FaultScore

Mercury Sable window and wiper problems

301 of the 7,190 complaints filed about the Mercury Sable are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 4% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1993.

301

Complaints

4%

Share of all complaints

1

Crashes

5

Fires

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers complaints by model year

1986 Sable 2 0.7%
1987 Sable 1 0.3%
1988 Sable 2 0.7%
1989 Sable 2 0.7%
1990 Sable 8 2.7%
1991 Sable 10 3.3%
1992 Sable 14 4.7%
1993 Sable 56 18.6%
1994 Sable 25 8.3%

Median failure at 94,000 miles

1995 Sable 15 5.0%
1996 Sable 30 10.0%
1997 Sable 24 8.0%

Median failure at 58,700 miles

1998 Sable 10 3.3%

Median failure at 91,000 miles

1999 Sable 21 7.0%

Median failure at 58,850 miles

2000 Sable 12 4.0%

Median failure at 104,000 miles

2001 Sable 13 4.3%

Median failure at 59,340 miles

2002 Sable 29 9.6%

Median failure at 56,010 miles

2003 Sable 21 7.0%

Median failure at 42,250 miles

2004 Sable 1 0.3%

Median failure at 25,000 miles

2005 Sable 4 1.3%

Median failure at 39,612 miles

2009 Sable 1 0.3%

Median failure at 15,000 miles

What owners said

2000 Mercury Sable at 130,000 miles Camp Hill, PA

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE HEATER FAILED TO BLOW HOT AIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LB SMITH FORD LOCATED AT 1100 MARKET ST, LEMOYNE, PA 17043, (717)761-6700, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEATER COIL WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA complaint #11322616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mercury Sable at 140,000 miles Camp Hill, PA

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROST FEATURE FOR THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DID NOT WORK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVERY TIME THE DEFROSTER WAS ACTIVATED FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA complaint #11140292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Mercury Sable Brooklyn, NY

VISIBILITY/WIPER

CAN NOT SEE OUT MY FRONT AND BACK WINDOWS. I WILL CLEAN THE WINDOWS 3-4 TIMES A DAY. IMPROPER CODES REQUESTING REPAIR AND ONCE REPAIRED STILL THE SAME THING. STARTS NO CRANKS. VERY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS, COULD NOT CONTINUE TO WORK DUE TO VISION ISSUES. ANTI THEFT FUNCTIONS PREVENTING ME FROM OPERATING MY CAR.

NHTSA complaint #11130293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mercury Sable at 113,000 miles Green BAY, WI

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A LARGE PUDDLE OF WATER IN THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE INTERIOR AND FLOOR TO BE SOAKED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

NHTSA complaint #10643073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Mercury Sable at 120,576 miles Hebron, CT 1 injured

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IN THE PARKED VEHICLE, AN ASSAILANT APPROACHED THE VEHICLE WITH THE INTENT TO COMMIT A CRIME. THE ASSAILANT STRUCK THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WITH ONLY HIS ELBOW AND THE WINDOW SHATTERED, CAUSING MANY LACERATIONS TO THE CONTACT'S FACE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,576.

NHTSA complaint #10536762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Mercury Sable Staten Island, NY

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.

NHTSA complaint #10480051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Mercury Sable at 175,000 miles Dearborn, MI

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.

NHTSA complaint #10461707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mercury Sable at 90,000 miles Delran, NJ

