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
What owners actually said
304 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2000
Electrical System
I REALLY NEED THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED ITS VERY DANGEROUS I RECENTLY SAW A RECALL SECTION IN THE NEWSPAPERS WITH THIS PROBLEM SIMILAR TO MINE SOMETHING ABOUT A TFI SWITCH OR SOMETHING HAVING TO DO WITH THE VEHICLES STALLING WELL I BOUGHT MY CAR WITH A 2 MONTH WARRANTY AN HAVE SINCE HAD THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED AND IVE TAKEN IT TO T…
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I REALLY NEED THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED ITS VERY DANGEROUS I RECENTLY SAW A RECALL SECTION IN THE NEWSPAPERS WITH THIS PROBLEM SIMILAR TO MINE SOMETHING ABOUT A TFI SWITCH OR SOMETHING HAVING TO DO WITH THE VEHICLES STALLING WELL I BOUGHT MY CAR WITH A 2 MONTH WARRANTY AN HAVE SINCE HAD THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED AND IVE TAKEN IT TO THE FORD DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO HAVE THEM DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM FIRST THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT THEN I ASKED THEM TO PLEASE TRY AND DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM THEN THEY ENDED UP SAYING IT WAS THE TFI SWITCH OR SOMETHING SO THEY REPLACED THAT BUT THAT WASNT THE PROBLEM THIS IS STILL HAPPEING SO DID I PAY FOR SOMETHING I DIDNT NEED BUT THATS NOT THE ISSUE THE ISSUE IS THIS CAR
NHTSA ODI #734475
Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury
BRAKES FAILED. HARD PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL RESULTED IN NO BRAKING FROM A SPEED OF 25MPH. CAR WAS STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A HOUSE. DAMAGE APPEARS TOTAL. ABS BRAKES HAVE FAILED IN TWO EARLIER INCIDENTS: ONE REQUIRED ABOUT $800 OF REPAIRS AND SOME PROPERTY DAMAGE. CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY AFTER THE FIRST OWNER R…
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BRAKES FAILED. HARD PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL RESULTED IN NO BRAKING FROM A SPEED OF 25MPH. CAR WAS STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A HOUSE. DAMAGE APPEARS TOTAL. ABS BRAKES HAVE FAILED IN TWO EARLIER INCIDENTS: ONE REQUIRED ABOUT $800 OF REPAIRS AND SOME PROPERTY DAMAGE. CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY AFTER THE FIRST OWNER RETURNED THE VEHICLE FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS FORD CERTIFIED THAT THE BRAKES HAD BEEN REPAIRED TO "NEW" CONDITION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #734022
Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control
IDLE RACES AND DOES NOT COME DOWN ONCE FOOT IS TAKEN OFF ACCELERATOR. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #555436
Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2000
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR AND GOES INTO NEUTRAL. THIS PROBLEM BECOMES MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN MAKING A TURN OR SLOWING DOWN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #872040
Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL SHUT-OFF SWITCH TRIPPED, SHUTING DOWN THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AFTER I WENT OVER A VERY SMALL BUMP.
NHTSA ODI #731790
Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2000
Power Train
VEHICLE NEUTRALS OUT AT A STOP/ A TSB HAS BEEN ISSUED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #870665
Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2000
Power Train
CRACKED TRANMISSION CASE, PIN CAME OUT OF GEAR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #731460
Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE ENGINE COOLANT SYSTEM FREEZE-OUT PLUGS POPPED OUT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK CAUSING THE COOLANT TO LEAK PROFUSELY. *MJS
NHTSA ODI #554630
Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline
CAR STALLED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT AND HAD TO BE TOWED. UPON INSPECTION BY A MECHANIC, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE WIRES LEADING FROM THE FUEL PUMP HAD BECOME FRAYED DUE TO RUBBING AGAINST THE PUMP HOUSING ITSELF. A NEW PUMP WAS ORDERED FROM THE FORD DEALER AND THE NEW PUMP WAS NOTED TO HAVE A THICK PROTECTIVE SLEEVE AROUND THE WIRES TO PRE…
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CAR STALLED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT AND HAD TO BE TOWED. UPON INSPECTION BY A MECHANIC, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE WIRES LEADING FROM THE FUEL PUMP HAD BECOME FRAYED DUE TO RUBBING AGAINST THE PUMP HOUSING ITSELF. A NEW PUMP WAS ORDERED FROM THE FORD DEALER AND THE NEW PUMP WAS NOTED TO HAVE A THICK PROTECTIVE SLEEVE AROUND THE WIRES TO PREVENT THEM FROM FRAYING. THE BARE WIRES ON MY PUMP COULD EASILY CAUSE A SPARK AND EXPLOSION SO I WROTE TO FORD TO APPRISE THEM OF THE SITUATION. I HEARD FROM THEM ABOUT A WEEK LATER AND THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME TO GET LOST, AND THAT SINCE I DID NOT BRING MY CAR TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR THAT I WAS OUT OF LUCK AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME. I ALSO SUGGESTED THEY RECALL THE PART TO PREVENT INJURY DUE TO POSSIBLE EXPLOSION DUE TO THIS DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP DESIGN, BUT AGAIN THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN HEARING FROM ME. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT AGAIN.
NHTSA ODI #727601
Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2000
Tires
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH REAR TIRE BLEWOUT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
1996 Mercury Sable Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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