RoadVitals

1993 Mercury Sable Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
62
Latest Apr 11, 2012
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 673 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1993 Mercury Sable submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 62 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

The 25 most recent of 62, in the owner's own words

Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 11, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED ILLUMINATING AND COULD CAUSE A CRASH. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V009000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 05/08/12*LJ

NHTSA ID
10454832
Incident
Apr 10, 2012
Mileage
50,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 22, 2005

DT: LAST SUMMER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ON AND OFF. THIS HAPPENED EVERY TIME THE CAR WAS DRIVEN AT NIGHT. THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE WITH TIME. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF WHEN THEY WERE ON DIM OR BRIGHT. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO FORD, AND THERE WAS RECALL 98V009000. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT TAKEN THE CAR FOR DIAGNOSIS. THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10133777
Incident
May 1, 2004
Mileage
100,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 30, 2003

CONSUMER HAD RECALL 98V009000 REMEDIED ON 6/30/02 FOR HEADLIGHT SWITCH. PICKED VEHICLE UP FROM DEALER AND IT WAS STILL EXPERIENCING FLICKER ON/OFF OF HEADLIGHTS DURING OPERATION. DEALER ADVISED, INSTALLED NEW SWITCH ACCORDING TO REMEDY.*AK

NHTSA ID
10026270
Incident
Jun 30, 2003
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 30, 2003

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL#98V009000 HEADLIGHT, HOWEVER THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB THE BURNED PLUGS AND MELTED CONTACT SOCKETS WERE REPLACED. THE HEAD LAMP WOULD GO OF AND ON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. *SCC

NHTSA ID
10017856
Incident
Apr 20, 2003
EngineExterior lightingSteering+2 more
Filed Jul 12, 2001

WHENEVER VEHICLE WAS IN OVERDRIVE, IT WOULD JERK AND THEN STALL OUT WHEN TURNING CORNERS. THIS CAUSED POWER STEERING TO LOCK UP. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED.*AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VEHICLES VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL, SO CONSUMER HAD THE HEAD GASKET AND THERMOSTAT REPLACED AND PAID FOR REPAIRS. TRANSMISSION IS NOW GOING OUT. RIGHT OUTER TIE ROD END REPLACED, WAS CAUSING A SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP FAILED AND CAUSED A LEAK. HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
892615
Body & structureElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Jun 11, 2001

ENGINE AND RADIATOR REPLACED, VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED OIL LEAK. *SLC

NHTSA ID
561532
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 1, 2001

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REGARD TO RECALL NUMBER 98V009000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 98S01, DEALER CORRECTED PROBLEM. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM WITH HEADLIGHTS FLICKING OFF AND ON, CAUSING POOR DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO CORRECT PROBLEM AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
881819
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 23, 2000

THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH & WIRING CONNECTOR WAS PREVIOUSLY UNDER RECALL(REF: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 98V009000). THE RECALLED PART WAS REPLACED(AT AN AUTHORIZED FORD/MERCURY SERVICE CENTER) UNDER THE ORIGINAL RECALL, BUT THE REPLACEMENT PART HAS FAILED TOO, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CONNECTOR TO MELT FROM THE HEAT OF THE FAILED PART. I FEEL FORD/MERCURY SHOULD REOPEN THE RECALL AND REFUND MY MONEY FOR THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND CONNECTOR, WHICH WAS DONE AT AN AUTHORIZED FORD/MERCURY SERVICE CENTER.

NHTSA ID
728846
Incident
Jul 28, 2000
Exterior lightingSuspension
Filed Apr 12, 2000

PRIOR TO RECALL HEAD LIGHTS GO OFF AND TURN ON AGAIN ALSO INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ARE INOPERATIVE DUE TO SWITCH FAILURE AT THE CONNECTOR (98V-009). YH

NHTSA ID
551846
Incident
Dec 11, 1996
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 27, 2000

PARTS EXPERT SAYS BOTH TAURUS AND SABLE EXPERIENCING EARLY "FLASHER" BREAKDOWNS. *AK

NHTSA ID
719358
Incident
Feb 2, 2000
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 20, 1999

HEADLIGHTS ARE FLASHING OFF AND ON, AND ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
851256
Incident
Oct 15, 1999
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 29, 1999

A DEFECTIVE SWITCH THAT WAS INSTALLED BY THE DEALER CAUSED HEADLIGHTS TO FAIL. *AK

NHTSA ID
849241
Incident
Sep 22, 1999
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 28, 1999

A DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CAUSED THE HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS TO BURN OUT. WHICH, IN TURN, CAUSED ENTIRE LIGHTING SYSTEM TO GO OUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS VERY HOT. THE SWITCH WOULD NOT WORK AND THE WIRING AND HARNESS MELTED. THESE PARTS HAD BEEN REPLACED UNDER A FORD RECALL ONE YEAR AND THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO FAILURE.*AK

NHTSA ID
848985
Incident
Sep 22, 1999
Driver assistanceExterior lighting
Filed Aug 18, 1999

CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT RELEASE UNTIL BRAKE AND OFF BUTTON WAS PRESSED REPEATEDLY. NLM

NHTSA ID
547979
Incident
Jun 1, 1999
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 4, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING RAIN STORM.TOOK TO DEALER-DEFECTIVE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. IT COST ME $166.94 TO FIX. THIS WEEK I HEARD OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
705262
Incident
Jan 31, 1997
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 27, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
703832
Incident
Sep 1, 1998
Exterior lightingSuspension
Filed Feb 23, 1999

RECALL REPAIR WORK NOT COMPLETED ON TWO COMPONENTS (HEADLAMP SWITCH 98S01 AND COIL SPRINGS), DUE TO DEALERSHIP PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID
544082
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 27, 1999

NO SUMMARY LISTED ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
702654
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 9, 1998

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT UNEXPECTEDLY, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. CURRENTLY, HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TAIL LIGHTS THAT GO OUT WHILE DRIVING, WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. AGAIN DEALER REPLACED SWITCH. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
828771
Incident
Dec 1, 1995
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 10, 1998

HEADLIGHT BLINKING, HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED BUT THE BLINKING CONTINUES.

NHTSA ID
539899
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Sep 2, 1998

INTERMITTENTLY HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF , AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR HEADLIGHTS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL YEAR ; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED . THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. (98V-009). *AK

NHTSA ID
827515
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 24, 1998

HEAD LAMP SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.

NHTSA ID
539188
Incident
Dec 26, 1996
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 20, 1998

VEHICLE IS INCLUDED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL #98S01, HEADLIGHTS. OWNER HAS CONTACTED DEALER IN MAY TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. AS OF TODAY VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
826425
Incident
Mar 27, 1997
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Jun 30, 1998

HIGH MOUNTED BRAKE LIGHT AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS FAIL CONTINUOUSLY.

NHTSA ID
537243
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 25, 1998

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE HEAD LIGHTS FLASH ON THEN OFF WITHOUT INDICATIONS. PLEASE PROVIDE FUTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
824679
Incident
Aug 3, 1997

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .