CarRecallWatchThe 1996 Mercury Sable has 5 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 304 complaints with NHTSA, including 20 crashes, 10 fires, 119 injuries.
The most-reported problem area is Power Train (71 reports).
1996 Mercury Sable recalls
Most common 1996 Mercury Sable problems
Problem areas named in the 304 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 71 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 67 |
| Steering | 39 |
| Visibility | 30 |
| Structure | 29 |
| Electrical System | 20 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 19 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 17 |
| Air Bags | 15 |
| Exterior Lighting | 13 |
What owners report
JUST BOUGHT A MERCURY SABLE 1996. AFTER DRIVING THIS VEHICAL FOR ABOUT 10 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP BADLY. IT BEGAN WITH HAVING TROUBLE ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING IN A RURAL AREA WITH FEW STOPS AND LITTLE TRAFFIC. BY THE TIME I STOPPED AT THE 3 STOP SIGN. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NO LONGER ENGAGE INTO 1ST OR 2ND GEAR. NEVER GOT INTO 4TH GEAR. BUT HAD TO GET PUSH THE VEHICAL FROM THE LAST STOP SIGN UNTIL I REACHED A SMALL HILL THAT ALLOWED ME TO REACH THE SPEED SO THAT 3RD WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO MY HOUSE. THE CAR HASN'T MOVED SINCE THEN. WASTE OF $1,000!! TRANSMISSION IS FINISHED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A SQUEAKING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDER THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN SLOWING DOWN, MAKING TURNS, AND REVERSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRADLE AND SUBFRAME BUSHING WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING AT CERTAIN SPEEDS AND MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE AND THE SUBFRAME WERE SEVERELY RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE RECURRED HOWEVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME FAILURE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000. *TR
RELEVANT INFORMATION---ENGINE WAS REPAIRED ON SEPT. 9/10, 2012 SAME MORNING AS THE ACCIDENT--CAR WAS DRIVEN TO BANK BUT AS I WAS LEAVING I COULD NOT PUT CAR INTO REVERSE. A GENTLEMAN PASSERBY WAS ABLE TO PUT IT INTO REVERSE WITH EFFORT AND A LOUD NOISE IN THE GEARS. I PROCEEDED TO MY EXERCISE CLASS WHICH LASTED ONE HOUR. HAD NO TROUBLE WITH REVERSE GEAR THIS TIME. ABOUT 1/2 HOUR LATER I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT AND IN A MATTER OF MINUTES THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING UP AND SHOT FORWARD ON ITS OWN, WENT OVER A CURB & SIDEWALK AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL AT HIGH SPEED. THE AIR BAGS WENT OFF AND WITH EFFORT I WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE FRONT DOOR. I HAD MINOR INJURIES--NOSE, CUT ON ELBOW, B
1996 Mercury Sable questions
Does the 1996 Mercury Sable have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 1996 Mercury Sable: Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly; Power Train:Automatic Transmission; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl); Power Train:Automatic Transmission; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Brake Fluid Low Warning: Lamp. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Mercury Sable?
Based on 304 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Power Train (71), Engine And Engine Cooling (67), Steering (39).
How do I check if a recall on my 1996 Mercury Sable has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.