VISIBILITY

WIRE HARNESS FAILURE IN RUBBER BOOTS FROM BODY OF CAR TO REAR LIFT GATE ON STATION WAGON MODEL. INSULATION CRACKING AND WIRE BREAKING COMPLETELY IN FLEXIBLE RUBBER BOOT CAUSES ERRATIC BEHAVIOR AND ULTIMATE FAILURE OF HIGH BRAKE LIGHT, BACK UP LIGHTS, LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER, REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER, OPEN LIFT GATE AND OPEN REAR WINDOW SAFETY SENSORS AND STEREO SPEAKERS. INSULATION AND WIRING WITHIN BOOT HAS BECOME BRITTLE AND FATIGUED. CLEAN BREAKS IN WIRES FROM OPENING AND CLOSING LIFT GATE ARE EVIDENT. WIRES WHERE INSULATION HAS BROKEN THROUGH ARE COMING IN CONTACT WITH OTHER CIRCUITS WHERE THAT INSULATION HAS BROKEN THROUGH AND RESULTS IN "CONFUSING" OPERATION OF LIGHTS. IE PUT CAR IN REVERSE AND HIGH BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON - PUT FOOT ON BRAKE AND HIGH BRAKE LIGHT GOES OUT. BACKUP LIGHTS DON'T COME ON AT ALL. IE TURN ON REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER AND LICENSE PLATE LIGHT COMES ON. WIRING DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF MULTIPLE INTERNAL COPPER STRANDS OR SUPPLE ENOUGH INSULATION TO PROVIDE NEEDED FLEXIBILITY DURING REGULAR OPENING AND CLOSING OF REAR LIFT GATE. BELIEVE THIS TO BE A LATENT SAFETY DEFECT. MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE KNOWN DURING DESIGN THAT WIRING IN BOOT TO STATION WAGON LIFT GATE WOULD BE PRONE TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WITH REGULAR USE.

NHTSA complaint #10457115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Mercury Sable at 16,000 miles Schererville, IN

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.

NHTSA complaint #10435083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mercury Sable Portland, MI

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A WEBASTO HOLLANDIA 600 SUNROOF. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V124000(VISIBILITY:SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY). ONCE SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER AND WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDED AN ESTIMATED TIME OF AVAILABILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 123,000. IT WAS SAID TO TAKE TWO WEESKS UNTIL PARTS WERE IN. NEVER RECIEVED PHONE CALL. IT HAS BEEN CLOSE TO TWO MONTHS. UPDATED 09/01/2011

NHTSA complaint #10409346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mercury Sable at 85,000 miles Maywood, NJ

VISIBILITY

HEATER/DEFROSTER FAN HAS FAILED. THIS ALSO PREVENTS THE A/C FROM CLEARING THE WINDSHIELD OF CONDENSATION.

NHTSA complaint #10381710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Mercury Sable at 15,000 miles Chelsea, MI

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

MERCURY SABLE 2009 WINDSHIELD WIPERS CLOG WITH SNOW AND MAKE WINDSHIELD COMPLETLY OPAQUE. SCRAPING SNOW/SLUSH OFF ONLY WORKS FOR FIVE MINUTES. I HAVE HAD TO PULL OFF TO ROADSIDE IN TRAFFIC TO REPEATEDLY CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD. WIPERS CANNOT BE ADEQUATLY CLEANED DURING EVENT.

NHTSA complaint #10316215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Mercury Sable at 19,000 miles NEW Kensington, PA

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

I HAVE A 2003 MERCURY SABLE WITH 19K MILES ON IT. WE HAD HEAVY RAINS TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING, FOLLOWED BY SUB FREEZING TEMPERATURES THROUGHOUT WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY. THURSDAY MORNING, (12-10-09) THE BLOWER MOTOR FOR THE HEATING/AC SYSTEM WOULD ONLY WORK ON IT'S HIGHEST SETTING, AND CONTINUES TO DO SO. A FEW TIMES THROUGHOUT THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, MY WIFE AND I THOUGHT WE HEARD WATER RUSHING AROUND SOMEWHERE IN THE VICINITY OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AREA. I READ OVER 150 COMPLAINTS ON TOPIX.COM FOR THE VERY SAME PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS OF BOTH SABLES AND TAURUS'. IT WAS RECOMMENDED BY SEVERAL FOLKS THAT PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUES SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT HERE. IT SEEMS THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE BLOWER MOTOR/RESISTOR ASSEMBLY IS CAUSED BY WATER ENTERING THE BLOWER HOUSING ITSELF. I HAVE READ THAT FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AS THEY HAVE ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR IT. MY CONCERN IS THAT SINCE WINTER IS UPON US, A POSSIBLE UNSAFE CONDITION COULD ARISE SHOULD THE BLOWER MOTOR QUIT WORKING COMPLETELY, THUS PREVENTING THE WINDOWS FROM DEFROSTING. ADDITIONALLY, I FEEL STRONGLY THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT NO COST TO ME BY FORD.

