KnownCarProblems2004 Mercury Sable Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 52 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Mercury Sable, most often about the speed control (29% of complaints, typically around 82,000 miles). It is 7th of 9 Sable model years by number of complaints and has 1 recall.
Most common 2004 Mercury Sable problems
Speed control
15 complaints · 29%Half of these problems showed up before 82,000 miles. Parts named most often: cables.
The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Sable. The contact stated that while attempting to brake, the vehicle accelerated independently. The contact had not depressed the accelerator pedal. The contact had to shift into neutral and engage the brakes in order to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The…
The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Sable. The contact stated that while traveling approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle erroneously accelerated. The contact was able to merge to the shoulder and turn the vehicle off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was found that the speed control cable had failed. The vehicle…
Transmission
12 complaints · 23%Half of these problems showed up before 58,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Sable. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic where a diagnostic was performed, which located the failure at the transmission. The transmission was replaced. The manufacturer was made…
The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Sable. The contact stated while driving 8 MPH the vehicle suddenly stopped and it would not accelerate or move. The contact mentioned that no warning lamps illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the transmission was defective and needed to be replaced. The…
Brakes
11 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 95,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components.
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…
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…
Lights
7 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 97,000 miles. Parts named most often: brake lights, headlights, tail lights.
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…
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…
Electrical
6 complaints · 12%Brake light switch at pedal faulty with same symptoms as recall NHTSA I.d. # 04v10600...brake lights won't activate when pedal depressed while driving or parked and when parked transmission range selector is stuck in park position. These symptoms could cause an accident from the rear and or leave family members…
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 available position, then applying brake pedal to release shift lock.
Engine
5 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 99,500 miles.
My Mercury Sable 2004 began accelerating on its own. The first time I was cruising at 35mph and had trouble stopping at a stop sign. Braking caused a vibration the RPM's were not going down. Driving further I noted the car would accelerate by itself. Tapping the the gas pedal quickly sometimes caused the RPM's to go…
While driving to work, I smelled burning plastic. I rolled up the window thinking it was another vehicle. A few minutes later I noticed an odd melting look on the rear windshield, and a stronger burning plastic smell. Immediately I turned off the rear defrost, and cracked the window to let the fumes escape.…
Seat belts
3 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: front.
The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Sable. The contact stated that the internal steel cable of the front passenger seat belt fractured and resulted in the seat belt becoming inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for inspection but was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.
The driver side, three point seat belt assembly comes unlatched while the vehicle is in motion. This is even after the belt tongue is in place, you hear a click from the latch closing and locking and the belt has been pulled on to test the connection. I took it to the dealership today and the attendant said that the…
Seats
3 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: front assembly.
Dt: consumer's vehicle was rear ended. Wife was in passenger seat, and the seat back broke of bucket on left of seat, causing wife to turn slightly toward the driver.
: the contact stated while driving 35 MPH the vehicle was hit from behind. When the vehicle was hit, the driver seat fell backwards and bent to the left side. The occupant was wearing a seatbelt and was injured receiving compression fractures in the spine. The vehicle was towed to a local body shop which determined…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2004 Mercury Sable recalls
Seats: power adjust
Risk: The seat may not perform as intended during a crash which could increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the upper support assembly on the power seats. The recall began on july 20, 2004. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Full defect summary
Certain passenger vehicles equipped with power adjustable seats may have been inadequately welded.
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
Stuck throttle
Summary
Preliminary evaluation (pe)12-005 was opened to investigate allegations of speed control cables detaching from the throttle body and subsequently interfering with the throttle closing fully to the idle position in model year (my) 2005 and 2006 ford taurus vehicles.the speed control cable, throttle body attachment arm (?nail head?) for the speed control cable, cable mounting bracket and cable routing for the my 2005 and 2006 ford taurus are common to all my 2004 through 2006 ford taurus and mercury sable vehicles equipped with either the 155 hp 3.0l 2-valve vulcan engine or the 200 hp 3.0l 4-valve duratec engine (the ?subject vehicles?). Figures 1 and 2 show the throttle body cam and speed co
Engine stalling ffv
Summary
On october 11, 2006, public citizen petitioned odi to investigate reports of engine stalls caused by e85 fuel in certain model year (my) 2003 - 2005 ford taurus flex-fuel vehicles (ffv). Odi's review of the petition and other available data found a low stall rate attributable to e-85 fueling and that the main concerns,prolonged engine start and rough idle during cold engine startup at winter temperatures, were resolved by an engine software update.to ensure that all subject vehicles receive this update, ford initiated a notification campaign to offer free engine computer recalibration.based on this information, this defect petition is denied. This denial should not be construed as a finding
Questions about the 2004 Mercury Sable
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 Mercury Sable?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: speed control (15 complaints, typically around 82,000 miles); transmission (12 complaints, typically around 58,000 miles); brakes (11 complaints, typically around 95,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2004 Mercury Sable have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from July 8, 2004 (seats). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2004 a bad year for the Mercury Sable?
- It is 7th of 9 Sable model years by number of complaints, with 52 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.