Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | |||||
| 6612 | 07/01/1999 | 610705 | Some vehicles may exhibit front suspension noise due to front strut, front sway bar links or symptoms such as premature rear brake pad wear due to seized rear brake calipers or slides. *tt | 05/11/2000 | |
| BC1012497020 | 01/02/1997 | 51188 | Removing or replacing one of the front strut spring on a vehicle us a rotunda #014-00781 strut spring compressor master set. *jd | 06/27/1997 | |
| BC0851961007 | 10/07/1996 | 50433 | Procedure for concerns of ride quality. *tt | 04/24/1997 | |
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | |||||
| 98-4731 | 09/01/1998 | 607143 | Clunk or plop coming from front end. *ak | 11/02/2000 | |
| 97111097231 | 11/10/1997 | 53658 | Diagnostic and inspection procedure for front suspension noise. *yc | 03/30/1998 | |
| BC1016397230 | 01/23/1997 | 51512 | Buzz noise in ax4s transaxles at all speeds or idle on vehicles. *jd | 06/27/1997 | |
| BC0308970201 | 01/02/1997 | 51108 | Thump/clunk noise from front suspension area. *jd | 06/27/1997 | |
| BC0308A97020 | 02/01/1997 | 51622 | Thump/klunk noise from front suspension area. *tw | 06/27/1997 | |
| BC0308961101 | 11/01/1996 | 50716 | Thump/clunk noise from front suspension area. *tw | 06/17/1997 | |
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - MACPHERSON STRUT | |||||
| BC1019697230 | 01/23/1997 | 51556 | Replacing front or rear struts on a 1996/97 vehicle, the replacement strut may appear to be approximately 2 too short when compared to the strut in the vehicle. *jd | 06/27/1997 | |
| BC3482972301 | 01/23/1997 | 51478 | Replacing front rear struts on a vehicle, the replacement strut may appear to be appoximately 2 too short. *jd | 06/27/1997 | |
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - COIL SPRINGS | |||||
| BC0130970201 | 01/02/1997 | 51036 | Removing or replacing one of the front strut springs on a 1996/97 taurus or sable vehicle use rotunda #014-00781 strut spring compressor master set. *jd | 06/27/1997 | |
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - TORSION BAR | |||||
| 9725 | 01/20/1997 | 51383 | Suspension - clunking noise from front suspension - taurus sable built through 1/14/97 - continental built through 12/16/96. *tw | 06/27/1997 | |
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - STABILIZER BAR | |||||
| 8199 | 02/01/2000 | 612411 | Some vehicles may exhibit a rattling or clunking noise from the front end (front stabilizer link) under normal driving conditions. | 06/08/2000 | |
| BC0308972301 | 01/23/1997 | 51416 | Thump/clunk noise from front suspension area. *jd | 06/27/1997 | |
| SUSPENSION - REAR | |||||
| 96263 | 12/16/1996 | 50989 | Suspension - rear - availability of camber kit to improve inner edge wear on rear tires. *tw | 06/17/1997 | |
| SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS | |||||
| BC2311970501 | 05/01/1997 | 52806 | Some vehicles may exhibit a clunking noise from the rear suspension when driving over bumps. *tw | 09/12/1997 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | |||
| 08/10/2012 | 73000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 1997 mercury sable. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for a safety inspection, where the mechanic notified her that the brake lines were corroded and the ball joints were detaching from the vehicle. also, the mechanic advised the contact that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 73,000. pmb | |||
| 08/10/2012 | 73000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 1997 mercury sable. the vehicle was to an independent mechanic for a safety inspection. the mechanic stated the brake line were corroded. the ball joints were detaching from the vehicle. the mechanic stated the vehicle was unsafe to drive. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 73,000. da | |||
| 08/18/2011 | 99000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owned a 1997 mercury sable. the contact stated the sub frame that holds the motor and transmission together was detached from the right side of the vehicle due to rust. while driving the vehicle was making noise; however, during the diagnostic test the mechanic confirmed that the subframe was covered with rust. the dealer and manufacturer stated there were no recalls or related warranties and offered no assistance. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 99,000. rvk | |||
| 08/18/2011 | 99000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owned a 1997 mercury sable. the contact stated the sub frame that holds the motor and transmission was rusted free from the right side of the vehicle. there was a noise and the vehicle was taken in for a routine maintence after inspecting the noise found the rusted sub frame. the dealer was contacted who stated there are no recalls or warranty. they offered no assistance. the manufacturer was contacted who stated there are no recalls and offered no other assistance. the failure mileage was 99,000. mw | |||
| 03/16/2006 | 12000 | 12 | |
| Ball joint and tie-rod replacements needed very frequently (1-2 times a year). on both a 1997 sable wagon and 1999 sable sedan. each vehicle has had several ball joints and tie-rods replaced, some covered by mfg as the frequency was so often. each time we have been told that the ball-joint and/or tie-rod, on one side or the other, needs to be replaced due to safety requirements. if this is the case than the frequency has me concerned that if the 'issue was not caught in time there could be an injury or death. the 1997 sable wagon went in for a starter replacement today 3/16/06 and we were told that the lower outer tie-rod needed to be replaced. this tie-rod was replaced 11k miles ago on 12/3/04 and the car was inspected on 12/5/05. *jb | |||
| 01/14/2000 | |||
| Consumer has problem with suspension. vehicle sits so low to the ground that in snow like weather, brakes freeze up, and perform poorly until car is fully warmed up. consumer now believes that her claims were too hasty and that all low riding cars have this problem, car simply is not suited for country driving conditions. *ak *ml | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | |||
| 08/11/1998 | 6 | ||
