2003 Mercury Sable Visibility Problems

HEATER/AC FAN CONTINUOUSLY STOPS WORKING. I FIRST REPLACED THE MOTOR RESISTOR IN AUGUST 2012. IT WORKED FOR 2 WEEKS WHEN IT BROKE FOR THE 2ND TIME. I WENT TO FIX IT AGAIN, ONLY TO FIND OUT IT STOPS WORKING AGAIN AFTER 2 MORE WEEKS.IT IS NOW OCTOBER AND THE MOTOR RESISTOR BROKE 2X AND NOW THE MOTOR BLOWER IS COMPLETELY GONE. NO AC/HEATER. THE TEMPERATURE IN NY IN OCTOBER IS NOT COMPLIANT WITH NO HEATER. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. BROKE 3XS IN A SPAN OF 6 WEEKS OR SO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10480051

Incident

Oct 9, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR LIFTGATE HINGE FRACTURED WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW GLASS TO SEPARATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

NHTSA ID

10461707

Incident

May 11, 2011

Mileage

175,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE CAP ABOVE THE CABIN FILTER, WHICH CAUSED THE BLOWER MOTOR TO FAIL. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V087000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD) BUT DID NOT CONFIRM IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

NHTSA ID

10435083

Incident

Nov 1, 2011

Mileage

16,000 mi

I HAVE A 2003 MERCURY SABLE WITH 19K MILES ON IT. WE HAD HEAVY RAINS TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING, FOLLOWED BY SUB FREEZING TEMPERATURES THROUGHOUT WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY. THURSDAY MORNING, (12-10-09) THE BLOWER MOTOR FOR THE HEATING/AC SYSTEM WOULD ONLY WORK ON IT'S HIGHEST SETTING, AND CONTINUES TO DO SO. A FEW TIMES THROUGHOUT THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, MY WIFE AND I THOUGHT WE HEARD WATER RUSHING AROUND SOMEWHERE IN THE VICINITY OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AREA. I READ OVER 150 COMPLAINTS ON TOPIX.COM FOR THE VERY SAME PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS OF BOTH SABLES AND TAURUS'. IT WAS RECOMMENDED BY SEVERAL FOLKS THAT PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUES SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT HERE. IT SEEMS THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE BLOWER MOTOR/RESISTOR ASSEMBLY IS CAUSED BY WATER ENTERING THE BLOWER HOUSING ITSELF. I HAVE READ THAT FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AS THEY HAVE ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR IT. MY CONCERN IS THAT SINCE WINTER IS UPON US, A POSSIBLE UNSAFE CONDITION COULD ARISE SHOULD THE BLOWER MOTOR QUIT WORKING COMPLETELY, THUS PREVENTING THE WINDOWS FROM DEFROSTING. ADDITIONALLY, I FEEL STRONGLY THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT NO COST TO ME BY FORD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10295420

Incident

Dec 10, 2009

Mileage

19,000 mi

HEATER BLOWER MOTOR NOT WORKING IN 2003 MERCURY SABLE. MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE IS A LEAK IN THE FIREWALL. I NOTICED ONLINE THAT THIS HAPPENS TO A LOT OF FORD TAURUS AND MERCURY SABLE OWNERS. ANOTHER FORD OWNER IS TRACKING ALL THE COMPLAINTS HE CAN ( FORD RECALL NUMBER 03V087000 AND HIS COMPLAINT 10184014). DEALER WANTS $300 TO FIX LEAK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10286070

Incident

Oct 1, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. AFTER SEVERE RAINY CONDITIONS, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR EXHIBITED AN EXCESSIVE ACCUMULATION OF WATER. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V087000 (VISIBILITY, WINDSHIELD) WHICH IDENTIFIES THE WATER LEAKAGE. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURES IDENTICAL TO THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED IF THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER IS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 75,000.

NHTSA ID

10252180

Incident

Dec 16, 2008

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH IN SLEETING CONDITIONS, COMING TO A STOP LIGHT THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEATER WAS GETTING COLDER. THE HEATER WAS SET AT 78 DEGREES AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE AND, AS A RESULT, THE FRONT AND REAR GLASS FOGGED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THROUGH THE GLASS AND THE DEFROSTER WOULD NOT CLEAR THE GLASS. THE CONTACT HAD TO DRIVE AND CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD WITH A CLOTH IN ORDER TO VIEW THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE COIL WAS FILLED WITH WATER, WHICH CAUSED THE HEATER TO FAIL. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT IT WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AT THE COST OF $500. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,800 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,175. UPDATED 12/17/08. *LJ

NHTSA ID

10250233

Incident

Nov 24, 2008

Mileage

17,800 mi

FORD TAURUS AND THE MERCURY SABLE'S HAVE A PROBLEM WITH WATER LEAKING INTO THE HEATER CORE BOX WHICH EVENTUALLY CAUSES THE HEATER MOTOR AND STOP WORKING. I UNDERSTAND FROM READING POST ON THE INTERNET THAT IS APPARENTLY A DESIGN FLAW. MY CAR HAD 44,000 MILES AT THE POINT WHERE THE MOTOR QUIT WORKING. THE BILL TO REPAIR THE CAR WAS $471.28. THE WARRANTY HAD OBVIOUSLY EXPIRED BUT I FELT LIKE FORD MOTOR CO SHOULD RE-IMBURSE THE COST OF THE REPAIR SINCE IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THEY DECLINED TO HELP WITH THE COST OF THE REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10213122

