2002 Mercury Sable Electrical Problems

AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS RELAY SODDARD INTO BACKSIDE OF FUSE PANEL (GEM) WAS BAD LOCATION FOR A PERSON WITH NO EXPERIENCE TO FIX OR LOCATE MOST PEOPLE NEVER GOT IT FIXED BECAUSE OF NO EXPERIENCE AND AMOUNT OF MONEY TO HAVE AN ELECTRICAL MECHANIC TO FIX. I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A FEW PEOPLE DID GET IT FIXED THROUGH A RECALL BUT I DIDN'T AND I NEVER GOT A RECALL FOR THIS IN THE MAIL. I WOULD LIKE FORD MOTOR COMPANY FIX THIS BECAUSE I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS PROBLEM. MY CAR HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 12 YEARS.

NHTSA ID

11100705

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

Mileage

35,000 mi

MY CAR HAS BEEN A TERRIBLE LIABILITY SINCE DAY ONE,I AM AHNDICAPPED AND ON A PERMANENT BUDGET,,I NEED TO GET THIS LOOKED AT AND MY CAR TAKEN CARE OF SOON,IM SCARED I MAY SOON END UP ON FOOT IF THESE HORRID ISSUES RNT RECTIFIED,,I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM FIRST CLASS CARS IN SALT LAKE CITY UTAH,,IVE ASKED 4 TIMES TO GET IT TRADED IN,,MUCH TO MY SHOCK THEY WOULDNT EVEN TALK TO ME,,PLEASE HELP ME!MY CAR REVES AT TIMES THEN WHILE SITTING STIL IT WIL TRY TO DRIVE WITHOUT ME PUSHING THE EXCELIRATOR,,IM SCARED IT GONNA LEAP OUT AMY HANDS SOON,,IM TERIRFIED OF IT!!

NHTSA ID

10837883

Incident

Jan 12, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID

10767317

Incident

Sep 21, 2015

Mileage

168,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOME LIGHT WOULD ACTIVATE INDEPENDENTLY AND ONLY TURN OFF ONLY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. AS THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, THE DOOR LIGHTS AND THE DOOR LOCKS STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000. THE CURRENT VEHICLE WAS MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ID

10563766

Incident

Feb 19, 2013

Mileage

167,000 mi

DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK WHILE DRIVING. HORN ALARM GOES OFF WHEN CAR IS PARKED. WARNING LIGHT FOR OPEN DOORS WHEN DOORS ARE CLOSED. DOORS UNLOCK AND INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10537602

Incident

Apr 1, 2013

Mileage

48,000 mi

WIRE HARNESS FAILURE IN RUBBER BOOTS FROM BODY OF CAR TO REAR LIFT GATE ON STATION WAGON MODEL. INSULATION CRACKING AND WIRE BREAKING COMPLETELY IN FLEXIBLE RUBBER BOOT CAUSES ERRATIC BEHAVIOR AND ULTIMATE FAILURE OF HIGH BRAKE LIGHT, BACK UP LIGHTS, LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER, REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER, OPEN LIFT GATE AND OPEN REAR WINDOW SAFETY SENSORS AND STEREO SPEAKERS. INSULATION AND WIRING WITHIN BOOT HAS BECOME BRITTLE AND FATIGUED. CLEAN BREAKS IN WIRES FROM OPENING AND CLOSING LIFT GATE ARE EVIDENT. WIRES WHERE INSULATION HAS BROKEN THROUGH ARE COMING IN CONTACT WITH OTHER CIRCUITS WHERE THAT INSULATION HAS BROKEN THROUGH AND RESULTS IN "CONFUSING" OPERATION OF LIGHTS. IE PUT CAR IN REVERSE AND HIGH BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON - PUT FOOT ON BRAKE AND HIGH BRAKE LIGHT GOES OUT. BACKUP LIGHTS DON'T COME ON AT ALL. IE TURN ON REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER AND LICENSE PLATE LIGHT COMES ON. WIRING DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF MULTIPLE INTERNAL COPPER STRANDS OR SUPPLE ENOUGH INSULATION TO PROVIDE NEEDED FLEXIBILITY DURING REGULAR OPENING AND CLOSING OF REAR LIFT GATE. BELIEVE THIS TO BE A LATENT SAFETY DEFECT. MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE KNOWN DURING DESIGN THAT WIRING IN BOOT TO STATION WAGON LIFT GATE WOULD BE PRONE TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WITH REGULAR USE. *JS

