1999 MERCURY SABLE — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
302
Owner Complaints
5
Recalls
35
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1999 MERCURY SABLE
The 1999 MERCURY SABLE has received a total of 302 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 5 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES. 35 technical service bulletins have been issued by Ford Motor Company for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Suspensionfrontspringscoil Springs (36 complaints), Power Trainautomatic Transmission (13 complaints), and Steeringrack And Pinion (13 complaints).
Recalls for the 1999 MERCURY SABLE
NHTSA has recorded 5 recalls for the 1999 MERCURY SABLE, potentially affecting up to 939,166 vehicles.
Recall 04V332000 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
| 899,060 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
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...
View full details →Recall 99V250000 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
| 25,306 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
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.
View full details →Recall 98V288000 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
| 1,800 vehicles affected
Defect: 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: 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.
View full details →Recall 98V204000 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
| 6,000 vehicles affected
Defect: 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: 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.
View full details →Recall 98V198000 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
| 7,000 vehicles affected
Defect: 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: 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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1999 MERCURY SABLE
302 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1999 MERCURY SABLE. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
I BOUGHT A USED 1999 MERCURY SABLE GS WITH THE U TYPE 3.0L V6 ENGINE 2 MONTHS AGO. JUST RECENTLY I NOTICED THE CAR WANTING TO LUNGE FORWARD WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKE AT STOPS. THEN A FEW DAYS LATER WHENEVER I START THE CAR IT LUNGES FORWARD. NOTHING DRAMATIC BUT DEFINITELY NOTICEABLE. I STARTED LOOKING ONLINE TO SEE ABOUT A RECALL AND 1 WAS PRESENT A LONG TIME AGO. IS IT TO LATE TO GET MY CAR CHECKED OR HOW TO SEE IF IT WAS EVER SERVICED OR CALLED FOR THE RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY SABLE WAGON. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND MADE IT VERY HARD TO STEER ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HAVE A ACCIDENT AFTER COMING TO A STOP THE STEERING WHEEL WAS OFF CENTER AND VERY HARD TO TURN HAD TO GET CAR TOWED.I FIND THIS TO BE A COMPLETE RIP OFF BECAUSE I SEE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF STEERING PROBLEMS OF THE SAME MATTER
REAR SUBFRAME CONNECTION PASSENGER SIDE RUSTED THROUGH DUE TO FACTORY PUT AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSATE LINE SO THAT IT CONSTANTLY DUMPS CONDENSATE ON THIS AREA INSTEAD OF DRAINING CONDENSATE BEYOND AND TO THE GROUND. THE RESULT IS A RUSTED OUT SEVERED CONNECTION THEREBY CAUSING THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TO BE HELD BY ONLY THREE OF THE FOUR CONNECTIONS NEEDED TO SAFELY HOLD ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION AS DESIGNED FROM THE FACTORY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKES HESITATED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.
Safety Rating for the 1999 MERCURY SABLE
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1999 MERCURY SABLE in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1999 MERCURY SABLE
Ford Motor Company has issued 35 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1999 MERCURY SABLE. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
18614 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SURGE, IDLE ROLL, ROUGH IDLE ONLY WHEN THE ENGINE COOLING FANS ARE OPERATING. *TT
13802 — INTERIOR LIGHTING
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN INTERMITTENT LOSS OF INTEGRATED CONTROL PANEL (ICP) ILLUMINATION. AUDIO AND CLIMATE CONTROLS CONTINUE TO OPERATE DURING THE ICP'S LOSS OF ILLUMINATION CONDITION. THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY A FAULTY INTERNAL RIBBON CABLE CONNECTION IN THE ICP. *TT
00263 — VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A POWER WINDOW THAT WILL NOT OPERATE DOWNWARD BECAUSE IT'S STUCK / BOUND TO THE WEATHERSHIP HEADER. *TT
00203 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
A SEPARATION BETWEEN LAYERS OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.*JB
0061 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ISSUE OF A PERCEIVED LACK OF ENGINE BRAKING AND MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATED WITH A FALSE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) P1138 STORED IN MEMORY MAY OCCUR ON SOME VEHICLES . *MJS
8310 — POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
AX4S TRANSAXLE - REAR LUBE AND DIFFERENTIAL LUBE INSULATOR KIT. *TT
13961 — POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
INFORMATION REGARDING THE AX4S TRANSAXLE - REAR LUBE AND DIFFERENTIAL LUBE TUBE INSULATOR KIT. *TT
99E06 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
EMISSIONS RECALL FOR VEHICLES WITH A POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) PREVIOUSLY PROGRAMMED WITH A CALIFORNIA SERVICE CALIBRATION - PCM RECALIBRATION. *TT
7249 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
INFORMATION ON USING PEANUT STYLE A/C FITTINGS. *TT
996783 — SEATS
CONCERNS WITH THE SEATS SPLITTING AT THE SEAMS; LEATHER OR FABRIC BLEMISHES AND / OR LOOSE OR POOR FIT SEATING TRIM. *TT
Showing 10 of 35 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1999 MERCURY SABLE
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the MERCURY SABLE
- 1994 MERCURY SABLE — 534 complaints
- 1995 MERCURY SABLE — 485 complaints
- 1996 MERCURY SABLE — 391 complaints
- 1997 MERCURY SABLE — 326 complaints
- 1998 MERCURY SABLE — 243 complaints
- 1999 MERCURY SABLE (current)
- 2000 MERCURY SABLE — 578 complaints
- 2001 MERCURY SABLE — 528 complaints
- 2002 MERCURY SABLE — 541 complaints
- 2003 MERCURY SABLE — 251 complaints
- 2004 MERCURY SABLE — 75 complaints
Other MERCURY Models
- MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS — 4,949 total complaints
- MERCURY MILAN — 3,211 total complaints
- MERCURY COUGAR — 2,646 total complaints
- MERCURY MOUNTAINEER — 2,646 total complaints
- MERCURY VILLAGER — 2,205 total complaints
- MERCURY MARINER — 1,716 total complaints
- MERCURY MYSTIQUE — 1,510 total complaints
- MERCURY TRACER — 754 total complaints