IT TURNED GREEN THE CAR LUNGED AS IF IT WERE MOVING BUT STALLED AND A MAN IN A TRUCK BEHIND ME SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES BUT A WOMAN BEHIND HIM SLAMMED INTO HIS TRUCK. THEY HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE MY CAR STALLED AND STOPPED SHORT. ALSO, RIGHT REAR WINDOW WONT GO DOWN SOMETIMES. THE A/C STINKS AND THE HEATER SMELLS LIKE SUPER HOT DRIED BURNT CARPETING. THERE'S A GAS SMELLS SO HEAVY AT TIMES IN THE BACK SEAT I'M SCARED FOR MY CHILDREN TO BE BACK THERE. THE DASH LIGHTS GET SO HOT I'M AFRAID IT'S GOING TO MELT SOMETHING OR START A FIRE. THE CAR IS HAD TO START ON CERTAIN DAYS. OTHER DAYS IT STARTS RIGHT UP. SOMETIMES THE CAR STARTS AND RUNS GREAT. OTHER DAYS IT STARTS BUT YOU CAN FEEL SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT AND THE CAR WILL FEEL LIKE IT'S ON THE VERGE OF STALLING BUT THEN YOU CAN HEAR IT START BACK UP AGAIN. ALMOST LIKE THE IGNITION IS TURNING ON AND OFF. I HAVE A LIST OF ALL THE REPAIRS DONE TO MY CAR JUST AFTER I PURCHASED IT AND THERE IS SOME MAJOR BILLS IN THIS PILE! READING THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS WITH THEIR SABLES IS PROOF THAT FORD PUT OUT AN UNSAFE CAR! I HAVEN'T GOT THE MONEY TO BUY ANOTHER CAR. I CAN HARDLY AFFORD TO FIX THE ONE I HAVE BUT IT'S ALL I GOT. SHAME ON FORD! I WON'T BE BUYING ANOTHER FORD IN THE FUTURE UNLESS THEY RESOLVE THIS MESS! *JB

Mileage: 56

1995 MERCURY SABLE HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS. *MR THE ENGINE WOULD IDLE, RUN ROUGH, STALL, AND RESTART IMMEDIATELY, THE A/C HAD BLOWN WARM AIR, THE REMOTE FUEL DOOR LATCH HAD BROKEN, THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD SQUEALING SOUND WHILE BEING DRIVEN, AND THERE WAS A COOLANT LEAK. THE HEADGASKET , TIMING COVER, OIL PAN, BROKEN FUEL DOOR SPRING, AND STARTER CIRCUIT WIRING ASSEMBLY HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED. RECALL #97V019000 *SCC

NEED TO BE REIMBURSED BY FORD FOR REPAIR COSTS FOR TWO EVENTS--- AS ORDERED IN CALIFORNIA SUIT SETTLED 10/25/2001 IN WHICH FORD MUST REIMBURSEOWNERS NATIONWIDE WHO PAID OR WILL PAY TO REPAIR FAILED IGNITION SYSTEMS. (SUP[ERIOR COURT JUDGE MICHAEL E. BALLACHEY . ) PLEASE ADVISE HOW WE CAN RECEIVE PAYMENT. *AK

NHTSA RECALL 01V390000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 01S30. TOOK VEHICLE IN TO BE REPAIRED. DEALER REPLACED CIRCUIT BREAKER, BUT DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE COOLING FAN MOTOR. *AK

WHENE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ABOVE 60 MPH SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT REGISTER THE CORRECT SPEED. OPERATON IS VERY ERRATIC, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

KEY STICKS IN IGNITION,OFTEN WILL NOT SHUT OFF IGNITION COMPLETELY, I'M AFRAID THAT IT WILL GET TO THE POINT THAT I CANNOT SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. *AK

