RoadVitals

2005 Mercury Sable Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine 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 May 2, 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.
10%
of 83 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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 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 engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesEngine
Filed May 2, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AS THE RPMS INCREASED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR OCCASIONALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED PRIOR TO PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REQUESTED THAT THE DEALER REPAIR THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE SALE WAS FINALIZED, BUT THE ISSUE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

NHTSA ID
10983133
Incident
Oct 20, 2016
Mileage
80,000 mi
BrakesEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 7, 2016

PURCHASE VEHICLE USED IN JUNE OF 2015, ONE REPAIR AFTER ANOTHER. OWNED 1YR AND HERE ARE REPAIRS THAT WE HAVE HAD TO DO: DRAIN PLUG REPLACED, TRANS FILTER, ADDITIVE & FLUID, RE-BUILT TRANSMISSION, FLUID, REPLACE REAR BRAKE SHOES, REPLACE VALVE COVER GASKET, OIL PAN GASKET, EGR SENSOR. COST INCURRED $3,275.20 WAY MORE THAN ANY CAR SHOULD HAVE IN ONE YEAR! ANYBODY GOING TO REIMBURSE THESE EXPENSES?

NHTSA ID
10883298
Incident
Jan 8, 2016
Mileage
135,864 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 23, 2015

THIS 2005 MERCURY SABLE (LS PREMIUM) JUST FELL OUT OF GEAR AS I WAS ON THE ROAD. TOTALLY OUT OF THE BLUE WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. I KNOW NOW THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED FOR UPWARDS OF $1800.00. THIS CAR HAS JUST 30,000 MILES ON IT. I FIND IT COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR A MILDLY DRIVEN CAR, OWNED BY AN ELDERLY WOMAN, SHOULD FAIL SO BADLY AFTER ONLY 30,000 MILES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION ALSO INVOLVING THE FORD TAURUS AND THE WINDSTAR...WHICH I UNDERSTAND WAS RECALLED. THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION IS KNOWN TO FAIL PREMATURELY AND WITHOUT NOTICE. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND I HOPE THIS IS TAKEN SERIOUSLY. THIS IS A DEFECT THAT IS WAY TOO COMMON IN THESE MODELS AND I WILL BE LOOKING INTO LEGAL RECOURSE AGAINST ANY AND ALL INVOLVED. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS UNFORTUNATE PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD. THANK-YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID
10701221
Incident
Mar 3, 2015
Mileage
30,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Aug 14, 2014

I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR BEGIN TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S ON. THE ENGINE WAS REVVING AND WHEN I WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE CAR DIDN'T AT FIRST SLOW DOWN. WHEN I FINALLY REACHED HOME AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK THE ENGINE WAS STILL REVVING AS IF I WAS STEPPING ON THE GAS. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND INTIMIDATING. THE SAME IDENTICAL THING HAPPENED TO MY HUSBAND WHEN I ASKED HIM TO DRIVE THE CAR AROUND THE BLOCK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10622414
Incident
Aug 14, 2014
Mileage
80,843 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 9, 2013

MERCURY SABLE TENDS TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE AND LURGE FORWARD EVEN WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10505691
Incident
Jul 4, 2012
Mileage
57,000 mi
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 11, 2012

IDLES, MAKES NOISES, VIBRATES, DRIVES BY ITSELF WITH OUT STOPPING DURING IDLING, DON'T SHIFT INTO GEARS PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10447483
Incident
Feb 8, 2012
Mileage
82,065 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Nov 29, 2011

THE ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT RUNNING WHILE CRUISING AT 60 MPH IN DARKNESS ON A HEAVILY TRAVELED CONGESTED 6 LANE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE TIME WAS 6:50 PM AND THERE WAS NO UNUSUAL WEATHER. THE CAR SHOOK FOR A FEW SECONDS AT THE TIME OF SHUT-DOWN. I ATTRIBUTED THE SHAKE OF THE CAR TO A LOADED SEMI FLAT BED TRUCK RUNNING IN THE NEXT LANE AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. WE WERE AT NORMAL SPACING BETWEEN VEHICLES. THERE WAS NEITHER CONTACT WITH THIS TRUCK NOR ANY OTHER VEHICLE. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON I270 NEAR BRIDGETON, MO. WE MERGED ONTO MO 340 AND CONTINUED COASTING UNTIL WE FOUND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER TO CALL FOR HELP. I TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES WHILE COASTING, TO NO AVAIL. WHILE WAITING FOR HELP TO ARRIVE, I TRIED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO QUIT RUNNING. THE FUEL TANK REGISTERED ONE-HALF FULL. I RECALLED READING IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL YEARS AGO ABOUT A FUEL SHUT-OFF RESET. I RAISED THE TRUNK LID, READILY FOUND THE RESET. THE RED BUTTON WAS UP--I PUSHED IT DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS LET RUN FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES WITHOUT FINDING ANY PROBLEM. WE CONTINUED ON TO OUR DESTINATION ABOUT 8 MILES AWAY. THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN ON 4 DAYS SINCE THEN FOR A TOTAL OF ABOUT 250 MILES, WITH NO APPARENT PROBLEM. I WRITE THIS BECAUSE I FIND IT EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO HAVE AN ENGINE SHUT DOWN ON A VERY CONGESTED INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, AFTER DARK, WITH MOST TRAFFIC RUNNING 65 - 70 MPH. DURING THIS INCIDENT, I FEARED BEING REAR-ENDED AS THERE WAS LIMITED OPPORTUNITY TO GET OFF THE ROAD. *KB

NHTSA ID
10437692
Incident
Nov 23, 2011
Mileage
63,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Sep 2, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 45-50 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. THE FAILURES OCCURRED THE FOLLOWING DAY AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 73,000.

NHTSA ID
10282677
Incident
Aug 31, 2009
Mileage
73,000 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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .