Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 430 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Mercury Sable. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 430 · page 1 of 18
Lately my car has been over accelerating to about 4,000 rpm’s at random moments. I almost got into a wreck today and I was driving 30 mph. I’ve cleaned the throttle body and the idle air control valve and still the same issue. The car only has 113,000 miles on it but now I’m too scared to even drive it!
I GOT IN MY CAR STARTED TO DRIVE AND HEARD SOMETHING SNAP THEN SMOKE CAME FROM THE HOOD AND THE CAR PULLED HARD RIGHT. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND PARKED THE CAR. THE COIL SPRING BROKE AND DUG INTO MY FRONT PASSENGER TIRE AND IT PULLED THE AXLE OUT OF THE CV JOINT.I WAS IN ALLENTOWN,PA. ON A MAIN ROAD IN THE CITY. FEB.8,2020.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH FULL FORCE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO EVENTUALLY STOP. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V266000 (SERVICE BRAKES). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ALSO, WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE WHILE AT A RED LIGHT AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO HELFMAN FORD (LOCATED AT 12220 SOUTHWEST FWY, STAFFORD, TX 77477, (281) 240-3673) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY BRAKE SENSOR THAT NEEDED A BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,200. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SUDDENLY DROPPED DOWN AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 120 MPH. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, BUT THE RPMS CONTINUED REVVING AT MAXIMUM CAPACITY. WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN, THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A ROLLING STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAITED TEN MINUTES AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE ENGINE REVVED UP AGAIN; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT QUICKLY TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. FUTURE FORD OF SACRAMENTO (4625 MADISON AVE, SACRAMENTO, CA 95841, (916) 473-1047) STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE BRUSHED AGAINST A CURB AND THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TERRY'S FORD OF PEOTONE (363 S HARLEM AVE, PEOTONE, IL 60468, 708-258-9200) AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED, BUT IT WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND CONTINUED HIGH RPMS. ACCELERATES WITHOUT DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR MERCURY SABLE / FORD TAURUS 2000-2003 AND I JUST DISCOVERED A RECALL WAS DONE IN 2013 BY FORD. THE CAUSE IS A MALFUNCTIONING OF THE THROTTLE BODY AND/CRUSIE CONTROL CABLES.
TRANSMISSION ISSUES INCLUDED A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE WHEN FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL WIRING / FUNCTIONALITY CAUSED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO REV TO TO HIGH RPMS. WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL GEAR AND WAS FORCED TO JUMP FROM VEHICLE TO AVOID POTENTIALLY FATAL WRECK. BRAKE PADS BURNED THROUGH TO THE CALIPERS WHEN TRYING TO BRAKE.
I HAVEN'T HAD THIS CAR VARY LONE AND I WAS DRIVING CLOSE TO MY HOME IN WITCH I LIVE IN THE TN. SMOKY MOUNTAINS. THE ROADS ARE CURVY I HAD JUST PULLED OUT FROM A TEE INTERSECTION AND A CAR CAME FAST UP BEHIND ME SO I STEPPED ON IT AND THAT IS WHEN THE THROTTLE STUCK SO I KICKED IT FAST AND HARD AND IT FREED UP. IF THIS HAD BEEN IN A DIFFERENT SITUATION I MAY HAVE WRECKED THE CAR. SO I STARTED TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON THIS AND FOUND RECALLS SO I DID A VIN# CHECK AND FOUND OUT THE RECALLS FOR THIS CAR WERE DONE AND ALL THIS HAPPENED ON 11-19-2016 SO ON 11-21-2016 I HAD TO GO OUT AND I STOPPED BY A DEALER TO CHECK ON MY FINDINGS AND I WAS TOLD THE SAME THING AND AT THAT POINT I WENT TO CHECK ON A NEW THROTTLE CABLE AND MAYBE THE PART THAT WAS PUT ON TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THAT THE PARTS WOULD NEED TO BE ORDERED AND THATS WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT IT WASN'T THE CABLE THAT WAS THE PROBLEM THAT LATER FORD HAD FOUND THAT IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY THAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM AND OF COURSE THAT WAS NEVER REVELED BECAUSE THAT PART IS A 400.00 PART AND THE CABLE WAS A 100.00 PART. SO THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AGAIN. MY CAR HAS 154500 MILES. NHTSA ' VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEMS 2001 MERCURY SABLE NHTSA ' VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL PROBLEMS 2001 MERCURY SABLE CLOSE INVESTIGATION SUBJECT : SPEED CONTROL CABLE DAMAGE DATE INVESTIGATION OPENED: OCT 24, 2012 DATE INVESTIGATION CLOSED: JUN 26, 2013 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE12033 COMPONENT(S): VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL ALL PRODUCTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS INVESTIGATION EXPAND DETAILS CLOSE 10 ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS EXPAND MANUFACTURER: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
MY 17 YEAR OLD WAS DRIVING THE 2001 MERCURY SABLE AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A LIGHT ON A BUSY INTERSECTION HOWEVER, THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATED EVEN WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE ACCELERATION STUCK AND FORTUNATELY HE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WITHOUT HITTING ANYONE AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT BUT IMMEDIATELY MANAGED TO GET IT TO AN OPEN LOT TO SHUT THE CAR OFF. HAD SOMEONE LOOK AT IT, AND IT WAS THE THROTTLE CABLE THAT SNAPPED. IT IS ONLY TEMPORARILY FIXED AT THIS TIME. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING IN AREAS WHERE THERE IS ANY TYPE OF SMALL BUMP, SUCH AS THE END OF OUR DRIVEWAY, THE FRONT END SUSPENSION JUST ISN'T THERE. IT HITS EXTREMELY HARD. *TR
THROTTLE GOT STUCK FORCING CAR TO ACCELERATE EVEN WHEN NOT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. THANKFULLY THE BRAKES WORKED AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND PUT IT INTO PARK, AT WHICH POINT THE ENGINE REVVED TO 4000 RPM. ONCE THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF, IT LET OFF SOME WHITE SMOKE WITH A BURNING OIL SMELL. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE COLLAR FRACTURED. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED, DOING 65 MILES PER HOUR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO SLOW IT DOWN, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AT A HIGH RPM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
FRONT COIL SPRINGS BOTH BROKEN AND REPLACED. REAR COIL SPRING BROLE AND PUNCTURED TIRE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME STRANDED.
