2009 Mercury Sable Complaint Log

I BOUGHT THIS CAR ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO. I USE THE HEATED DRIVER SEAT REGULARLY. SOMETIME BACK I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT IT SEEMED TO GET HOTTER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT AND ON THE RIGHT, AND THE LAST FEW WEEKS IT INTENSIFIED, WITH THE LEFT SIDE GETTING TOO HOT VERY QUICKLY SO I WOULD SIMPLY TURN THE SEAT OFF. THEN SEVERAL DAYS AGO I WAS DRIVING WITH THE SEAT ON AND WITHIN LESS THAN TWO MINUTES THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT FELT SO HOT THAT I IMMEDIATELY TURNED IT OFF BECAUSE I FELT LIKE IT WAS BURNING ME. IT STILL WAS SO HOT THAT I HAD TO PULL THE CAR OVER AND GET OUT JUST TO GET OFF THE SEAT. THAT IS WHEN I SAW THAT THE HEATING ELEMENT ON THE LEFT SIDE HAD BURNED RIGHT THROUGH THE LEATHER. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD, BOTH FOR BODILY INJURY AND FOR A CAR FIRE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL.

I NOW HAVE 75,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, BUT AT AROUND THE 15,000 MILE POINT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT STRUT WENT OUT FOLLOWED BY THE PASSENGER FRONT STRUT 4,000 MILES LATER. IN TOTAL BOTH FRONT STRUTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES (THE ORIGINAL AND TWO REPLACEMENT SETS) AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT STRUT IS AGAIN MAKING A CLUNKING SOUND, SAME AS BEFORE. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ORIGINAL AND FIRST REPLACEMENT SET AT THEIR COST BUT THE LAST SET WAS AT MY COST. WITH THE STRUTS SHOWING SIGNS OF NEEDING REPLACEMENT AGAIN I DON'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE FUNDING FOR THE COST, THERE IS DEFINITELY A DEFECT IN THE STRUTS IF THAT MANY BECAME DEFECTIVE IN THAT SHORT OF A TIME PERIOD. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON GOOD ROADS AND NOT ABUSED. SINCE THIS IS PART OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM IT CAN/WILL AFFECT DRIVING SAFETY AND TIRE WEAR.

WHILE CRUISING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS, ON THREE OCCASIONS, THE ENGINE HAS QUIT RUNNING. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED OCTOBER 12, 2012 WITH ABOUT 18,000 MILES ON ODOMETER.THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING MAY, 2014 WITH ABOUT 34,000 MILES ON ODOMETER. THE THIRD INCIDENT OCCURRED ON APRIL 20, 2016 WITH 40,665 MILES ON ODOMETER. IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT WHILE THIS VEHICLE IS USED PRIMARILY FOR OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL, ALL 3 INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED WHILE RETURNING HOME FROM OUT OF STATE TRIPS AND WITHIN ABOUT A 70 MILE RADIUS IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS. THE ENGINE WILL READILY RESTART AFTER A SHUTDOWN. THE ENGINE RAN SMOOTHLY BOTH BEFORE AND FOLLOWING EACH SHUTDOWN, AS WELL AS ALL OTHER TIMES DURING THE LIFE OF THIS VEHICLE. THE FORD DEALER CHECKED THE ENGINE THIS WEEK AND FOUND NO CAUSE FOR ENGINE SHUTDOWN NOR VEHICLE RECALLS. I AM INCLINED TO BELIEVE THAT THIS ENGINE SHUTDOWN ISSUE IS NOT ISOLATED TO THIS ONE VEHICLE. I FEAR THAT SUCH ENGINE SHUTDOWNS WILL LEAD TO A CATASTROPHIC CRASH PARTICULARLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED ON CROWDED INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS IN LARGE METROPOLITAN AREAS IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. WE TRAVEL ON THESE HIGHWAYS AROUND INDIANAPOLIS, CINCINNATI AND ST. LOUIS. (WE HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE SHUTDOWN ON ANOTHER OF OUR VEHICLES WHILE TRAVELING ON A VERY CROWDED INTERSTATE DURING RUSH HOUR.)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCURY SABLE. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WOULD STALL AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED RUNNING, THIS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ANOTHER TIME ALL OF A SUDDEN THE FUEL GAUGE MARKED EMPTY AND I HAD JUST FILLED IT A FEW MILES BEFORE THAT.

