2008 MERCURY SABLE Power Train Problems

On April 12 I exited my drive onto the 55 mph highway in front of my house when suddenly the car began to shudder. I jammed the gas to get up to speed to prevent oncoming cars from hitting me which made the problem much worse. It was violently shuddering and wouldn’t accelerate. I took my foot off the gas which stopped the shaking. I gassed it slowly and I could accelerate to speed much slower than I would have liked. It wasn’t smooth. One half mile later it suddenly and violently began again. Taking my foot off the gas it smoothed out and I could accelerate again. I changed plans and went to the service garage to see what the problem was. It seems the problem is a known issue that hasn’t been addressed. I’m glad there were no cars coming from the opposite direction which could have impacted the drivers side while I was floundering out of my drive. I will enclose the garages assessment.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ENGINE, THROTTLE, WRENCH, AND AIR BAG INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN REVERSE, AND THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

Mileage: 85,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY HESITATE TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

Mileage: 55,000

TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY WOULD STAY IN 5TH GEAR AND NOT SHIFT -- LIMP HOME MODE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED OUTPUT SHAFT SENSOR AND TURBINE SENSOR, AND THIS RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 37,808

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE CONTINUOUS VARIABLE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,850.

Mileage: 52,850

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE ON AN INCLINE WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL BACKWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING THE POWER STEERING TO ALSO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 81,000. UPDATED 6/4/13 *CN UPDATED 06/11/2013 *JS

Mileage: 79,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING HIS VEHICLE IN COLDER WEATHER, IT WOULD JUMP OR LUNGE FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THE MATTER FURTHER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 40,000

WHILE DRIVING LAST WEEK MY WIFE NOTICED THAT WHEN TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT THE STEERING STIFFENED UP AND HAD TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP AS TO NOT HIT THE VEHICLE TO HER LEFT . I CHECKED THE CAR OUT AND NOTICED IT IS MOSTLY AFFECTED AT LOW SPEED WHILE MAKING TURNS EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT THIS HAD NO WARNING AND COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS.IT IS JUST LUCK THAT A WALKER OR JOGGER WERE NOT ON THE STREETS AT THE TIME .THIS NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION I WILL ATTEMPT AT REPAIR MYSELF AS IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY POSSIBLE RACK AND PINION ALSO TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE AT TIMES. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

CAR WOULD JERK GOING INTERSTATE SPEED OF 70MPH. FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING INTO NEUTRAL AND BACK IN TO GEAR. DID THIS ABOUT FOUR TIMES AND I MEAN IT IS HARD, WILL SCARE YOU TO DEATH IF YOUR IN THE CAR. AFTER IT DID THIS ABOUT FOUR TIME OVER AN HOUR, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON THE REST OF THE TRIP. THIS IS A USED CAR I JUST BOUGHT, SO IM NOT SURE IF IT WILL CONTINUE TO DO THIS. BUT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ON THE INTERSTATE NOW. *TR

Mileage: 63,000

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE AND STOPPED ON A HILL THE CAR WILL ROLL BACK WHEN YOU REMOVE YOUR FOOT FROM THE BREAK EVEN WHEN IN DRIVE. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE. YOU NEED TO USE BOTH FEET WHEN ON A HILL, ONE ON THE BRAKE AND THE OTHER ON THE GAS TO AVOID ROLLING BACK INTO ANOTHER CAR. WHEN THE LOCAL DEALER WAS IN BUSINESS THEY INDICATED THIS WAS NORMAL. AT THIS TIME I HAVE NO LOCAL MERCURY DEALER TO REVIEW THIS SITUATION. *TR

Mileage: 12,200

1. TRANS FAILS TO DOWNSHIFT,INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN ACCELERATING FROM APPR. 50 MPH ON AND INCLINE, REVS TO 5500 RPM BUT CAR SLOWS DOWN. ALMOST GOT HIT BY TRUCK ON FREEWAY YESTERDAY. 2. THE CAR GROUND TO A HALT WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND ACCELERATING AT ABOUT 15-20 MPH. OCCURRED ONE TIME, ALMOST REAR ENDED. 3. ON SLIGHT INCLINE, IN DRIVE, CAR WILL ROLL BACK AS IF IN NEUTRAL, ALMOST HIT CAR BEHIND ME SEVERAL TIMES AND DIFFICULT TO PARK VEHICLE. THERE ARE OTHER TRANS RELATED ISSUES, BUT THESE THREE ARE SAFETY CONCERNS. CAR HAS BEEN AT DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, FOR DAYS, THEY TEST DROVE IT, HAD AN ENGINEER FROM FORD DRIVE IT, STATE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE ANY OF MY CONCERNS. IN OTHER WORDS, NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS. THESE PROBLEMS CONTINUE TO BE EASY FOR ME TO RE PRODUCE, ALONG WITH OTHER PROBLEMS, SHIFTING LATE AND HARD, ETC.. I HAVE CALLED THE REGIONAL SERVICE PERSON ABE BUSH, TWICE IN THE LAST 3 1/2 WEEKS, AND RECEIVED NO REPLY FROM HIM. *TR

Mileage: 1,000