One problem related to automatic transmission control module has been reported for the 1996 Mercury Sable. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
High idle when moving from park to drive, causing vehicle to lurch forward, and it will also travel couple feet if foot is not on brakes hard. Manufacturer issued a TSB, but it does not correct defect. Consumer states that this failure caused the liquid filled mounts to fail which also caused exhaust leak at manifold, the TSB number is 97-7-1, which states the pcm needed replaced due to an incorrect software identification block. Drive and serpentine belts failed.