2001 Mercury Sable Engine Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

11180282

Incident

Feb 11, 2019

Mileage

180,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10882952

Incident

Jul 5, 2016

Mileage

130,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10712126

Incident

May 4, 2011

Mileage

98,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE BRAKES BEING DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE RMPS INCREASED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RELEASED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,133 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,136.

NHTSA ID

10609851

Incident

Jun 28, 2014

Mileage

68,133 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10482375

Incident

Nov 14, 2011

Mileage

90,000 mi

THIS CAR ONLY WORKS WHENEVER IT FEELS LIKE IT AND TOOK IT TO EVERY SHOP N CANT FIND THE PROBLEM..BEEN STRANDED SO MANY TUMES AND THE DEALER AINT GONNA DO NOTHING ABOUT IT KNOWING THAT IM STILL PAYING FOR IT OR TRADE ME A CAR NEED HELP HERE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10429190

Incident

Sep 26, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY AND OVER TIME, REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN ONTO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10402518

Incident

Mar 15, 2011

Mileage

40,000 mi

MY 2001 MERCURY SABLE HAS NOW FAILED ME OVER 8 TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. I WOULD DRIVE TURN THE CAR OFF THEN TRY TO START IT AGAIN AND IT WOULD NOT START. IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. I CALLED AAA HAD THE CAR TOWED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CHARGED ME FOR EVERYTHING. A BATTERY, AN ALTERNATOR, WIRING, THE WORKS THEN, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THE LAST TIME MY CAR WAS AT THE DEALER FOR A WEEK BEFORE I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A FUEL PUMP. I HAVE NOW DECIDED TO NEVER BUY ANOTHER MERCURY AFTER BEING A LONG TIME CUSTOMER. I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE OF A RECALL AND JUST NOW FOUND OUT THE REAR SPRINGS WHICH I REPLACED WAS ALSO HAPPENING TO OTHER CUSTOMERS. THEY HAVE NOT FIXED MY PROBLEM AND THE CAR IS SITTING BECAUSE I'M TO FRIGHTEN TO DRIVE ANYWHERE. IT'S SAD. ALL THE MONEY SPENT COULD GONE TOWARD SOME OTHER CAR WHERE SERVICE PEOPLE CARE OF COURSE, NOW THE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. THE MILES ON MY CAR IS 58,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10310396

Incident

Aug 1, 2009

Mileage

57,800 mi

2001 SABLE WITH 57000 MILES. VEHICLE WILL START, KILL AND THEN CANNOT BE RESTARTED FOR AT LEAST 1/2 HOUR. SOMETIMES WILL NOT START AT ALL. SERVICE PEOPLE HAVE HOOKED UP TO SENSORS BUT CANNOT FIND WHAT IS WRONG. PROBLEM IS SPORADIC, HAPPENING ABOUT 1 TO 2 TIMES PER WEEK. SCOPED FUEL PUMP BUT SAID IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY. SAID FUEL FILTER AND ALL OTHER SYSTEMS CHECKED OUT OK. DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT. FEEL UNEASY ABOUT DRIVING THE CAR ANYWHERE FAR FROM HOME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10289920

Incident

Oct 24, 2009

Mileage

56,900 mi

DRIVING OUR 2001 SABLE ONE DAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN WE WERE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I ACCELERATED AND THE CAR DID NOT MOVE ACCORDING TO THE PRESSURE I WAS PUTTING ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE LIGHT STOPPED FLASHING AND THE CAR RAN FINE. THIS WOULD HAPPEN FROM TIME TO TIME AND IT GOT TO A POINT WERE I TOOK THE UNIT TO A MERCURY DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND THEY STATED IT HAD A MIS-FIRE ON THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEAD AT A COST OF 2K ONE HEAD ONLY. I DID SOME ASKING AROUND AT FORD AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WERE SOME VALVE ISSUES WITH THE 3.0L DOHC 24 V . I LOOKED INTO THE DEALER PROCESS OF CHANGING ONLY ONE HEAD AND I WAS TOLD THAT WOULD NOT BE THE SMART THING TO DO. I FINALLY TOOK THE CAR IN TO CONFIRM WHAT THE DEALER HAD SAID AND TO GET IT FIXED. I TOOK THE CAR TO T.C. AUTO SERVICE IN ANN ARBOR AND HE CONFIRMED I HAD A LEAK DOWN PROBLEM ON NUMBER 4 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REMOVED FROM THE CAR AND I HAD BOTH HEADS REWORKED NEW VALVE GUIDE AND SEATS ALONG WITH REPLACING THE VALVES ON NUMBER 4 CYLINDER. I HAVE THE DAMAGED VALVES RETURNED TO ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10188826