TWO WIRES HAD BEEN PLACED TOGETHER AT THE FACTORY CAUSING A RESISTANCE AND WIRES TO BURN, WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE AND BURNING RUBBER AND THEN ALL THE DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE, CAUSING FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE TO DROP. *AK LOWER REAR SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT HAS BEEN REPLACED. FLUCTUATING SPEEDOMETER WAS REPLACED. STARTER AND WIRE HARNESS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. MUFFLER AND TAIL PIPE HAVE BEEN REPLACED. 2 FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND STRUT BEARING PLATES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE, CAUSING FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE TO DROP. *AK LOWER REAR SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT HAS BEEN REPLACED. FLUCTUATING SPEEDOMETER WAS REPLACED. STARTER AND WIRE HARNESS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. MUFFLER AND TAIL PIPE HAVE BEEN REPLACED. 2 FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND STRUT BEARING PLATES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *SLC

CAR WOULD NOT STOP RUNNIING HAD TO TAKE OUT THE FUSES TO STOP THE CAR FROM RUNNUNG. *AK

CONSUMER'S CAR FROM TIME TO TIME CAN SHUT OFF NO MATTER HOW FAST CONSUMER IS GOING, OR HOW LONG CONSUMER HAS BEEN DRIVING. THE PART IS T.F.I (THICK FIXTURE IGNITION. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND DEALER WAS WILLING TO REPLACE PART AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK

SEVERELY MELTED WIRING CONNECTORS AT RELAY AND IN FUEL TANK AT TOP OF SENDER/FUEL PUMP!!!!

CONSUMER SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T GIVE CORRECT READING. READING INDICATES VEHICLE IS GOING MUCH FASTER. DEALER'S SAFETY INSPECTION OF VEHICLE FOUND NOTHING WRONG. AFTER WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS DONE WIRING HARNESS WAS MOVED TOO CLOSE TO EXHAUST SYSTEM. VEHICLE ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE & STARTEDD SMOKING SEVERELY. WIRES ON EXHAUST WALL MELTED. DEALER SAID WIRES WERE MOVED BACKED TO WHERE THEY BELONGED & IT WOULD BE FINE.*AK

THIS DEFECT CAUSED NO PARKING LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, SIDE MARKERS OR DASH LIGHTS. DEALER SAID THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON! ONE BECOMES A SITTING DUCK IN THE DARK WITH NO LIGHTS IN THE SIDES OR REAR OF VEHICLE. PLEASE MAKE FORD RECALL AND CORRECT THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD STALL UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. NEVER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 9 TIMES WITH SAME PROBLEM AND IS NOW PARKED, WILL NOT RUN.*AK

I HAD BEEN NOTICING A STRANGE BURNING SMELL IN THE CAR FOR SOME TIME - BUT COULDN'T PLACE ITS SOURCE. I FOUND THE SMELL GETTING STRONGER OVER TIME, AND STRONGER WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. THEN I NOTICED THAT THE DASH AREA SURROUNDING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS WARM TO THE TOUCH. I PULLED OFF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH KNOB, AND THE SWITCH SHAFT WAS BURNING - TOO HOT TO TOUCH. I OBTAINED A NEW HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND PROCEEDED TO DISSAEMBLE THE DASH. I FOUND THE BACK END (PLASTIC CONNECTOR RECEPTABLE BODY) OF THE SWITCH TOTALLY MELTED, AND SOME OF THE WIRES HAD THEIR INSULATION MELTED CLEAR OFF, DOWN TO BARE COPPER. LUCKILY NONE OF THE WIRES WERE TOUCHING IN THE BARE AREAS. THE MALE END OF THE HARNESS (THAT PLUGS INTO THE SWITCH) WAS MELTED INTO THE SWITCH BODY. I HAD TO BUY A NEW REPLACEMENT CONNECTOR, SPLICE IT IN AND MAKE UP SOME NEW WIRES, AND THEN INSTALL THE NEW SWITCH. THE AUTO PARTS STORES SAY THAT ALTHOUGH FORD DOESN'T HAVE THE CONNECTOR + PIGTAIL ASSEMBLY AVAILABLE AS A DEALER ITEM, IT IS AN AFTERMARKET ITEM SINCE "THEY BURN UP SO OFTEN." HAD I NOT INTERVENED WHEN I DID, I COULD HAVE HAD A SEVERE IN-DASH FIRE, PLUS LOST MY LIGHTS AT NIGHT. MY LIGHTS NEVER STOPPED WORKING, ALTHOUGH THE BURNING SMELL WAS EVIDENT. MERCURY CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE ADVISED NO PRIOR REPORTS OF THIS TYPE.*AK

