Mercury Sable Complaints (2003)

201 consumer complaints on file.

#10480051October 14, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
HEATER/AC FAN CONTINUOUSLY STOPS WORKING. I FIRST REPLACED THE MOTOR RESISTOR IN AUGUST 2012. IT WORKED FOR 2 WEEKS WHEN IT BROKE FOR THE 2ND TIME. I WENT TO FIX IT AGAIN, ONLY TO FIND OUT IT STOPS WORKING AGAIN AFTER 2 MORE WEEKS.IT IS NOW OCTOBER AND THE MOTOR RESISTOR BROKE 2X AND NOW THE MOTOR BLOWER IS COMPLETELY GONE. NO AC/HEATER. THE TEMPERATURE IN NY IN OCTOBER IS NOT COMPLIANT WITH NO HEATER. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. BROKE 3XS IN A SPAN OF 6 WEEKS OR SO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467560July 24, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE
DRIVING ON I-25 NORTHBOUND, AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE, WITH MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. WENT FROM 50 TO 65...STEPPED ON BRAKE, BRAKES SLOWED/STOPPED THE ACCELERATION...PULLED OFF AT THE FIRST EXIT RAMP. LOOKED UNDER HOOD, FOR ANYTHING NOT CORRECT...NOTHING VISUALLY DETECTED. DID THIS ONE MORE TIME...3 DAYS LATER. HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED SINCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467107July 23, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WENT TO LEAVE FROM A LOCAL PARK ON A SATURDAY EVENING, BUT MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SHOWED ME A TRICK HOW TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START, BY TURNING THE IGNITION KEY EVER SO SLIGHTLY AND THEN TRYING TO MOVE THE SHIFTER TO NEUTRAL. ONCE IN NEUTRAL I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE HOME. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR ALMOST A WEEK BY STARTING IN NEUTRAL, I WAS STOPPED ON THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY BY POLICE. I WAS INFORMED THAT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY WORKING BRAKE LIGHTS. I DROVE HOME AND LOOKED ON THE INTERNET IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. WELL, THERE WAS A RECALL DONE IN 2004 (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: RQ03008), BUT I WAS INFORMED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY THAT MY VEHICLE BASED ON ITS VIN WAS NOT APART OF THE RECALL. I REQUESTED TO SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR AND WAS INSTRUCTED THAT SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT ME ON THAT FOLLOWING MONDAY. I WAS INDEED CONTACTED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND INFORMED AGAIN, THAT BASED ON MY VIN, THAT I DID NOT QUALIFY AS A PART OF THE RECALL. I WAS TOLD IF MORE COMPLAINTS WERE MADE, THEN SOMETHING COULD POSSIBLY BE DONE. I TOLD THE FORD REPRESENTATIVE THAT I WAS NOT INTERESTED IN HAVING MY VEHICLE REPAIRED AS I HAD THE REPAIR DONE BASED ON THE RECALL INFORMATION FOR APPROXIMATELY $50. THE ISSUE WAS EXACTLY AS IT WAS DESCRIBED ON THE NHTSA'S WEBSITE, MOTORTREND AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S. THE REPAIR TOOK APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES AND THEN I WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE FUNCTIONING. MY CONCERN IS THAT FOR ALMOST A WEEK I DROVE WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS IN A VEHICLE WHERE I DRIVE AROUND WITH MY WIFE, A TODDLER, AND AN INFANT AND AT ANY POINT I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS 10 YEARS OLD, IT WILL NEVER HAVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS. HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT DIMINISH THE POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF LIFE FROM THIS DETECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10462847June 23, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH AND LET UP ON THE GAS WHEN I REALIZED I WAS IN A 30 MPH ZONE. I DROVE ABOUT FIVE MORE BLOCKS WITHOUT TOUCHING THE THROTTLE AND THE CAR NEVER SLOWED UNTIL I APPLIED THE BRAKES DUE TO COMING TO A STOPLIGHT. THIS WAS ON LEVEL GROUND. SINCE THEN THE CAR WILL NOT SLOW DOWN WITHOUT USING THE BRAKES. I HAVE DRIVEN OVER 5 MILES AT ONE TIME AT 60 MPH WITHOUT THE CAR SLOWING TO LESS THAN 58 MPH. WHEN I TAKE IT OUT OF GEAR TO HELP ME SLOW DOWN THE ENGINE REVS UP AND THEN VERY SLOWLY IDLES DOWN. OCCASIONALLY THE ENGINE WILL SLOW AND THEN DIE WHEN SITTING AT STOP LIGHTS. MY BRAKES WERE WORKED ON 3 MONTHS AGO BUT ARE FEELING LIKE THEY NEED TO BE REPAIRED DUE TO SHAKING WHEN I HAVE TO BRAKE HARD TO STOP THE CAR. