# 1998 MERCURY SABLE — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
> NHTSA complaint `513535` · 2004-12-23 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** MERCURY
- **Model:** SABLE
- **Year:** 1998
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
- **Speed:** 5 mph
## Narrative
IN 1998 I PURCHASED A NEW MERCURY SABLE.  STOPPING DISTANCE HAS BEEN INADEQUATE SINCE NEW.  RETURNED TO DEALER 3 TIMES, CHECKED AND STATED EVERYTHING WAS FINE. IN PANIC STOPS IT FEELS AS IF ONLY THE REAR WHEELS ARE BRAKING.  NOW, AFTER 95,000 MILES I HAVE CHANGED THE REAR BRAKE PADS 3 TIMES AND REAR ROTORS ONCE, BUT THE ORIGINAL FRONT PADS ARE STILL ON THE CAR - JUST NOW NEEDING REPLACEMENT.  FRONT ROTORS EXCELLENT - NO OUTER RIDGE.  OBVIOUSLY, FRONT BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING EFFECTIVELY - NORMALLY FRONT BRAKES PROVIDE ABOUT 60& OF BRAKING POWER.  ON NOVEMBER 19 I REAR-ENDED ANOTHER CAR IN A CHAIN-REACTION PANIC STOP.  BODY DAMAGE IS NOW REPAIRED, BUT I HESITATE TO PUT IT BACK IN SERVICE WITHOUT DETERMINING AND REPAIRING THE BRAKE PROBLEM THAT HAS EXISTED SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW.  I WROTE FORD ABOUT THE PROBLEM YEARS AGO BUT RECEIVED NO ANSWER.  THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO RECORD THAT I EVER COMPLAINED ABOUT INADEQUATE BRAKING.  CAR WAS CHECKED AT BRAKEMASTERS, BUT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG.  WITH MILLIONS OF SABLES AND TAURUSES BUILT BY FORD, I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE THE ONLY CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM.  I WONDER HOW MANY OF THESE CARS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN REAR-END COLLISIONS WITH THE OWNERS NEVER REALIZING THAT THEY HAD A BRAKING PROBLEM?  *AK
---
*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*