Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Airbags 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 Jan 30, 2017
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.
4%
of 201 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.
8
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
6
What this page shows
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 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 airbag
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jan 30, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK, WHICH FORCED THE CONTACT TO STRIKE THE STEERING WHEEL DURING THE CRASH. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, BACK, AND NECK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND THEN TOWED TO A JUNK YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA ID
10948477
Incident
Dec 29, 2010
Mileage
100,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 2, 2009
Crash reported1 injury reported
DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY ON FRONT IMPACT CAR CRASH. THE CAR IS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DID DEPLOY (THOUGH THERE WAS NO PASSENGER). THE HIGHWAY PATROL CUT OPEN THE STEERING WHEEL COVER TO REVEAL THAT THERE WAS INDEED A DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WITH THE NUMBER TGP037SPAEIT P5206000-00EE09. THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE IS [XXX] MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND IS UNSURE OF THE SPEED OF THE CAR WHEN SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT THE WALL. I'M GUESSING IT WAS IN THE 35-45 MPH RANGE. HER INJURIES WERE MINOR - THANKS TO THE SEAT BELT - I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY TO OFFER HER FURTHER PROTECTION AS EXPECTED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ID
10279085
Incident
Jul 30, 2009
Mileage
70,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 17, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported
ON JUNE 11, MY MOTHER WAS INVOLVED IN A FENDER BENDER IN TRAFFIC. WHEN SHE PULLED OUT OF TRAFFIC INTO A SHOPPING PLAZA SHE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED INSTEAD OF BRAKING. HER 2003 MERCURY SABLE WAGON SPUN AROUND AND CRASHED FIRST INTO A HUGE CEMENT LAMPOST, THEN PROCEEDED TO RUN OVER TWO SHRUBS AND A TREE WHERE THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DID NOT, EVEN THOUGH THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS TOTALLY DEMOLISHED. ALTHOUGH MY MOTHER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, THE LACK OF THE AIR BAG GOING OFF RESULTED IN MY MOTHER SNAPPING FORWARD RESULTING IN A SPINAL CORD INJURY TO THE NECK AND PARALYSIS FROM THE CHEST DOWN- A C6 INJURY. SINCE THE CAR WAS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE THAT THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. THERE MUST BE SOME DEFECT WITH THAT MODEL AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE ELSE SUFFERS AND ENDS UP PARALYZED. THE AUTO BODY SHOP STATED THAT THEY'D SEEN OTHER FORD CARS IN TOTAL COLLISIONS THAT ALSO DIDN'T HAVE THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG GO OFF. HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE TO DO WITH THE SENSORS. EITHER WAY, THE PRODUCT ISN'T WORKING. *JB
NHTSA ID
10133197
Incident
Jun 11, 2005
Airbags
Filed May 19, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported
2003 MERCURY SABLE STATION WAGON RAN OFF THE ROAD INTO A STONE LINED DITCH. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT.*MR..... ON APRIL1, 2005 WHILE DRIVING WITHIN THE SPEED LIMIT VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD INTO A ROCK LINED DITCH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO INFLATE. DRIVER SUSTAINED CHEST PAINS AND NUMEROUS BURNS. DRIVER WAS IN PAIN FOR ABOUT 4 WEEKS. *AK
NHTSA ID
10121462
Incident
Apr 1, 2005
Airbags
Filed May 16, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, HOWEVER, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK *SC THE VEHICLE WAS SENT 10-15 FEET INTO A DITCH. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD BROKEN OFF ALL OF IT'S MOUNTINGS AND SHIFTED 3 INCHES. *SC *JB
NHTSA ID
10115158
Incident
Mar 10, 2005
Mileage
30,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 30, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported
MY WIFE SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE ENCROACHING INTO HER LANE. SHE LOST CONTROL OF HER 2003 MERCURY SABLE AND SLAMMED HEAD-ON INTO THE CONCRETE CENTER DIVIDER OF THE WESTBOUND 60 FWY DIAMONDBAR CA. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE BAG DID NOT. SHE SUFFERED A CONCUSSION, A FRACTURED MANDIBLE, AND A MOLAR TOOTH WAS BROKEN FROM THE JAW BONE WHICH THE MAXILLO-FACIAL SURGEON WAS UNABLE TO SAVE. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS.*AK
NHTSA ID
10079045
Incident
Jun 21, 2004
Mileage
19,999 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 17, 2004
Crash reported
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *MR
NHTSA ID
10057780
Incident
Feb 9, 2004
Mileage
3,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 23, 2004
Crash reported
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 TO 60 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
NHTSA ID
10059630
Mileage
29,000 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