988 of the 7,190 complaints filed about the Mercury Sable are about the suspension — 14% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2002.
988
Complaints
14%
Share of all complaints
7
Crashes
2
Fires
SUSPENSION
Not sure, but it sounds like the springs. The air condition makes a stumping noise when I turn it on.
NHTSA complaint #11462153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE DOING BASIC MAINTENANCE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SPRING WAS FRACTURED AND THE REAR SUB FRAME BOLTS FAILED CAUSING THE SUBFRAME TO DROP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE TOYCEN FORD (1000 CHIPPEWA CROSSING BLVD, CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI 54729, (715) 723-6060) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNREPAIRABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 158,000.
NHTSA complaint #11388114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. THE SUSPENSION COIL SPRING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRACTURED AND SLASHED THE TIRE CAUSING THE TIRE TO EXPLODE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,500.
NHTSA complaint #11361053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
I GOT IN MY CAR STARTED TO DRIVE AND HEARD SOMETHING SNAP THEN SMOKE CAME FROM THE HOOD AND THE CAR PULLED HARD RIGHT. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND PARKED THE CAR. THE COIL SPRING BROKE AND DUG INTO MY FRONT PASSENGER TIRE AND IT PULLED THE AXLE OUT OF THE CV JOINT.I WAS IN ALLENTOWN,PA. ON A MAIN ROAD IN THE CITY. FEB.8,2020.
NHTSA complaint #11321890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HANDLED POORLY AND WAS UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
NHTSA complaint #11195649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
I BOUGHT THIS CAR ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO DROVE IT TO ROME GA.FROM CENTRE AL ON WAY BACK THE TIRES ON BACK WAS EAT DOWN TO WIRE BELTS
NHTSA complaint #11004745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
I NOW HAVE 75,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, BUT AT AROUND THE 15,000 MILE POINT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT STRUT WENT OUT FOLLOWED BY THE PASSENGER FRONT STRUT 4,000 MILES LATER. IN TOTAL BOTH FRONT STRUTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES (THE ORIGINAL AND TWO REPLACEMENT SETS) AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT STRUT IS AGAIN MAKING A CLUNKING SOUND, SAME AS BEFORE. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ORIGINAL AND FIRST REPLACEMENT SET AT THEIR COST BUT THE LAST SET WAS AT MY COST. WITH THE STRUTS SHOWING SIGNS OF NEEDING REPLACEMENT AGAIN I DON'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE FUNDING FOR THE COST, THERE IS DEFINITELY A DEFECT IN THE STRUTS IF THAT MANY BECAME DEFECTIVE IN THAT SHORT OF A TIME PERIOD. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON GOOD ROADS AND NOT ABUSED. SINCE THIS IS PART OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM IT CAN/WILL AFFECT DRIVING SAFETY AND TIRE WEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10992237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
ON 2/6/2017 MY 2002 MERCURY SABLE WAGON WITH 63512 MILES ON IT THE FRONT SPRING BROKE TORE THE INSIDE OF TIRE APART NOT SURE WHAT ELSE WAS DAMAGED AT THIS POINT . MY CAR BEING IN VERY GOOD CONDITION NOT YOUR TYPICAL N.Y RUST NOT A ISSUE THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DESIGN DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #10949982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT MOVE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. UPON INSPECTION, THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED AND DETACHED, DAMAGING THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V332000 (SUSPENSION), BUT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000.
NHTSA complaint #10947588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
MY 17 YEAR OLD WAS DRIVING THE 2001 MERCURY SABLE AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A LIGHT ON A BUSY INTERSECTION HOWEVER, THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATED EVEN WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE ACCELERATION STUCK AND FORTUNATELY HE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WITHOUT HITTING ANYONE AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT BUT IMMEDIATELY MANAGED TO GET IT TO AN OPEN LOT TO SHUT THE CAR OFF. HAD SOMEONE LOOK AT IT, AND IT WAS THE THROTTLE CABLE THAT SNAPPED. IT IS ONLY TEMPORARILY FIXED AT THIS TIME. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING IN AREAS WHERE THERE IS ANY TYPE OF SMALL BUMP, SUCH AS THE END OF OUR DRIVEWAY, THE FRONT END SUSPENSION JUST ISN'T THERE. IT HITS EXTREMELY HARD.
NHTSA complaint #10920173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH OVER A BUMP, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT BOTH SPRINGS HAD FRACTURED. THE MECHANIC ALSO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES AND BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE SPRINGS WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
NHTSA complaint #10860903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A SQUEAKING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDER THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN SLOWING DOWN, MAKING TURNS, AND REVERSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRADLE AND SUBFRAME BUSHING WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING AT CERTAIN SPEEDS AND MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #10851657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
FRONT COIL SPRINGS BOTH BROKEN AND REPLACED. REAR COIL SPRING BROLE AND PUNCTURED TIRE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME STRANDED.