Incident

Jun 13, 2006

Mileage

55,807 mi

RE:PREVIOUS REPAIR TED RUSSELL INVOICE # F1CS560238 DATED: 1/19/2007 MALFUNCTIONS THAT STARTED FEBRUARY 28, 2007 ARE SAME AS PREVIOUSLY STATED IN REFERENCED INVOICE AS FOLLOWS: 1)CLIMATE CONTROL BLOWS HOT AIR WHILE ON FRESH AIR AND AC 2)COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON; THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WITH THE MALFUNCTION OF THE AC CONTROL SYSTEM REFERENCED ABOVE. I CAN STOP THE CAR, TURN EVERYTHING OFF AND IN 15 SECONDS RESTART AND LIGHT GOES OFF. THE COOLANT LIGHT WILL STAY OFF AS LONG AS I KEEP THE CLIMATE CONTROL OFF HOWEVER; WHEN DRIVING FOR A DISTANCE (I.E. 30 MILES) AND THEN MULTIPLE START / STOPS IN TRAFFIC THE LIGHT WILL COME ON IF I AM RUNNING THE CLIMATE CONTROL. UNTIL THE RECENT MALFUNCTION OF THE CLIMATE CONTROL WEDNESDAY NIGHT (2/28/07) THIS COOLANT LIGHT HAS NOT COME ON SINCE LAST REPAIR TO CLIMATE CONTROL. FOR INFORMATION, THE CONDITIONS OUTSIDE WERE APPROXIMATELY 66 F. OBVIOUSLY I AM UPSET WITH THE CONTINUED PROBLEMS I AM HAVING AFTER THIS VEHICLE SPENT ONE WEEK IN YOUR SHOP FOR PREVIOUS REPAIRS FOR THE SAME MALFUNCTIONS. ADDITIONALLY, I AM EXTREMELY DISSATISFIED WITH THE RECOMMENDED REPAIRS MADE BY TED RUSSELL QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS AS DISCUSSED WITH YOU DURING MY PHONE CONVERSATION YESTERDAY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10185111

Incident

Jan 19, 2007

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 71750 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HOSES THAT RAN THROUGH THE HEATER CORE DRY ROTTED AND FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AT 40 MPH WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,680.*AK THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT AT THE TUBES TO THE HEATER CORE. THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE VERY THIN. UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB

NHTSA ID

10185106

Incident

Dec 15, 2006

Mileage

68,680 mi

COOLANT LEAKS FOR BOTTOM I HAVE A 2001 MERCURY SABLE LS IT HAS THE 3.0 LITER MOTOR NOT 24 VALVE. I HAVE TALKED WITH THREE OTHER PEOPLE AND THEY HAVE ALL FORD TAURUS'S AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE COOLANT BOTTLE BECAUSE THEY ALL CRACKED ON THE BOTTOM OF THE BOTTLE. ITS ODD THAT FOUR PEOPLE THAT I KNOW WE ALL HAVE TO CHANGE THE BOTTLE WITHIN A YEAR OF EACH OTHER. COULD THERE BE FAULTY BOTTLES MADE AND WILL THE ANTIFREEZE DAMAGE OTHER PARTS ON MY CAR. I ONLY HAVE 78,000 MILES ON THE CAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10166587

Incident

Aug 25, 2006

Mileage

77,500 mi

NO REAL SIGNS OF DISTRESS UNTIL THE MAIN BEARINGS FAILED. AT 33,000 MILES, PROOF OF SERVICE AND OIL CHANGES COVERING THE FIRST 29,000 MILES. VEHICLE DEVELOPED A BAD KNOCK. HAD IT TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. TOLD ME THAT THE MAIN BEARINGS ON THE CAM WENT BAD. ONE FORD DEALERSHIP TELLS ME FORD WILL HELP WITH THE COST OF TOTAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT, UNFORTUNATELY, NOT THE DEALERSHIP THE CAR IS AT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10162405

