1996 MERCURY SABLE Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A SQUEAKING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDER THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN SLOWING DOWN, MAKING TURNS, AND REVERSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRADLE AND SUBFRAME BUSHING WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING AT CERTAIN SPEEDS AND MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Mileage: 80,000

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER HAD TO TURN VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART VEHICLE TO REGAIN POWER STEERING.*AK *SCC

RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY IN FEB 2000. CURRENTLY, IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*AK CONSUMER STATES DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION THE FIRST TIME, AND NOW THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN THEY ARE REFUSING, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP THAT THINGS JUST HAPPEN.*JB

I HAVE A NUMBER OF WORRIES WITH MY VEHICLE. THE FOLLOWING ARE: WHEN PLAYING THE RADIO/TAPE DECK, YOU HEAR A LOUD BUZZING NOISE COMING THROUGH THE SPEAKERS EVEN IF THE RADIO IS TURNED DOWN; WHEN STEERING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT YOU'LL HEAR A CRANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF CAR; CAR DOES NOT ABSORB BUMPS AT ALL, IT ROCKS, MAKES KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM SOMEWHERE NEAR WHEELS; WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 50-70 MPH, CAR WILL SWAY, LIKE A WIND IS BLOWING IT AWAY; FEUL SENSOR WILL FLOAT, YOU CAN NOT COUNT ON IT TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE; TRUNK HOOD FLIPS UP IN THE AIR SO FAST AND HARD, I HAVE STUNTED MY FINGERS BEFORE ON IT; THE DOORS ON THE CAR HAVE A SHARP EDGE TO IT, IF YOU DON'T STAND BACK WHEN OPENING THE DOOR, IT CAN GASH YOUR LEG; WIND SHIELD ARE A BLIND SPOT, TO LONG, WIPERS ARE SO STRONG THEY VIBRATE THE CAR, UNUSUALLY STRONG; BACK WINDOW ON LEFT SIDE (PASSENGER) WILL NOT ROLL UP, OR ROLL DOWN SOMETIMES; ASSEMBLY OF LIGHT MOLDINGS/FIXTURES IN BACK OF CAR ARE OFF(NOT EVENLY LINED UP), SO IS THE LEVELING OF TRUNK LID; CAR JUMPS WHEN STARTING IT UP, LIKE IT'S READY TO PULL OFF, EVEN WHEN YOUR FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE; WHEN MOVING THE GEARS THE CAR MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE, AND JUMPS ALSO; BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF AT TIMES; CAR LOSES POWER AT TIMES, EVEN AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN FEBRUARY, 2001; KEYLESS ALARM SYSTEM IS SENSITIVE, SOMETIMES A INCONVIENCE, IF YOU PICK KEYS UP AND TOUCH THE PANIC, OR TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON IT CAN BE SET OFF IN THE HOUSE, BEHIND A BRICK WALL.*AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS PLACED INTO A DRIVING GEAR POWER STEERING GOES OUT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AND UPON MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURNS CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END. CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER NOTED THAT RIGHT HAND TIE ROD FAILED AT 25 THOUSAND MILES. ALSO, LEFT HAND SIDE TIE ROD FAILED AT 44 THOUSAND MILES DUE TO POOR OR NO LUBICATION. TIE RODS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE UNIT RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO LEAKAGE OF FLUID. *MJS

WHILE DRIVING INNER TIE ROD UNTHREADED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE UNDRIVEABLE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN MAKING A SHARP RIGHT TURN VEHICLE MADE A GROANING NOISE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. DEALER DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO RACK AND PINION STEERING. RACK AND PINION STEERING HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES. ALSO, POWER STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, ALONG WITH THE PRESSURE AND RETURN HOSES. VEHICLE IS STILL UNDRIVEABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN MAKING A SHARP RIGHT TURN VEHICLE MADE A GROANING NOISE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. DEALER DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO RACK AND PINION STEERING. RACK AND PINION STEERING HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES. ALSO, POWER STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, ALONG WITH THE PRESSURE AND RETURN HOSES. VEHICLE IS STILL UNDRIVEABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN MAKING A SHARP RIGHT TURN VEHICLE MADE A GROANING NOISE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. DEALER DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO RACK AND PINION STEERING. RACK AND PINION STEERING HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES. ALSO, POWER STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, ALONG WITH THE PRESSURE AND RETURN HOSES. VEHICLE IS STILL UNDRIVEABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

POWER STEERING GOES ON AND OFF AT WILL, CAUSING CONSUMER'S WINDOWS NOT TO OPERATE. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS AFTER VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR. *AK *ML

WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATES THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE, REVERSE OR OVERDRIVE THE POWER STEERING ALMOST GOES COMPLETELY OUT AND THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL ELECTRICAL POWER. (STEERING, RADIO, LOCKS, DASH INSTRUMENTS). *AK

POWER STEERING ASSIST IS LOST DURING DEACCELERATION DURING COLD WEATHER (<320F) MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO TURN VEHICLE. LOCAL DEALER REVIEWED PROBLEM AND COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE DURING FIRST TWO VISITS. THIRD VISIT THEY WANT TO START SWOPING OUT COMPONENTS OUT AT HIGH $ COST. FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CONTACTED WITH NO RESULTS. DEALER REQUESTED TO CONTACT FACTORY REGIONAL REP. FOR REVIEW FOR DEBUGGING AND FACTORY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. NO RESULTS TODATE 2/17/00. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AS RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT.ALSO, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

MY 1996 MERCURY SABLE HAS DEVELOPED SEVERAL POWER STEERING PROBLEMS 1 MONTH AFTER WARRANTY WHICH FORD DEALER REFUSES TO FIX. *AK

POWER STEERING GEAR AND THE RETURN LINE IS LEAKING STEERING FLUID. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. RACK & PINION ASSEMBLY (ORIGINAL) IS DEFECTIVE. *YC

POWER STEERING GEAR AND THE RETURN LINE IS LEAKING STEERING FLUID. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. RACK & PINION ASSEMBLY (ORIGINAL) IS DEFECTIVE. *YC

WHEN MAKING A HARD TURN LOUD NOISE LIKE BANGING OCCURS IN THE STEERING. DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM YET. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN NO STEERING, WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

RACK AND PINION FAILED, WAS REPLACED AND THE REPLACEMENT FAILED THREE MONTHS LATER.

POWER STEERING RACK GEAR ASSEMBLY FAILED.

CLUNKING AND POPPING NOISE FROM POWER STEERING UNIT DURING RIGHT TURNS, AT ANY SPEED.

WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATES THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE, REVERSE OR OVERDRIVE THE POWER STEERING ALMOST GOES COMPLETELY OUT AND THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL ELECTRICAL POWER/ WINDOWS/RADIO, ETC. THE VEHICLE WILL BE CHECKED BY DEALER. *AK

POWER STEERING LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING, CAUSNG ACCIDENT.

WHEN IT RAINS AND WATER GETS INTO THE ENGINE THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AND EXPERIENCES LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE DEALER SAID THAT THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE, AND ADVISED THE OWNER NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHEN IT RAINS. OWNER ALSO NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER BY MAIL OF THIS PROBLEM. *AK

STEERING FAILURE.

POWER STEERING COMPONENTS EMITTING A GROANING NOISE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE REGARDING THIS PROBLEM FIVE TIMES, BUT PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. ALSO, TRANSMISSION ROUGHLY DOWNSHIFTS IN FIRST GEAR, RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE JERKING. *AK

STEERING FAILURE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT OR ABOUT 70 MPH THE BOLTS ON THE STEERING COLUMN FELL ON TO THE FLOOR OF THE CAR, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO TURN IN, OWNER HAD NO CONTROL OVER VEHICLE AFTER BOLTS CAME LOSE, THIS INCIDENT CAUSED OTHER ACCIDENTS ON THE EXPRESSWAY, MANFACTURER CONTACTED. *AK *JB

STEERING NOISE.

THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. DEALER RECOGNIZES PROBLEM, BUT CAN'T FIX IT. *AK

STEERING WHEEL BROKE.

PROBLEM WITH POWER STEERING, CAUSING GRINDING SOUND.

POWER STEERING FAILURE RESULTING IN GRINDING NOISE.

WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE RIGHT GRINDING NOISE OCCURS.

STEERING PROBLEMS DUE TO HIGH TORQUE.

"CLUNKING/POPPING" NOISE UPON TURNING.

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE STEERING WHEEL GETS STIFF AND MAKES IT DIFFACULT TO STEER. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK