Transmission Failure

9.1

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,480
Average Mileage:
71,850 miles
Total Complaints:
7 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. had the transmission rebuilt with updated parts (6 reports)
  2. not sure (1 reports)
2005 Mercury Sable transmission problems

transmission problem

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2005 Mercury Sable Owner Comments

problem #7

Dec 242015

Sable GS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 135,833 miles

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

My Mom had bought this car as her "Last Car". She is elderly and wanted a "Nice, reliable car". We had purchased from our local Ford Dealership as a Used car on June 17th 2015. The car was already 10 yrs old and had 133,483 miles on it. Here are the list of things we had to do to get running right. 5mos after purchase we needed to replace DRAIN PLUG, cost $44.74 6mos after purchase we needed to add TRANS FILTER, ADDITIVE & FLUID $178.70 7mos after purchase we needed to have the TRANSMISSION REBUILT $2,160.70 also replace REAR BRAKE SHOES $152.50 8mos after purchase we needed to replace VALVE COVER GASKETS & OIL PAN GASKET & EGR SENSOR $738.56

She bought the car by trading in both her and my cars with that it still cost $4,367.00 The repairs in the first year cost her $3,275.20 so the actual cost of car really was $7,642.20 The dealership that sold us the car denied any wrongdoing in selling us this car saying "how can we predict if the transmission will fail 6mos later?" Since it isn't a NEW car the Lemon Law doesn't apply. And the short term service agreement would have been only for 6mos (we didn't get as it seemed $800 was too high). Isn't there some regulation for Used Cars that they HAVE to have them running properly before selling? Particularly a large dealership! Again, their justification was the bulk they sell, they can't know every little thing wrong with all the cars. Hmmm.... and they're a car dealership? Buying/Selling/Fixing Cars? Something is really wrong here... Buyer beware is all too true! Other than the costs incurred, now that it is running alright, we do enjoy the car itself but were NOT expecting SO many repairs so quickly. I now see recalls for other cars, various problems they've had with this vehicle and it makes you not want to get in one.

- Karen C., Cincinnati, OH, US

problem #6

Nov 082012

Sable GL 3.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 81,700 miles

WELL - WELL Once again After rebuilding the transmission @ 47,352 Miles it has happened again just about 34, 400 miles later and the dam car is back in the transmission shop LORD knows what it will cost 3 years later, $$$$$$$$$$$$$$. I truly believe that something is wrong with the transmissions in the 2005b Sables. I'm not a lead foot I take very good care of the car. I just find it strange it happened again.

- Russ M., West Allis, WI, US

problem #5

Sep 212009

Sable GL 3.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 47,352 miles

We were coming home from a funeral, was 200 miles from home when the transmission just stopped working. NO going forward, NO going backwards. It ended the Convertor stripped out and damaged the drive shaft, It was late in the afternoon and by the time we got a rental it was late that night. The car dealer (Kocourek Ford- Lincoln- Mercury in Wausau Wi. )was a jem, he stayed late to help find a rental and even drove the 20 miles to the nearest airport to get the renal. But needles to say 4 day's later and $2575 OOOCCCHHH.

- Russ M., West Allis, WI, US

problem #4

Nov 022006

Sable LS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles

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

tranny went out at 40,000 miles p.o.s. it had 36,000 on it when i bought it 30 day warranty dealership would not fix.

- Dave G., Indianapolis, IN, US

problem #3

Aug 202009

Sable LS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

2nd transmission in2 years ,what a piece of junk, Edwards transmission was stunned,so the guy felt bad and gave me another transmission and a 3year warranty ,after 2200$ later! so this makes almost 7800$in two years on transmissions and no recall . Edwards told me hes done over 300 same transmissions in a year .i got so fed up sold the p.o.s. and bought another car not ford! have not heard of any recall ,or lawsuits I'm ready to get my money back!

- Dave G., Indianapolis, IN, US

problem #2

Oct 152007

Sable LS 3.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 42,000 miles

I had bought a 2005 Mercury Sable in 2006 and in 2007 I had to pay out of my own pocket to have the transmission rebuilt. So, I called Ford and asked about a warranty and they said, that the warranty expires after 36,000 miles, and I was sh*t outta luck. Come to find out. The way Ford builds engines and transmissions is sh*tty, and the man that fixed my car ( one of the only in the area ) said it is a common problem for Fords to have a bad transmission in less and 4 years! So what does that tell ya?? Buy foreign. They cover EVERYTHING in cars up to 100,000 miles no matter what, even if it is something stupid!!

- Tabatha P., Norwalk, OH, US

problem #1

Dec 012008

Sable SE V6 24v

  • Automatic transmission
  • 76,000 miles

I should have paid heed to a friend's advice. My stomach got upset when I read the complaints for the 2005 Taurus. Not sure why there haven't been more complaints for the Sable. Must be nobody was as f'ing stupid as I was to spend that kind of coin on a g-damned Ford/Mercury product. What a worthless piece of crap this car is. Plenty of power with a slush bag of a weak, poor performing transmission that eats itself alive, one drive at a time...

So, the story I got is that the pump shaft in these is made of soft steel - and it fails, shitting metal shavings into your trans, causing more and more damage. The most common symptom from this issue is the trans slipping out of gear. Usually a result of a broken shaft, ruined torque converter... Servicing the transmission will do nothing to prevent this from happening (how about that you stupid-ass ford techs!)...

In closing, Ford Motor Company can kiss my ass. No wonder they are in such dire straits.

- tee-dub, Victor, NY, US

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