NHTSA complaint #10839949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
OUR 2002 SABLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR AN EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE ISSUE. WHILE WORKING ON THE REAR BRAKES, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT A REAR SUSPENSION SPRING WAS BROKEN. HE SAID WE WERE VERY LUCKY IT DID NOT RUPTURE THE TIRE. WE HAD BOTH REAR SPRINGS REPLACED, BECAUSE WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT TO BREAK. AFTER THAT WORK WAS DONE THE CAR NEEDED TO BE ALIGNED, AND THAT IS WHEN THEY NOTICED THAT A FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING WAS EVEN MORE SEVERELY BROKEN THAT IS WHEN WE SEARCHED FOR POSSIBLE BULLETINS OR RECALLS. THERE WERE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2002 SABLE SPRING BREAKAGE, AND SOME ACTUALLY RUPTURING TIRES. THERE IN FACT WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR 2001 MERCURY SABLES WITH SPRING BREAKAGE PROBLEMS, BUT NOT FOR 2002S. WE KNOW IN FACT THAT THE SAME PART IS USED ON 2001 AND 2002S. SO, FOR SAFETY REASONS WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS. WE FEEL THAT THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. WE WERE LUCKY THAT THE SPRINGS DID NOT BREAK AND RUPTURE TIRES WHEN WE WERE DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED. WE BELIEVE THAT A BULLETIN SHOULD BE ISSUED TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE, AND THAT REPAIRS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL. WE PUT OUT SOME $1200 TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. DO WE HAVE ANY CHANCE OF COMPENSATION FOR OUR EXPENSES? I DID CALL FORD AND MADE A COMPLAINT, AND HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER #[XXX]. THANK YOU FOR ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10808990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
I DROVE THE CAR HOME AFTER PURCHASING IT AND IT WAS WOBBLING AND I PULLED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY AND DID NOT KNOW WHY IT WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE. THE MECHANIC SIAD A WHEEL BEARING IS BROKEN ON A TIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10806676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
I JUST BOUGHT A 2000 MERCURY SABLE, WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND MAKING A TURN, I FELT SOMETHING POP & A SPRING COIL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #10806675 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
APPROXIMATELY 39,000 MILES. NO RUST CAR. RUBBING NOISE AND ALL TIRES WITH HISTORY OF LOSING AIR. WHILE REPLACING ALL TIRES, WHEEL TECH NOTICED RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING WAS FRACTURED AND COMPLETELY WORE OFF INTERIOR TIRE RIDGE. PLACED DOUGHNUT TIRE ON AND ADVISED I TAKE TO MECHANIC TO HAVE ALL SPRINGS FULLY CHECKED. CAR CURRENTLYAT MECHANIC SHOP THIS EVENING. RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING DEFINITELY FRACTURED. SEEMS MANY REPORTS OF SAME NATURE ON THIS MODEL. WHY NO RECALL ON REAR COIL SPRINGS WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS? RUBBING SOUND FROM BENEATH CAR HAS BEEN NOTED AND TIRES CONSTANTLY NEEDED AIR. OTHER ISSUE(S): 1) IGNITION EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN.2) ACCELERATOR SEEMS TO STICK UPON ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE BY LETTING UP FOOT PRESSURE. I INHERITED THIS CAR FROM MY DECEASED FATHER. I WAS ALWAYS CONCERNED THAT HE ACCELERATED TOO QUICKLY FROM A STOPPED POSITION. FATHER TOOK DOWN A LARGE CONCRETE PLANTER DUE TO THIS TYPE OF CAR JERKING, YET I THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO HIS PUTTING TOO MUCH PRESSURE UPON THE ACCELERATOR. NOW THAT I AM DRIVING THE CAR, I NOTE THAT CAR DOES NOT SLOW WHEN I LET UP ON THE ACCELERATOR, LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT DUE TO FATHER'S DRIVING. THIS WAS NEVER A PROBLEM WITH HIS FORMER CAR. 3) DRIVER'S DOOR MAKES LOUD CLUNK UPON OPENING AND CLOSING. ARE THESE KNOWN PROBLEMS?
NHTSA complaint #10790799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
MY MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE COIL SPRING IS LACKING A COVER AND IS RUSTING AND MAY BREAK. MY TRANSMISSION "SLIPS" AND "REVS" AT RANDOM. BOTH OF THESE ITEMS ARE SUPPOSEDLY UNDER RECALL, BUT FORD WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALLS.
