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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 →

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 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 1999
Power Train

I WAS TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65. THERE WAS A SUDDEN HIGH PITCHED WHIRRING SOUND. I TAPPED THE BRAKE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN I ACCELERATED, THERE WAS NO GEAR. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DETERMINED THAT I COULD NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD, OR USE ANY GEAR. I WAS TOWED 26 MILES TO T…

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I WAS TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65. THERE WAS A SUDDEN HIGH PITCHED WHIRRING SOUND. I TAPPED THE BRAKE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN I ACCELERATED, THERE WAS NO GEAR. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DETERMINED THAT I COULD NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD, OR USE ANY GEAR. I WAS TOWED 26 MILES TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. 75% OF THE MILES ARE HIWAY MILES. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING OR MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ODI #702731

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1998
Power Train

TRANSMISSION CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO JERK WHENEVER VEHICLE STARTS FROM A STOPPING POSITION. VEHICLE IN DEALER SHOP AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #828971

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 1998
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #541484

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 1998
Power Train

ERRATICALLY THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #826733

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 1998
Power Train

INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE . ULTIMATELY VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. THE MANUFACTURER HAS PAID HALF THE COST OF THE REPAIR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #826113

Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 1998
Power TrainInjury

TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER.

NHTSA ODI #537310

Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 1998
Power Train

SUDDEN ACCELERATION TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING.

NHTSA ODI #533059

Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 1997
Power Train

VEHICLE JUMPS AND LURCHES OUT OF GEARS WHILE IN MOTION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #526430

Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 1997
Power Train

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND TRANSMISSION IS IN THE PARK POSITION, IT WILL SOMETIMES ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL.

NHTSA ODI #605137

Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 1997
Power TrainSteering

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

NHTSA ODI #518479

Official recalls

5

98V067000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.