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.
8
Latest Dec 23, 2015
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.
2%
of 430 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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1
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 2001 Mercury Sable submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 23, 2015
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.
NHTSA ID
10811845
Incident
Jul 5, 2005
Mileage
19,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 23, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALARM SYSTEM AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD ACTIVATE INDEPENDENTLY AND RECURRINGLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR DIAGNOSIS OR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,000.
NHTSA ID
10557016
Incident
Sep 23, 2013
Mileage
189,000 mi
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Nov 21, 2012
THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY CAR BACK IN MAR 02 2004 (FORD RECALL NUMBER 04S12) FOR AN EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH, WHICH WAS (ACCORDING TO FORD) DONE JAN 10 2005. I HAD FAILED AGAIN ON 11/15/2012 LEAVING ME WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GET IT OUT OF PARK. HAD TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL FIRST BEFORE I STARTED MY CAR SO I COULD DRIVE IT TO GET FIXED. *TR
NHTSA ID
10485403
Incident
Nov 16, 2012
Mileage
207,800 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 5, 2012
THE KNOB TO TURN ON THE HEADLIGHT BROKE OFF. IT SEEMS TO BE MADE OF PLASTIC THAT IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH. NOW IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS. WE READ THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM IN THE 2000 MODEL AND FORD HAD A RECALL ON THE 2000 MODEL. WE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 2001 MODEL. MAYBE SOME OF THE FAULTY KNOBS WERE INSTALLED ON SOME OF THE 2001 MODELS AND THOSE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AS WELL SINCE IT'S THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ID
10473917
Incident
Oct 5, 2011
Mileage
80,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 27, 2009
2001 MERCURY SABLE VIN: (SEE OTHER PART OF COMPLAINT) I STOPPED AT A BUSINESS PUT CAR IN PARK GOT OUT. UPON RETURNING THE CAR WOULD START BUT NOT COME OUT OF PARK. I FOUND I HAD NO TAIL LIGHTS. I LATER FOUND ALSO THERE WAS NO CRUISE CONTROL. I PARKED THE CAR A COUPLE DAYS TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT AND WHEN I GOT IN THE CAR I FOUND THE BATTERY HAD GONE DEAD. I JUST GOT DONE RESEARCHING THIS AND FOUND RECALL 01S08 AND NHTSA # 01V078000 SAYING THE RECALL WAS ON A BREAK SWITCH DUE TO GREASE COMPROMISING THE SWITCH. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE MALFUNCTION MATCHES MY PROBLEM EXACTLY! UPON CALLING THE DEALER THAT SOLD THE VEHICLE THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A RECALL OF THIS BASED ON MY VIN. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ALSO STATED THEY COULDN'T FIND A RECALL OF THIS BASED ON MY VIN. WELL OBVIOUSLY THE RECALL SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED MY VIN AS THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO MY CAR. NOW WITH THE PROBLEM OF NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE PROPERLY THE TRANSMISSION IS GIVING AN ERROR DASH LIGHT SAYING THAT THE VEHICLE IS TRYING TO SHIFT AND IS IN THE WRONG GEAR?? AT 70MPH THERE IS ONLY ONE GEAR THAT WILL RUN THE CAR UNDER 3K ON THE TACH SO IT HAS TO BE IN THE RIGHT GEAR.. MAYBE ITS TRYING TO SHIFT OUT.. NOT SURE HAVE TO LOOK INTO THIS MORE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10293689
Incident
Sep 22, 2009
Mileage
85,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 22, 2004
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS WERE INOPERATIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DETAILS. *JB
NHTSA ID
10101545
Incident
Nov 2, 2002
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 23, 2003
Fire reported1 injury reported
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED BY A PASSING MOTORIST THAT TRUNK WAS ON FIRE. UPON INSPECTION, IT HAD BEEN DETERMINED THAT FIRE STARTED IN THE REAR TAIL LIGHT. ONE OF THE OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED THIRD DEGREE BURNS. FORD ADVISED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS UNKNOWN. *AK *TS *NLM
NHTSA ID
10040024
Incident
Aug 25, 2003
Mileage
34,894 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 6, 2003
THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT HAS AN OVER ABUNDANCE OF MOISTURE INSIDE THE LENS. DEALER WAS INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM, BUT REFUSED TO REMEDY IT.*AK
NHTSA ID
10042402
Incident
Sep 6, 2003
Mileage
40,000 mi
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