1999 MERCURY SABLE Power Train Problems

I BOUGHT A USED 1999 MERCURY SABLE GS WITH THE U TYPE 3.0L V6 ENGINE 2 MONTHS AGO. JUST RECENTLY I NOTICED THE CAR WANTING TO LUNGE FORWARD WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKE AT STOPS. THEN A FEW DAYS LATER WHENEVER I START THE CAR IT LUNGES FORWARD. NOTHING DRAMATIC BUT DEFINITELY NOTICEABLE. I STARTED LOOKING ONLINE TO SEE ABOUT A RECALL AND 1 WAS PRESENT A LONG TIME AGO. IS IT TO LATE TO GET MY CAR CHECKED OR HOW TO SEE IF IT WAS EVER SERVICED OR CALLED FOR THE RECALL.

Mileage: 152,000

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS TONE RINGS CRACKED. THE DRIVER FELT THE ABS PUMP. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THE TONE RINGS ARE WEARING AND CRACKED, AND THE AXLE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAS HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED . *AK

Mileage: 34,526

TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 1999 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE MAY 22 2006, THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE HEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE SHE PURCHASED IT. THE VEHICLE OPERATES WITH A HIGH TEMPERATURE READING, AND THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO SLIP GEARS WHEN YOU APPLY THE GAS PEDAL AND BACK FIRES WHILE SWITCHING GEARS. THE DEALER HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE FAILURES THAT THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED WITH HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OCTOBER OF 2006 WAS THE LAST TIME SHE CORRESPONDED WITH THE DEALER AND THEY STILL HAVE DONE NOTHING TO HELP HER.

Mileage: 12,000

TRANSMISSION TEMPORARILY FAILS TO SHIFT WHEN ACCELERATING OR BRAKING. *JB

CAR HAS ALWAYS SHIFTED HARD. AT APPROXIMATELY 90K MILES AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED TO FAIL EVIDENCED BY GEAR SLIPPAGE AND CAR DECELLERATING WHILE BEING DRIVEN. TRANSMISSION PUMP WAS ALSO "KNOCKING". CAR WAS TAKEN TO TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT A 10 CENT "O" RING HAD FAILED IN THE TRANSMISSION PUMP AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION PUMP HAD LITERALLY "COME APART". ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION PAN HAD A SMAL, SHINY INDENTION WHERE THE PUMP WAS LOCATED, FURTHER EVIDENCE OF WHERE THE PROBLEM POSSIBLY ORIGINATED. THEY HAD ALSO STATED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS TUARUS' AND SABLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY REBUILT AT A COST OF $1700.00 AND THE PUMP WAS REPLACED WITH ONE WITH A METALLIC "O" RING TO HELP ELIMINATE FURTHER FAILURES. I PERSONALLY TAKE GREAT CARE AND PRIDE WITH MY VEHICLES AND ON AVERAGE HAVE CHECKED ALL FLUID LEVELS, INCLUDING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID ON A BIMONTHLY BASES. THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS RATHER SUDDEN WITH NO WARNING, TO INCLUDE AN ENGINE LIGHT.

Mileage: 90,000

1999 MERCURY SABLE SHIFT CABLE FAILED. POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING ACCIDENT AVOIDED.*AK

HESITATION IN TRANSMISSION. EXCESSIVE LEAK IN TRANS FLUID, MADE A LARGE PUDDLE. HAD A WOBBLE AS VEHICLE ACCELERATED. HAD FRONT TRANS SEAL AND AXLE SEALS REPLACE, AS WELL AS ONE AXLE

Mileage: 108,000

WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. CONSUMER MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALER. *AK

PROBLEMS WITH ABS. *MR THE VEHICLE WAS IN TWO ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE INABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, WHERE THE ABS DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR REPAIR 7 TIMES. THE FOLLOWING ARE REPAIRS AND OR PROBLEMS THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED: TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED AFTER TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FOUND LOW, EXHAUST LEAK FIXED, WASHER FLUID WOULD SPRAY WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL AND LIGHTS WERE ON, SHAKING WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED/RESURFACED ROTORS, TRUNK LEAKED WATER, REPLACED MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH TO FIX WASHER FLUID PROBLEM, ABS NOT WORKING WHEN THERE WAS A PANIC STOP, LEFT AND RIGHT SPINDLE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, FRONT END ROTORS WERE REPLACED AGAIN, WHEEL ALIGNMENT, THE ABS DID NOT ENGAGE AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, AND REPLACED LEFT SIDE OUTER TIE ROD END. *SCC *JB

PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION CAUSED VEHICLE TO STOP.*MR WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED, AND FAILED TO ACCELERATED WHEN THE PEDAL WAS PUSHED. *TS *JB

CONSUMER STATED WHEN PUT IN PARK THE VEHICLE ROLLED BAKWARDS ABOUT 4-6 IN. CAUSED DAMAGES. TS *TT

Mileage: 21,000

VEHICLE HAD A MASSIVE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK AND BROKE DOWN. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO REPLACED TRANSMISSION. TWO WEEKS LATER, LEAK BEGAN AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS CHECKED AGAIN BY DEALER ,WHO DETERMINED THAT GASKET WAS IS LEAKING. GASKET WAS REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS LATER, VEHICLE VEHICLE HAD 2 OIL LEAKS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP OUT OF GEARS, CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO HAVE ANY POWER. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

SPEEDOMETOR KEEPS GOING DOWN TO 0, SOMETIMES ENGINE RACES, AND VEHICLE WILL SLOW DOWN, LIKE IT'S IN NEUTRAL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE CABLE BROKE AT A BEND. *AK

TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED TWIC WITHIN 8 MONTH PERIOD. *AK

HARD UPSHIFT AND DOWNSHIFT WHILE COMING TO A STOP OR PULLING AWAY. ONCE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IT WOULD HAVE A TENDENCY AT TIMES TO LURCH FORWARD WHILE BRAKE WAS ON.. UPON TAKING THE TRANSMISSION DOWN, THE DEALER FOUND CLUTCH MATERIAL IN TRANSMISSION THE SS3 WAS STICKING, THE ACCUMULATOR O-RING WAS CUT THE FORWARD DRUM CK.VALL STICINT OVERDRIVE BAND BURNED AND NEEDED TO EXCHANGE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. THANKFULLY THE TRANY WAS UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, NOW THE REPAIRED ASSY IS ONLY COVERED FOR 12000 MILES OR 12 MONTHS WHICHEVER COMES FIRST AND WE ARE NATURALLY CONCERNED THAT THIS MIGHT BE A DEFECT AS THE FORD TAURES SEEMED TO HAVE TRANY PROBLEMS IN THE 1197 TO 1999 RANGE WHICH IS WHY WE DID NOT BUY ONE BUT WENT WITH THE SABLE AFTER CHECKING NHTSA REPORTS RE: THE VEHICLE ITSELF. *AK

INTERMITTANT ERRATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONCERNS, ESPECIALLY IN THE FIRST TOW GEARS, PERFORMED SBDS DIAGNOSIS AND REMPVED PLUGGED VALVE BODY TO NO AVAIL. TRANSMISSION FLUID LOOKED LIKE COFFEE GROUNDS IN IT, ALSO OIL LEAK IN THE AREA OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT NEEDED TO BE CHECKED.

CONSUMER STATES SHE ATTEMPTED TO PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE ENGINE FELT AS IF IT WAS GOING TO FALL OUT, CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR A TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL AND REPAIRS ON THREE OCCASSIONS.*JB

TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE SNAPPED, VEHICLE WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS. *SLC

VEHICLE WAS STANDING STILL WITH PARK GEAR ON WHEN CONSUMER TURNED VEHICLE ON, AND VEHICLE WENT FORWARD WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AIK

ODOR OF HOT TRANSMISSION FLUID / OIL ENTERING INTERIOR AT VENTS, VEHICLE AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE. MOST NOTICABLE AT COMPLETE STOP. NO LEAKS VISIBLE, SUSPECT FUMES FROM TRANSMISSION VENT BEING DRAWN INTO AIR INTAKE FOR AC SYSTEM PAST THE OPENING OF THE HOOD HINGES AT COWL. *AK

ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT BUT AVOIDED FATALTIES. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH KEYS IN IGNITION. WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK. NEIGHBOR CHECKED UNDER HOOD & FOUND TRANSMISSION WIRES FOR SHIFT LEVER HAD SNAPPED. WIRES WERE UNHOOKED BEFORE LEVER WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP & SERVICE TRUCK TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. *AK *ML

WHEN SHIFTING THE CAR INTO REVERSE IT WOULD HESITATE AND WOULD EVENTUALLY SHIFT AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. AFTER A COUPLE DAYS THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE FROM PARK BUT WOULD IF IT WAS FIRST PUT INTO DRIVE AND THEN REVERSE. THEN IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR AND WOULD FREELY COAST ON AN INCLINE. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED ON A FLATBED FROM MY DRIVEWAY TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD IT FOR 5 DAYS, DID NOT FIX IT CORRECTLY AND I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK IN FOR SERVICE. THE SHIFT CABLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NOTE******I DID NOT HAVE ANY FAILURES!! MY REASON FOR WRITING IS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE FREQUENT SHIFTING OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES VIBRATE AT HIGH SPEED USUALLY BETWEEN 55-70 WHEN BRAKING. TO BE FAIR I REPORTED AND HAD THE CAR SERVICED WHEN THE BRAKES FIRST VIBRATED. THE SERVICE MANAGER REPORTED THAT THERE WERE HEAT MARKS ON THE DISC'S. MY PRINCIPAL DRIVING IS HIGHWAY WITH LIMITED BRAKING. THE DEALER SHAVED THE ROTORS (WHICH BOTHERED ME GIVEN THAT THERE WAS LESS THEN 10,000 MILES AT THE TIME), AND THE VIBRATION DISAPPEARED. I AM HOWEVER ONCE AGAIN SEEING SOME SLIGHT VIBRATION. TIRE WEAR APPEARS TO BE NORMAL. GETTING BACK TO THE ROTORS, I AM CONCERNED THAT THE LIFE OF THE ROTORS HAVING BEEN CUT WILL BE SHORT. AS FOR THE TRANSMISSION THIS HAS JUST STARTED, AND I HAVEN'T YET SCHEDULED A SERVICE CALL. I HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO OWN EITHER TAURUS'S OR SABLES'S AND THE RECURRING PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THE TRANSMISSIONS. WHAT DO YOU GUYS SAY?

VEHICLE ROLLED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WHILE IN PARK , RESULTING IN A MINOR COLLISION. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *ADJ

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH DEALER HONORING MFR. RECALL NOTICE # 98S-31 & NHTSA RECALL 98V-288 000 CONCERNING FORD/ TRANSMSSION OIL COOLER LINE . AN INCORRECT TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE WAS INSTALLED, THE LINE CONTACTS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM MODULE SUPPORT BRACKET AND OVERTIME. CAN WEAR AND DEVELOP A LEAK ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD OR CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A FIRE. *AK