NHTSA ID

10457115

Incident

May 2, 2012

Mileage

90,000 mi

HAD TUNEUP. [PLUGS AND WIRES] COMPUTER UPGRADE. CAR NOW SURGES AND IDLE JUMPS TO 2000 RPM. HIT A CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT STOP LIGHT, AND ALMOST A PERSON IN WALK, WHEN SURGED. AM SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL AT STOPS, BUT, IT SNAPS YOUR NECK WHEN YOU SHIFT BACK TO DRIVE. HAVE HAD TO 2 DIF FORD & MEC. DEALERS SEVERAL TIMES AND ONLY GET NOTHING!! HELP PLEASE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10331257

Incident

Apr 13, 2010

Mileage

59,240 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR DOORS ON HIS VEHICLE REMAINED UNLOCKED WHENEVER HE WAS DRIVING. IMMEDIATELY AFTER HIS VEHICLE WAS STARTED THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE DOORS UNLOCKED. THE CONTACT HAD TO LOCK MANUALLY LOCK THE DOORS. THE FORD MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THEY OFFERED THE CONTACT NO EXPLANATION. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. UPDATED 3/10/10 *CN UPDATED 05/10/10*JB

NHTSA ID

10307853

Incident

Jan 8, 2010

Mileage

94,000 mi

I PURCHASED A 2002 MERCURY SABLE IN SEPTEMBER, 2006. ON JANUARY 19, 2007 WHILE TURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY GOING 3-5 MILES AN HOUR BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING AN ESTIMATED $3,000.00 TO $4,000.00 IN DAMAGES. THE DEALER HAS REFUSED TO ASSIST ME SAYING I BOUGHT THE CAR "AS IS". THEY TOLD ME TO FILE THE CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING "THERE WAS NO IMPACT". FORD MOTOR COMPANY SAID THERE WAS A 50,000 MILE WARRANTY. YOUR DEPARTMENT SENT ME A SERVICE TECHNICAL BULLETIN STATING THAT FORD KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM IN MAY, 2002. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET ANYONE (IE: DEALER, INSURANCE COMPANY, FINANCE COMPANY, OR MANUFACTURER) TO HELP ME WITH THIS ISSUE. IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR 2009, THE FUEL PUMP, DRIVER, COMPUTER, AND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN THIS CAR. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1,600.00 IN REPAIR OF THIS VEHICLE . DUE TO THE DEPRECIATION OF THE CAR, THE MECHANICAL FAILURES, AND THE SAFETY ISSUE OF NO AIRBAGS THE VEHICLE IS WORTH NOTHING. I STILL OWE THE FINANCE COMPANY $6,000.00 AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR THE LAST 10 MONTHS. I WAS RECENTLY DIRECTED TO RESEARCH THE CONSUMER RIGHTS ACT OF 1974, THE MAGNUSON-MOSS WARRANTY ACT, SALE OF GOODS ACT 1979, ALABAMA LEMON LAWS, BUYERS REMORSE LAW, TRADE COMMISSION ACT, UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE, AND CONSUMER RIGHTS WHEN BUYING A USED CAR BY THE BBB. I HAVE BEEN DENIED MY RIGHTS. NO CONSUMER SHOULD HAVE TO EXPERIENCE WHAT I HAVE. EVERY CONSUMER HAS THE RIGHT TO EXPECT A CAR THEY PURCHASE TO MEET REASONABLE STANDARDS. THERE WAS A GRAVE ISSUE OF SAFETY FOR ME AND MY GRANDDAUGHTER WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THANK GOD WE WERE NOT INJURED. ALL OF THESE FAILURES HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPAIRED THE USE, VALUE, AND SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE! THEY AROSE OUT OF THE ORDINARY USE OF THE VEHICLE AND NOT AS A RESULT OF ABUSE. THE MOTOR VEHICLE IS OUT OF SERVICE AND IN THE CUSTODY OF THE DEALER DUE TO REPAIR ATTEMPTS, ONE OF WHICH OCCURRED DURING THE LEMON LAW RIGHTS PERIOD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10290614

Incident

Jan 19, 2007

Mileage

50,000 mi

RECALL ELECTRICAL INSIDE LIGHTING. DISC PLAYER SHORTENING OUT, BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH COMING ON. THIS HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE WHAT CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM? *TR

NHTSA ID

10266844

Incident

Apr 23, 2009

SINCE 2005, LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN IN AUTOMATIC MODE, ESPECIALLY IN RAIN AND SNOW CONDITIONS. THIS HAS BEEN CHECKED THREE TIMES BY DEALERS BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING TO REPAIR. DRIVING AT NIGHT AND IN LIMITED VISIBILITY DUE TO WEATHER AND THEN HAVE THE LIGHTS GO OFF IS AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE POSITION TO BE. THE CAR OCCUPANTS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ARE PLACED IN JEOPARDY WITH THIS UNRESOLVED PROBLEM ON THE 2002 MERCURY SABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10214678

Incident

Dec 13, 2007

Mileage

51,000 mi

I HAVE A 2002 MERCURY SABLE WITH 54,000 MILES. SUDDENLY & W/O WARNING, MY ALTERNATOR STOPPED WORKING AND DRAINED MY BATTERY. I HAVE HAD 3 FORD PRODUCTS WITH SOME LASTING 160,000 MILES W/O EVER HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ALTERNATORS. I TALKED W/THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. AT THE REPAIR SHOP ABOUT HAVING TO REPLACE AN ALTERNATOR ON A 3 YEAR OLD VEHICLE, AND HE INDICATED THAT THEY HAD HAD A FAIRLY LARGE NO. OF MERCURY SABLE & FORD TAURUS REPLACEMENT OF ALTERNATORS. IS THIS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE ALTERNATORS?

NHTSA ID

10124670

Incident

Jun 7, 2005

Mileage

54,000 mi

VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *BF THE THEFT LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS THE ABS LIGHT WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE IDLER AIR CONTROL WAS BAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TC WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED FOR THE THIRD TIME, THE ABS LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE, BUT THE BATTERY LIGHT ALONG WITH OTHER LIGHTS WHICH DISPLAYED PICTURES DID ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10099954

Incident

Apr 1, 2004

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

NHTSA ID

10057207

Incident

Jan 19, 2004

Mileage

18,029 mi

I HAVE A 2002 MERCURY SABLE W/ 40,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR HAD TO BE TAKEN BACK NUMEROUS TIMES THE HUB CAPS FELL OFF AFTER THE 6TH TIME THEY REPLACED WITH ALLOY WHEELS. THE RIGHT & LEFT SWAY BAR END LINKS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE ALTENATOR WENT OUT AND WAS REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO COMPLETELY BE OVERHAULED. THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE REPLAED, THE SPARK PLUG WIRE REPLACED, REPLACED PROCESSOR AND KEY. #4 PLUG WIRE SHORTING OUT CAUSED COIL TO GO BAD AND FOULED #3 AC COIL ASY-IGN REPLACED AFTER FIXING $3 & #4 SHOWED UP ON POWER BALANCE RETEST,BUT SAID ROAD TEST WAS OK AT THIS TIME SUGGESTED FEL MANAGEMENT. IT SCARES ME THAT SO MUCH CAN GO WRONG ON A 2002 AUTO. I DID HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE ALTENATOR AND TRANSMISSION, BUT I WOULD HAVE HATED TO PAY THE $3028.00 CHARGE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, I WASN'T REAL HAPPY TO PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GOT STUCK PAYING EVEN THOUGH I HAD THE CAR IN UNDER ORIGNAL WARRANTY FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *LA

NHTSA ID

10043084

Incident

Oct 16, 2003

Mileage

33,394 mi