1999 Mercury Sable problems
The 1999 Mercury Sable has 302 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (16%) concerns suspension. Next are steering (11%) and brakes (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 302 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Suspension 16% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 33 and 4
- Injuries and deaths
- 49 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 68,000 miles 109 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 | 8 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 14 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 23 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 19 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 17 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 10 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 4 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 10 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 3 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 109 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 68,000 miles. For suspension specifically, the median reported mileage is about 73,000 miles (25 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 33 complaints mention a crash; 4 complaints mention a fire; 49 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1999 ranks 8th most-complained-about out of 18 model years of the Mercury Sable with enough data (202 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.
Problems with ABS. The vehicle was in two accidents due to the inability to control the vehicle during normal driving conditions, where the ABS did not work. The vehicle was in for repair 7 times. The following are repairs and or problems the vehicle experienced: torque converter replaced after transmission fluid was found low, exhaust leak fixed, washer fluid would spray when the turn signal and lights were on, shaking when the brakes were applied/resurfaced rotors, trunk leaked water, replaced multi-function…
Tl* - the contact has a 1999 mercury sable. The contact stated that when she purchased the vehicle may 22 2006, the vehicle did not have heat. The contact stated that she has had many problems with this vehicle since she purchased it. The vehicle operates with a high temperature reading, and the transmission seems to slip gears when you apply the gas pedal and back fires while switching gears. The dealer has not addressed the failures that the contact has experienced with her vehicle.
The brakes on the 1999 mercury sable that I purchased 4 years ago have been repaired and/or replaced 4 times! Now they are going out again. I have had the rotors turned, and every other thing that has been suggested. When I asked the last mechanic why my brakes keep going out, he stated that this size of ford was not supplied with an appropriate brake for the size of car. I asked what could be done to remedy the situation, and was informed that I would have to keep replacing the brakes.