KnownCarProblems2002 Mercury Sable Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 440 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Mercury Sable, most often about the suspension (54% of complaints, typically around 77,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Sable model year since 2000 and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2002 Mercury Sable problems
Suspension
239 complaints · 54%Half of these problems showed up before 77,000 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
: the contact stated the front left coil spring fractured and pierced the front left tire on 1/5/2006. The coil spring was replaced at the sales/service dealer. On 12/6/2006, the vehicle was taken to a national chain to replace the tires and the two rear coil springs were found to be fractured. The vehicle was…
Rear coil spring broke. A piece of the coil actually fell off of the vehicle. I was able to retrieve piece of coil off of the road. It broke at the top of the spring. No further damage occurred.
Speed control
56 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 88,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal, cruise control, cables.
The contact owns a 2002 Mercury Sable. While driving 35 MPH, the contact noticed that the vehicle had suddenly began to accelerate without warning. In order to stop the vehicle, the contact had to shift into neutral and then shut the vehicle off. The failure had not been diagnosed and had not been repaired. The…
The cruise control gas cable broke off the holder by the throttle valve, resulting in jamming the throttle valve in open position, the car became out of control as the brakes are not able to slow down the car, only turning off the ignition helped slowing down the car so no brake booster. One very dangerous situation.…
Visibility and wipers
27 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 58,000 miles. Parts named most often: windshield, defroster/defogger/hvac system, glass, side/rear, sun/moon roof assembly.
Cowl at base of windshield leaked water into blower motor resulting in a loss of heat and front defrost capability leading to visibility issues, fogging of windows and inability to drive vehicle safely.
Water leaked through windshield cowl onto the passenger floor board and causing blower fan motor to short out. Ford admits this manufacturing defect in tsb 04-15-3. Has caused me respiratory issues due to build up of mold in dash and carpeting.
Air bags
24 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 49,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Mercury Sable. While driving 45 MPH, another vehicle coming from behind her, jumped the median and crashed into the front end of her vehicle. As a result, the steering and floor column collapsed, and the airbags did not deploy. The crash destroyed the vehicle. The driver sustained a shoulder…
Involved in mvc. Passenger airbag deployed although no passenger in vehicle. Drivers side air bag did not deploy. Driver sustained minor injuries.
Engine
24 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 60,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system.
My car (2002 Mercury Sable) continues to fail smog inspection due to faulty oxygen sensors. I have taken it to the dealer and it costs at least $200 each time I take it in and they never completely fix it stating it is an ongoing problem with this car. The check engine light is always on.
Miles 70,290 (acc) I was driving ob the highway , to avoid a crash I had to stop quickly. All indicator lamps came on but the car did not shut off. Small clouds of smoke from exhaust (white-grey). It was parked for 2 days , start up was fine driving was fine also. Once again a( lead foot) driver cut me and another car…
Brakes
23 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 43,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components, pedals and linkages, disc.
I put my foot on the brake, and the car accelerated and I was unable to stop causing an accident. This has also happened on several other occassions causing near miss accidents.
While driving 60 MPH the vehicles brakes were applied and the brake pedal went to the floor. The vehicle skid about one hundred feet before it rear ended another vehicle.
Transmission
23 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 45,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission.
Hit the brakes while driving and the engine revs up. Multiple times to dealer and still not fixed- I requested a new computer or brain for the car while under extended warranty- no go from dealer. On snow this is very scary-on wet roads in florida I put it in neutral and the engine revs when I hit the brakes-when…
: the contact stated that the vehicle jerked forward at an alarming rate of speed whenever the accelerator was depressed. The sudden acceleration caused an accident with another vehicle and a police report was filed. The vehicle was inspected by the service dealer who determined that the transmission was the cause of…
Electrical
17 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 54,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, alternator/generator/regulator, ignition, 12v/24v/48v battery.
I have a 2002 Mercury Sable with 54,000 miles. Suddenly & w/o warning, my alternator stopped working and drained my battery. I have had 3 ford products with some lasting 160,000 miles w/o ever having problems with alternators. I talked w/the customer service rep. At the repair shop about having to replace an…
Water leaked through windshield cowl onto the passenger floor board and causing blower fan motor to short out. Ford admits this manufacturing defect in tsb 04-15-3. Has caused me respiratory issues due to build up of mold in dash and carpeting.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2002 Mercury Sable recalls
Lights: switch
Risk: In addition, if the switch and/or associated wiring fail in the open position, the brake lights will not actuate and the driver will not be able to shift the vehicle out of "park" if they fail in the closed position, the brake lights will remain on, which will not allow the speed control to be activated. This could also cause the battery to discharge.
