1996 Mercury Sable

CAR IS A 1996 MERCURY SABLE, VIN [XXX], WITH A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. CAR WOULD LUNGE AND JERK AS CAR WOULD SLOW AND THEN RE-ACCELERATE (SUCH AS GOING INTO AND OUT OF A CURVE IN TOWN, OR APPROACHING A RED LIGHT THAT CHANGED TO GREEN BEFORE THE CAR COMPLETELY STOPPED.) CAR WAS FIRST WORKED ON 9/9/1999, AT WHICH TIME THE CAR HAD 28,156 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER REPLACED A SENSOR UNDER WARRANTY. THE SYMPTOMS AGAIN STARTED OCCURRING ABOUT A YEAR LATER. WHEN SERVICED ON 5/15/2001, THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. FINALLY, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN APRIL 2002. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 4/24/2002 WITH LESS THAN 47,000 MILES ON THE CAR. THE CAR HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM FORD. AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE, THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED FOR TIME (GREATER THAN 5 YEARS) BUT NOT MILEAGE. HOWEVER, THE CAR WAS COVERED BY THE WARRANTY (TIME AND MILEAGE) DURING BOTH THE SEPTEMBER 1999 AND MAY 2001 SERVICES. HAD THE FAULT BEEN PROPERLY DIAGNOSED AT EITHER TIME WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, MY CONTENTION IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. I CURRENTLY HAVE THE TRANSMISSION. THE GEARING SYSTEM HAS NOTCHES IN THE TEETH. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

COOLANT TURNED TO A RUSTY SLUGGY MIXTURE. FREEZE OUT PLUGS HAD TO BE REPLACED AND SYSTEM FLUSHED. NEW COOLANT WAS ADDED AND IT IS ALREADY TURNING BROWN AGAIN. FORD DID DO THE WORK FOR FREE, BUT TOLD ME I WAS ON MY OWN IF IT OCCURED AGAIN. HAVE LEARNED THROUGH VARIOUS PEOPLE THAT THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO THEIR SABLE AND TAURUS CARS. TRANSMISSION HAS ALSO HAD TO REPAIRED AT A COST TO ME OF $1750.00. WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP THE CAR WILL THEN NOT GO FORWARD. YOU HAVE TO PRESS IN ON THE GAS AND MAKE IT LUNGE FORWARD, SOMETIMES CAUSING THE TIRES TO "BURN RUBBER" ! WE BROUGHT THIS PROBLEM TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THREE YEARS AGO AND EACH TIME WE TOOK THE CAR IN THE SERVICE STAFF INFORMED US THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. ON LAST VISIT IS WHEN THE COOLANT PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERD. WAS TOLD THAT OUR CAR HAD "CANCER" AND SHOULD GET RID OF IT, BUT NOT AT THEIR DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION WAS A FORWARD ENGAGEMENT PISTON. THE COMPANY THAT MADE THE REPAIR HAD THREE OTHER SABLES IN THE SHOP WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM - EACH WITH NO SUPPORT FROM FORD. EACH WERE PAYING $1750.00. HELP!!!*AK

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

HIGH IDLE WHEN MOVING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD, AND IT WILL ALSO TRAVEL COUPLE FEET IF FOOT IS NOT ON BRAKES HARD. MANUFACTURER ISSUED A TSB, BUT IT DOES NOT CORRECT DEFECT. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS FAILURE CAUSED THE LIQUID FILLED MOUNTS TO FAIL WHICH ALSO CAUSED EXHAUST LEAK AT MANIFOLD, THE TSB NUMBER IS 97-7-1, WHICH STATES THE PCM NEEDED REPLACED DUE TO AN INCORRECT SOFTWARE IDENTIFICATION BLOCK. DRIVE AND SERPENTINE BELTS FAILED. *SLC