FaultScore

Mercury Sable headlight problems

321 of the 7,190 complaints filed about the Mercury Sable are about the lighting — 4% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1993.

321

Complaints

4%

Share of all complaints

3

Crashes

5

Fires

Lights complaints by model year

1987 Sable 1 0.3%
1988 Sable 4 1.2%
1989 Sable 7 2.2%
1990 Sable 10 3.1%
1991 Sable 5 1.6%

Median failure at 100,000 miles

1992 Sable 16 5.0%
1993 Sable 73 22.7%

Median failure at 75,000 miles

1994 Sable 32 10.0%

Median failure at 98,000 miles

1995 Sable 10 3.1%
1996 Sable 15 4.7%

Median failure at 96,500 miles

1997 Sable 15 4.7%

Median failure at 80,000 miles

1998 Sable 11 3.4%

Median failure at 104,000 miles

1999 Sable 9 2.8%
2000 Sable 60 18.7%

Median failure at 39,082 miles

2001 Sable 17 5.3%

Median failure at 84,000 miles

2002 Sable 14 4.4%

Median failure at 68,000 miles

2003 Sable 14 4.4%

Median failure at 101,500 miles

2004 Sable 8 2.5%

Median failure at 95,000 miles

What owners said

2004 Mercury Sable at 172,000 miles Richmond, TX

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WHILE PARKED, TRIED TO PUT CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY BUT CAR WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. ONLY WAY TO GET CAR TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK IS TO APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKES THEN SHIFT CAR INTO NEUTRAL WHILE KEY TURNED TO OFF POSITION. BREAK LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED. I CHECKED ALL THE FUSES AND REPLACED THE BREAK LAMP BULBS TO TROUBLESHOOT ISSUE ACCORDING TO OWNERS MANUAL HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. WHEN RESEARCHING ONLINE I READ ABOUT THE SAME EXACT ISSUES OCCURRING IN SAME MODEL AND MAKE THAT WERE RECALLED. I WENT TO MY NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP TO INFORM THEM ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND GET SOME ASSISTANCE IN FIXING THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER THEY WOULD NOT HELP IN THE MATTER, AND STATED THAT MY PARTICULAR VIN # AND YEAR MODEL 2004 HAD NO RECALLS. THE RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR FAULTY BREAK LIGHT SWITCHES IN 2003 AND PREVIOUS YEAR MODELS OF MERCURY SABLES. I'VE READ ABOUT NUMEROUS ISSUES OCCURRING WITH OTHER 2004 MERCURY SABLE OWNERS THAT ALSO CANNOT GET HELP WITH THIS MATTER. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE NHTSA INVESTIGATES TO FIND OUT WHY 2004 MODELS ARE ALSO EXHIBITING SAME RECALL SAFETY ISSUES. THE PROBLEM OBVIOUSLY LIES WITH THE PART (SAME BREAK LIGHT SWITCH) FORD INSTALLED ON THESE VEHICLES AND NOT NECESSARILY THE YEAR THE VEHICLE WAS MADE. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PRIMARY MISSION AND ROLE OF THE NHTSA IS TO HELP KEEP THE PUBLIC SAFE AND INFORMED ABOUT POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUES. THEREFORE, I HOPE THEY NOT ONLY INVESTIGATE WHY FORD USED THE SAME FAULTY PART ON OTHER YEAR MODEL VEHICLES BUT ALSO ISSUE THE NECESSARY RECALL FOR SAID VEHICLES WITH THOSE PARTS. IF, WHILE TRAVELING WITH MY FAMILY, A CAR SLAMS INTO US BECAUSE NO BREAK LIGHTS WILL ENGAGE, WHOSE FAULT IS THAT? I'VE BROUGHT THIS SAFERY ISSUE CONCERN TO THE ATTENTION OF FORD AND NOW THE NHTSA. FAILURE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE PUTS THE PUBLIC IN DANGER!

NHTSA complaint #11119888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mercury Sable at 35,000 miles Westland, MI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS RELAY SODDARD INTO BACKSIDE OF FUSE PANEL (GEM) WAS BAD LOCATION FOR A PERSON WITH NO EXPERIENCE TO FIX OR LOCATE MOST PEOPLE NEVER GOT IT FIXED BECAUSE OF NO EXPERIENCE AND AMOUNT OF MONEY TO HAVE AN ELECTRICAL MECHANIC TO FIX. I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A FEW PEOPLE DID GET IT FIXED THROUGH A RECALL BUT I DIDN'T AND I NEVER GOT A RECALL FOR THIS IN THE MAIL. I WOULD LIKE FORD MOTOR COMPANY FIX THIS BECAUSE I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS PROBLEM. MY CAR HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 12 YEARS.

