1996 Mercury Sable: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 1996 Mercury Sable: 5 recalls, 304 owner complaints and up to 21 mpg combined.
Recalls
5 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #96V016000 · 1996 · 76,500 vehicles
What's wrong: The brake system fluid level indicator lamp switch can malfunction. This does not comply with fmvss no. 105, "hydraulic brake systems."
Why it matters: 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…
The fix: Dealers will replace the brake system fluid level indicator lamp switches.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #96V086000 · 1996 · 100,000 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #96V166000 · 1996 · 40,000 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: Unintended and unexpected vehicle movement can result in personal injury and property damage.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the park pawl abutment bracket.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #96V176000 · 1996 · 340,000 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: This condition could result in the vehicle rolling as if in neutral with the shift lever in the park position.
The fix: 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.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #98V067000 · 1998 · 400 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Dealers will install the correct fuel tank.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 10 mention a fire, 119 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (69): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (25), noise or vibration (3), leaks (3).
- Engine & cooling (60): the most common themes are leaks (8), rust / corrosion (8), fire / smoke (7).
- Steering (36): the most common themes are steering problems (30), noise or vibration (13).
- Body & structure (29): the most common themes are door / lock issues (12), rust / corrosion (8), noise or vibration (3).
The 1996 Mercury Sable has 304 owner complaints, ranking #8 of 19 Sable model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 258). Complaints peaked in 1999 (57 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 3 years old, at a median of 95,000 miles. Neighboring years: 1995 (350 complaints, 5 recalls), 1997 (228 complaints, 3 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 26 | 21 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 1996 Mercury Sable.
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FAQ
Does the 1996 Mercury Sable have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recalls for the 1996 Mercury Sable. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 1996 Mercury Sable problems?
Owners have filed 304 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (69), engine & cooling (60), steering (36).
What gas mileage does the 1996 Mercury Sable get?
EPA ratings run up to 21 mpg combined (3.0 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 1996 Mercury Sable repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.