| Vehicle has had continued noise problems with the front end suspension, several replacements and repairs have been complete without remedy, consumer is concerned about the sb's that have been issued without the dealership mentioning any of them. *mjs | |||
| 01/04/2000 | 1 | 07/01/1999 | |
| Transmission shifts hard during deceleration/acceleration, particulary in stop and go traffic. turning to the right results in growling noise from under hood. interior lights stay on as does door ajar light and warning chime for leaving keys in ignition. *ak | |||
| 06/01/1997 | 1 | 12/01/1996 | |
| While turning from a still position, a banging noise is heard. | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - MACPHERSON STRUT | |||
| 09/25/2004 | 100000 | 5 | 12/28/2003 |
| This was a failure that fortunately was caught before a crash. i purchased the vehicle used last december. from the time i purchased it there was a clunking sound that came from under the front on the driver's side. at the end of september my husband noticed that the engine was moving back and forth (front to back) when the car would start out and back up. he continued to monitor it for a few days when it started to sound if it were whirring and grinding on the driver's side. he took it to a repair place, fisher auto body and repair in somerset. there they found the following, the front struts were bad, the driver side was leaking and had little function, the passenger side was weak; the front subframe assembly mount had rusted through and had seperated; the rear motor mount was defective and had to be replaced; the rear subframe assembly mounts needed to be replaced (to cure the clunking); the driver side wheel bearing had gone and needed to be replaced (to repair the whirring sound), plus strut mount, cushion, etc. the total cost of the repair was nearly $1600. although i suspect the weak struts allowed the subframe to slam to the ground on hills or sharp gulleys which contributed to the front mounts breaking, they were clearly not designed to stand up in the long run. the same design was used on the 93 taurus for instance and you recalled the rear mounts and required a beefed up mounting plate and design. you should force ford (mercury) to do the same with this car. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - COIL SPRINGS | |||
| 03/01/2008 | 181000 | 1 | |
| Car would not move when placed in reverse, when it did move left front tire blew out. when i removed tire, found coil spring had broken and punctured tire. very thankful it happened in driveway. other model years are covered by recall, could not find anything for 1997. *tr | |||
| 06/20/2005 | 154000 | 1 | 03/15/1998 |
| Dt: ford mercury sable station wagon 1997. front coil spring broke and went pass the base and made contact with the front driver's side tire. this tire was shredded. consumer was driving a very slow speed when this happened. ford was recalling the 1999 - 2001 models under recall 04s17, this recall does not apply to the 1997. model. *ak *jb | |||
| 11/21/2004 | 138850 | 1 | 04/14/1999 |
| Broken right front coil spring observed while servicing brake system. severe clunking sound radiated through vehicle for 3-5 days prior to service.*ak | |||
| 07/24/2001 | 1 | 11/01/1996 | |
| While backing car from garage(slowly) right front coil spring snapped ,stabbing tire , slicing tire 360 drgrees. vehicle dropped to floor breaking upper bearing on coil spring. looks like a defect in the steel at break and at other locations on coil. had this happened at any speed a sure accident was going to happen. this is a serious flaw that ford says has no recall, thus no recourse for me except never buy another ford. thank you ( where are these coils made mexico???)*ak | |||
| While driving front coil spring broke, causing front tire to wear out. please give any further details. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - WHEEL BEARING | |||
| 08/30/1999 | 5 | 04/01/1999 | |
| Consumer stated had to flush radiator out at least five times because of dirty water, it is written in owner's manual that the radiator should be flushed 1 time every 100,000 miles.*jb while flushing the radiator, water got into the transmission and the transmission had to be replaced several times. *yh consumer states that ever since recall 98823 was completed on vehicle, radiator has constantly needed flushed, now causing problems with the transmission. consumer heard a noise in the front wheel area, dealer replaced right front wheel bearing. *slc | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR | |||
| 05/04/2010 | 84234 | ||
| I bought and are driving a 1997 mercury sable with 84k miles and it is a danger to be in. the rear springs are broken in several places. i have been told that ford was recalling and fixing this problem in similar and like years of taurus's and sables. mine they claim does not qualify. the 1997 is the same car as a 1998 and 1999 that they have provided recall replacements on... i wonder how many other people have had this problem or have been in accident because of this problem that ford is obviously aware . | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS | |||
| 12/04/2006 | 92000 | 1 | |
| While driving on interstate 40 to work, vehicle began riding very rough. i could feel every bump in the road. got to work and discovered vehicle had dropped down all the way on the left rear and most of the way on the right rear. cause was broken left rear coil spring. *jb | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS - COIL SPRINGS | |||
| 04/07/2006 | 96400 | 1 | 10/04/2005 |
| Rear right coil spring snapped while going over a small bump. *nm | |||
| 02/04/2004 | 67220 | 1 | 09/01/1998 |
| While attempting to move my car. i put it in gear and heard a big clunk, the car dropped on the left and i heard my tire blow out. it was the left front coil spring , when it broke the broken spring stabbed my tire. i am sure that if i had been driving down the road, this would have caused quite an accident. not only was this a big expense for me to fix. i am afraid to drive my car, because i can't help but wonder about the other (right) side and also the back springs. do you have any suggestions on what i can do to stay safe in my vehicle? please respond. thank you. sharon kitchen. *jb | |||