NHTSA complaint #11100705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Mercury Sable at 164,000 miles Capital Heights, MD

INTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY IDLED BETWEEN 3-4 RPMS AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTING FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AUTO ZONE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 12281999. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: SB-10052600-3673. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER RECALL BUT, SHE WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE FOR THE RECALL TO BE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AT NO CHARGE. UPDATED 05/31/2017

NHTSA complaint #10992124 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Mercury Sable at 60,000 miles Fountain Valley, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

NHTSA complaint #10930234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mercury Sable Kansas City, MO

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WAS PULLING INTO PARKING LOT BRAKES WENT OUT TOTALLY NO WARNING STOPPED BY EMERGENCY BRAKE HAVE NO BRAKES AT ALL TURNING AFTER 45 MPH THEN TO A STOPLIGH INTOTHE CITY'S RESTURANT

NHTSA complaint #10885270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Mercury Sable at 148,000 miles Holladay, UT

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE HIGH BEAMS DO NOT FUNCTION, UNLESS THE LEVER (WHICH CHANGES THE BEAM FROM LOW TO HIGH) IS PULLED TOWARDS ME AND HELD CONSTANTLY IN THAT POSITION. WHEN THIS LEVER IS RELEASED THE HIGH BEAMS GO OFF, BUT THERE ARE NO LOW BEAMS. THE DEFECTIVE PART , ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, IS THE "LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE".

NHTSA complaint #10875217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Mercury Sable Marion, NC

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS STUCK AND COULD NOT MOVE OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE WIRING HAD TO BE PUSHED DOWN TO OVERRIDE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10872217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Mercury Sable at 98,000 miles Norman, OK

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THIS CAR WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V106000. THE RECALL WORK FAILED, CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT COME ON, AND THE VEHICLE TO NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK.

NHTSA complaint #10822249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Mercury Sable at 19,000 miles VA Beach, VA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

FOR OVER TEN (10) YEARS THE HEADLIGHTS (BUT NOT THE SIDE DRIVING LIGHTS) HAVE BEEN GOING OFF (FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES) AND THEN COMING BACK ON. THIS DOES NOT OCCUR EVERY TIME THE LIGHTS COME ON AND SEEMS TO BE MORE FREQUENT IN THE SUMMER TIME WHEN IT IS WARM OR HOT OUTSIDE. THE DATE BELOW IS JUST APPROXIMATELY WHEN THIS PROBLEM STARTED AND IS NOT THE ONLY DATE/'TIME IT HAS OCCURRED, IT HAS OCCURRED SPORADICALLY BUT CONTINUOUSLY SINCE THAT DATE.

NHTSA complaint #10811845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mercury Sable at 102,000 miles LA Porte, IN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

NHTSA complaint #10808810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mercury Sable at 168,000 miles Madison Heights, MI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS DIMMED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

NHTSA complaint #10767317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Mercury Sable at 95,000 miles Spring Hill, FL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CAR WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK, NOR WILL BRAKE LIGHTS OPERATE WHEN PEDAL DEPRESSED. EXACT SYMPTOMS AS DESCRIBED IN PREVIOUS MODEL YEAR RECALLS. ONLY WAYTO GET CAR OUT OF PARK IS TO PLACE IN NEUTRAL AFTER TURNING KEY IN IGNITION TO FIRST AVAIALBLE POSITION, THEN APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL TO RELEASE SHIFT LOCK. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM W/ A FAILED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY. IT'S TOO DANGEROUS OF A PROBLEM TO NOT HAVE A RECALL. MANY OTHER MODEL VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. WHY NOT THIS MODEL?

NHTSA complaint #10717640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Mercury Sable at 90,000 miles West Islip, NY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA complaint #10683146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Mercury Sable at 151,000 miles ANN Arbor, MI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.

NHTSA complaint #10679296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Mercury Sable at 99,300 miles Norfolk, VA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE CAR WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK, NOR DO THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORK AND SOMETIMES THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS VERY ISSUE. RECALL #04S12 OR 04V106000. HOWEVER THE RECALL STOPS AT 2003. MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME DEFECTIVE SWITCH IN IT BUT FORD IS REFUSING TO REPLACE IT. THEY CLAIM MY VEHICLE WAS MADE A FEW DAYS AFTER THE RECALL STOPPED. WELL THAT DOESN'T MAKE MY BRAKE PEDAL SWITCH ANY SAFER. I'M BEING HANDED A LINE OF CRAP BY FORD. THEY INSTALLED A DEFECTIVE SWITCH AND HAVE ADMITTED ITS DEFECTIVE AND WONT FIX MINE BECAUSE OF A MANUFACTURE DATE. WHAT COURT WOULDN'T PROSECUTE FORD IF I HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECTIVE SWITCH THAT THEY KNOW IS DEFECTIVE BUT REFUSE TO FIX IT.

NHTSA complaint #10671773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mercury Sable at 160,000 miles Mineral, VA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

ALL LIGHTS GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #10594131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Mercury Sable at 108,000 miles Southbury, CT

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

MY 2003 MERCURY SABLE HAS A FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON. I FOUND THE RECALL NOTICE ONLINE AND CONTACTED FORD WHO DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALL FOR MY VIN NUMBER.

NHTSA complaint #10573570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mercury Sable at 167,000 miles Sgt. Bluff, IA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOME LIGHT WOULD ACTIVATE INDEPENDENTLY AND ONLY TURN OFF ONLY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. AS THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, THE DOOR LIGHTS AND THE DOOR LOCKS STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000. THE CURRENT VEHICLE WAS MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA complaint #10563766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Mercury Sable at 189,000 miles Memphis, TN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALARM SYSTEM AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD ACTIVATE INDEPENDENTLY AND RECURRINGLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR DIAGNOSIS OR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,000.

NHTSA complaint #10557016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mercury Sable at 157,000 miles Flat Rock, MI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 159,000.

NHTSA complaint #10541986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Mercury Sable problems