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10462125June 18, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2003 MERCURY SABLE, AND APPROXIMATELY BACK IN 2010 I EXPERIENCED MY FIRST FAILURE OF THE BLOWER RESISTOR MOTOR. THEN ONE MONTH LATER I EXPERIENCED ANOTHER FAILURE, BEING UNDER WARRANTY THEY REPLACED IT, ANOTHER MONTH GOES BY AND YET ANOTHER FAILURE, TAKE IT BACK AND WE TRIED TO FIGURE WHY IT WAS FAILING. WE THEN COME UP MY CAR WAS MAINLY GARAGED, AND I RARELY DRIVE IN THE RAIN. ON THE THREE DIFFERENT DATES OF FAILURE WE WERE EXPERIENCING HEAVY RAIN THAT I HAD DRIVEN IN AND UPON THE NEXT DAY OR TWO GOING OUT IT FAILED. THEY THEN PUT SILICONE AROUND AND NEAR EVERYTHING. NOW IT IS MAY OF 2012 AND I EXPERIENCE ANOTHER FAILURE, DOING SOME OF MY OWN INVESTIGATING I AM SHOCKED TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR 2001 - 2004 FORD TAURUS AND MERCURY SABLE CARS. AND THERE IS A TSB 04-15-3 ON HOW TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. TO ME THIS IS A VERY POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD SINCE WHEN THE WATER COMES INTO CONTACT WITH LIVE ELECTRICITY TO CAUSE THE BLOW OUT CAN INDEED CAUSE A SHOCK OR EVEN DAMAGE THE BLOWER MOTOR. AND IF A PERSON FOOT HAPPENS TO BE IN THE AREA WHEN THE SHORT HAPPENS THEY COULD GET AN UNEXPECTED JOLT AND GET HURT. THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY RECALL EVENT FOR THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10461707June 14, 2012
VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR LIFTGATE HINGE FRACTURED WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW GLASS TO SEPARATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10460032May 30, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD UNTIL THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT STOPPED AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459180May 21, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MAINTAINED A SPEED OF 50 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE THROTTLE CASE ASSEMBLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,400 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 192,431.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455009April 12, 2012
POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. CAME TO A STOP AND PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR STARTED OUT OK AND THE MPH REACHED 15MPH AND THEN THERE WAS NOTHING. IT WAS LIKE THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL. I HAD TO COAST OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HAD T HAVE THE CAR TOWED HOME. SPOKE WITH SEVERAL FORD DEALERSHIPS SERVICE MECHANICS AND EVERYONE OF THEM SAID THAT THEY WERE ALMOST 100% THAT IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER (INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION). AND COULD ALSO BE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR WONT GO INTO GEAR. YOU CAN MOVE THE GEARSHIFT FLAWLESSLY THRU THE GEARS AND NOTHING THE CAR WONT MOVE. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY EVERY FORD MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THAT YEAR OF CAR AND THAT TRANSMISSION (AX4N). THEN TO FIND OUT THAT FORD KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND NO RECALL! THEN I FIND OUT TODAY THAT FORD ISSUED A RECALL ON THE FORD WINDSTAR FOR THE TRANSMISSIONS (WHICH ARE THE SAME TRANSMISSIONS THAT ARE IN THE SABLE AND IN THE FORD TAURUS, THE MODEL # TRANNY AX4N). IF FORD CAN ISSUE A RECALL ON THE WINDSTAR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE SABLE AND TAURUS WHY CANT THEY ISSUE A RECALL ON ALL OF THEM? THE COST TO FIX MY SABLE IS ANYWHERE FROM $1300 TO $1800 AND THAT'S IF ITS ONLY THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND NOT THE WHOLE TRANNY WHICH WOULD COST IN THE $3500 TO $4500 RANGE. AND BOTH QUOTES ARE COMING FROM FORD MECHANICS WHO HAVE DONE NUMEROUS SABLES ETC WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER AND DEFINITELY DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE MY CAR FIXED!!!! APPARENTLY THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND I FEEL ALONG WITH SO MANY OTHERS THAT FORD SHOULD DO A RECALL AND FIX IT FOR FREE!!!! ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY RECALL THE WINDSTAR FOR THE SAME TRANNY AND SAME PROBLEM! THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND FORD SHOULD ADDRESS IT AND TAKE CARE OF IT. BECAUSE AS OF RIGHT NOW I SIT WITHOUT A CAR. I HAVE HAD OTHER FORD CARS AND NEVER A PROBLEM THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I PURCHASED THIS ONE. IF I WOULD ONLY KNEW..... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451380March 13, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INVOLUNTARILY ACCELERATE WHILE AT COMPLETE STOPS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A SENSOR THAT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 04/10/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, IT WOULD RUN AT A HIGH RATE ABOVE IDLE. IT WOULD CONTINUE UNTIL THE ENGINE WARMED UP. THE CONSUMER STATED THE IDLE SPEED CAN NOT BE REGULATED. UPDATED 04/13/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451553March 13, 2012
