TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SEAT, HE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. HE MENTIONED THAT ALTHOUGH HE WAS PROPERLY WEARING HIS SEAT BELT AND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, IT FAILED TO PROTECT HIM. HE MENTIONED THAT HIS HEAD AND RIGHT HAND HIT INTO THE WINDSHIELD AND SHATTERED…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SEAT, HE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. HE MENTIONED THAT ALTHOUGH HE WAS PROPERLY WEARING HIS SEAT BELT AND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, IT FAILED TO PROTECT HIM. HE MENTIONED THAT HIS HEAD AND RIGHT HAND HIT INTO THE WINDSHIELD AND SHATTERED IT. HE ALSO SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND INJURIES TO HIS KNEES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 166,000. UPDATED 06/01/11*LJ UPDATED 06/13/11
NHTSA ODI #10383088
Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2003
Air Bags
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES ABRUPTLY TO AVOID HITTING A DEER. ONCE HE STOPPED, THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10046456
Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2003
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE SIDE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE PASSENGER.*AK THE CONSUMER WAS INQUIRING ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT. *PH *JB
NHTSA ODI #10029583
Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE FRONT CENTER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10026856
Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury
AFTER HITTING A DEER AT 25MPH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND THEN DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG BURSTED. TWO PASSENGERS WERE INJURED.
NHTSA ODI #8006054
Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury
NEITHER ARIBAG DEPLOYED WHEN VEHICLE STRUCK A DITCH AT 50 MPH, 3 OCCUPANTS, NO INJURIES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #882578
Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2001
Air Bags
DRIVE'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED HALF WAY, AND ALL THESE PARTICLES CAME FLYING EVERYWHERE. CONSUMER FELT AIRBAG EXPLODED. ALSO, NOTICED A HOLE THE SIZE OF A FIST IN PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG. *AK
NHTSA ODI #879322
Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2000
Air Bags
WHILE DRIVING THE AIRBAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA ODI #875939
Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2000
Air BagsInjury
AIRBAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING, RESULTING IN INJURY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #875938
Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2000
Air BagsSteeringCrash
WHILE TRAVELING CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AS RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT.ALSO, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER FORD SERVICE BULLETIN 97-17-9 FROM AUGUST 1997 THROUGH DECEMBER 1997. THESE VEHICLES WERE INADVERTENLY EQUIPPED WITH AN 18-GALLON FUEL TANK RATHER THAN THE 16-GALLON AS SPECIFIED. THE 18-GALLON TANK HAS A SECOND VALVE LOCATION WHERE A SHIPPING PLUG SHOULD BE INSTALLED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS SHIPPING PLUG IS DISPLACED, FUEL LEAKAGE CAN RESULT. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CORRECT FUEL TANK.
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARK PAWL SHAFT MAY NOT BE FREE TO ROTATE AS INTENDED. IF THE PARK PAWL SHAFT DOES NOT ROTATE, IT WOULD PREVENT THE PARK PAWL FROM ENGAGING THE PARK GEAR WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER IS IN THE PARK POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AS IF IN NEUTRAL WITH THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE PARK POSITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PARK PAWL SHAFT ROTATION AND THOSE SHAFTS WITH RESTRICTED ROTATION WILL BE REPLACED WITH A SHORTER SHAFT THAT WILL NOT RESTRICT ROTATION.
THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET HAS A SHARP EDGE WHICH CAN CAUSE THE PARKING PAWL TO HANG UP AND NOT ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWS THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: UNINTENDED AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET.
THE PARK PAWL SHAFT WAS IMPROPERLY POSITIONED WHEN THE ROLL PIN THAT RETAINS IT WAS INSTALLED DURING TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY. IF THE SHAFT WAS NOT PROPERLY POSITIONED, THE ROLL PIN MAY NOT HAVE LINED UP WITH THE GROOVE IN THE SHAFT AND HAVE BEEN CRUSHED AT ASSEMBLY. ALSO, A BURR COULD HAVE BEEN RAISED ON THE SHAFT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PARK PAWL OCCASIONALLY NOT ENGAGING WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AS IF IN NEUTRAL IF THE VEHICLE OPERATOR DOES NOT APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PARK PAWL SHAFT ROLL PIN. IF THE ROLL PIN IS DAMAGED, BOTH THE ROLL PIN AND THE PARK PAWL SHAFT WILL BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, OWNERS WILL BE REMINDED TO FULLY APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE, IN ADDITION TO PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK.
THE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR LAMP SWITCH CAN MALFUNCTION. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF THE SWITCH MALFUNTIONS, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LAMP WILL EITHER REMAIN ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY OR FAIL TO LIGHT AS INTENDED WHEN THE FLUID LEVEL FALLS TO A CERTAIN LEVEL. IN EITHER CASE, THE VEHICLE OPERATOR WOULD NOT BE WARNED OF A LOW BRAKE FLUID LEVEL CONDITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR LAMP SWITCHES.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
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No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1996 Mercury Sable Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year