2003 Mercury Sable problems
Owners have filed 251 complaints about the 2003 Mercury Sable with NHTSA. Suspension accounts for 20.3% of them — the clear leader, ahead of power train at 12%.
Complaints251
Crashes17
Fires2
Injuries10
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Suspension 20.3% · 51
Power train 12.0% · 30
Vehicle speed control 11.6% · 29
Visibility 8.0% · 20
Structure 8.0% · 20
Engine and engine cooling 7.6% · 19
Exterior lighting 5.2% · 13
Service brakes, hydraulic 4.8% · 12
Severity
Of those complaints, 17 describe a crash, 2 describe a fire and 10 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 15 model years of the Mercury Sable in this data, 2003 sits 12th by complaint volume. 1993 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 3 in the last three years against 17 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 70,000 miles.
In owners' own words
The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Sable. While driving in reverse, the coil spring broke and punctured the tire. He heard a noise as if something was splitting on the front left side of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer who confirmed that the front coil spring was broken. The vehicle was repaired at the owners expense. The failure mileage was 86,000 and the current mileage was 89,000. Suspension
: The contact stated while approaching the vehicle in the driveway, the front left tire was noticed to be flat. The vehicle was taken to the tire dealer where it was determined the left front coil spring fractured which punctured the tire. There is a nhtsa recall, # 04v332000, regarding the front coil springs. The vin was not included in the recall. The dealer and manufacturer have been alerted. Suspension · reported at 22,157 miles
Dt: the contact stated had a problem with the right side rear of the car bottoming out when he hitting a bump or pothole. The right rear tire rubs the fender well. Took the vehicle to the dealer four times to try to have this repaired. Nothing has been done to correct the problem. Now, the contact thinks that the vehicle may have been tampered with before he took ownership of the car. Suspension
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…