IllustrationFRONT SPRING FAILURE, TIRE DAMAGE. *NM
1999 Mercury Sable
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1999 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
80–25K
1825–50K
3050–75K
1875–100K
16100–150K
8150K+
98 reports with mileage · 160 unknown
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.
- Suspension. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
22 crash reports4 fire reports15 injury reports
What owners actually said
258 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE COVER OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS SEPARATING FROM THE DASH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED, BUT THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT IMPACT COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALTHOUGH BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEATBELTS, THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DID NOT LOCK RESULTING IN FORWARD MOTION, WHICH CAUSED THE OCCUPANTS TO STRIKE THE DASH PANEL AREA. MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT IMPACT COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALTHOUGH BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEATBELTS, THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DID NOT LOCK RESULTING IN FORWARD MOTION, WHICH CAUSED THE OCCUPANTS TO STRIKE THE DASH PANEL AREA. MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE HAD MODERATE DAMAGE. THE POLICE WERE ON THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER.
NOISY POWER STEERING PUMP & LOSS POWER STEERING. THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND STEERING RACK AND PINION WERE REPLACED ON OUR 1999 SABLE WHEN IT HAD 56,000 MILES. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEATER DID NOT WORK. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE HEATER CORE WAS BLOCKED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN FIXED DUE TO REPAIR EXPENSE.*AK
THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER TURNS ON BY ITSELF, SOMETIMES IT ONLY GOES ON ONCE AND OTHER TIMES IT WILL DO IT FOR A FEW TIMES. IT USED TO ONLY HAPPEN ONCE EVERY FEW MONTHS, NOW THERE ARE DAYS THAT IT HAPPENS EVERY FEW MINUTES. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER YET, BECAUSE I WANT TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON THIS TO SEE IF IT W…
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THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER TURNS ON BY ITSELF, SOMETIMES IT ONLY GOES ON ONCE AND OTHER TIMES IT WILL DO IT FOR A FEW TIMES. IT USED TO ONLY HAPPEN ONCE EVERY FEW MONTHS, NOW THERE ARE DAYS THAT IT HAPPENS EVERY FEW MINUTES. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER YET, BECAUSE I WANT TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON THIS TO SEE IF IT WILL BECOME A RECALL OR NOT (SINCE OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM). *JB
1999 MERCURY SABLE LS VIN - [XXX] CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW FROM COPPER COUNTRY FORD 12/16/98 WARRANTY - 36,000 MILES / 6 YEARS ----------------------------------------------- AT APPROX 36,095 MILES OCT 2004 I HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION STEERING. SEEING AS HOW I WAS OVER THE WARRANTY, I CALLED THE FORD MO.…
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1999 MERCURY SABLE LS VIN - [XXX] CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW FROM COPPER COUNTRY FORD 12/16/98 WARRANTY - 36,000 MILES / 6 YEARS ----------------------------------------------- AT APPROX 36,095 MILES OCT 2004 I HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION STEERING. SEEING AS HOW I WAS OVER THE WARRANTY, I CALLED THE FORD MO. CO AND ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THEY WOULD DO. TOWN & COUNTRY FORD (LOCAL FORD DEALER IN MY TOWN) SAID THEY WOULD CHARGE ME FOR THE LABOR ONLY. APRIL 11, 2005 WITH APPROX 38,000 MILES IT STARTED TO LEAK OIL. I TOOK IT TO TOWN & COUNTRY AND THEY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW OIL PAN GASKET. THEY REPAIRED IT AT MY EXPENSE. APPROX A MONTH LATER, IT WAS LEAKING AGAIN. TOOK IT IN, AND THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT... OIL PAN GASKET NEEDED SOME TWEEKING, SO THEY SAID. I TOOK IT TO HAVE ITS NORMAL 3000 MI OIL CHECK DAYS LATER, AND THE MAN WHO LOOKED AT MY ENGINE SAID THE FAN BELT WAS SHREDDED, AND COULD NOT BELIEVE SOMEONE WAS WORKING ON MY ENGINE DAYS PRIOR AND DID NOT FIX IT OR TELL ME ABOUT IT. I HAD THE FAN BELT REPLACED. OCT 13, 2005 MY CAR IS STILL LEAKING OIL. I TOOK IT TO TOWN & COUNTRY FORD, AND NOW THEY TELL ME I NEED A NEW ENGINE.....BECAUSE THE BLOCK IS CRACKED. I ASKED IF MAYBE THE OIL LEAK THAT HAD STARTED IN APRIL MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO THE CRACKED BLOCK, TO WHICH I NEVER GOT AN ANSWER. WHEN I ASKED WHY THE BLOCK WAS CRACKED, THE ANSWER I GOT WAS "ITS MADE OF ALUMINUM, AND SOMETIMES THESE THINGS HAPPEN." CURRENT MILEAGE IS APPROX 40,000. I JUST CALLED THE FORD MOTOR CO AND THEY SAID THERE ARE NO PROGRAMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CAR TO HELP ME AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I REALIZE THAT IM OVER MILEAGE, AND THAT IM OVER THE WARRANTY....BUT I HAVE REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION AND NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE? [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] *NM UPDATED 07/18/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
CONSUMER HAD COIL SPRING SHIELDS INSTALLED UNDER SAFETY RECALL, VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE WHEN HITTING A DIP. *TS THE SHIELDS THAT WERE INSTALLED UNDER THE RECALL WAS CAUSING THE NOISE, SO THEREFORE THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT THE DEALER REMOVE THEM. ONCE THEY WERE REMOVED, THE NOISE STOPPED. THE DEALER DID ADVISE THE…
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CONSUMER HAD COIL SPRING SHIELDS INSTALLED UNDER SAFETY RECALL, VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE WHEN HITTING A DIP. *TS THE SHIELDS THAT WERE INSTALLED UNDER THE RECALL WAS CAUSING THE NOISE, SO THEREFORE THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT THE DEALER REMOVE THEM. ONCE THEY WERE REMOVED, THE NOISE STOPPED. THE DEALER DID ADVISE THE CONSUMER THAT DRIVING WITHOUT THE SHIELDS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. *JB
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR STARTED SMOKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THEN THE SMOKE STARTED COMING INSIDE THE CAR FROM THE DASHBOARD. AFTER THAT THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. ALMOST EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD BURNED UP. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE. *NM
CONSUMER REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT FOR THE 1999 MERCURY SABLE ABS MODULE.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM FIRST BEGAN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE AND STICKING WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES WAS NOT DIAGNOSED PROPERLY WHICH LED TO UNNECESSARY COSTLY BRAKE RE…
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CONSUMER REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT FOR THE 1999 MERCURY SABLE ABS MODULE.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM FIRST BEGAN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE AND STICKING WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES WAS NOT DIAGNOSED PROPERLY WHICH LED TO UNNECESSARY COSTLY BRAKE REPAIR BILLS. *JB
Official recalls
504V332000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs
Jul 15, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS COULD FRACTURE DUE TO CORROSION ASSOCIATED WITH SALT USED ON THE ROADWAYS DURING THE WINTER. A FRACTURED SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE TIRE MAY RUPTURE RESULTING IN A RAPID AIR LOSS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL PROTECTIVE SPRING SHIELDS. IN ADDITION, FORD IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS IN ALL OTHER STATES, FOR FRACTURE ONLY, UP TO 10 YEARS OF SERVICE OR 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. IF THE VEHICLE HAS ALREADY ACCUMULATED MORE THAN 150,000 MILES, THIS COVERAGE WILL LAST UNTIL JULY 31, 2005. IF EITHER FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURES, DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER. AN INTERIM NOTICE WAS SENT TO OWNERS ON AUGUST 2, 2004. PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE 2000-2001 MY VEHICLES AND OWNERS WERE SENT A LETTER ON JANUARY 10, 2005, ADVISING THEM TO BRING IN THEIR VEHICLES FOR REPAIR PARTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE FOR THE 1999 MY VEHICLES BY THE END OF FEBRUARY 2005 AND OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES WILL BE NOTIFIED THEN. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
99V250000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Sep 20, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MAY HAVE A PIN SHAFT IN THE SWITCHABLE ELR/ALR MECHANISM THAT IS INCORRECTLY FORMED. IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, THE SWITCHING MECHANISM COULD BECOME NONFUNCTIONAL, PREVENTING THE SEAT BELT WEBBING FROM BEING EXTRACTED FROM THE RETRACTOR. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT MALFUNCTION OF THE MECHANISM COULD PREVENT THE BELT FROM BEING SWITCHED INTO THE ALR MODE. THE ELR MECHANISM IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE MECHANISM MALFUNCTIONS AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE WEBBING TO BE EXTRACTED, THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT COULD NOT BE WORN BY A VEHICLE OCCUPANT. IN THE EVENT THAT THE MECHANISM DOES NOT ALLOW THE ALR MODE TO BE ENGAGED, THE OPERATOR MAY BE UNABLE TO PROPERLY INSTALL A CHILD SEAT IN THAT SEATING POSITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLIES. ASSEMBLIES WITH JULIAN DATE CODES OF 200 THROUGH 223 ARE SUSPECT AND WILL BE REPLACED.
98V288000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines
Nov 9, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUPPED WITH THE "CALIFORNIA" EMISSIONS PACKAGE. AN INCORRECT TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE WAS INSTALLED. THE LINE CONTACTS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM MODULE SUPPORT BRACKET AND OVER TIME, CAN WEAR AND DEVELOP A LEAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD OR CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE APPROPRIATE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE.
