Model year record

2002 MERCURY Sable

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 541 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V106000

Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch

Component: Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 938,789
Reported to NHTSA: 2004-03-02
Owners notified: 2004-04-05

Defect description

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ARE BEING RECALLED TO CORRECT A PROBLEM WITH A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH AND/OR ASSOCIATED WIRING. THIS MALFUNCTIONING COULD RENDER THE STOP LAMPS INOPERABLE OR CAUSE THEM TO STAY ON ALL THE TIME. THIS COULD CAUSE CONFUSION TO A FOLLOWING DRIVER, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Safety risk

IN ADDITION, IF THE SWITCH AND/OR ASSOCIATED WIRING FAIL IN THE OPEN POSITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT ACTUATE AND THE DRIVER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE OUT OF "PARK" IF THEY FAIL IN THE CLOSED POSITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL REMAIN ON, WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW THE SPEED CONTROL TO BE ACTIVATED. THIS COULD ALSO CAUSE THE BATTERY TO DISCHARGE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH AND ASSOCIATED WIRING ASSEMBLY AND INSTALL A NEWLY DESIGNED STOP LAMP SWITCH AND WIRE ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON APRIL 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Recall campaignNHTSA 03V087000

Visibility: windshield

Component: Visibility: windshield
Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 67,894
Reported to NHTSA: 2003-03-10
Owners notified: 2003-03-31

Defect description

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 212, "WINDSHIELD MOUNTING." THE WINDSHIELDS MAY POTENTIALLY EXHIBIT INCREASED WIND NOISE, WATER LEAKAGE, AND SQUEAKS AND RATTLES.

Safety risk

POTENTIAL LOSS OF WINDSHIELD RETENTION MAY ALSO REDUCE OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE WINDSHIELDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD/MERCURY AT 1-800-392-3673.

Recall campaignNHTSA 02V266000

Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages

Component: Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages
Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 369,614
Reported to NHTSA: 2002-10-02
Owners notified: 2002-09-13

Defect description

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ADJUSTABLE PADELS ARE BEING RECALLED IN ORDER TO ADJUST THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS TO A MINIMUM OF 50 MM OF LATERAL SEPARATION. SIMULTANEOUS APPLICATION OF BOTH THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS COULD RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPM.

Safety risk

THIS COULD RESULT IN A CUSTOMER EXPERIENCING AN "UNINTENDED VEHICLE SPEED INCREASE" OR A PERCEIVED "UNABLE TO STOP" CONDITION.

Manufacturer remedy

OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED AS TO THE PROPER WAY TO SET THE POSITION OF THE PEDALS AND TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE SPACING BETWEEN THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS MEASURED. IF THE SPACING IS FOUND TO BE LESS THAN 50 MM, THE DEALER WILL ADJUST THE PEDALS TO INCREASE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THEM TO GREATER THAN 50 MM. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 28, 2002. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Suspension: front: springs: coil springs	97	75,000 mi
Suspension: front	67	88,800 mi
Vehicle speed control	48	100,000 mi
Suspension	45	88,000 mi
Suspension: rear	24	72,000 mi
Suspension: rear: springs: coil springs	23	76,000 mi
Air bags: frontal	16	49,000 mi
Visibility: windshield	13	54,000 mi
Electrical system	12	51,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling	12	35,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	10	28,724 mi
Air bags	9	49,000 mi
Power train	9	59,240 mi
Suspension: rear: springs	9	73,000 mi
Exterior lighting	8	68,000 mi
Tires	8	55,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	7	42,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	5	—
Structure	5	55,500 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal	5	25,000 mi
Wheels	5	83,000 mi
Engine	4	102,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	4	8,530 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	4	50,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	4	106,586 mi
Latches/locks/linkages	4	68,552 mi
Service brakes	4	106,000 mi
Structure: body: door	4	16,990 mi
Unknown or other	4	130,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: fan/motor	4	52,000 mi
Seat belts: front: retractor	3	89,000 mi
Steering	3	103,000 mi
Structure: body	3	49,946 mi
Visibility	3	90,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system	3	41,126 mi
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator	2	33,394 mi
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash	2	54,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline	2	—
Exterior lighting: headlights	2	7 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift	2	14,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages	2	—
Vehicle speed control: cruise control	2	8,530 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear	2	38,000 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly	2	—
Child seat	1	—
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery	1	18,029 mi
Electrical system: ignition: module	1	33,394 mi
Electrical system: wiring	1	33,394 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)	1	—
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system	1	7,500 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan	1	49,946 mi
Equipment	1	76,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner	1	49,946 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights	1	168,000 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch	1	14,456 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch	1	—
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump	1	—
Interior lighting	1	68,552 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)	1	—
Power train: manual transmission	1	—
Service brakes, air: disc: rotor	1	—
Service brakes, electric	1	36,251 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module	1	16,990 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads	1	31,900 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor	1	31,900 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum: shoes/linings	1	31,900 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum: wheel cylinders	1	31,900 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist	1	—
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly	1	76,600 mi
Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments	1	—
Suspension: front: macpherson strut	1	50,200 mi
Suspension: front: springs: air suspension: springs/bags	1	50,000 mi
Suspension: front: stabilizer bar	1	32,075 mi
Tires: tread/belt	1	18,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: cables	1	38,000 mi
Visibility/wiper	1	113,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: windshield: electrical heating element	1	—
Wheels: hub	1	33,394 mi

The 2001 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 2003 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.