NHTSA complaint #10781350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
THE ENGINE CRADLE/FRAME SUPPORTING THE ENGINE & TRANSMISSION AND SUSPENSION AND STEERING ASSEMBLIES FAILED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION CAUSING THE REAR MOUNT AT THE BODY CONNECTION ON BOTH SIDES TO SEPARATE AND DROP ABOUT 3" CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING. THE DROP OF THE CRADLE AND ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION PULLED DOWN ON THE STEERING SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT UNDER THE DASH CAUSING THE STEERING TO BIND UP AND ALSO CAUSING THE ENTIRE STEERING AND SUSPENSION GEOMETRY TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT GARAGED, WAS PURCHASED NEW BY ME, WAS NOT IN INVOLVED IN ANY FLOOD DAMAGE, WAS NOT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SALT WATER AND THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS SPRAYED EACH TIME I FREQUENTLY WASHED THE VECHICLE. THE ENGINE CRADLE IN ADDITION TO THE REAR MOUNT FAILURE HAS EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION THRUOUT THE STRUCTURE. AS SOMEONE WHO PAYS ATTENTION TO MY VEHICLE I BEGAN TO NOTICE RUST/CORROSION ON THE ENGINE CRADLE ABOUT 5 YEARS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITHOUT FINDING ANY. I'M WIRTTING THIS AFTER FINALLY SEEING A COMPLAINT ON A 2001 FORD TAURUS CRADLE/FRAME FAILURE AND THINK THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION SHOULD BE MADE PUBLIC. THANKFULLY I WAS GOING AT A SLOW SPEED AND WAS ABLE TO VEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HAD I BEEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE EVENT WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC NOT ONLY TO ME BUT OTHERS ON THE ROAD ALSO. LOVED MY VEHICLE IT RUNS GREAT AND WAS LOOKING FOWARD TO MORE MILES WITH IT, UNFORTUNATELY THE REPAIR WOULD BE A MAJOR UNDERTAKING AND EXPENSE AND MY SABLE IS TO HEAD TO THE JUNK YARD ON A FLATBED.
NHTSA complaint #10761626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
AS I WAS BACKING MY CAR OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, I HEARD A NOISE AND THEN A HISS. THEN THE CAR RESISTED FURTHER MOTION. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLAT. I TRIED TO REINFLATE IT BUT COULD NOT. I REMOVED THE FRONT WHEEL AND MOUNTED THE MINI SPARE TIRE. THERE WAS A COMPLETE CIRCUMFERENTIAL TEAR OF THE TIRE SIDEWALL NEAR THE TREAD. I ASSUMED IT WAS A SPONTANEOUS FAILURE OF THE TIRE. WHEN I BOUGHT NEW TIRES TODAY AT COSTCO, THE MECHANIC SAID HE COULD NOT PUT THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ON THE CAR BECAUSE A PIECE OF BROKEN SPRING WAS PROJECTING OUTBOARD AND HITTING THE SIDEWALL OF THE NEW TIRE. INSPECTION SHOWED THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING WAS ALSO BROKEN BUT THE POINTED END WAS AIMED INWARD. THE INFERIOR COIL WAS BROKEN OFF AND WAS LOOSE BUT COULD NOT BE EASILY REMOVED FROM THE STRUT. I TOLD THE MECHANIC TO REMOUNT THE MINI-SPARE ON THE RIGHT FRONT. UNTIL I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET I HAD NO IDEA THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE THAT FOMOCO HAD PARTIALLY ADDRESSED YEARS AGO IN OTHER MODEL YEARS BUT NOT 2002. IT SEEMS THAT MANY OF THESE FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED AT REST OR SLOW SPEEDS, BUT I ALSO THINK THIS IS A FUNCTION OF THE FACT THAT CARS SIT MOST OF THEIR LIVES. THERE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL DAMAGE TO OWNERS FOR TIRES AND REPAIRS, BUT LUCKILY THERE HAVE BEEN NO SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURIES. BECAUSE THE FAILURES ARE SUDDEN AND CATASTROPHIC, THERE IS CERTAIN TO BE A SERIOUS AND PERHAPS FATAL INCIDENT IN THE FUTURE. FOMOCO AND THE US GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECTING THE UNKNOWING AND TRUSTING PUBLIC TO THE RISKS OF LUCK, BECAUSE IT WILL EVENTUALLY TURN BAD. APPARENTLY FOMOCO DOES NOT CARE ENOUGH ABOUT ITS DRIVERS TO REPAIR THE DEFECT, OR MITIGATE THE DANGER AND DAMAGE, OR EVEN INFORM OWNERS OF THE DANGER. NHTSA ACT NOW, DO YOUR JOB, AND PROTECT US FROM THOSE WHO BUILD AUTOMOBILES, BUT DON'T CARE.
NHTSA complaint #10731848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.