Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 204 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 204, in the owner's own words
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.
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
FRONT COIL SPRINGS BOTH BROKEN AND REPLACED. REAR COIL SPRING BROLE AND PUNCTURED TIRE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME STRANDED.
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.
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.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE BEING SERVICED, THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V332000 (SUSPENSION). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
MY MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE REAR SPRING WAS WORN. THIS, HE SAID, WAS CAUSE FOR A RECALL IN THE FRONT SPRING IN 2005. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO SIMILAR RECALL FOR REAR SPRING. MY MECHANIC SAID THIS PART SHOULD NOT HAVE WORN OUT LIKE THIS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT NOTICED A SEVERE VIBRATION UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE TWO REAR TIRES WERE DAMAGED AND REPLACED DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE COIL SPRINGS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE FAULTY. THE COIL SPRINGS WERE NOT REPLACED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V332000 (SUSPENSION) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THAT IT WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE IT WAS A 2001 MODEL AND EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL WAS ISSUED IN 2004 AND HAD BEEN 10 YEARS SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000. *TR.....UPDATED 05/09/13 *BF UPDATED 05/24/2013 *JS
IN JULY OF 2011 I NOTICED A SMALL PIECE OF METAL, LOOKED LIKE A PIECE OF THE SPRING TO MY CAR. IT WAS ON THE GROUND NEXT TO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. AT THE TIME I LOOKED AT THE SPRING ( NOT ON JACK STANDS NOR DID I JACK THE CAR UP) NOT KNOWING IF IT CAME FROM MY CAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS ODD THAT A PIECE WAS ON THE GROUND AND MY CAR DIDN'T SEEM TO DRIVE ANY DIFFERENT NOR DID I HEAR ANYTHING. THEN MARCH OF 2013 I HAD TO CHANGE MY BACK BRAKES, I JACKED UP THE REAR DRIVER SIDE AND THE SPRING JUST FELL OFF INTO PIECES. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WASN'T ON THE ROADWAYS DRIVING. A NEIGHBOR WHO IS A MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THAT WAS THE CRAZIEST THING HE HAS SAW. I MEAN THIS SPRING WAS IN PIECES AND THE PIECES JUST BROKE OFF FROM ONE ANOTHER. THERE WAS NO CRACKS, THE ENDS OF THE PIECES DID NOT HAVE RUST ON THEM. IT WAS LIKE IT JUST CRUMBLED. I HAVE SAW A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AND I COULD IMAGINE ALL THE ONES THAT AREN'T ON THE INTERNET. LIKE MY SELF IF I DIDN'T SEE THIS SITE IN ANOTHER WEBSITE THAT I READ, I WOULDN'T OF KNOWN THAT I COULD WRITE TO SOMEONE ABOUT THE REAR SPRINGS TO MY CAR WHEN I SAW THERE WASN'T A RECALL FOR THIS. I APPRECIATE IF YOU LOOK INTO THIS KNOWING THAT THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS MATTER ONE OF THESE TIMES, IF IT HASN'T BEEN ALREADY. I THINK FORD SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE FAULTY REAR SPRINGS ON THIS VEHICLE AND NOT JUST THE FRONT. HOPE THIS MATTER CAN BE RESOLVED APPROPRIATELY WITH FORD TAKING TIME TO LOOK INTO IT FOR THERE LOYAL CUSTOMERS! *TR
1-SPRING -WIFE WAS DRIVING LOCALLY, HEARD LOUD NOISE LIKE HITTING SOMETHING; PULLED INTO FRIEND'S DRIVEWAY; WALKED BACK INTO ROADWAY AND FOUND SPRING; TOWED TO FORD, BOTHSPRINGS REPLACED UNDER RECALL 04M04 2-FILL PIPE - 11/12/2010- AT ROUTINE SERVICE DEALER SAID RUSTED (90672MI) PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED - $428. 3-SUBFRAME -07/19/2012- ROUTINE SERVICE (106097MI) DEALER SAID CAR NOT ROAD WORTHY; LEFT FRONT SUBFRAME RUSTED THRU, L FRT CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY ABOUT TO BREAK AWAY FROM SUBFRAME - ASTONISHING!!! - HAD JUST COMPLETED 300MI TRIP , WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE ON 700MI TRIP - WOULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN KILLED ALONG WITH DRIVERS OF NEARBY VEHICLES ON INTERSTATE; HAVE PHOTOS; FORD SUBFRAME NO LONGER AVAILABLE, NEVER ANY AFTER MKT MFG; WOULD BE CRAZY TO TRUST USED PART! CAN'T BELIEVE HOW CLOSE I CAME TO MAJOR ACCIDENT/DEATH - [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE VEHICLE THAT I DRIVE (2001 SABLE) WAS