Fix: Dealers will remove the stop lamp switch and associated wiring assembly and install a newly designed stop lamp switch and wire assembly. Owner notification is expected to begin on april 5, 2004. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Full defect summary
Certain passenger vehicles are being recalled to correct a problem with a malfunctioning stop lamp switch and/or associated wiring. This malfunctioning could render the stop lamps inoperable or cause them to stay on all the time. This could cause confusion to a following driver, which could lead to a crash.
Visibility and wipers: windshield
Risk: Potential loss of windshield retention may also reduce occupant protection in the event of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace these windshields. Owner notification began on march 31, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford/mercury at 1-800-392-3673.
Full defect summary
Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 212, "windshield mounting." the windshields may potentially exhibit increased wind noise, water leakage, and squeaks and rattles.
Brakes: pedals and linkages
Risk: This could result in a customer experiencing an "unintended vehicle speed increase" or a perceived "unable to stop" condition.
Fix: Owners will be instructed as to the proper way to set the position of the pedals and to take their vehicles to a dealer to have the spacing between the brake and accelerator pedals measured. If the spacing is found to be less than 50 mm, the dealer will adjust the pedals to increase the distance between them to greater than 50 mm. Owner notification began october 28, 2002. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Full defect summary
Certain passenger vehicles equipped with adjustable padels are being recalled in order to adjust the brake and accelerator pedals to a minimum of 50 mm of lateral separation. Simultaneous application of both the brake and accelerator pedals could result in an increase in engine RPM.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Speed control cable damage
Summary
On june 21, 2013, ford initiated customer satisfaction program 13b04 to address a concern with speed control cable damage in certain model year (my) 2000 through 2003 taurus and sable vehicles equipped with 3.0l 4v duratec engines and built at the chicago assembly plant.in the dealer letter for the program, ford indicates that the speed control cables on affected vehicles may be susceptible to damage or becoming partially disconnected during under hood vehicle maintenance (e.g., replacing a battery or changing the air filter) and that a damaged speed control cable could interfere with the throttle's full return to idle when the accelerator pedal is released.ford's program instructs dealers t
Front suspension coil spring fracture
Summary
To date, odi is aware of 2,401 non-duplicative complaints related to the alleged defect. In addition, odi is aware of 1,411 subject vehicles with one or more warranty claims related to the alleged defect. In total, odi is aware of 3,645 unique subject vehicles that have experienced one or more front suspension coil spring fractures. Odi is also aware of four minor crashes related to the alleged defect resulting in one minor injury.with greater than eight years of exposure, a large subject vehicle population and approximately 2,052 reported front tire punctures caused by fractured coil springs (at all speeds), there have been no reported severe crashes, deaths or injuries related to the alleg
Brake/accelerator pedal application
Summary
Ms. Rodman reported that after her vehicle was inspected for the recall, her mother experienced a sudden acceleration and crashed the sable into a light pole.previously NHTSA had conducted an investigation for this issue (pe02-035) that resulted in the recall (02v-266) of 369,000 my 2000-2002 taurus and sable vehicles equipped with adjustable brake and accelerator pedals to insure that the separation between the pedals was at least 50mm..a review of odi's database for complaints regarding recall 02v-266 did not identify any recall remedy complaints other than the petitioner's.ms. Rodman?s vehicle was inspected by odi using ford?s special tool and her vehicle was found to exceed 50mm.also, th
Brake light switch failure
Summary
Ford conducted a recall in march, 2001 to correct a defect affecting the brake light switch in my 2000 through early-2001 taurus and sable vehicles equipped with power adjustable pedals (recall 01v-078).rq03-008 was opened to investigate complaints concerning the remedy and scope of 01v-078.odi's analysis identified concerns with post-repair failures in recalled vehicles,failures in my 2001-02 vehicles with adjustable pedals that were not included in recall 01v-078, and failures in my 2000 vehicles with fixed pedals.(note: the manufacturer failure data in this resume includes all crashes and injuries, but the complaint information is limited to my 2001-02 vehicles that were not included in t
Questions about the 2002 Mercury Sable
- What are the most common problems with the 2002 Mercury Sable?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: suspension (239 complaints, typically around 77,000 miles); speed control (56 complaints, typically around 88,000 miles); visibility and wipers (27 complaints, typically around 58,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2002 Mercury Sable have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from March 2, 2004 (lights). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2002 a bad year for the Mercury Sable?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Sable model year since 2000, with 440 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.