Table 1 shows one common latches/locks/linkage related problems of the 1998 Mercury Sable.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Door Latch problems |
Persistent problem with many Mercury/Ford cars and trucks. Faulty door sensors indicate unsafe condition (doors not close/latch). Two very serious safety conditions result from this false indication: (a) the driver ignores the false indicator which puts the driver and all occupants at risk when an actual unsafe condition does exist. (b) the interior lights are illuminated while driving and cannot be extinguished. This restricts night time visibility and causes an unsafe condition to exist. (c) the driver's door cannot be locked. This presents a potential security issue to the driver. These faulty sensors (or faulty design) have been installed in Mercury/Ford products for a number of years.