IllustrationWHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DISENGAGE OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. HAVE BEEN TO DEALER & SO FAR NOTHING FOUND.*AK
1996 Mercury Sable
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Mercury Sable do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 201.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sable years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 27 of 304 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
20 crash reports9 fire reports17 injury reports
Power Train complaints
69 reportsTRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO STOP. *AK
DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION. , THEN CHANGED COMPUTER SETTINGS, FUEL MILEAGE CUT BY 1/3. *AK
THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN GROSSLY UNRELIABLE, THIS IS CERTAINLY A LEMON. I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE OR SUGGESTION WITH THESE SAFETY DISCREPANCIES. THANKS. NO SAFETY DEFECTS LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK
TRANSMISSION LEAKED FLUID, CAUSED BY DIFFERENTIAL GEARS DISINTEGRATING INTERNALLY AND CRACKING TRANSMISSION CASE. $1700 REPAIR.
TRANSMISSION LEAKED FLUID. FOUND CRACK IN HOUSING, CAUSED BY DIFFERENTIAL BREAKING DOWN INTERNALLY. VEHICLE IS JUST PAST 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. 2 DAYS OF LABOR AND $1600 ESTIMATED REPAIR FOR DIFFERENTIAL AND TRANSMISSION HOUSING. NEED TO CHECK IF RELATED TO CURRENT "ROLL PIN" TRANSMISSION SAFETY RECALL FOR 1996 SABLE.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR BROKE INTO THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM WHICH ALMOST CAUSED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE SHIFTING FROM "DRIVE" TO "REVERSE" IN A PARKING LOT, THE TRANSMISSION "JUST FELL APART" ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT WHITTEN LINCOLN/MERCURY IN RICHMOND, VA. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN MOVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION "FELL APART". PLEASE NOTE THE TRANSMISSION UND…
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WHILE SHIFTING FROM "DRIVE" TO "REVERSE" IN A PARKING LOT, THE TRANSMISSION "JUST FELL APART" ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT WHITTEN LINCOLN/MERCURY IN RICHMOND, VA. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN MOVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION "FELL APART". PLEASE NOTE THE TRANSMISSION UNDERWENT REPAIR FOR A "PARK PAWL" DEFECT A YEAR EARLIER AND HAD THE REGULAR TRANSMISSION SERVICE ONLY A FEW MONTHS BEFORE THE FAILURE.
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO CHECK IT OUT ON NOVEMBER OF 1998. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A BAD SHIFT SOLINOID THAT WOULD NOT EFFECT THE CAR VERY MUCH BUT, SHOULD BE REPLACED SOMETIMES. ON FEB. 4, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START SO IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE, THEY SAID THAT IT NEEDED TO GO…
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THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO CHECK IT OUT ON NOVEMBER OF 1998. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A BAD SHIFT SOLINOID THAT WOULD NOT EFFECT THE CAR VERY MUCH BUT, SHOULD BE REPLACED SOMETIMES. ON FEB. 4, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START SO IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE, THEY SAID THAT IT NEEDED TO GO TO A DEALER BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PROPER COMPUTER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO BOB HASTINGS FORD, EAST ROCHESTER NY, WHERE THEY FOUND THAT A FUEL SENSOR WAS MISSSING. I CONTEND THAT THE SENSOR WAS NEVER THERE TO START WITH BUT, HAVING NO WAY TO PROVE IT COULD NOT GET THEM TO WARRANTY IT. TWO WEEKS LATER THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP SO I DROVE IT TO EMPIRE TRANSMISSION, WEBSTER NY, WHERE I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. I CONTACTED FORD TO SEE IF THEY WOULD COVER PART OF THE WORK, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE AN EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I THINK THIS IS PREMATURE FAILURE FOR A TRANSMISSION NOT USED FOR TOWING OR OFF ROAD. *AK
CRACKED TRANSMISSION CASE DUE TO INTERNAL DISINTEGRATION OF PIN
Official recalls
598V067000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Mar 25, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER FORD SERVICE BULLETIN 97-17-9 FROM AUGUST 1997 THROUGH DECEMBER 1997. THESE VEHICLES WERE INADVERTENLY EQUIPPED WITH AN 18-GALLON FUEL TANK RATHER THAN THE 16-GALLON AS SPECIFIED. THE 18-GALLON TANK HAS A SECOND VALVE LOCATION WHERE A SHIPPING PLUG SHOULD BE INSTALLED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS SHIPPING PLUG IS DISPLACED, FUEL LEAKAGE CAN RESULT. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CORRECT FUEL TANK.
96V176000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Sep 18, 1996
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARK PAWL SHAFT MAY NOT BE FREE TO ROTATE AS INTENDED. IF THE PARK PAWL SHAFT DOES NOT ROTATE, IT WOULD PREVENT THE PARK PAWL FROM ENGAGING THE PARK GEAR WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER IS IN THE PARK POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AS IF IN NEUTRAL WITH THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE PARK POSITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PARK PAWL SHAFT ROTATION AND THOSE SHAFTS WITH RESTRICTED ROTATION WILL BE REPLACED WITH A SHORTER SHAFT THAT WILL NOT RESTRICT ROTATION.
96V166000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
Sep 5, 1996
THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET HAS A SHARP EDGE WHICH CAN CAUSE THE PARKING PAWL TO HANG UP AND NOT ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWS THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: UNINTENDED AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET.
96V086000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
May 14, 1996
THE PARK PAWL SHAFT WAS IMPROPERLY POSITIONED WHEN THE ROLL PIN THAT RETAINS IT WAS INSTALLED DURING TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY. IF THE SHAFT WAS NOT PROPERLY POSITIONED, THE ROLL PIN MAY NOT HAVE LINED UP WITH THE GROOVE IN THE SHAFT AND HAVE BEEN CRUSHED AT ASSEMBLY. ALSO, A BURR COULD HAVE BEEN RAISED ON THE SHAFT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PARK PAWL OCCASIONALLY NOT ENGAGING WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AS IF IN NEUTRAL IF THE VEHICLE OPERATOR DOES NOT APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PARK PAWL SHAFT ROLL PIN. IF THE ROLL PIN IS DAMAGED, BOTH THE ROLL PIN AND THE PARK PAWL SHAFT WILL BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, OWNERS WILL BE REMINDED TO FULLY APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE, IN ADDITION TO PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK.
96V016000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:brake Fluid Low Warning: Lamp
Jan 25, 1996
THE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR LAMP SWITCH CAN MALFUNCTION. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF THE SWITCH MALFUNTIONS, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LAMP WILL EITHER REMAIN ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY OR FAIL TO LIGHT AS INTENDED WHEN THE FLUID LEVEL FALLS TO A CERTAIN LEVEL. IN EITHER CASE, THE VEHICLE OPERATOR WOULD NOT BE WARNED OF A LOW BRAKE FLUID LEVEL CONDITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR LAMP SWITCHES.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.