Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Mercury Sable submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 26 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 26, in the owner's own words
WAS PULLING INTO PARKING LOT BRAKES WENT OUT TOTALLY NO WARNING STOPPED BY EMERGENCY BRAKE HAVE NO BRAKES AT ALL TURNING AFTER 45 MPH THEN TO A STOPLIGH INTOTHE CITY'S RESTURANT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF HOW THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT PERFORMED A TEMPORARY REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, IT EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE JUMPED A CURB AND STRUCK A METAL TABLE OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP EVEN WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES DID NOT FEEL AS THOUGH THEY WERE FULLY OPERATIONAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES TO THE KNEE, BACK, AND NECK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION AND PHYSICAL THERAPY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS DIMMED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.
PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER AND HYDRAULIC HOSE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. HAD REPLACED CALIPER, HOSE AND MASTER CYLINDER. BRAKES STILL MAKE NOISE, GRINDING WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. I TOOK BACK TO HAVE LOOKED AT TWICE, REPLACED HOSE AGAIN. OVER $500.00 IN FIXING AND STILL NOT WORKING RIGHT. REPLACED CALIPER AND HOSE TWICE. *TR
DRIVING AT APPOX 30 MPH CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE TO OVER 60 MPH WITH BRAKES BEING FULLY APPLIED. SLOWED CAR AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BEFORE SHIFTING CAR INTO PARK AND CAR SKIDDING OFF ROAD TO A STOP. BRAKES WERE SMOKING FROM TRYING TO STOP CAR. CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC. ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON RT 16 EAST OF RT 395 IN WEBSTER MA AT 11:30 AM. *TR
LEFT FRONT SPRING BROKE GOUGING AN 8 INCH TEAR IN TIRE SIDE WALL CAUSING A BLOWOUT AND DAMAGE TO ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. TRANSMISSION MOUNT WAS ALSO DAMAGED. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND BRAKING COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES. FORD DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY. I WAS TOLD THAT FORD HAD ADMITTED FREQUENT SPRING FAILURE ON ITS 1999 TO 2001 TAURUS/SABLE VEHICLES AND INSTALLED GUARDS TO PROTECT THE TIRES FROM BLOWOUT. THIS IS SECOND SPRING FAILURE IN 2 YEARS. THE FIRST TIME WAS THE RIGHT REAR SPRING BROKE DAMAGING STRUT AND GOUGING TIRE BUT NOT CAUSING DEFLATION. TWO SPRING FAILURES ON THE SAME VEHICLE IN 2 YEARS INDICATE THAT IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THIS IS TIME BOMB WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO GET SERIOUSLY INJURED.
WHEN HAVING TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP YOU BETTER PRAY, THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST CARS I HAVE EVER DRIVEN FOR HAVING TO MAKE A PANIC STOP. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM CHECKED BY THE DEALER ONLY TO SAY THERE IS NO PROBLEM WELL, YES THERE IS IF I AM ONLY ONE OF 50 OTHER PEOPLE WHO SEEMS TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WHAT HAPPENED TO SAFETY FOR THE PEOPLE? *TR
CAR NOT HANDLING PROPERLY. BRAKES SQUEALING. VERY POOR GAS MILEAGE. CAR RIDING LOWER IN BACK. SOUNDED/FELT LIKE I WAS RIDING ON A FLAT, TIRE PRESSURE WAS DOWN, BUT NOT BADLY (3 LBS). TOOK TO MECHANIC FOR TUNEUP. ADVISED REAR TIRE BAD WITH FLAT SPOTS. PURCHASED TIRES TO BE INSTALLED. WHEN MECHANIC PULLED TIRE/WHEEL TO INSTALL, NOTICED REAR SPRING WAS BROKEN. PULLED TIRE/WHEEL FROM OTHER SIDE. IT TOO, WAS BROKEN. ONE BREAK WAS NEW, THE OTHER OLDER AS ENDS WERE RUSTED OVER. THERE ARE RUB MARKS AND WEAR ON THE RUBBER COVERING OVER BOTH SPRINGS AS WELL AS THE COATING COMING OFF. I HAVE THE BROKEN SPRINGS AND HAVE TAKEN PHOTOS THAT SHOW BRAKES AND DISCOLORATION. TWO (2) NEW TIRES, TWO (2) REAR SPRINGS AND ALIGNMENT COST $614.68. I FREQUENTLY HAVE MY GRANDCHILDREN WITH ME. EITHER ONE OR BOTH OF THEM COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED HAS THE PIECES COME THROUGH THE SEATS. *TR
WE HAVE A 2002 MERCURY SABLE LS PREMIER MODEL. THIS "FAILURE" HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES NOW, BUT NEITHER OF US COMMUNICATED TO THE OTHER ABOUT IT UNTIL TODAY. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT SURGE OF THE CAR WHEN BRAKING. THE LATEST TIME WAS TODAY, AND IT HAPPENED TO MY WIFE. IT HAPPENED TO ME ALSO SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AS WELL. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND INSTEAD OF STOPPING, THE CAR SEEMED TO GO FASTER AND NOT WANT TO STOP. EXTREME FORCE WAS NEEDED TO STOP THE CAR. THEN IT WAS FINE. *JB
EVERY SINCE I GOT THIS CAR THE BRAKES HAVE NOT STOPPED LIKE THEY SHOULD. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSURE. HAS THERE BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS? *JB
I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND THE CAR ACCELERATED AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASSIONS CAUSING NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS. *NM
MERCURY SABLE, 2002, TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 55 MPH ON FREEWAY 101, I-5 I-10 INTERCHANGE IN HEAVY MORNING TRAFFIC IN LOS ANGELES, AROUND 10: O'CLOCK. NO COLLISION. REQUIRED ABOUT TWO MILES TO COME TO A STOP. CHP REPORT: NCIC # 9590. VIN: 1MEFM55S2G626338. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE LS. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 31,900 MILES ON IT. ON 5/6/05 FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED. FRONT BRAKE PADS CUT THE FRONT ROTORS. RESURFACED THE ROTORS, REPLACED AND MACHINED THEM WHICH COST $250-275. . THEN ON 7/25/05 HAD THE REAR BRAKES REPLACED/MACHINED REAR DRUMS/REPLACED SHOES/ FLUSHED THE BRAKE SYSTEM, AND REPLACED BRAKE CYLINDER. WHICH COST CONSUME R AROUND $425. THE VEHICLE NOW ONLY HAS 33,544. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN VERY GOOD ABOUT DOING WORK ON THIS VEHICLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY TOLD HIM THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE VEHICLE. THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL THE DEALERSHIP. ALL THEY DID WAS CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY GAVE CONSUMER $50 OFF. THAT WAS ALL THE MANUFACTURER DID, AND THEY NEVER CONTACTED HIM BACK. HE DEALT WITH THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE, AND THEY DID NOTHING FOR HIM THEN. CONSUMER DID NOT LIKE THE WAY CUSTOMER SERVICE HANDLED HIS CONCERNS. BRAKES WENT OUT AFTER THREE YEARS. ALSO CONTACTED CONSUMER REPORTS, AND THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO A REPORT ON CAR BRAKES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING A TRACTOR TRAILER JUMPED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SLID UNDERNEATH TRACTOR TRAILER. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES AND DIED THIRTY MINUTES LATER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE AND IT CRASHED INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ON 11-01-04 THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE*AK
1. VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER MANUFACTURER'S 3 YR BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY BUT THEY WILL NOT REPAIR A RUPTURE IN THE BODY (FATIGUE?) WHICH HAS ALLOWED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK TO COME LOOSE. THE RUPTURE IS PROGRESSIVELY INCREASING. BROUGHT TO ATTENTION OF DEALER, MALL OF GEORGIA FORD IN BUFORD GA, TEL. 770-932-4060, ON 10-27-2003. DEALER PROMISED TO ORDER PART AND CALL MY WIFE AT HOME ON ITS ARRIVAL. I WENT OUT OF THE COUNTRY FOR 4 MONTHS. MY WIFE NEVER REC'D ANY CALL. ON MY RETURN, I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD "SORRY! PROCEDURE HAS NOW BEEN CHANGED. BRING IN VEHICLE, WE'LL PHOTOGRAPH IT, SEND IT TO FORD FOR A DECISION. AFTER GOING THROUGH THIS PROCEDURE I WAS TOLD "FORD DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT" AND WILL NOT PAY. TALKED TO FORD MERCURY PEOPLE BUT THEY SAY THE DEALER DECIDED THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, DEALER SAYS FORD MERCURY MADE THAT DECISION. I AM STUCK IN THE MIDDLE TRYING TO ARGUE WITH BOTH, WITH EACH SIDE PUTTING BLAME ON THE OTHER. THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE BODY WHERE THE BODY RUPTURE EXISTS AROUND THE LOCK ASSEMBLY HOLE IN THE DOOR BODY: THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT, NOBODY TRYING TO JIMMY OPEN THE LOCK TO STEAL THE CART ( AN ALARM IS INSTALLED IN THE CAR) AND I CAN FIND NO OTHER REASON FOR THE BODY TO START SPLITTING AT THE HOLE WHERE THE LOCK ASSEMBLY FITS. I NEED YOUR HELP TO HAVE FORD MERCURY LIVE UP TO THEIR WARRANTY AND, IF APPROPRIATE, HAVE A NEUTRAL PARTY EVALUATE THE PROBLEM. 2. ON 5-31-2003 WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON I-75 ABOUT 30 MILE SE OF ATLANTA, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SKID WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED EVEN THOUGH IT HAS AN ABS SYSTEM INSTALLED AND A SCRUNCHING SOUND WAS HEARD AS THOUGH METAL WAS RUBBING AGAINST METAL. THE SAME EXACT SITUATION OCCURRED AGAIN ONCE MORE ON HWY 29 NEAR MY HOME IN LAWRENCEVILLE, GA. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT OCCURS OCCASIONALLY, NOT EVERYTIME THAT THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND HAS PROVED IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLICATE WHENEVER A MECHANIC HAS TRIED TO DIAGNOSE IT. *NM
WINDSHIELD ON 2002 MERCURY SABLE IS DEFECTIVE. *MR THE CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE AREA OF THE GLOVE BOX. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. THE PROBLEM WOULD SEEM TO GET WORSE DURING COLD WEATHER. (RATTLING AND WHISTLING) THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT WOULD STAY LIT AFTER THE CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO REOPEN THE VEHICLE AND STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL A FEW TIMES BEFORE THE BRAKES WOULD GO OUT. (THIS WAS AN OCCASIONAL PROBLEM) THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ON RECALL WHICH WAS #04106000, BUT THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT. THE WINDSHIELD RECALL #03V087000. *SC *JB
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH IN CRUISE CONTROL THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED AND INSTALLED A NEW BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. *NM *NM
WHILE DRIVING BRAKES PROCEEDED TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. AS A RESULT, DRIVER HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL. DEALER STATED THEAT BATTERY VOLTAGE WAS LOW. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLES BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE SKID ABOUT ONE HUNDRED FEET BEFORE IT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. *NLM
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ANOTHER VEHICLE APPLY HIS BRAKES IN FRONT OF HIM FORCING HIM TO HIT FROM BEHIND. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS THE PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR. SCC
WHILE TRAVELING 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING AVOID A CRASH CONSUMER DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL WITH FORCE TO FLOORBOARD RESULTING IN ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED AT THE SAME TIME. THIS CAUSED A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING BRAKES WENT OUT, CAUSING A VEHICLE CRASH. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AKJLG
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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