NHTSA complaint #10295420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mercury Sable at 140,000 miles Port Orchard, WA

VISIBILITY

LEAKING CONNECTION BETWEEN WINDSHIELD WATER AND BLOWING MOTOR OF HEATING/VENTILATION CAUSING WINDOWS TO FOG UP AFTER STARTING AND BEGINNING DRIVING. WHEN OPENING THE BLOWER MOTOR COMPARTMENT YOU CAN ACTUALLY WATER SEE DRIPPING OUT. ALSO A SOAKING WET FLOOR WILL OCCUR RIGHT AFTER A SEVERE RAINSTORM. THIS IS A MAYOR SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO BAD VISIBILITY!

NHTSA complaint #10286119 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Mercury Sable at 60,000 miles DES Plaines, IL

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

HEATER BLOWER MOTOR NOT WORKING IN 2003 MERCURY SABLE. MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE IS A LEAK IN THE FIREWALL. I NOTICED ONLINE THAT THIS HAPPENS TO A LOT OF FORD TAURUS AND MERCURY SABLE OWNERS. ANOTHER FORD OWNER IS TRACKING ALL THE COMPLAINTS HE CAN ( FORD RECALL NUMBER 03V087000 AND HIS COMPLAINT 10184014). DEALER WANTS $300 TO FIX LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #10286070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Mercury Sable at 75,000 miles Cherry Hill, NJ

VISIBILITY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. AFTER SEVERE RAINY CONDITIONS, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR EXHIBITED AN EXCESSIVE ACCUMULATION OF WATER. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V087000 (VISIBILITY, WINDSHIELD) WHICH IDENTIFIES THE WATER LEAKAGE. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURES IDENTICAL TO THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED IF THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER IS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 75,000.

NHTSA complaint #10252180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Mercury Sable at 17,800 miles Johnstown, PA

VISIBILITY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH IN SLEETING CONDITIONS, COMING TO A STOP LIGHT THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEATER WAS GETTING COLDER. THE HEATER WAS SET AT 78 DEGREES AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE AND, AS A RESULT, THE FRONT AND REAR GLASS FOGGED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THROUGH THE GLASS AND THE DEFROSTER WOULD NOT CLEAR THE GLASS. THE CONTACT HAD TO DRIVE AND CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD WITH A CLOTH IN ORDER TO VIEW THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE COIL WAS FILLED WITH WATER, WHICH CAUSED THE HEATER TO FAIL. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT IT WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AT THE COST OF $500. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,800 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,175. UPDATED 12/17/08.

NHTSA complaint #10250233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mercury Sable at 73,566 miles Cleveland, OH

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

I HAVEN'T HAD MY 2002 MERCURY SABLE FOR MORE THAN A YEAR A THE HEATER JUST SUDDENLY WENT OUT! I HAVE NO IDEA WHY BUT I HEARD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE THING IS THAT TRUE I M STILL PAYING ON THIS CAR ALSO!

NHTSA complaint #10248979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mercury Sable at 77,000 miles Toms River, NJ

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

2002 MERCURY SABLE WATER LEAKS INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE COMPARTMENT OF VEHICLE. THE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR GETS WATER AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. BOTOR WORKS ON AND OFF. REFERENCE COMPLAINT # 101840014. ALSO FORD RELATED RECALL 03V087000.

NHTSA complaint #10247354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mercury Sable at 104,000 miles Jackson, MI

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

I HAVE A 1999 MERCURY SABLE. IN JANUARY 11, 2008, I HAVE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP. ON JULY 15, 2008, THE PUMP STOPPED AGAIN. I HAVE NOTICED THAT SOME OF THE 2000 MERCURY SABLES ARE ON RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. MIGHT THE 1999 MERCURY SABLE BE LOOKED AT IN THIS LIGHT TO ASCERTAIN IF THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM?

NHTSA complaint #10236516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Mercury Sable problems