98V204000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Sep 1, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A DASH INSULATOR RETAINER CLIP WAS NOT FULLY ASSEMBLED TO THE ACCELERATOR CABLE DASH FITTING. THE CLIP CAN DISENGAGE FROM THE ACCELERATOR CABLE AND FALL INTO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM PIVOT AREA.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE ENGINE MAY NOT FULLY RETURN TO IDLE. ALSO, THE INSULATOR MAY NOT STAY IN THE INTENDED LOCATION AND COULD INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR CABLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES TO ENSURE PROPER INSTALLATION OF THE ACCELERATOR CABLE CLIP, AND RE-INSTALL IF NEEDED.
98V198000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Aug 25, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL SEAT TRACKS. THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ATTACHING STUD MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED. THIS HEAT TREATMENT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN CRACKS DEVELOPING IN THE STUD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE STUD IS CRACKED, IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MOUNTING BRACKET AND STUD ASSEMBLY.
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
2PE04044 · Front Suspension Coil Spring Fracture
Opened May 24, 2004 · Closed Aug 16, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension:front; Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs
ODI POSSESSES 130 VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRES (VOQ) ALLEGING FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT (MODEL YEAR 1999-2000) VEHICLES.AN ADDITIONAL 11 VOQS CONCERNING MY 2001 VEHICLES HAVE BEEN FOUND, BRINGING THE TOTAL TO 141.MORE THAN 75% OF THESE REPORTS ALLEGE THAT THE BROKEN SPRING DAMAGED OR PUNCTURED THE ADJACENT TIRE.ALL OF THESE REPORTS ORIGINATED IN THE SALT BELT STATES LOCATED IN THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.FORD WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (04V-332) COVERING VEHICLES SOLDOR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, TO INSTALL SPRING SHIELDS IN MY 1999-2001 TAURUS/SABLE VEHICLES TO PREVENT A FRACTURED SPRING FROM DAMAGING THE NEARBY TIRE.FORD WILL ADDITIONALLY NOTIFY OWNERS OF ALL MY 1999-2001 TAURUS/SABLE VEHICLES THAT WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR SPRING FRACTURES HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS OF AGE OR 150,000 MILES.ODI ANALYZED FORD?S WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT DATA AND FOUND THAT 99% OF THE SPRING FRACTURES OCCURRED IN THE STATES COVERED BY THE RECALL.THE OTHER INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN THE STATES OF FLORIDA, NORTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, ALABAMA, AND GEORGIA.IN VIEW OF THE COVERAGE OF THE SPRING FAILURES BY THE RECALL CAMPAIGN, ODI IS CLOSING THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE COUNTRY.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Suspension:front
ODI POSSESSES 130 VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRES (VOQ) ALLEGING FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT (MODEL YEAR 1999-2000) VEHICLES.AN ADDITIONAL 11 VOQS CONCERNING MY 2001 VEHICLES HAVE BEEN FOUND, BRINGING THE TOTAL TO 141.MORE THAN 75% OF THESE REPORTS ALLEGE THAT THE BROKEN SPRING DAMAGED OR PUNCTURED THE ADJACENT TIRE.ALL OF THESE REPORTS ORIGINATED IN THE SALT BELT STATES LOCATED IN THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.FORD WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (04V-332) COVERING VEHICLES SOLDOR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, TO INSTALL SPRING SHIELDS IN MY 1999-2001 TAURUS/SABLE VEHICLES TO PREVENT A FRACTURED SPRING FROM DAMAGING THE NEARBY TIRE.FORD WILL ADDITIONALLY NOTIFY OWNERS OF ALL MY 1999-2001 TAURUS/SABLE VEHICLES THAT WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR SPRING FRACTURES HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS OF AGE OR 150,000 MILES.ODI ANALYZED FORD?S WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT DATA AND FOUND THAT 99% OF THE SPRING FRACTURES OCCURRED IN THE STATES COVERED BY THE RECALL.THE OTHER INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN THE STATES OF FLORIDA, NORTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, ALABAMA, AND GEORGIA.IN VIEW OF THE COVERAGE OF THE SPRING FAILURES BY THE RECALL CAMPAIGN, ODI IS CLOSING THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE COUNTRY.
Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs
ODI POSSESSES 130 VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRES (VOQ) ALLEGING FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT (MODEL YEAR 1999-2000) VEHICLES.AN ADDITIONAL 11 VOQS CONCERNING MY 2001 VEHICLES HAVE BEEN FOUND, BRINGING THE TOTAL TO 141.MORE THAN 75% OF THESE REPORTS ALLEGE THAT THE BROKEN SPRING DAMAGED OR PUNCTURED THE ADJACENT TIRE.ALL OF THESE REPORTS ORIGINATED IN THE SALT BELT STATES LOCATED IN THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.FORD WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (04V-332) COVERING VEHICLES SOLDOR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, TO INSTALL SPRING SHIELDS IN MY 1999-2001 TAURUS/SABLE VEHICLES TO PREVENT A FRACTURED SPRING FROM DAMAGING THE NEARBY TIRE.FORD WILL ADDITIONALLY NOTIFY OWNERS OF ALL MY 1999-2001 TAURUS/SABLE VEHICLES THAT WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR SPRING FRACTURES HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS OF AGE OR 150,000 MILES.ODI ANALYZED FORD?S WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT DATA AND FOUND THAT 99% OF THE SPRING FRACTURES OCCURRED IN THE STATES COVERED BY THE RECALL.THE OTHER INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN THE STATES OF FLORIDA, NORTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, ALABAMA, AND GEORGIA.IN VIEW OF THE COVERAGE OF THE SPRING FAILURES BY THE RECALL CAMPAIGN, ODI IS CLOSING THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE COUNTRY.
PE02080 · Front Suspension Coil Spring Fracture
Opened Oct 22, 2002 · Closed Apr 29, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension; Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs
A TOTAL OF 161 FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING FAILURES ARE KNOWN TO ODI AND FORD FROM ALL SOURCES, 59 OF THESE LEADING TO TIRE DAMAGE.THESE FAILURES ARE CONCENTRATED IN THE CORROSION STATES, WHERE 253,814 SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE SOLD.WARRANTY AND CONSUMER COMPLAINT DATA SHOW THAT THE SUBJECT FLEET EXPERIENCED A SPRING FRACTURE RATE OF 0.009% AT 30,000 MILES AND 0.03% AT 60,000 MILES.THESE RATES ARE VERY LOW WHEN COMPARED TO PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS OF COIL SPRING FRACTURE:RECALLED '93 TAURUS (EA97-026): 0.1% AT 30,000 MILES AND 0.34% AT 60,000 MILES; AND RECALLED '98 WINDSTAR (EA00-027): 0.11% AT 30,000 MILES AND 1.25% AT 60,000 MILES.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ALSO EXPERIENCED FAILURE RATES SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER THAN THOSE OF COMPARABLE-AGED NON-RECALLED WINDSTARS SUBJECT TO EA00-027 (MY '95-'97).GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN THIS MATTER.THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Suspension
A TOTAL OF 161 FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING FAILURES ARE KNOWN TO ODI AND FORD FROM ALL SOURCES, 59 OF THESE LEADING TO TIRE DAMAGE.THESE FAILURES ARE CONCENTRATED IN THE CORROSION STATES, WHERE 253,814 SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE SOLD.WARRANTY AND CONSUMER COMPLAINT DATA SHOW THAT THE SUBJECT FLEET EXPERIENCED A SPRING FRACTURE RATE OF 0.009% AT 30,000 MILES AND 0.03% AT 60,000 MILES.THESE RATES ARE VERY LOW WHEN COMPARED TO PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS OF COIL SPRING FRACTURE:RECALLED '93 TAURUS (EA97-026): 0.1% AT 30,000 MILES AND 0.34% AT 60,000 MILES; AND RECALLED '98 WINDSTAR (EA00-027): 0.11% AT 30,000 MILES AND 1.25% AT 60,000 MILES.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ALSO EXPERIENCED FAILURE RATES SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER THAN THOSE OF COMPARABLE-AGED NON-RECALLED WINDSTARS SUBJECT TO EA00-027 (MY '95-'97).GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN THIS MATTER.THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT.
Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs
A TOTAL OF 161 FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING FAILURES ARE KNOWN TO ODI AND FORD FROM ALL SOURCES, 59 OF THESE LEADING TO TIRE DAMAGE.THESE FAILURES ARE CONCENTRATED IN THE CORROSION STATES, WHERE 253,814 SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE SOLD.WARRANTY AND CONSUMER COMPLAINT DATA SHOW THAT THE SUBJECT FLEET EXPERIENCED A SPRING FRACTURE RATE OF 0.009% AT 30,000 MILES AND 0.03% AT 60,000 MILES.THESE RATES ARE VERY LOW WHEN COMPARED TO PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS OF COIL SPRING FRACTURE:RECALLED '93 TAURUS (EA97-026): 0.1% AT 30,000 MILES AND 0.34% AT 60,000 MILES; AND RECALLED '98 WINDSTAR (EA00-027): 0.11% AT 30,000 MILES AND 1.25% AT 60,000 MILES.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ALSO EXPERIENCED FAILURE RATES SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER THAN THOSE OF COMPARABLE-AGED NON-RECALLED WINDSTARS SUBJECT TO EA00-027 (MY '95-'97).GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN THIS MATTER.THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT.