NHTSA — Engine Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
71,500 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1996 Mercury Sable engine problems

engine problem

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1996 Mercury Sable Owner Comments

problem #2

Mar 121997

Sable 6-cyl

  • 6,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 1996 Mercury Sable. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where unknown repairs were performed. The failure recurred however and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the same failure on numerous occasions. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 6,000 and the current mileage was 49,000.

- Silver Spring , MD, USA

problem #1

Oct 022012

Sable 6-cyl

  • 137,000 miles
Relevant information---engine was repaired on Sept. 9/10, 2012 same morning as the accident--car was driven to bank but as I was leaving I could not put car into reverse. A gentleman passerby was able to put it into reverse with effort and a loud noise in the gears. I proceeded to my exercise class which lasted one hour. Had no trouble with reverse gear this time. About 1/2 hour later I was turning into a parking lot and in a matter of minutes the engine started revving up and shot forward on its own, went over a curb & sidewalk and crashed into a brick wall at high speed. The air bags went off and with effort I was able to open the front door. I had minor injuries--nose, cut on elbow, banged up knees. The engine of the car kept roaring for possibly 15 minutes until someone cut the cable to the battery. The police reported that I had stepped on the gas instead of the brake which was totally false. I remember distinctly thinking--there's something terrible wrong with my car. The insurance company was not interested in pursuing the cause which may have been related to the repair done on the engine. They called the car a total loss.

- Farmington, MN, USA

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