2002 Mercury SABLE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
440 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 358 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs is the most frequently named component, appearing in 97 of 440 complaints (22.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 73 | 16.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 29 | 6.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 2.0% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 2.0% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 1.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 1.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs | 97 |
| Suspension:Front | 67 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 48 |
| Suspension | 45 |
| Suspension:Rear | 24 |
| Suspension:Rear:Springs:Coil Springs | 23 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 16 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 13 |
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 97; Suspension:Front: 67; Vehicle Speed Control: 48; Suspension: 45; Suspension:Rear: 24; Suspension:Rear:Springs:Coil Springs: 23; Air Bags:Frontal: 16; Visibility:Windshield: 13
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 24 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 55 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 97 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 101 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 69 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 24; 25,000 to 49,999: 55; 50,000 to 74,999: 97; 75,000 to 99,999: 101; 100,000 to 149,999: 69; 150,000 and above: 12
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (101). 82 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 21 |
| 2003 | 19 |
| 2004 | 33 |
| 2005 | 28 |
| 2006 | 28 |
| 2007 | 47 |
| 2008 | 59 |
| 2009 | 37 |
| 2010 | 49 |
| 2011 | 34 |
| 2012 | 28 |
| 2013 | 16 |
| 2014 | 12 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 11 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
2002: 21; 2003: 19; 2004: 33; 2005: 28; 2006: 28; 2007: 47; 2008: 59; 2009: 37; 2010: 49; 2011: 34; 2012: 28; 2013: 16; 2014: 12; 2015: 8; 2016: 11; 2017: 4; 2018: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 2
Pattern summary
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 73 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 29 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10015062 · 2003-04-02 (April 2, 2003)
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS THE PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015062 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018010 · 2003-05-01 (May 1, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ANOTHER VEHICLE APPLY HIS BRAKES IN FRONT OF HIM FORCING HIM TO HIT FROM BEHIND. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018010 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001303 · 2002-12-20 (December 20, 2002)
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO STATED THAT DEALER WAS CONTACT AND CAN'T FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001303 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002435 · 2003-01-09 (January 9, 2003)
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO STATED THAT DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THAT THEY STATED THAT THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. * NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002435 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057207 · 2004-01-30 (January 30, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING BRAKES PROCEEDED TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. AS A RESULT, DRIVER HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL. DEALER STATED THEAT BATTERY VOLTAGE WAS LOW. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 18,029 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057207 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10099954 · 2004-11-05 (November 5, 2004)
VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *BF THE THEFT LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS THE ABS LIGHT WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE IDLER AIR CONTROL WAS BAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TC WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED FOR THE THIRD TIME, THE ABS LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE, BUT THE BATTERY LIGHT ALONG WITH OTHER LIGHTS WHICH DISPLAYED PICTURES DID ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10099954 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10194085 · 2007-06-24 (June 24, 2007)
I DROVE FROM MY HOME TO OXON HILL, MD, A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES AND THE STEERING WAS BUMPY. WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION, I DID A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE TIRES AND NOTHING APPEARED UNUSUAL. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES, I RESUMED DRIVING. ABOUT 11 MILES LATER AT EXIT 15 (214/CENTRAL AVENUE EAST) ON 95/495 NORTHBOUND, THE SIDEWALL OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. I WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 65 MPH. I PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE AND LOOKED AT THE TIRE. THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL AND WAS APPROXIMATELY 3/…
Owner-reported narrative. 66,695 miles reported. Look up ODI 10194085 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10210885 · 2007-12-05 (December 5, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE COMING FROM BEHIND HER, JUMPED THE MEDIAN AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF HER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING AND FLOOR COLUMN COLLAPSED, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CRASH DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A SHOULDER HARNESS STRAIN, A FRACTURED STERNUM AND BRUISED RIBS. IN ADDITION, SHE SUSTAINED BRUISES TO HER RIGHT HAND AND LEFT FOOT. THE DRIVER OF THE ONCOMING VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10210885 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074365 · 2004-05-27 (May 27, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH IN CRUISE CONTROL THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED AND INSTALLED A NEW BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. *NM *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 14,456 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074365 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10081894 · 2004-07-14 (July 14, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OIL LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING. VEHICLE STALLED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING OFF THE HIGHWAY. CONSUMER THEN CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL WHICH INDICATED EMPTY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND STAYED THERE FOR 3 WEEKS BEFORE THEY INDICATED THAT ENGINE LOST ITS OIL. VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHO DID TSB 10007358 PRINT OUT THAT INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THESE VEHICLE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 10,297 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081894 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038238 · 2003-12-24 (December 24, 2003)
IN MARCH 2003 WHILE DRIVING 52 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WHERE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED, AND FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER STATED THAT FRONT AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *AK THE VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND IT'S EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH THE EGR VALVE AND FUEL PUMP. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038238 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071215 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
I BOUGHT MY CAR TWO MONTHS AGO AUGUST 10,2003, FROM HOODRIVER FORD MERCURY, AND SO FAR, IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP TWICE. WHILE I AM SITTING,IT DIES AND WILL NOT KEEP IDLING AFTER 5 MINUTES. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TWICE TO THE SHOP AT THE FORD DEALER, AND THEY HAVE ALREADY COST ME $48.00 ON MY FORD CREDIT CARD FOR A FUEL PUMP. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THEY PUT IN NEW SENSORS TOO. I DON'T WANT TO USE UP MY FULL WARRANTY IN A FEW MONTHS.... TWO DAYS AGO, I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY PUT IN FOUR OTHER PARTS WITH SOMETHING TO DO WITH LEAKING VALVES AND OR SOMETHI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10071215 at NHTSA ↗