DRIVER HEATED SEAT STOPPED HEATING! *TR

IN CRUISE CONTROL--SPEED SET BETWEEN 37 & 39 MPH I ENGAGED BRAKES TO SLOW CAR--ENG STOPPED RUNNING --ALL LITES ON CONSOLE LIT..LOST PWR BRAKES AND STEERING. ALMOST HIT CAR COMING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION. HAPPENED AGAIN IN APRIL, 2014 PLAZA LINCOLN CANNOT FIND PROBLEM--SCALES FORD CANNOT FIND PROBLEM--SEVERAL INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL MECHANICS CANNOT FIND PROBLEM--NO COMPUTERS WILL IDENTIFY PROBLEM--I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR 32159,,I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO FORD MOTOR CO AND NTSB. NEED HELP --PLEASE *TR

HAVING DRIVEN 150 MILES OR SO OF HIGHWAY DRIVING USING CRUISE CONTROL, STOPPING TWO TIMES TO REST, DRIVING APPROX. 65 - 70 MPH. I ARRIVED AT WALTHAM ON RT. 128 WHERE THE TRAFFIC WAS BUMPER TO BUMPER. I HAD TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE UNTIL I WAS AT EXIT 38 OR 39. WE TRAVELLED 5 - 15 MPH. AFTER I WAS IN THE SLOW TRAFFIC FOR APPROX. 20 MINUTES MY CAR STARTED TO LURCH FORWARD WHILE GASSING UP AND WANTING TO JUMP AHEAD. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND I NEEDED TO BRAKE EVEN HARDER TO HOLD ONTO THE FORCE THAT THE CAR WAS EXERTING. I WAS IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC AND HAD KEPT A DISTANCE BETWEEH MYSELF AND THE CAR IN FRONT SO THE SMALL JUMP DID NOT HIT THAT CAR BEFORE I PUSHED HARDER ON THE BRAKE. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN WITHIN 5 MINUTES. ONCE I ARRIVED IN DANVERS I DROVE TO THE DEALER TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AND THEY GAVE ME AN APPOINTMENT FOR WEDNESDAY8/28/13. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPEENING SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2011. IT SELF ACCELERATED RANDOMLY EVERY 3-4 MONTHS, IT HAPPENED WHEN I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND I WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH MY MOM IN THE CAR. I ALMOST WENT THROUGHT THE LIGHT FROM A STOPPED BRAKED POSITION. THE OTHER TIMES WERE AFTER DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL WHICH I NEED. IT ALSO HAPPENED WHILE BRAKING TO GET INTO A PARKING PLACE. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING A PARKING SPACE, THE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY AS THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A CURB AS THE VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE. THE VEHICLE LANDED IN AN EMBANKMENT AND THEN STALLED. A PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN DIAGNOSED FOR THE ACCELERATOR FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE BODY DAMAGE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CRASHING INTO AND EMBANKMENT AND CONTINUING INTO A GOLF COURSE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LACERATIONS FROM THE CRASH. THE FRONT PASSENGER'S HEAD IMPACTED THE WINDSHIELD, RESULTING IN A CONTUSION. IN ADDITION, THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED LACERATIONS AND BRUISES TO THE ARMS AND LEGS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: THE LEFT REAR LOWER ARM TO BODY HINGE BOLT UNSCREWED (FRONT LOCATION OF REAR LOWER ARM) OUT OF REAR LOWER ARM (ABOUT 2 INCHES OUT FROM LOWER ARM) VISUAL SIGHTING CAUGHT THIS ITEM - REAR AXLE COULD HAVE DISENGAGED FROM THE VEHICLE IF REAR LOWER ARM BOLT HAD FALLEN COMPLETELY OUT. DEALERSHIP REINSTALLED BOLT. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-20 MPH, THE FRONT WHEELS SEIZED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HALT. THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED, PERFORMING AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 23,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURES OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY FOR THREE YEARS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,300.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURES OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY FOR THREE YEARS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,300. UPDATED 9/4/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN AN INCIDENT WOULD OCCUR THE VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES UNLESS PUT IN NUETRAL. THE ACCELERATION MAINTAINED THE CURRENT SPEED. FOR THE PAST 39 MONTHS THE OWNER HAD BEEN DRIVING WITH ONE HAND ON THE SHIFTING LEVER TO BE ABLE TO STOP. UPDATED 1/5/2014 *JS