FOUND TO HAVE BROKEN REAR COIL SPRINGS AT THE BRAKE SHOP AND WAS CORKSCREWING TOWARDS MY SIDEWALLS (65K). MY WIFE WAS CARRYING MY DAUGHTER IN THE BACKSEAT FOR A ONE-HOUR COMMUTE EVERYDAY BEFORE THIS WAS NOTICED (700 TO REPAIR). ABOUT TWO DAYS AGO MY FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE FOUND TO BE FRACTURED WHILE VISITING A LOCAL ALIGNMENT SHOP BECAUSE I FOUND THE TIRES TO BE WEARING UNEVENLY (80K). I CALLED FORD TO COMPLAIN AND SAID THE RECALL ON THE VEHICLE HAD EXPIRED AND THAT IT WAS A CUSTOMER COURTESY TO EXTEND THAT TO TEN YEARS OR 140K AND I WAS A YEAR TOO LATE. SHE ALSO SAID THAT ENGINEERS REVIEW THESE REPORTS AND SOMETIMES REOPEN CLAIMS. I EXPLAINED TO HER THAT I WAS POSTING WITH NHTSA BECAUSE MANY FAMILIES ARE BEING PLACED AT RISK IN THESE VEHICLES - WE DID NOT MAKE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS, THEY DID. AND THEY SHOULD BE GOOD ABOUT MAKING THE REPAIR. IT HAS VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH AGE AND MORE TO DO WITH MANUFACTURING PROCESSES THAT THEY CLAIM ARE PROTECTED BY PRIVACY LAWS. I WILL NOT BE USING THEIR OEM PARTS TO REPLACE THE FRONT STRUTS AND SPRINGS - MY CHOICE - AND WILL ONLY USE AFTERMARKETS PARTS FROM NOW ON. LAST FORD I WILL EVER PURCHASE. WHO WANTS THEIR FAMILY PUT AT RISK OVER A 200.00 SPRING WHILE A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR COMPANY IGNORES THEM? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR A ROUTINE WHEEL ALIGNMENT, HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE REAR SPRINGS WERE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 88,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN SHE NOTICED THAT THE REAR WAS SITTING VERY LOW TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,500. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE FRACTURED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR COIL SPRINGS AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48,836.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, PUNCTURING THE TIRE. THE SPARE TIRE WAS INSTALLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE COIL SPRING WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,383. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT DROVE APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH OVER A ROAD BUMP AND HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE REAR COILS SPRINGS WERE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
REAR SPRING BROKEN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE WAGON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. AS HE DROVE OVER A ROAD BUMP THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE FUEL TANK TO FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS DEEMED AS SALVAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.
WHEN GETTING CAR SAFETY INSPECTED MECHANIC FOUND REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKEN. RESEARCH ON INTERNET FOUND RECALL FOR FRONT SPRINGS BUT NOR REAR. THEY ARE THE SAME TYPE OF SPRINGS AS THE FRONT SO WHY WOULD THEY NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL!!!!! MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE ALSO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE REAR SPRINGS ALSO. I'M JUST GLAD THE FAILURE DID NOT RESULT IN A CRASH OR ANYONE BEING INJURED. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD INCLUDE THE REAR SPRINGS IN THE RECALL ALSO.
2001 MERCURY SABLE. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING MERCURY REAR COILS SPRINGS. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED NEITHER HIS MECHANIC OR THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP COULD EXPLAIN WHY THE REAR COILS RUSTED THROUGH COMPLETELY. THE MECHANIC FOUND A RECALL, BUT IT WAS ONLY FOR THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS. *JB
FAILURE OF REAR STRUTS, BROKEN SPRINGS ON A 2001 SABLE WITH 32,000 MILES. ADVISED BY GARAGE AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT ALL TAURUS AND SABLE MODELS BREAK. SPRINGS CAN BREAK AND PUNCTURE REAR TIRES CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY. REPLACED BOTH SIDES ONE SIDE BROKEN IN TWO PLACES. LABOR WAS INTENSIVE DUE TO STRIPPED AND BROKEN PINCH BOLTS. *TR
TOOK MY 2001 SABLE IN TO GET WHEEL ALIGNMENT BUT THEY FOUND BOTH REAR SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. HAD 76,000 MILES ON CAR COST ME $ 670. TO HAVE REPAIRED BY DEALER. *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
Data on this page last refreshed .