RoadVitals

2000 Mercury Sable Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission 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.
24
Latest Aug 28, 2010
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.
5%
of 464 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.
4
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 the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Mercury Sable submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 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 transmission

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Transmission
Filed Aug 28, 2010

MY 2000 MERCURY SABLE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. IT GAVE NO WARNING OR SLIPPAGE OR ANYTHING. THE CAR WAS MOVING FINE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED PULLING. IT WILL GO IN PARK AND NEUTRAL BUT WON'T PULL. THE FLUID DOESN'T LEAK OUT AND IS STILL FULL. AFTER READING FORUMS ON THE INTERNET, IT APPEARS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE FORD NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON MERCURY SABLES AND FORD TAURUS. PLEASE HELP US WITH THIS MATTER. I DON'T WANT TO SPEND $2000 FOR A REBUILD WHEN FORD IS RESPONSIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10352480
Incident
Aug 7, 2010
Mileage
143,321 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 27, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO THE PROPER GEAR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED THE CONVERTER, TRANSMISSION FLUID, BOLTS, AND JOINTS. ONE YEAR LATER, WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC MADE IDENTICAL REPAIRS AND STATED THAT BECAUSE THE CONVERTER WAS MANUFACTURED OUT OF PLASTIC, IT WOULD CONTINUALLY FAIL. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID
10239902
Incident
Sep 28, 2007
Mileage
75,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 8, 2005

DT: MERCURY SABLE 2000. THE CONTACT STATES THAT SHE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD HER THAT IT WAS BECAUSE SHE WAS PULLING A TRAILER WITH HER VEHICLE. BUT SHE STATED THAT THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED SHE WAS NOT PULLING THE TRAILER, IT DID NOT EVEN HAVE THE TRAILER HITCH ON IT. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS AROUND JUNE, 2003. THE SECOND TIME IT WAS JUNE 1ST,2005. THE THIRD TIME WAS JUNE 15, 2005. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10125522
Incident
Jun 15, 2005
Transmission
Filed Apr 28, 2004

IT WAS HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK TO THE DRIVE POSITION. CONSUMER HAD TO START THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10071721
Incident
Apr 16, 2004
Mileage
36,000 mi
BrakesTransmission
Filed Mar 17, 2004

CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO TAKE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK WITH ENGINE RUNNING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF TO BE TAKEN OUT OF PARK. VEHICLE IS THEN PUT INTO NEUTRAL AND STARTED. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT, "THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLE", AND PROVIDED A TEMPORARY REMEDY. *AK THE BRAKE SWITCH WAS COVERED IN GREASE AND CAUSED THE BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO WORK. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE SWITCH WAS IN A BAD LOCATION AND THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY FAIL AGAIN. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR AND THAT THEY SHOULD RECALL THE VEHICLE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10044951
Mileage
25,300 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Mar 10, 2004

WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER LEVER WAS PUT INTO DRIVE FROM REVERSE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THIS OCCURRED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS REVERSING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR BECAUSE OF THE WEAK TRANSMISSION BEING USED. ALSO, INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. *AK

NHTSA ID
10062895
Incident
Jun 6, 2004
Mileage
48,350 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 17, 2003

INTERMITTENTLY THE STICK SHIFT GEAR INDICATOR STUCK FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE. DEALER INSPECTED, CHARGED $400.OO FOR REPAIRS, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10044197
Incident
Oct 17, 2003
ElectricalTransmission
Filed Aug 20, 2003
Fire reported

LOUD EXPLOSION WHICH WAS RESULT OF BACK FIRE BLOWING OUT UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS CONDITION IS ADRESSED IN FORD OWNER NOTIFICATION 00B38 (AFFECTING 2000 SABLE AND TAURUS WITH 3.0L DURATEC ENGINE) IN WHICH FORD AGREED TO REPROGRAM THE PCM TO PREVENT THIS BACKFIRE AND RUPTURED INAKE CONDITION. PROGRAM WAS ONLY OPEN FROM APRIL 2000 TO APRIL 2001. OBVIOUSLY THIS CAR WAS NEVER REPROGRAMMED DUE TO LACK MAILING ISSUE OR CHANGE OF VEHICLE OWNERSHIP. THESE VEHICLES THAT ARE UNREPAIRED PRESENT A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK TO AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE PERSONEL WORKING IN THE AREA WHEN THE HOOD IS OPEN. THE BLAST OF THE PLASTIC INTAKE PIECES IS OF SUCH A VIOLENT NATURE THAT EVEN THE UNDERHOOD INSULATION IS DAMAGED. BELIEVE THAT THESE VEHICLES SHOULD ALL BE REPRGRAMMED REGARDLESS OF DATE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10033186
Incident
Aug 19, 2003
Mileage
11,242 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 9, 2003

