1996 Mercury Sable problems and complaints

Owners have filed 330 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Mercury Sable. The most-reported areas: Power Train (70), Engine And Engine Cooling (61), Steering (38).

Key takeaways

  • 330 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
  • 20 involve a crash, 10 a fire, 120 reported injuries.
  • Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
Complaints by component
ComponentComplaintsShare
Power Train7021%
Engine And Engine Cooling6118%
Steering3812%
Visibility309%
Structure299%
Electrical System206%
Service Brakes206%
Hydraulic196%
Vehicle Speed Control185%
Air Bags175%
Exterior Lighting134%
Suspension113%

One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

NHTSA 5-Star crash ratings
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
1996 Mercury Sable 4-DR.Not ratedNot ratedNot ratedNot rated

Latest complaints, as filed

Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.

Power Train - filed 2017-10-19

JUST BOUGHT A MERCURY SABLE 1996. AFTER DRIVING THIS VEHICAL FOR ABOUT 10 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP BADLY. IT BEGAN WITH HAVING TROUBLE ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING IN A RURAL AREA WITH FEW STOPS AND LITTLE TRAFFIC. BY THE TIME I STOPPED AT THE 3 STOP SIGN. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD...

Steering,suspension - filed 2016-03-25

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A SQUEAKING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDER THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN SLOWING DOWN, MAKING TURNS, AND REVERSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRADLE AND SUBFRAME BUSHING WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO B...

Structure - filed 2014-08-18

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE AND THE SUBFRAME WERE SEVERELY RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE F...

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More for the 1996 Mercury Sable

Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.