SUSPENSION
BACKING UP LESS THAN 5 MPH--ALL AT ONCE HEARD A POP, THE CAR STOPPED MOVING AND WHOOSHING AIR. GOT OUT OF CAR-- DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE SPRING HAD BROKEN AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. LUCKILY, IT HAPPENED AT HOME-- NOT WHEN MY STUDENT DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH OR MORE. OVER 2,400 CASES REPORTED AS OF JUNE 30, 2011-- YET, NO ONE HAS DIED OR BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED YET-- SO NO RECALL. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD-- IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS. THE SPRING WEDGED INTO THE TIRE AND STOPPED THE MOVEMENT OF THE CAR-- NO WAY WOULD I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STEER AND GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. I HOPE THEY REOPEN THIS INVESTIGATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10446782February 6, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT AND WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE RPMS BEGAN TO INCREASE TREMENDOUSLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444669January 20, 2012
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
COIL SPRING BROKE. IT ALMOST PUNCTURED THE TIRE...UPDATED 01/25/12 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443759January 13, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
OUTSIDE LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF NEED NEW STOP LAMP AND AIR FILTER BOTH PARTS WERE RECALLED IN 2004 AND SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH NEW FOR FREE [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440280December 17, 2011
SUSPENSION
LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE, CUTTING AND RUINING TIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435083November 9, 2011
VISIBILITY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE CAP ABOVE THE CABIN FILTER, WHICH CAUSED THE BLOWER MOTOR TO FAIL. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V087000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD) BUT DID NOT CONFIRM IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10424613September 10, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING WHEN I REALIZED THAT MY CAR WAS GOING MUCH FASTER THAN IT SHOULD BE. I WAS GOING UP A HILL SO I MOVED BOTH OF MY FEET AWAY FROM THE PEDALS AND REALIZED THAT IT WAS STILL GAINING SPEED. I PRESSED HARD ON THE BRAKES AND MANAGED TO BRING IT MOSTLY TO A STOP ABOUT 80 FEET FROM AN INTERSECTION AND ANOTHER CAR. I PUT IT INTO PARK, BUT STILL HAD TO HOLD THE BRAKE DOWN HARD IN ORDER TO KEEP THE CAR FROM ROLLING FORWARD. WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED, I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND IT "PEELED OUT" AND WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. I HIT THE BRAKES HARD, TURNED AT THE INTERSECTION THEN INTO A VACANT PARKING LOT. I PUT IT IN PARK IMMEDIATELY AND SHUT IT OFF. I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR AND THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY WENT TO 5000 RPM, SO I SHUT IT OFF AGAIN AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE CAR WAS DEFINITELY ACCELERATING WITHOUT ANY INPUT ON MY PART. THE BRAKES WERE ABLE TO SLOW IT DOWN, BUT ONLY WITH FULL PRESSURE AND IT TOOK MUCH FURTHER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE TO COME TO A STOP. I WAS DRIVING A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415156July 26, 2011
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER IN REGARDS TO PRIOR YEAR VEHICLES BEING RECALLED FOR THIS FAILURE, BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE 2003 MODEL YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 86,600. UPDATED 8/30/11 *CN UPDATED 09/26/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10411538July 8, 2011
STRUCTURE
MERCURY SABLE WAGON 2003 LEAKS INTO PASSENGER CABIN WHEN IT RAINS. THIS IS A PROBLEM NUMEROUS OTHER SABLE AND TAURUS OWNERS HAVE HAD. CABIN FLOODS WHEN IT RAINS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10408977June 26, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURE RESULTED IN A PUNCTURED TIRE. SAME AS EA08-018. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Mercury Sable