Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Mercury Sable owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl contact owns a 1996 Mercury Sable wagon. The contact stated the vehicle had been parked on sept 10,09 at 3:30, the next day, at 6:30 pm the vehicle caught fire. The vehicle was engulfed in flames. There were no injuries. The fire department extinguished the fired and stated that it was as electrical fire. A fire report is available if needed. The manufacturer was not notified. The insurance has not advised the contact if the vehicle was destroyed or not. An insurance adjuster will provide the findings as soon as possible. The failure mileage was 140,000. Updated 10/20/09 the consumer stated the transmission was replaced twice. Updated 10/23/09.
I have a number of worries with my vehicle. The following are: when playing the radio/tape deck, you hear a loud buzzing noise coming through the speakers even if the radio is turned down; when steering from left to right you'll hear a cranking noise coming from the front end of car; car does not absorb bumps at all, it rocks, makes knocking noise coming from somewhere near wheels; when driving on highway at a speed of about 50-70 MPH, car will sway, like a wind is blowing it away; feul sensor will float, you can not count on it to tell you how much gas you have; trunk hood flips up in the air so fast and hard, I have stunted my fingers before on it; the doors on the car have a sharp edge to it, if you don't stand back when opening the door, it can gash your leg; wind shield are a blind spot, to long, wipers are so strong they vibrate the car, unusually strong; back window on left side …
I really need this problem resolved its very dangerous I recently saw a recall section in the newspapers with this problem similar to mine something about a tfi switch or something having to do with the vehicles stalling well I bought my car with a 2 month warranty an have since had the transmission checked and ive taken it to the Ford dealer several times trying to have them diagnose the problem first they said they could find nothing wrong with it then I asked them to please try and diagnose the problem then they ended up saying it was the tfi switch or something so they replaced that but that wasnt the problem this is still happeing so did I pay for something I didnt need but thats not the issue the issue is this car
This problem has happened over and over again. They fix it and it still keeps on breaking down. Driver door won't lock, roof light stays on, panel light indicating all doors are open stays lit. Then it goes off and then on. Its a continous thing that happens. Yesterday. 11-28-01 it would not start. I bought a new battery and sometimes it starts and sometimes it doesn't. Do I qualify to get a loaner vehicle until they find out what is wrong with it. They don't seem to have any answers yet. My vehicle is paid off since of last month. Erlinda l. Picazo
While driving on highway at approx. 65-70 MPH noticed engine check light and battery light coming on. Pulled over, turned off vehicle, and looked under hood. Noticed engine coolant overflowing onto ground. Tried to start vehicle, but engine would not start. Vehicle was inspected by dealer ,and informed consumer that engine had sucked up the water from the air filter which caused the engine head to crack. Can NHTSA help in this matter, and provide additional information.
Car stalled, thought it to be altenator, towed to my mechanic, found that the oil pump grear was stripped, and engine froze up, due to lack of lubricant. Hd to replace with remanufactured engine, car has been serviced as required from the day it was purchased new, with all service records retained. Cost $4400.00 to replace. Feel it is the responsibility of Ford motor company to pay for the replacement. Was out of warrenty, but engine still only had 31613 miles on it.
When the gear shift indicates the vehicle is in drive, reverse or overdrive the power steering almost goes completely out and the vehicle loses all electrical power/ windows/radio, etc. The vehicle will be checked by dealer.
When the gear shift indicates the vehicle is in drive, reverse or overdrive the power steering almost goes completely out and the vehicle loses all electrical power. (steering, radio, locks, dash instruments).
The battery was inexplicably drained 6 weeks after we purchased the car. Two days ago, the car slipped into neutral without warning whenever I turned or slowed down. Now, it slips into neutral all of the time.
While driving at 20 MPH,vehicle caught on fire. Consumer opened hood and fire was coming under the engine.dealer was notified.
Electrical complaints in other Sable years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1996 Mercury Sable?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the electrical system of the 1996 Mercury Sable, 7% of the model year's 304 complaints. The component named most often is wiring › front underhood (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Mercury Sable electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 1996 Mercury Sable, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1996 Mercury Sable electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 140,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 3 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.