1999 Mercury Sable Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 28about this part
- Share
- 11%of 258 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 62,263miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 28 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1999 Mercury Sable, 11% of the 258 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 62,263 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I bought a used 1999 Mercury Sable gs with the u type 3.0l v6 engine 2 months ago. Just recently I noticed the car wanting to lunge forward while holding the brake at stops. Then a few days later whenever I start the car it lunges forward. Nothing dramatic but definitely noticeable. I started looking online to see about a recall and 1 was present a long time ago. Is it to late to get my car checked or how to see if it was ever serviced or called for the recall.”
NHTSA complaint #11383277, filed 2020-12, 152,000 miles“- the contact stated that the ABS tone rings cracked. The driver felt the ABS pump. He took the vehicle in for repair and was told the tone rings are wearing and cracked, and the axle would need to be replaced. The contact has had the vehicle repaired .”
NHTSA complaint #10179504, filed 2007-01, 34,526 miles“- the contact has a 1999 Mercury Sable. The contact stated that when she purchased the vehicle may 22 2006, the vehicle did not have heat. The contact stated that she has had many problems with this vehicle since she purchased it. The vehicle operates with a high temperature reading, and the transmission seems to slip gears when you apply the gas pedal and back fires while switching gears. The dealer has not addressed the failures that the contact has experienced with her vehicle. …”
NHTSA complaint #10179139, filed 2007-01, 12,000 miles“Car has always shifted hard. At approximately 90k miles automatic transmission started to fail evidenced by gear slippage and car decellerating while being driven. Transmission pump was also knocking . Car was taken to transmission shop and they stated that a 10 cent o ring had failed in the transmission pump and that the transmission pump had literally come apart . Also, the transmission pan had a smal, shiny indention where the pump was located, further evidence of where the problem possibly originated. …”
NHTSA complaint #10096164, filed 2004-10, 90,000 miles“Hesitation in transmission. Excessive leak in trans fluid, made a large puddle. Had a wobble as vehicle accelerated. Had front trans seal and axle seals replace, as well as one axle”
NHTSA complaint #10070794, filed 2004-01, 108,000 milesRelated recalls
- 98V288000Nov 9, 1998Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equpped with the "california" emissions package. An incorrect transmission oil cooler line was installed. The line…Covers: Mercury Sable 1999, Ford Taurus 1999
Related service bulletins
- 10014086Dec 13, 2004General (pcm) power train control module programming procedures.
- 10013369Nov 1, 2004General power train control module (pcm) programming procedures.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 3 | 15% |
| 2008 | 11 | 18% |
| 2005 | 26 | 31% |
| 2004 | 12 | 23% |
| 2003 | 30 | 15% |
| 2002 | 23 | 5% |
| 2001 | 22 | 5% |
| 2000 | 31 | 7% |
| 1999 | 28 | 11% |
| 1998 | 25 | 13% |
| 1997 | 43 | 19% |
| 1996 | 69 | 23% |
| 1995 | 93 | 27% |
| 1994 | 95 | 25% |
| 1993 | 48 | 7% |
| 1992 | 61 | 17% |
| 1991 | 101 | 46% |
| 1990 | 17 | 10% |
| 1989 | 19 | 8% |
| 1988 | 22 | 17% |
| 1987 | 9 | 12% |
| 1986 | 8 | 17% |
Other parts of the 1999 Mercury Sable
48 complaintsSteering
33 complaintsBrakes
29 complaintsEngine cooling
22 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
21 complaintsSeat belts
20 complaintsAir bags
17 complaintsVehicle speed control
16 complaintsBody and structure
10 complaintsFuel system
9 complaintsElectrical system
7 complaintsExterior lighting
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1999 Mercury Sable
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology