NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
11 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Apr 17, 2023
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train
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 shaki…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #11517410
85,000 miles · Aug 23, 2016
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train
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 …
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10898075
55,000 miles · Dec 10, 2015
EnginePower Train
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.
NHTSA ODI #10809460
37,808 miles · Oct 7, 2013
Power Train
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
NHTSA ODI #10547160
52,850 miles · Sep 20, 2013
Power Train
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 M…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10544546
79,000 miles · Dec 19, 2012
Power Train
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 D…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10489241
40,000 miles · Nov 27, 2012
Power Train
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 …
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10486216
60,000 miles · Nov 12, 2012
Power TrainSteering
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…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10484005
63,000 miles · Dec 17, 2011
Power Train
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…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10440288
12,200 miles · Feb 27, 2010
Power Train
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 D…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10314800
NHTSA investigations
1PE08060 · Tire Valve Cracking
Opened Oct 14, 2008 · Closed Apr 9, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Tires:valve
ON OCTOBER 14, 2008, ODI OPENED PE08-060 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CRACKED AND LEAKING SNAP-IN TIRE VALVES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.THE VALVES WERE SUPPLIED TO FORD BY TOPSEAL AUTO-PARTS, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SHANGHAI BAOLONG AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION IN CHINA.VALVES MADE BY TOPSEAL FOR AFTERMARKET SALE WERE THE SUBJECT OF TWO RECENT SAFETY RECALLS BY TECH INTERNATIONAL (08T-018) AND DILL AIR CONTROLS (08T-028), THE LATTER OF WHICH WAS INVESTIGATED BY ODI IN PE08-036 AND EA08-022.THE DEFECT CONDITIONS ADDRESSED BY THE AFTERMARKET TIRE VALVE RECALLS BOTH INVOLVED INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE SUPPLY OF ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS TO TOPSEAL FOR A PERIOD FROM JULY TO MID-NOVEMBER 2006.THE AFTERMARKET VALVES WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A BLEND OF EPDM AND NATURAL RUBBER, USING A RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE OF EPDM (EPDM PROVIDES INHERENT RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING).HENCE, THE NEED FOR ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH CRACKING WHEN THOSE CHEMICALS WERE MISSING OR OUT OF SPECIFICATION IN SOME LOTS OF VALVES.BOTH RECALL CAMPAIGNS INVOLVED INSPECTION PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND REPLACE VALVES WITH VISIBLE SURFACE CRACKING.ALTHOUGH THE TOPSEAL VALVES SUPPLIED TO FORD ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE ANTI-OZONANT SUPPLY ISSUES IN MID TO LATE-2006, FORD INDICATED THAT ITS VALVES WERE MADE AT A DIFFERENT TOPSEAL PRODUCTION LINE AND WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF EPDM RUBBER TO MEET MORE STRINGENT SPECIFICATIONS FROM FORD.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA PROVIDED BY FORD SHOWED THAT PROBLEMS WITH CRACKED TIRE VALVES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR MY 2007 VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007.FORD RESPONDED BY IMPLEMENTING CHANGES IN ITS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SNAP-IN RUBBER TIRE VALVES AND ALSO INCREASING THE QUALITY AND ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS FOR VALVES IMPORTED FOR USE IN ITS VEHICLES.WHILE THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM RATES ARE ELEVATED FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007, THE RATES OF LEAKING VALVES ARE WELL BELOW ONE PERCENT OF PRODUCTION FOR EACH OF THE PEAK MONTHS FOR ALL OF THE AFFECTED MODELS.A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS (TPMS) WHICH WARN THE DRIVER WHEN ANY TIRE PRESSURES DROPS BELOW 25 PERCENT OF RECOMMENDED INFLATION PRESSURE. AS OUTLINED IN A LETTER TO ODI DATED APRIL 6, 2009, FORD HAS AGREED TO SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS OF CERTAIN MY 2007 AND 2008 FORD, LINCOLN AND MERCURY VEHICLES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CRACKING CONCERN. LETTERS WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS OF VEHICLES BUILT FROM NOVEMBER 2006 THROUGH MAY 2007.OWNERS CAN OPT FOR A FREE DEALER INSPECTION.VALVES EXHIBITING SURFACE CRACKS OR AIR LEAKAGE RELATED TO OZONE ATTACK WILL BE REPLACED BY FORD UNDER ITS NORMAL WARRANTY TERMS.FORD EXPECTS TO SEND THE LETTER BY APPROXIMATELY MID-MAY 2009. BASED ON THE USE OF TPMS IN THE MAJORITY OF SUBJECT VEHICLES AND THE RELATIVELY LOW RATES OF REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING VALVES AND RESULTANT TIRE DAMAGE, ODI BELIEVES THAT THE ACTIONS FORD HAS AGREED TO TAKE WILL PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND EXPEDITIOUS RESOLUTION FOR VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT DURING THE PERIOD WHEN VALVES WITH INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING WERE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN USED IN VEHICLE PRODUCTION.FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO