Problems · by component

1996 Mercury Sable engine and engine cooling problems

58 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1996 Mercury Sable cite engine and engine cooling, 19% of all 309 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
58
19% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE ENGINE MOUNT AND CARRIAGE FRAME RUSTED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SLIP FROM THE MOUNT. THE VEHICLE WAS EXPOSED TO EXTREME WINTER WEATHER AND ROAD SALTS. THE REPAIR SHOP CONCLUDED THAT A PIECE OF STEEL NEEDED TO BE ADDED TO EACH SIDE OF THE ENGINE MOUNT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 16, 2006Engine and engine cooling, StructureODI 10160024
“WHILE DRIVING ENGINE COLLAPSED DUE TO RUSTING. THIS CAUSED THE FRAME TO BREAK. ALSO, WHEN THE ENGINE COLLAPSED THE BALL JOINTS BROKE, CAUSING THE TIRES TO DISENGAGE FROM THE VEHICLE. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 17, 2004Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Structure, TiresODI 10073691
“THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ENGINE TROUBLE. THE CONSUMER THEN OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FLAMES. *PH THE CONSUMER FIRST NOTICED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WHEN THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED. UPON STOPPING HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE FRONT END. THE CONSUMER PUT THE FLAMES OUT WITH A SODA. *SC”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 12, 2004Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10058074
“I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR ONE YEAR AND ONE HALF. I BOUGHT IT FROM RAY HUDSON CHEVROLET IN LA CROSSE ,WIS. I HAD THE CAR TWO WEEKS AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE FRONT AND BACK BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS AT THE DEALERS EXSPENSE. I HAD TO HAVE A WHEEL BEARING REPLACED AND NOW AFTER A YEAR AND 1/2 I HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE MOTOR.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 15, 2004Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Power train, WheelsODI 10071066
“CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND BLEW AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED TS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 30, 2002Engine and engine coolingODI 8021932
“VEHICLE STALLS EVERY TIME IN RAINY WEATHER, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON 5 OCCASIONS, DEALER REPLACED SERPENTINE BELT AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS DESIGNING A GUARD TO PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF NEW GUARD. *TT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 14, 2002Engine and engine coolingODI 8005675

Showing 6 of 58 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.