Newest first. Many cover only part of a model year, so check your VIN with NHTSA or Mercury before booking a repair.
NHTSA · listed for this model year
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER FORD SERVICE BULLETIN 97-17-9 FROM AUGUST 1997 THROUGH DECEMBER 1997. 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.
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.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CORRECT FUEL TANK.
98V067000 · 400 units in campaign · NHTSA
Applies only if the manufacturer confirms your VIN · repair by an authorized dealer
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.
THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AS IF IN NEUTRAL WITH THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE PARK POSITION.
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.
96V176000 · 340,000 units in campaign · NHTSA
Applies only if the manufacturer confirms your VIN · repair by an authorized dealer
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.
UNINTENDED AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET.
96V166000 · 40,000 units in campaign · NHTSA
Applies only if the manufacturer confirms your VIN · repair by an authorized dealer
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.
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.
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.
96V086000 · 100,000 units in campaign · NHTSA
Applies only if the manufacturer confirms your VIN · repair by an authorized dealer
THE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR LAMP SWITCH CAN MALFUNCTION. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS."
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 CONDITION.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR LAMP SWITCHES.
96V016000 · 76,500 units in campaign · NHTSA
Applies only if the manufacturer confirms your VIN · repair by an authorized dealer
Canadian records (Transport Canada) · 5
These are Transport Canada campaigns for 1996 Mercury Sable vehicles sold in Canada. A Canadian campaign may have no US counterpart, or one under a different number covering different vehicles. For a vehicle sold in the United States, go by the NHTSA listing above and NHTSA's VIN lookup.
VEHICLES THAT WERE SERVICED FOR A STALL CONDITION BETWEEN AUGUST 1, 1997 AND DECEMBER 1, 1997 MAY HAVE RECEIVED AND INCORRECT FUEL TANK. THE INCORRECT TANK CONTAINS AN ADDITIONAL VENT HOLE WHICH PROVIDES THE POTENTIAL FOR A FUEL LEAK. CORRECTION: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND FUEL TANK WILL BE REPLACED WITH THE CORRECT TANK IF NECESSARY.
1998114 · 18 units in campaign · Transport Canada
Applies only if the manufacturer confirms your VIN · repair by an authorized dealer
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE PARK MECHANISM MAY NOT PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING EVEN IF THE TRANSAXLE SHIFT LEVER IS FIRMLY PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION. IF THE DRIVER IS UNAWARE THAT THE PARK MECHANISM OF THE TRANSAXLE HAS NOT PROPERLY ENGAGED AND LEAVES THE VEHICLE UNATTENDED WITHOUT SETTING THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD BE FREE TO ROLL AS IF IN NEUTRAL. THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CORRECTION: PARK MECHANISM WILL BE INSPECTED AND, IF NECESSARY, A NEW PARK PAWL SHAFT WILL BE INSTALLED IN THE TRANSAXLE.
1996148 · 17,222 units in campaign · Transport Canada
Applies only if the manufacturer confirms your VIN · repair by an authorized dealer
THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET HAS A SHARP EDGE WHICH MAY CAUSE THE PARKING PAWL TO HANG UP AND NOT ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR. THIS MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO MOVE EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWS THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. AS A RESULT, UNINTENDED AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. CORRECTION: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.
1996135 · 2,391 units in campaign · Transport Canada
Applies only if the manufacturer confirms your VIN · repair by an authorized dealer
NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FORD AX4S AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES. THE PARK PAWL SHAFT MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY POSITIONED DURING TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PARK PAWL NOT ENGAGING WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION. THIS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AS IF IN NEUTRAL IF THE VEHICLE OPERATOR DOES NOT APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE. CORRECTION: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND IF NECESSARY THE PARK PAWL SHAFT ROLL PIN AND PARK PAWL SHAFT WILL BE REPLACED.
1996084 · 6,307 units in campaign · Transport Canada
Applies only if the manufacturer confirms your VIN · repair by an authorized dealer
THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 105 - HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS. THE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR MAY MALFUNCTION WHICH COULD CAUSE THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LAMP TO: (1) REMAIN ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY, OR (2) FAIL TO ILLUMINATE AS INTENDED SHOULD THE FLUID LEVEL FALL TO A CERTAIN LEVEL. CORRECTION: BRAKE SYSTEM FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR LAMP SWITCHES WILL BE REPLACED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.
1996034 · 4,690 units in campaign · Transport Canada
Applies only if the manufacturer confirms your VIN · repair by an authorized dealer
1996 Mercury Sable recall questions
NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 1996 Mercury Sable model year. That counts campaigns naming this model year, not recalls on your vehicle: many cover only a VIN range or production window. Transport Canada lists 5 Canadian campaigns for the Canadian-market model, shown separately.
Enter your VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup or Mercury's own, or call a Mercury dealer with your VIN. Cardog uses your VIN only to find the model year; the recalls shown here are listed for that model year and are not matched to your VIN.
Not necessarily. Transport Canada campaigns cover vehicles sold in Canada. For a vehicle sold in the United States, go by the NHTSA listing and NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Safety recall repairs are normally done at no charge by an authorized Mercury dealer. The manufacturer's notice for each campaign sets out the remedy and any conditions, so confirm with the dealer when you book.
Once Mercury's lookup or a dealer confirms a recall applies, book the repair with an authorized Mercury dealer and bring your VIN. If the manufacturer's notice says not to drive the vehicle or to park it outside, follow that instruction. Parts can take time, so book early.
Follow the manufacturer's notice for that recall. Most allow normal driving until the repair; some tell owners to stop driving or to park outside until it is fixed. Cardog does not grade recalls by severity: the manufacturer's notice and your dealer are the source.
Manufacturers must notify owners they have on record. If you bought the vehicle used or have moved, update your details with Mercury so notices reach you, and check NHTSA's lookup from time to time.
Related recall checks
Compare recall listings with alternatives to the 1996 Mercury Sable.