FOR OVER TEN (10) YEARS THE HEADLIGHTS (BUT NOT THE SIDE DRIVING LIGHTS) HAVE BEEN GOING OFF (FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES) AND THEN COMING BACK ON. THIS DOES NOT OCCUR EVERY TIME THE LIGHTS COME ON AND SEEMS TO BE MORE FREQUENT IN THE SUMMER TIME WHEN IT IS WARM OR HOT OUTSIDE. THE DATE BELOW IS JUST APPROXIMATELY WHEN THIS PROBLEM STARTED AND IS NOT THE ONLY DATE/'TIME IT HAS OCCURRED, IT HAS OCCURRED SPORADICALLY BUT CONTINUOUSLY SINCE THAT DATE.
WHILE DRIVING THE SABLE AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MI. PER HR.(CLEAR ROAD,DRY CONDITIONS)IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. GOING THROUGH A SET OF TRAFFIC LIGHTS,LUCKILY THE LIGHT HAD JUST TURNED GREEN,,THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED UP TO 3000 RPM. FORTUNATELY,GOING THROUGH THE LIGHTS, MY FOOT WAS NEAR THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN I HEARD AND FELT THE ACCELERATION ,I IMMEDIATELY HIT THE BRAKE AND KEPT MY RIGHT FOOT ON IT AS THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO PUSH FORWARD WITH FULL BRAKES APPLIED. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER THE BRAKES CONTROL,WHILE STILL REVVVVING, I PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND PULLED OVER,TUNED IGNITION OFF. THE FRONT DISC BRAKES WERE SMOKING. OPENED HOOD,NOTICED NOTHING UNUSUAL, THIS IS THE ONLY REPORT OF THIS INCIDENT.WILL SEEK IMMEDIATE CURE TODAY. THIS IS MY 66 Y.O. GIRL FRIEND CAR.SHE IS NOW HORRIFIED TO USE IT! NOVEMBER 5,2015.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNINTENTIONALLY WHEN DRIVING. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FIRM PRESSURE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM LUNGING FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000.
MY MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE COIL SPRING IS LACKING A COVER AND IS RUSTING AND MAY BREAK. MY TRANSMISSION "SLIPS" AND "REVS" AT RANDOM. BOTH OF THESE ITEMS ARE SUPPOSEDLY UNDER RECALL, BUT FORD WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALLS.
WHILE UNDER ACCELERATION 50%-75% THE THROTTLE CABLE CAN SLIDE OUT OF THE CABLE RETAINER AND KEEP THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO IDLE LEADING TO THE THROTTLE BEING STUCK OPEN RESULTING IN SPEEDS OVER 100MPH IF NO ACTION IS TAKEN.
