Four problems related to automatic transmission park/neutral start switch have been reported for the 1996 Mercury Sable. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
The check engine light came on so the car was taken to the dealer to check it out on November of 1998. The dealer said it was a bad shift solinoid that would not effect the car very much but, should be replaced sometimes. On Feb. 4, the vehicle would not start so it was towed to a local garage, they said that it needed to go to a dealer because they didn't have the proper computer to diagnose the problem. The car was then towed to bob hastings Ford, east rochester NY, where they found that a fuel sensor was misssing. I contend that the sensor was never there to start with but, having no way to prove it could not get them to warranty it. Two weeks later the transmission began to slip so I drove it to empire transmission, webster NY, where I was told I needed to have the transmission rebuilt. I contacted Ford to see if they would cover part of the work, but I was told that since I didn't have an extended service plan there was nothing they could do. I think this is premature failure for a transmission not used for towing or off road.
Transmission jumped out of gear, causing injury to consumer.
When shifting gear from park to drive and without foot depressed on the brake pedal, vehicle was able to move out of gear due to transmission interlock system malfunctioning. Consumer has contacted dealer. Please provide any further details.
Without the key in the ignition and vehicle in the park position, the vehicle rolls forward on flat surface. Please give any further details.