Incident

May 21, 2006

Mileage

33,019 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 90 MPH BEFORE THE BRAKES WERE ABLE TO HOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE NEAREST INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. UPON INSPECTION THE MECHANIC DETERMINED ICE HAD BUILT UP ON THE THROTTLE HOUSING AROUND THE PCV VALVE. THE TEMPERATURE ON THE DATE OF FAILURE WAS BETWEEN -8 AND -12 DEGREES. THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE WHEEL WELL AREA BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURE THAT WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKES. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE PCV VALVE. UPDATED 02/24/06

NHTSA ID

10149395

Incident

Dec 19, 2005

Mileage

82,000 mi

2001 SABLE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON FREQUENTLY. *TS THE COIL SPRINGS MAKE NOISE. THE BRAKE HARNESS LIGHT WAS DEFECTIVE. ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED AIR EVERY WEEK (DOT NUMBERS W2X8LH01802 AND W2X8LH04102). *NM

NHTSA ID

10145346

Incident

Dec 1, 2005

CAR WOULD STALL WHILE IDILING. BROUGHT THE CAR IN AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED. THEY REPLACED THE MANIFOLD AND THE DEALER AND FORD PAID FOR THE REPAIR AFTER I AGREED TO PAY $200.

NHTSA ID

10129494

Incident

Jun 4, 2005

Mileage

52,000 mi

2001 MERCURY SABLE OIL PAN GASKET FAILED.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED HER OF THE SERVICE BULLETIN DURING HER ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHICH STATED THAT THE OIL PAN GASKET HAD BEEN REDESIGNED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10130206

Incident

May 15, 2005

Mileage

60,642 mi

THE POWER STEERING IN THE CONSUMER'S 2001 MERCURY SABLE STATION WAGON FAILED. THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE BELT WAS LOOSE AND THAT THE SPRING LOADED BELT IDLER PULLEY WAS HANGING IN PARTS ON THE ENGINE BLOCK. *NM IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PULLEY ASSEMBLY COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT FORD REIMBURSE HIM FOR THE COST OF REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE SPRING LOADED IDLER PULLEY ASSEMBLY. *SC

NHTSA ID

10115548

Incident

Jan 22, 2005

Mileage

16,500 mi

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. OWNER TURNED ON THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THERE WAS A LOUD BANG LIKE A SHOT GUN WENT OFF. THE OWNER LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BLEW APART. THE MANIFOLD WAS MADE OF PLASTIC. THE OWNER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT WHAT HAPPENED WAS NOT UNCOMMON. THE DEALER WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE DEFECT, AND THE ESTIMATED CHARGE OF REPAIR WOULD COST ABOUT $600.00.*AK *EH *JB

NHTSA ID

10107170

Incident

Jan 11, 2005

Mileage

26,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START OR WILL CRANK, START AND IDLE VERY ROUGH, THEN STOP RUMNNING. TWO DEALERS HAVE INVESTIGATED AND DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM BUT NO CAUSE HAS BEEN FOUND.*AK

NHTSA ID

10058834

Incident

Jan 9, 2004

Mileage

13,500 mi

2001 MERCURY SABLE 39K MILES. DRIVING ON NYS THRUWAY WHEN I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WITH MY CAR. FORD MOTOR ADMITTED THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE BUT SAID MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. DID GET ME DISCOUNT ON REPAIRS. FORD REFUSED TO TELL ME IF OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING SAME WITH THIS ENGINE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10023902

Incident

Jun 23, 2003

Mileage

398,000 mi

THE VEHICLE HAD A CONSISTENT OIL LEAK SINCE PURCHASE. THE DEALER STATED THE ENGINE GASKET CYLINDER HEADS LEAKED. *JB ...*AK

NHTSA ID

10015696

Incident

Aug 1, 2001

Mileage

13,000 mi

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN, LOSES ALL POWER. *AK THE AUTO HAS ACCELERATED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. TEH AIR CONDITIONER SHUT DOWN WHILE TRAVELING, TWICE THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SHUT DOWN, ON ONE OCCASION REQUIRING THE VEHICLE TO BE TOWED. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A VEHICLE REPLACEMENT AND FOR THE FAILURES TO BE RECALLED. *JG

NHTSA ID

8013800

Incident

Jan 10, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF AND VEHICLE SHUT DOWN.*AK

NHTSA ID

8010072

Incident

May 17, 2002