CONSUMER IS ABLE TO START VEHICLE BUT WONT ENGAGE FROM PARK TO DRIVE, GEAR SHIFT WON'T MOVE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10026866
Incident
Jul 9, 2003
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Jul 5, 2003
Crash reported

ON 06/26/03 2000 SABLE PARKED IN FRIENDS DRIVEWAY IN PARK RUNNING WITH A/C ON AND DRIVER LEFT VEHICLE. DRIVER WENT TO FRONT DOOR AND THEN HEARD A BOOM. CAR WENT UP A SLIGHT GRADE AND CONTINUED FOR 15 FEET AND STRUCK FRIENDS NEW MOTOR HOME. OWNER OF MOTOR HOME OPENED CAR DOOR TO MOVE VEHICLE AND FOUND CAR STILL IN PARK. OWNER SELECTED REVERSE AND BACKED CAR AWAY FROM MOTOR HOME. METLIFE AUTO & HOME NOTIFIED. ON 06/27/03 THIS SABLE WAS DRIVEN AND PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF. WHEN DRIVER AND 2 PASSENGERS RETURNED TO CAR AND STARTED CAR AND SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, CAR PROCEEDED FORWARD. CAR WAS SHIFTED BACK TO PARK, DRIVER SAT THERE FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND SHIFTED AGAIN BACK INTO REVERSE AND CAR AGAIN WENT FORWARD. CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND DRIVER RESTARTED CAR A FEW MINUTES LATER AND SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND CAR WENT BACKWARDS. CAR WAS TAKEN TO MORRIS FORD IN BURNT HILLS, NY. THE FORD DEALERSHIP CONTACTED FORD'S FACTORY HOTLINE AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NO REPORTS PERTAINING TO SUCH. FACTORY HOTLINE SAID THEY WOULD PASS INFO UP TO ENGINEERING. THEIR ADVISE WAS FOR THE DRIVER TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE. THAT'S REAL COMFORTING!!! THE TECHNICIAN CHECKED THE SHIFTER CABLE AND FOUND OKAY! THE CAR IS STILL AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THE FACTORY HAS NOT RESPONDED BACK (07/05/03). THE CAR HAS ALSO HAD THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON AFTER PEDAL IS RELEASED. THE BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE COME ON WITH NO ONE IN THE CAR. THE CAR SHIFTER HAS LOCKED IN PARK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE TO ANOTHER POSITION. THE CAR HAS ACCELERATED WHILE DRIVING WITH NO INCREASE OF PRESSURE ON GAS PEDAL. FORD MOTORS NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A PROBLEM THAT THEY SAY DOES NOT EXIST WHEN IT DOES EXIST AS EVIDENT BY THE NUMBER OF REPORTS FOR BOTH THE 2000 SABLE AND THE 2000 TAURUS. WHEN I PURCHASED THIS 2000 SABLE USED, FORD CREDIT OFFERED ME AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 6 YEARS OR 75,000 MILES WHICH I ACCEPTED. I AM BEGINNING TO WONDER IF THEY DON'T WANT TO HONOR THE WARRANTY.*AK

NHTSA ID
10025445
Incident
Jun 26, 2003
Transmission
Filed May 22, 2003

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL DOWN THE HILL. *JB

NHTSA ID
10020427
Transmission
Filed May 22, 2003

THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. *JB

NHTSA ID
10020424
Transmission
Filed May 19, 2003

THE VEHICLES GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR COULD NOT BE PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED A COMPONENT BUT THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10020106
Incident
May 13, 2003
Transmission
Filed Feb 3, 2003

THE TRANSMISSION BLEW WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PH

NHTSA ID
10006230
Incident
Jan 29, 2003
Transmission
Filed Dec 30, 2002
Crash reported

ON THE MORNING OF 12/19/02, I ENTERED MY VEHICLE AND STARTED IT UP. AFTER CLOSING THE DOOR I OBSERVED IN THE OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR THAT IT APPEARED MY GARAGE DOOR WAS NOT FULLU OPENED. I THEN OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND EXITED IT WITHOUT CLOSING IT. WITH MY BACK TO THE VEHICLE I VERIFIED THAT THE GARAGE DOOR WAS FULLY OPENED. BEFORE I COULD TURN AROUND THE VEHICLE HAD PROCEEDED TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE WITH THE CAR DOOR OPENED. I WAS NOT ABLE TO RE-ENTER THE VEHICLE WITH THE HOPES OF STOPPING IT AS THE DOOR MADE CONTACT WITH SOME PLASTIC CONTAINERS. THE CONTAINERS DID CREATE A VOID FOR ME AS ONCE THE CONTAINERS GAVE WAY UNDER THE FORCE OF THE DOOR I WAS THEN THROWN CLEAR OF THE OPENED CAR DOOR AND THE GARAGE DOOR DOOR JAM. AFTER I WAS ABLE TO PICK MYSELF UP FROM THE FLOOR I WAS ABLE TO RUN AND STOP THE CAR WHEN IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET DOWN THE DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ID
10000421
Incident
Dec 19, 2002
Transmission
Filed Dec 4, 2002

CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO TAKE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK GEAR. CONSUMER HAS TO LEAVE VEHICLE IN NEUTURAL GEAR, ENGAGE EMERGENCY BRAKES AND LEAVE KEYS IN THE IGNITION, TO PARK VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED BRAKE WIRES, BUT THE PROBLEM REOCCURED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA ID
8023688
BrakesDriver assistanceTransmission
Filed Sep 3, 2002

BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON AND CRUISE CONTROL WON'T WORK, AND VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
8017828
Incident
Sep 1, 2002
BrakesHeating & air conditioningTransmission
Filed Nov 29, 2001

I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT ALL PROBLEMS WITH MY SABLE FROM TRANSMISSION TO AIR CONDITIONER IS ONLY TYPICAL FOR SABLES. TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT CORRECTLY,BRAKES PULSATE, CLIMATE CONTROL CAN'TBE USED BECAUSE OF SMELL INSIDE CAR. PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS ONLY THE WAY I DRIVE, THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG WITH CAR. AM NOW ATTEMPTONG TO HAVE FORD BUY BACK VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
755058
Incident
Jun 20, 2001
Transmission
Filed Jul 17, 2001

VEHICLE WENT BACKWARD, WHILE THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN DRIVE, THE DRIVER FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL

NHTSA ID
9003194
Transmission
Filed Apr 30, 2001

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT HIS CONTROL THE GEAR JUMPED OUT OF DRIVE AND INTO REVERSE, CONSUMER RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE INSPECTED AND WAS ADVISED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, CONSUMER REFUSED TO ACCEPT VEHICLE DUE TO THE UNSAFE ACTION SO CONSUMER PURCHASED ANOTHER VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
560980
Incident
Jan 1, 2001
Transmission
Filed Apr 21, 2001

CAR HAS BEEN IN SHOP 9 TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION LEAKS AND RECALLS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. IN DECEMBER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. TODAY 4/21/00, WHILE CROSSING A MAJOR HIGHWAY CAR STOPPED! I HAD MYSELF AND TWO PASSENGERS IN THE CAR. WE COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN KILLED IF THE CARS TRAVELING IN EITHER DIRECTION HAD BEEN GOING ANY FASTER THEN THEY WERE. THE WHOLE INCIDENT WAS TERRIFYING. I WANT TO BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION BEFORE SOME IS KILLED.*AK

NHTSA ID
744357
Incident
Apr 21, 2001
Transmission
Filed Nov 13, 2000

THE CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE MANUFACTURERS RECALL 00B55, AFTER COMPLETION OF THE RECALL THE OWNER RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTIFICATION TO RETURN THE VEHICLE DUE TO POSSIBLE PROBLEMS THAT WERE RELATED TO THE REPAIR OF THE PCM CALIBRATION. *MJS

NHTSA ID
557691
Incident
Oct 13, 2000
BrakesDriver assistanceTransmission
Filed Oct 11, 2000

SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON TWO OCCASIONS; 1ST OCCURRED AT 593 MILES AT A SERVICE STATION AFTER TURNING ON THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING INTO GEAR, AND 2ND OCCURRED AT 894 MILES WHEN VEHICLE WAS GOING 15-20 MPH AND BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO BRING VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE COMPUTER SENSOR NEEDED READJUSTING. *AK THE DEALER REPROGRAMMMED THE PCM AS THE SOLUTION FOR ENGINE SURGING. THE BRAKES FAILURE WAS DUE TO BEING OVER POWERED BY THE ENGINE SURGE. *YH

NHTSA ID
872736
Incident
Sep 23, 2000
Transmission
Filed Sep 5, 2000
Crash reported

WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE TO BACK UP VEHICLE WILL GO FORWARD. THIS INCIDENT HAD HAPPENED MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK THE DEALER STATES THAT THE CAUSE IS TRANMISSION MALFUNCTION AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE DID NOT AGREE. *YH

NHTSA ID
869593
Incident
Jul 27, 2000

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.

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Data on this page last refreshed .