14th Jul 2004, 19:07

We have a mercury sable 1997 and the tranny has been nothing, but a headache. its been worked on about 10-12 times mostly under warranty, but is now leaking from front seal area at 75,000 miles. I contacted mercury about this and was blown off. I WILL NEVER buy another ford product.

21st Oct 2004, 18:55

Just because you have had trouble with one Ford product doesn't mean that all Ford products are bad. I have a 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis with over 200,000 miles on it and shows no sign of quitting any time soon. I strongly suggest you reconsider boycotting Ford products.

24th Nov 2004, 12:43

Add me to the list of failed transmissions. Mine gave out this month at 86,000 miles. Had one mechanic tell me I was lucky to have it last that long. Serious problems with Ford using that model.

5th Jul 2005, 19:40

98 SHO Taurie 86000 miles. New Trannie. Bites.

14th Oct 2005, 10:39

I still on the fence with my 1998 Sable LS. Yes to the dome light troubles (also has the same problem with my Windstar), tie-rods and sway bars, but that's about it. The dash board lights have gone out under the tach, but I can live with that. Never changed the plugs, I've heard that's incredible. Maybe I should, but most want to charge me between $250-300, so I'll wait. I bought the car in 1999 with 20K on it, and now at 125K.

Would I buy another Ford/Mercury product? Based on the Sable, maybe, but based on the lousy Windstar I had No.

23rd Jan 2006, 10:24

My Mercury sable is the best car I have ever owned; it has over 250,000 miles on the 24Valve Duratek engine. I have never ran into a problem, because I keep up with scheduled maintenance. For the love of god, don’t forget to change the transmission fluid! If you do, you can easily toast the transmission.

Just like any other car manufacturer if you don’t keep up with regular scheduled maintenance problems will occur. Ford transmissions and engines are some of the strongest in the world. Take care of your ford, and it will take care of you.

Yes I would buy another Ford, because I am an American!

6th Feb 2006, 10:39

The only reason my Sable has lasted to 100,000 miles is its rebuilt Mercedes transmission. Luckily it had been rebuilt just before I bought it. It's lasted me for quite some time.

13th May 2006, 11:06

Add me to the list of failed transmissions. Mine failed at 100,000 miles. I have to replace the whole unit!. I will never buy ford again.

13th May 2006, 21:45

Two words. Change your tranny fluid.

But seriously. With my 3rd Taurus over 200K on the ORIGINAL transmission, I think I know what I'm talking about. Flush (emphasis on flush) the transmission fluid every 30K miles and you will have a rock solid car. If not, expect failures every 50-60K. I mean, duh! Would you leave your oil unchanged for 60K?

14th May 2006, 11:23

I've read a lot of comments like yours (flush the transmission at XX intervals) and just wondering if that is in the owner's manual.

Do a lot of these cars (any make) require maintenance beyond what is recommended by the manufacturer? Should you consult a third party (like Chilton's or something) for maintenance advice rather than the owner's manual?

I understand there is controversy over oil change intervals (BMWs and Mercedes are now at least 10K miles), but what about stuff like transmission flushes?

Just curious.

14th May 2006, 12:19

My own opinion on oil changes is that it needs to be changed every 3,000 miles. I even change it that often using Mobil 1 synthetic oil, or I change it every 2,000 miles with regular oil in city and short trip driving. I've heard the higher mileage recommendations as well: 5,000 miles, 7,500 miles, etc. Humbug! Changing oil is the smallest maintenance cost you can incur, and it gives you the greatest benefit. Even for synthetic oil with a filter, the cost is only $35, so if you change it every 6 months, what are you out? The people who tell you to wait until 10,000 miles to change oil want you to have to buy a new car. Cars are marketed toward the original owners, who are assumed will only keep the car for 4-5 years. So if it lasts 50,000 miles with no problems, then the people who are laying out the big money on new cars are happy, and that's what the companies care about. You certainly won't hurt anything by changing oil more frequently, and it can only help.

Regarding transmission fluid changes, I'm a little perplexed on this. For cars of the 1970's and 1980's, you never used to have to change it, only check it once in a while. Maybe the designs were simpler and more durable, because the only time you would bother to change the fluid and filter on those cars was if you bought one that was 15 years old and it had 100,000 miles on it, and even at that changing the fluid and filter was just a general good idea whether it needed it or not, like if the fluid had turned orange. But now, the automatic transmissions seem to be more fragile, less durable. If you really need to change trans. fluid and filter every 30,000 miles in order to ensure no problems, then that is a real drop in durability compared to previous decades. My parents happen to have a 1997 Mercury Sable, and although they have never changed the trans. fluid, they have not had problems even with 130,000 miles. However, as an older couple, they drive the car pretty gently. Maybe you just have to baby these cars, and if you get rough with them, go to the "severe use maintenance schedule" of changing things much more often. Your owner's manual has two tables, one for regularly scheduled maintenance, and one for heavy duty use maintenance.

15th Aug 2006, 12:10

I've always been partial to Japanese autos, but my 1998 Mercury Sable has performed wonderfully throughout it's 150,000 miles. Aside from regular repairs (starter, battery, etc.), my car has held up great. Until now. Simultaneously it seems a leak in the vacuum manifold developed and in the same week, the transmission started slipping. In the course of the week, my car went from great to undriveable. Replacing the transmission costs $1500-$2000. Is it worth it to fix? I think so!

21st Nov 2006, 23:32

I have a 1998 Mercury Sable with 119,000 miles. The next day after I bought it the problems started to appear. Day #2 the transmission is kicking at red lights and when going uphill.

Then about a week later I was backing out of a parking lot and I heard a loud "snap" and I realize I have no power steering. I do not drive the car very much just to work and back, but the transmission problem seems like it is getting worse. When you are going uphill it will start to kick at lower RPM's (2000 and under) when you accelerate a little more the kicking goes away. Someone post a comment and tell me if its too late, and what should I do. I don't want a 3,000 dollar yard ornament