IllustrationTRANSMISSION EXHIBITS A SHUDDER. COMMON PRACTICE ON OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES. IT ALSO STICKS WHEN PUT INTO GEAR. *AK
1996 Mercury Sable
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Mercury Sable do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 201.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sable years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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
Power Train complaints
69 reportsTHE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OUT OF PARK AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO OVER 30 MPH BECAUSE THE HIGH GEARS WERE BROKEN. NLM
THE BATTERY WAS INEXPLICABLY DRAINED 6 WEEKS AFTER WE PURCHASED THE CAR. TWO DAYS AGO, THE CAR SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING WHENEVER I TURNED OR SLOWED DOWN. NOW, IT SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL ALL OF THE TIME.
WELL, THE TRANSMISSION I HAVE, IM ON MY SECOND ONE (THEY SORTA REPLACED/REBUILT MY OLD ONE) IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE OLD ONE. I MEAN AT LEAST IT USES THE 2ND GEAR, WHICH THE OTHER ONE NEVER DID. NOW I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT UNTIL I ASKED AROUND. TWO OF MY FRIENDS HAVE SABLE'S IN THEIR FAMILIES, ONE IS A '96 LIK…
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WELL, THE TRANSMISSION I HAVE, IM ON MY SECOND ONE (THEY SORTA REPLACED/REBUILT MY OLD ONE) IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE OLD ONE. I MEAN AT LEAST IT USES THE 2ND GEAR, WHICH THE OTHER ONE NEVER DID. NOW I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT UNTIL I ASKED AROUND. TWO OF MY FRIENDS HAVE SABLE'S IN THEIR FAMILIES, ONE IS A '96 LIKE MINE, THE OTHER A '97 AND BOTH OF THEIR CARS HAVE HAD SERIOUS TRANSMISSION TROUBLES. MY FRIEND'S '96 DOESNT EVEN WORK ANYMORE, HES RATHER ANGRY ABOUT THAT AND MY OTHER FRIENDS '97 IS SHAKY. IM WORRIED NOW BECAUSE IM OUT OF WARRANTY, I ONLY HAVE A LITTLE OVER 20K ON MY CAR, I DRIVE IT REALLY NICELY, THIS SHOULDNT HAVE HAPPENED. I FEEL ITS MY DUTY TO TELL YOU GUYS I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED, SOMEONE WILL GET SERIOUSLY HURT FROM THIS ONE DAY IM SURE, BUT IM SURE IT WOULD TAKE 50+ PEOPLE BEFORE ANYONE DOES ANYTHING AND THAT ISNT GOING TO HAPPEN, SO IM LEFT WITH THIS GREAT CAR AND A TERRIBLE TRANSMISSION. IF YOU THINK YOU COULD GET A RECALL GOING ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS, OR YOU NEED ANY INFO, CALL ME BEFORE 1AM CDT PLEASE AT 972-964-1713
WHILE PULLING FROM A PARKING SPACE, A PIECE OF METAL BROKE OFF ON THE INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE GEARS TO LOCK UP AND ALSO THE TRANSFER CASE CRACK FROM THE INSIDE OUT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REBUILT.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BURNT UP AFTER 2 MILE TRIP
WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND VEHICLE IN THE PARK POSITION, THE VEHICLE ROLLS FORWARD ON FLAT SURFACE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY SHUTDOWN WITHOUT WARNING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
DURING ACCELLERATION FROM STOP TO MAKE LEFT TURN, TRANSMISSION DISSENGAGED. REAR BEARING FAILURE CAUSED DISSINTEGRATION OF TRANSMISSION. DEALER SUSPECTED FAULTY COMPONENTS/ASSEMBLY BUT WAS UNWILLING TO COVER UNDER WARRANTEE WHICH EXPIRED ONLY 5000 MILES EARLIER. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER WHO CLAIMED NO RESPONSIBILITY.
WHEN STOPPING AT A LIGHT AND TAKING OFF AGAIN THE CAR TAKES A FEW SECONDS TO MOVE. WHEN IT DOES MOVE, VEHICLE JERKS FORWARD HARD ENOUGH TO CAUSE WHIPLASH. DEALER SAYS THE VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. *AK
Official recalls
598V067000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Mar 25, 1998
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.
96V176000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Sep 18, 1996
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.
96V166000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
Sep 5, 1996
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.
96V086000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
May 14, 1996
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.
96V016000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:brake Fluid Low Warning: Lamp
Jan 25, 1996
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.