AUTOMOBILE ENGINE INADVERTENTLY STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. ONLY INDICATION WAS ILLUMINATION OF ALTERNATOR SYSTEM FAILURE WARNING LIGHT AND TACHOMETER INDICATION OF ZERO. THERE WAS NO ASSOCIATED SHUDDER, LURCHING, OR OTHER PHYSICAL INDICATION THAT ENGINE HAD FAILED. NO ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT OR OTHER INDICATION WAS DISPLAYED. VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED INTO NEUTRAL, RESTART ATTEMPTED, AND ENGINE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST 120 DAYS. I CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED - SENTRY FORD IN MEDFORD MA., AND THE SERVICE REP ON THE PHONE FOUND NO APPARENT REASON FOR THE MALFUNCTION OR TO SCHEDULE A DIAGNOSTIC DEALER SERVICE APPOINTMENT, SINCE NO ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON, BASED ON MY TESTIMONIAL. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT IF THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON, NO FAILURE CODES ARE STORED IN THE ON BOARD VEHICLE OPERATION HISTORY DATABASE AND THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE DIAGNOSED AND THE DEALER CAN NOT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE OR GUIDANCE FOR REPAIR. *TR

DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT 55 CAR GOES TOTALLY DEAD. WAS ABLE TO PUT IN PARK AND RESTART. AFTER THIS HAPPENED ON 3 OTHER OCCASIONS THE NEXT 4 MONTHS TOOK TO A LOCAL, THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND SAID TO BRING IT BACK IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN. ABOUT 3-4 WKS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN SO I WAS TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALER THAT I BROUGHT IT FROM 60 MILES AWAY, ON WAY TO DEALERSHIP IT DIED ON ME TO MORE TIMES ONCE GOING 55 AND THEN ON THE INTERSTATE DOING 75. THE MECHANIC THERE SAID IT NEEDED TO HAVE ITS COMPUTER UPDATED. HE DID AND I HAVE NOT HAD ANYMORE PROBLEM WITH IT NOW THE PAST 2 1/2 YEARS. *TR

THE TRUNK DOOR HYDRAULICS FAILED. THIS OCCURRED 1 WEEK AFTER THE CAR WAS A YEAR OLD IN 2010. WHEN OPENING TRUNK IT COMES DOWN ON YOUR HEAD. MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT REPLACE NOR WOULD DEALER THE HYDRAULIC LIFTS ON THE TRUNK.

AUTOMOBILE ENGINE INADVERTENTLY STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. ONLY INDICATION WAS ILLUMINATION OF ALTERNATOR SYSTEM FAILURE WARNING LIGHT AND TACHOMETER INDICATION OF ZERO. THERE WAS NO ASSOCIATED SHUDDER, LURCHING, OR OTHER PHYSICAL INDICATION THAT ENGINE HAD FAILED. NO ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT OR OTHER INDICATION WAS DISPLAYED. VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED INTO NEUTRAL, RESTART ATTEMPTED, AND ENGINE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST 60 DAYS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MANUFACTURER DEALERSHIP FOR TROUBLESHOOTING AND REPAIR. TECHNICIANS HAVE FOUND NO APPARENT REASON FOR THE MALFUNCTION AND CLAIM THERE ARE NO FAILURE CODES STORED IN THE ONBOARD VEHICLE OPERATION HISTORY DATABASE. *TR

I HAVE A 2009 MERC SABLE PREMIERE, WHEN I GO OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD THE STRUTS BOTTOM OUT, AND THE CAR LIKE SLIDES SIDE WAYS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT FORD SAYS WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS THE CAR WILL BOTTOM OUT AND THIS IS NORMAL. I TOLD THE SERVICE MAN THAT THIS WAS [XXX] AND HE SAID HE COULD NOT REPLACE THE STRUTS UNTIL THEY RECALL THEM. I ASKED HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO REPLACE THEM MYSELF AND HE SAID IT WOULD RUN $1000. TO HAVE ALL 4 REPLACED. DO PEOPLE HAVE TO GET KILLED BEFORE THEY WILL COVER THIS? I STILL HAVE WARRANTY LEFT ON MY CAR AND I WANT IT FIXED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

MERCURY SABLE 2009 WINDSHIELD WIPERS CLOG WITH SNOW AND MAKE WINDSHIELD COMPLETLY OPAQUE. SCRAPING SNOW/SLUSH OFF ONLY WORKS FOR FIVE MINUTES. I HAVE HAD TO PULL OFF TO ROADSIDE IN TRAFFIC TO REPEATEDLY CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD. WIPERS CANNOT BE ADEQUATLY CLEANED DURING EVENT. *TR