THE ENGINE CRADLE/FRAME SUPPORTING THE ENGINE & TRANSMISSION AND SUSPENSION AND STEERING ASSEMBLIES FAILED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION CAUSING THE REAR MOUNT AT THE BODY CONNECTION ON BOTH SIDES TO SEPARATE AND DROP ABOUT 3" CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING. THE DROP OF THE CRADLE AND ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION PULLED DOWN ON THE STEERING SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT UNDER THE DASH CAUSING THE STEERING TO BIND UP AND ALSO CAUSING THE ENTIRE STEERING AND SUSPENSION GEOMETRY TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT GARAGED, WAS PURCHASED NEW BY ME, WAS NOT IN INVOLVED IN ANY FLOOD DAMAGE, WAS NOT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SALT WATER AND THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS SPRAYED EACH TIME I FREQUENTLY WASHED THE VECHICLE. THE ENGINE CRADLE IN ADDITION TO THE REAR MOUNT FAILURE HAS EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION THRUOUT THE STRUCTURE. AS SOMEONE WHO PAYS ATTENTION TO MY VEHICLE I BEGAN TO NOTICE RUST/CORROSION ON THE ENGINE CRADLE ABOUT 5 YEARS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITHOUT FINDING ANY. I'M WIRTTING THIS AFTER FINALLY SEEING A COMPLAINT ON A 2001 FORD TAURUS CRADLE/FRAME FAILURE AND THINK THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION SHOULD BE MADE PUBLIC. THANKFULLY I WAS GOING AT A SLOW SPEED AND WAS ABLE TO VEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HAD I BEEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE EVENT WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC NOT ONLY TO ME BUT OTHERS ON THE ROAD ALSO. LOVED MY VEHICLE IT RUNS GREAT AND WAS LOOKING FOWARD TO MORE MILES WITH IT, UNFORTUNATELY THE REPAIR WOULD BE A MAJOR UNDERTAKING AND EXPENSE AND MY SABLE IS TO HEAD TO THE JUNK YARD ON A FLATBED.
I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AROUND 9AM THE DRIVER SEAT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON.
THE FRONT DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT SHUT IN COLD TEMPERATURES. AS I WAS TRYING TO LEAVE FOR WORK THE DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH SHUT. ENDED UP HOLDING THE DOOR SHUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I WENT AND BOUGHT A RATCHET STRAP TO SECURE THE DOOR IN PLACE AS IT IS OFTEN COLD IN WISCONSIN.
SOMETHING DRASTICALLY WRONG WITH THE RADIATOR SYSTEM, ANTIFREEZE IS ALWAYS BROWN, HAVE IT CHANGED AND IN 1 DAY IT TURNS BROWN. THE WINDOWS HAVE BEEN BROKEN IN THIS CAR SINCE 2005, THE TWO FRONT WINDOWS DO NOT GO UP AND DOWN, I DON'T FEEL SAFE WITHOUT THE WINDOWS WORKING. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SUSPENSION AND I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO PUT AIR INTO MY TIRES AND TIRES WEAR OUT QUICKLY BECAUSE SUSPENSION IS MESSED UP. WINDSHIELD WASHER HAS NOT WORKED SINCE 2003. IF IT WAS BUILT WITH PRIDE LIKE THE COMPANY SAYS IT IS, IT WOULD BE A NICE CAR. FALLS APART TOO EASILY. I NEED HELP. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATOR SPED UP TO A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. COULD NOT SLOW DOWN WHEN BRAKING. CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. COULD NOT GET CAR TO SLOW DOWN NO MATTER WHAT I TRIED. HAD TO TURN CAR OFF TO COME TO A STOP. THE LOCAL WICHITA FALLS FORD COMPANY SAYS THERE IS RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT I HAVE READ ALL OVER THE NET THAT IT IS A PROBLEM FORD MOTOR COMPANY SAID THAT IT WOULD FIX. CALLED FORD MOTOR CO. HEADQUARTERS AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY WILL NOT FIX IT. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS WHEN FORD KNOWS IT IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. I AM 73 YEARS OLD AND DO NOT HAVE MONEY FOR THIS KIND OF REPAIR. *TR
GOING TO WORK AND GOING UP A STEEP HILL ON A WINDY 2 LANE HIGHWAY AND TOPPED THE HILL AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND WHEN I LET OFF THE THROTTLE THE THROTTLE PEDAL RETURNED BUT THE SPEED STAYED AT 40 MPH AND AT 4000 RPM. I PUNCHED AND RELEASED THE THROTTLE PEDAL AND IT WENT TO 6000 RPM AND DIDN'T RETURN. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND SLOWED THE VEHICLE A LITTLE BUT NOT MUCH. I WAS COMING UP ON A TURN AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND HAD TO SHIFT IN TO NEUTRAL AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RAISED THE HOOD. I SEEN THAT WHERE THE THROTTLE CABLE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WENT IN TO THE MOUNTING BRACKET THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS HANGING OUT THE SIDE OF THE GREY PLASTIC HOLDER THAT HOLDS IT INTO THE MOUNTING BRACKET. THE GREY PLASTIC GUIDE HOLDER HAD BROKE AND THE CABLE HAD SLIPPED OUT OF THE HOLDER AND WASN'T ABLE TO GO BACK IN WHEN THE THROTTLE WAS OPEN THUS LEFT THE THROTTLE HALF OPEN. I WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY SLIDE IT BACK INTO THE GREY PLASTIC GUIDE HOLDER AND PUT WIRE ON IT TO SAFELY GET IT HOME. THE HOLDER NEEDS TO EITHER BE METAL OR A BETTER GRADE OF PLASTIC. THE GREY PLASTIC GUIDE HOLDER IS ALSO THE SAME AS THE ONE ON THE THROTTLE CABLE. I'M SURE ITS GOING TO BREAK SOON ALSO. THANK YOU. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK HEAD ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY, BUT NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND SPEED WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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