1996 Mercury Sable problems
The 1996 Mercury Sable has 391 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (17%) concerns transmission. Next are engine (14%) and steering (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 391 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Transmission 17% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 25 and 13
- Injuries and deaths
- 124 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 95,000 miles 39 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 2 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 2 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 3 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 7 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 10 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 1 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 5 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 3 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 2 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 2 |
What the data shows
Of the 39 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 95,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 25 complaints mention a crash; 13 complaints mention a fire; 124 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1996 ranks 6th most-complained-about out of 18 model years of the Mercury Sable with enough data (242 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 5 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While traveling 50MPH driver applied brakes, but pedal went to floor and vehicle did not slow down or stop, eventually coming to rest in a ditch. Consumer states 3 people were injured in accident. *slc
Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration when brake pedal was applied while pulling into a parking space. Vehicle crashed into a center block building. Upon impact, both air bags did not depoly, and minor injuries were sustained by both driver and passenger. Dealer/manufacturer notified.
I have had this car for one year and one half. I bought it from ray hudson chevrolet in la crosse ,wis. I had the car two weeks and the transmission had to be replaced. Two weeks after the front and back brakes had to be replaced. This was at the dealers exspense. I had to have a wheel bearing replaced and now after a year and 1/2 I have to replace the whole motor.
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.