Complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | vs. typical* | Recalls | Top problem | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 20 | −91% | — | Acceleration | Good |
| 2008 | 61 | −76% | 1 | Steering | Good |
| 2005 | 83 | −72% | — | Acceleration | Good |
| 2004 | 52 | −86% | 1 | Acceleration | Good |
| 2003 | 201 | −37% | 3 | Suspension | Average |
| 2002 | 440 | 1.8× | 3 | Suspension | Caution |
| 2001 | 430 | 1.8× | 8 | Suspension | Caution |
| 2000 | 464 | 2.1× | 7 | Suspension | Avoid |
| 1999 | 258 | 1.2× | 5 | Suspension | Average |
| 1998 | 190 | −21% | 2 | Acceleration | Average |
| 1997 | 228 | typical | 3 | Transmission | Average |
| 1996 | 304 | 1.5× | 5 | Transmission | Caution |
| 1995 | 350 | 1.7× | 5 | Engine | Caution |
* Complaints compared with the median Sable year at the same age, so new and old years are judged fairly. How this works.
Most common Mercury Sable problems
Latest Mercury Sable recalls
Air bags › Frontal
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016.
Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs
On certain passenger vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the…
Remedy: Dealers will install protective spring shields. In addition, Ford is extending the warranty coverage of the front coil springs in all other states, for fracture only, up to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles,…
Seats › Front assembly › Power adjust
Certain passenger vehicles equipped with power adjustable seats May have been inadequately welded.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the upper support assembly on the power seats. The recall began on July 20, 2004. Owners should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Exterior lighting › Brake lights › Switch
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.
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.
Engine and engine cooling
On certain vehicles, the air filter paper in these vehicles can smolder or burn.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the air filter element. Owner notification began on March 10, 2004. Owners should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Frequently asked questions
What years of the Mercury Sable should you avoid?
2000, 2001, 2002, 1995 and 1996 — these years have the most complaints relative to other Sable years at the same age, led by suspension problems in the 2000.
What is the best year for the Mercury Sable?
2009 has the fewest complaints compared with other Sable years at the same age, followed by 2004 and 2008. Newer years can look better simply because fewer complaints have come in yet, so we compare like with like.
What are the most common Mercury Sable problems?
Across all years, owners report the most problems with the suspension (784), transmission & drivetrain (416) and engine & cooling (410). Suspension complaints peak in the 2002 model year.
How many recalls has the Mercury Sable had?
30 recalls across 1995–2009. The model year with the most is 2001. See all Mercury Sable recalls by year.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.