IllustrationWHEN PULLING ONTO A RAMP TRANSMISSION DOES NOT PICK UP WHEN ACCELERATOR IS APPLIED. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *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
What owners actually said
304 reportsWHILE DRIVING ON THE NJP ABOUT 55 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND JUST DIE. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY KIND OF WARNING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP DETECTED THE CAUSE TO BE A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED. OWNER IS STILL EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD BE…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE NJP ABOUT 55 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND JUST DIE. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY KIND OF WARNING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP DETECTED THE CAUSE TO BE A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED. OWNER IS STILL EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES BUT NO SOLUTION IS FOUND. NOW THE VEHICLE HITS HARD WHEN IN REVERSE,DRIVE AND PARK. *YH
I WAS DRIVING ON THE TRUNPIKE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS NO MORE POWER I HAD TO STAY THERE TILL THIS MAN CALL THE POLICE THE CAR SHOULD NOT DO IT. THERE WAS NO WARNING AT ALL. I THEN HAD IT TOW THREE TIME FROM THE PLACE WHERE IT BROKE DOWN ,THEN TO THE MACENICS SHOP THEN…
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I WAS DRIVING ON THE TRUNPIKE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS NO MORE POWER I HAD TO STAY THERE TILL THIS MAN CALL THE POLICE THE CAR SHOULD NOT DO IT. THERE WAS NO WARNING AT ALL. I THEN HAD IT TOW THREE TIME FROM THE PLACE WHERE IT BROKE DOWN ,THEN TO THE MACENICS SHOP THEN FROM THERE TO AUTOLAND THE TOTAL OF THE NO POWER THE CAR STARTED TO BURK AND THAT WAS THE END OF IT IT DIDN;T START ANYMORE TOOK TO AUTOLAND WITH HARRY LUPO THEY SAID IT WAS THIS AND TO FIND OUT IT WAS THAT TO BUT THEY HAD MY CAR FOR OVER A MONTH .I WENT AND TOOK IT OUT THEY SAID IT WAS RUNNING FINE I STARED TO DRIVE IT ALL IT DID WAS BACK FRIE AND RAN VERY HOT. *AK
A CLUTCH PLATE WITHIN TRANSMISSION BROKE IN 3 PLACES. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. BUT, MANUFACTURER IS NOT PROVIDING OR SELLING NEW TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT KEEPS FAILING. *AK
DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE UNIT RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO LEAKAGE OF FLUID. *MJS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
ENTIRE ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO MANUFACTUERER FLAW, THEY REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS AND SO DID THE WARRANTY COMPANY.*AK
HEATER CORE FAILED. STEAM & FUMES WERE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. WATER WAS EXITING FROM OUTSIDE. HAD NO PRIOR WARNING OF ANY PROBLEM. WAS PREVIOUSLY RECALLED FOR HEATER CORE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING INNER TIE ROD UNTHREADED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE UNDRIVEABLE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE. *AK
WHEN AUTOMOBILE IS PLACED IN PARK, IT DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY GO INTO PARK. ALSO, WHEN THE AUTOMOBILE IS ON A HILL, IT WILL MOVE UNTIL EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ON. IN ADDITION, IT IS HARD TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. RECALL 96V176OOO HAS BEEN ISSUED WHICH DEALS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RE…
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WHEN AUTOMOBILE IS PLACED IN PARK, IT DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY GO INTO PARK. ALSO, WHEN THE AUTOMOBILE IS ON A HILL, IT WILL MOVE UNTIL EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ON. IN ADDITION, IT IS HARD TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. RECALL 96V176OOO HAS BEEN ISSUED WHICH DEALS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *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.