WIRE TO STARTED CORRODED, DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, THERE IS A REPAIR KIT

SINCE I HAVE PURCAHSED THE CAR (IT WAS THE SHOWCASE CAR) EVERY SUMMER AS THE WEATHER GETS HOT THE CAR WITHOUT ANY WARNING WILL CUT OFF. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND ON SEVERAL OCASSIONS (TWO OF WHICH THEY KEEP THE CAR FOR A WEEK) THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM SO, THEY WERE UNABLE TO HELP ME AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. I DON'T KNOW IF IT"S RELATED TO THE AIR CONDITION OR THIS GASKET PROBLEM THAT I JUST BECAME AWARE OF FROM ANOTHER CAR DEALER. ALL I KNOW IS THEAT THAT IT HAPPENS WHEN THE OUTSIDE ENVIRONMENT IS FAIRLY WARM . IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING AND LUCILY I AM A CITY DRIVER AND HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT OR BEEN KILLED ON THE HIGHWAY. I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THE CAR IF IT CAN BE REPAIRED. OTHERWISE I HAVE TO GET RID OF IT. ALL I HAVE BEEN TOLD IS THAT IT CAN"T BE FIXED UNLESS IT CAN BE DUPLICATED AT THE SHOP AND TO COME BACK NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS, BUT THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS ONCE THE CAR STOPS IT MAY START RIGHT UP AGAIN IN 10 MINS. OR ONE HOUR.NR

WINDOW WIPER/HIGH BEAM/TURN SIGNAL SWITCH IS FAULTY CAUSING WIPERS TO NOT PARK IN PROPER POSITION ALSO INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS

HONORABLE MENTION IS THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF 2 TIMES / ENGINE SEALS WERE PRELACED AT 69000 MILES /

SITTING IN THE VEHICLE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. OPENED THE DOOR TO SEE WHERE IT WAS BURNING. TURNED ON HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND A FIRE BROKE OUT ON THE DASHBOARD. *AK

WIRING OVERHEATED AND PLUG AND SWITCH BURNED. *AK

BATTERY NEGATIVE CABLE REPLACED. NLM

THIS WILL BE THE 4TH ALTERNATOR SINCE 8/29/97

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT ELECTRICAL SHORTS AND RADIATOR FAILURES IN JUST FOUR YEARS, FORD NO HELP EVEN WITH AN ESP

THE JUNCTION BOX BEHIND THE LIGHT PANEL MELTED, CAUSING REAR LIGHTS/ PARKING LIGHTS AND PANEL LIGHTS TO BLOW OUT. NO FUSES BLOWN. EVERYTHING WAS DEFORMED. DEALER CONTACTED AND WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. INCIDENT OCCURRED ONCE A MONTH. REPAIRS DONE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

STARTER MOTOR FAILED.

CONSUMER HAD JUST DRIVEN VEHICLE ABOUT 65 MILES, PARKED IT AT WORK AND THEN ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF, IT STARTED TO SMOKE AND AFTERWARDS CAME THE FLAMES. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT SUDDEN ENGINE SHUT DOWN, AT 40MPH, NO PRIOR WARNING, DEALER'S REPLACED COMPUTER MODULE. TT

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION SWITCH. INTERMITTENTLY. *TT

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. *AK