Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Mercury Sable submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 61 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.
The 25 most recent of 61, in the owner's own words
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!
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET AND PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL GEAR IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH FOR A 16 MILE STRETCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE HAD DISENGAGED CAUSING THE ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. *TR
ACCELERATOR CABLE BROKE OFF FROM GAS PEDAL. *TR
ACCELERATOR CABLE BROKE IN HALF AS I ENTERED I-295 FROM ON RAMP. *TR
WITHIN THE LAST WEEK MY 2001 MERCURY SABLE REACHED THE 60,000 MILE MARK. ONCE OVER THAT MARK THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEGAN TO STICK EACH TIME I WOULD ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE TOO MUCH. FOR EXAMPLE, MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND NEEDING TO SPEED UP THE CAR WOULD REV THE ENGINE AS WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL. THIS WOULD CONTINUE AS IF I WAS PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE FLOOR EVEN IF MY FOOT WAS FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE. THE ONLY RESOLUTION TO THIS SUDDEN EXTREME ACCELERATION WOULD BE TO STOMP ON THE ACCELERATOR OVER AND OVER AGAIN. IN ONE INSTANCE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP EVEN AFTER IT WAS PUT INTO PARK, IT WASN'T UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF WHEN IT STOPPED. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES BEFORE I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO BE REPAIRED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AND EXHIBITED AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN ACCELERATION. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
AFTER GETTING UP TO CRUISING SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY MY CAR WOULD CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE EVEN WHEN I STOPPED GIVING IT GAS. I DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE AND THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM, BUT NOW I CAN'T USE MY CRUISE CONTROL. *TR
WITHOUT APPLYING PRESSURE TO ACCELERATOR, THE CAR ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. NEEDED TO APPLY BRAKES COMPLETELY AND PUT TRANS IN NEUTRAL TO STOP CAR. *TR
MY 2001 MERCURY SABLE ACCELERATED AS I ENTERED THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP EVEN WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE. I CALLED 911. THE 911 OPERATOR SUGGESTED THAT I APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE WHICH I DID. I WENT ABOUT 15 MILES RIDING THE SHOULDER GOING BETWEEN 60-70 MILES PER HOUR. I EVENTUALLY EXITED THE HIGHWAY BUT COULD NOT STOP EVEN AT THE END OF THE EXIT RAMP. I MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN. AT THIS POINT I HAD REDUCED MY SPEED TO APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR EVENTUALLY LANDED IN A DITCH. AT THAT POINT, I ENDED MY CALL WITH 911. I LOOKED TO MY LEFT AND FOUND FOUR MEN YELLING TO ME TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I THEN LEARNED THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. I EXITED THE CAR. THE FOUR MEN PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MERCURY DEALERSHIP WHERE IT IS DOCUMENTED THAT IT WAS IN FACT THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE THAT CAUSED THE CAR TO ACCELERATE. AGAIN, BETWEEN THE 911 CALL, THE INFORMATION ON FILE WITH THE MERCURY DEALER AND THE INSURANCE CLAIM, THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT IS DOCUMENTED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED ACCELERATING INDEPENDENTLY UP TO 50 MPH. THE CONTACT HAD NOT ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT THEN APPLIED THE BRAKES AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND THEN RESTARTED HOWEVER, THE ENGINE ROARED WITH AN INCREASE IN RPMS OF OVER 4000. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP OR THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 09/26/12*LJ THE DEALER REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. UPDATED 09/27/12
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT TRIED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE BUT THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO REPEATEDLY APPLY ABRUPT FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESPOND. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A PIECE OF PLASTIC BROKEN AND SITTING ON THE ACCELERATOR THROTTLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 215,000.
2001 MERCURY SABLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER TWICE. THE CONSUMER AND HIS WIFE HAD TO BE EXTRICATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*JB
DRIVING ON THE HWY WITH MY 3 YR OLD DAUGHTER @ APPROX 65 MPH THE VEH STARTED ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. EVEN WITH PRESSING THE BRAKE VEH WOULD SLOW DOWN BUT KEPT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN ( AND IT KEPT CLIMBING UNTIL I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE) AND GOT UPTO APPROX 80 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET VEH OFF THE HWY WITH DEPRESSING THE BRAKE EXTREMELY HARD (AND VEH KEPT CREEPING FORWARD, LUCKILY THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN QUICKLY) AND A FORD DLRSHP WAS RIGHT NEXT TO THE HWY. DLRSHP PERFORMED REPAIRS. THEY REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR CABLE ASSEMBLY FOR THE THROTTLE CONTROL. I WAS ADV BY DLRSHP THAT THE PLASTIC PIECE ON THE CRUISE CONTROL THROTTLE BROKE AND GOT STUCK ON MY REGULAR ACCELERATOR CABLE. I CANT BEGIN TO SAY HOW FRIGHTENED I WAS FOR MY DAUGHTERS SAFETY AS WELL AS MY OWN. I SEEN THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION FOR 2005 & 2006 TAURUSES...YOU NEED TO ALSO LOOK @ THE 2001 SABLES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM! SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED IF THEY DON'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR
WHENEVER I TURN ON THE AIR CONDITIONER OR HEATER MY CAR ACCELERATES SUDDENLY IN A RANDOMLY MANNER FOR NO REASON BY ITSELF, WHEN HEATER OR AIR CONDITIONER IS TURNED OFF THE PROBLEM STOPS, THERE'S NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND AN INSPECTION YIELDED NO PROBLEMS, I AM NOT SURE IF THE PROBLEM IS ELECTRICAL OR ANYTHING ELSE AND A LOCAL FORD DEALER HAS REFUSED TO FIX THE ISSUE. *TR
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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