Incident

Dec 28, 2007

Mileage

44,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. WHEN IT RAINED, THE WINDSHIELD LEAKED WATER ABOVE THE DRIVER SIDE TOP CORNER. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS VERY LOOSE AND IMPROPERLY SEALED. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V087000 (VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 32,000. UPDATED 3/4/08 *CN

NHTSA ID

10209536

Incident

Oct 26, 2007

Mileage

32,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING WATER THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WATER LEAKING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD WAS LEAKING AND STAYING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD. THE LEAKING CAUSED THE BLOWER MOTOR IN THE COOLING SYSTEM TO FAIL. HE ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A RELATED RECALL; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10205290

Incident

Apr 1, 2005

Mileage

60,000 mi

MERCURY SABLE 2003 LEAKS WATER ONTO THE PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD ALSO CAUSING MY AC BLOWER MOTOR TO SHORT OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10199309

Incident

Apr 15, 2006

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. IN APRIL OF 2007, THE CLIMATE CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED, WHICH COST $613. ON JULY 26, 2007, THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR WAS REPLACED, TOTALING $886. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY MAKING A LOUD NOISE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,825.

NHTSA ID

10198943

Incident

Apr 2, 2007

Mileage

26,825 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOWS FOGGED UP AND THE DEFOGGER FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THE DRIVING VISIBILITY WAS REDUCED AS A RESULT. PRIOR TO THE DEFOGGER FAILING THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL HAVING THIS FAILURE, AND VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THERE WAS RECALL # 03V087000 CONCERNING VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD, BUT THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 42,000, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,500. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAN MOTOR CAUSED BY CONSISTENT WATER INTRUSION INTO THE VENT. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED A COPY OF THE REPAIR INVOICE AND RECEIPT. UPDATED 07/06/07 *TR

NHTSA ID

10189083

Incident

Feb 9, 2007

Mileage

40,500 mi

2003 MERCURY SABLE BLOWER MOTOR FAILURE DUE TO WATER LEAKAGE. FORD ISSUED A TSB ON THIS IN 2004. DEFROSTER AND HEATER WILL NOT WORK. MY VEHICLE [XXX] IT HAS 27,000 MILES AND THE DEALER IS CHARGING $400.00 FOR THE REPAIR. THERE IS A SIMILAR BULLETIN 03V087000. NOT HAVING DEFROST IN THE NORTH EAST IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THANK YOU. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

10185513

Incident

Mar 17, 2007

HEATER BLOWER MOTOR ON 2003 SABLE TOOK ON WATER FROM LEAK IN WIPER COWL AND CEASED TO FUNCTION. EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER WATER LEAKS SO DEALER WANTED $400 TO SEAL LEAK AND FIX MOTOR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10178785

Incident

Jan 15, 2007

Mileage

62,000 mi

ON A 2003 MERCURY SABLE THE BLOWER MOTOR QUIT WORKING. FOR SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, WATER COULD BE HEARD SLOSHING AROUND UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND THE CARPETING BECAME WET. THE FAN MOTOR AND RESISTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF WATER DAMAGE. THE MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED IT TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT FORD IS AWARE OF IT. THE FAN MOTOR LITERALLY SITS IN A PUDDLE OF WATER. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO SPARKING WHICH COULD HAVE LED TO A FIRE. IT COST OVER $300 TO REPAIR. FORD MOTOR CO. IS AWARE OF THIS DESIGN DEFECT AND SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS.*JB

NHTSA ID

10153169

Incident

Mar 20, 2006

Mileage

58,300 mi

2003 MERCURY SABLE HAS PROBLEMS WITH HEATER FAN EQUIPMENT.*MR THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER WATER LEAKED INTO THE BLOWER MOTOR AND DESTROYED IT. WATER ALSO LEAKED INTO THE COMPARTMENT CABIN FILTER. A NEWLY DESIGNED COWL PIECE WAS INSTALLED THAT WOULD PREVENT WATER FROM LEAKING INTO THE FAN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10117696

Incident

Feb 4, 2005

GRUNTING NOISE FROM DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW WHEN IN THE FULL UP POSITION. *LA

NHTSA ID

10045254

Incident

Mar 26, 2003

Mileage

25 mi

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2003 MERCURY SABLE LS AND PRIOR TO LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP IN PHILADELPHIA I NOTICED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DID NOT HAVE THE FACTORY TINT GLASS WHICH WAS STATED ON THE WINDOW STICKER AND WINDSHIELD AS HAVING TINTED GLASS. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SPOKE WITH THE SALES PERSON,SALES MANAGER & SERVICE MANAGER AND AFTER COMPARING OTHER SABLES OF 2003 IN THE LOT, ALL STATED IN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AS HAVING THE TINT BUT SOME DID NOT APPEAR AS HAVING THE DARKER BAND RUNNING ACROSS THE TOP OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. NO ONE COULD ADDRESS THIS AS TO WHY SOME DID OR DID NOT OTHER THAN THEY WERE DIFFERENT SUPPLY VENDORS FORD USED THAT DAY. IT APPEARS THAT WHOMEVER FORD SUPPLIER ARE AT THIS POINT HAS A PROCESS ERROR IN THE MANUFACTURING APPLICATION OF THE TINT PROCESS SINCE FORD DEALERSHIP MANAGEMENT COULD NOT ANSWER OR WILLING TO FIND OUT THE ANSWERS TO THE PROBLEM. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10016518

Incident

Apr 1, 2003

Mileage

2 mi