Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Mercury Sable owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns 2000 Mercury Sable. The contact stated the vehicle had an adjustable pedal. The contact stated when grease from the brake pedal was on the brake light switch, it burned out. When the brake warning light illuminated on the instrument panel the brake light failed to work. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA recall campaign id number: 01V078000 (exterior lighting: tail lights: switch), but the failure continued to occur and had to be replaced five times since the recall repair. The current mileage was 220,000.
1 brake lights fail not covered under recall 1 year ago due to listing was taillight. Brake light switch will not let you shift the car. Has to be checked dayly. 2 oil leaks cause smoke will cost over $300 dollars to fix. 3. Service flashes are not covered. 10 to 15 miles per gallon. Causes pining nosie. 4. Defrost will cause wiring and A/C to smoke. Cause keyless remote car system to stop working. 5. Foot gets caught in brake and gas petal. Checked under recall by a new tech. Checked OK. 6.transmission will cause car to jump back and forward when in park. From a falty valve body. 0.dealer replaced electrical under warntee
I have a fully loaded 2000 Mercury Sable ls that has a major problem. The car has automatic on headlights and driving lights. Sometimes when I am driving down the road the headlights go out. Strange, the parking lights stay on but no headlights. This morning I had to pull off the highway and almost got hit by a rock truck. Turn the car off and on and they come back on. Also, sometimes when you manually turn the switch they will come back on. This could result in a major incident if this would happen when I'm driving along a 70 MPH on the interstate and the lights went out. This has been happening for about 3 months now.
Consumer is unable to take vehicle out of park with engine running. The vehicle had to be turned off to be taken out of park. Vehicle is then put into neutral and started. The dealership indicated that, "this is a common problem with these vehicle", and provided a temporary remedy. The brake switch was covered in grease and caused the brake lights not to work. The dealer indicated that the switch was in a bad location and that it would probably fail again. The consumer believes the manufacturer should be responsible for the repair and that they should recall the vehicle.
Complaint regarding the way recall repair was performed on vehicle. The consumer had experienced the same problems issued in the recall for brake lights and the dealership stated that the recall had expired on there vehicle and it was out dated. The consumer was very dissatisfied with the dealership assistance because repairs had not been made to ensure the safety ness of the vehicle. Please respond promptly in resolving matters.
The back brake lights are not working again. (4th time) also, the car will not move out of park after you start the car. I know these two problems are related to the brake switch. This item has been (replaced) two other times. I am putting the powers that be on notice that if I am in a crash because of this safety issue, I am responsible for it. Also, there is some sort of electrical problem that will keep the car for starting.
Dt*: the contact stated the interior light in the cab of the vehicle remained illuminated. One end of the bulb was disconnected to save the battery. Also, the interior locks worked erratically. Sometimes the locks locked immediately after the vehicle has been started and other times it could be 15 minutes or longer before it would lock. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer nor the manufacturer was not alerted.
On three occasions over past few weeks, my headlights have gone out while driving at night. They both turn off for 1-3 seconds, and then turn back on. All other lights (interior instrument lights, and exterior parking lights) remain on. I did not hit any bumps or have any other shaking that would indicate a loose wire. This was both headlights, so I do not expect a loose bulb or single wire.
While driving, another motorist informed the consumer the brake lights on the vehicle stayed on all the time and other motorists were unable to tell when the consumer was actually braking. The dealer replaced the brake light switch. Examination of the switch showed a small plastic nub which held contacts open wore down and allowed contacts to stay closed all the time.
Upon starting the vehicle, it would not shift out of park. There were no brake lights. The consumer stated that he turned the key to first click, he pressed the gear shifter down and shifted the gears. The gas station replaced the brake light switch. The brake switch was replaced once before per Mercury division recall in March, 2001.
Related recalls
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.
Exterior lighting › Headlights › Switch
Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles. Due to the use of incorrect material by a supplier, the headlamp switch knob can fracture and separate from the headlamp switch.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the headlamp switch knob. Owner notification began April 9, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…
Exterior lighting › Tail lights › Switch
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with adjustable pedals. If the grease from the adjustable pedal assembly enters the stop lamp switch, it can contaminate the contacts leading to carbon build up, and potentially, a short circuit.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake lamp switch and wipe down the adjustable pedal assembly to remove excess grease. Owner notification began March 22, 2001.
NHTSA investigations
Brake light switch failure
Ford conducted a recall in March, 2001 to correct a defect affecting the brake light switch in my 2000 through early-2001 taurus and sable vehicles equipped with power adjustable pedals (recall 01v-078).rq03-008 was opened to investigate complaints concerning the remedy and scope of 01v-078.odi's analysis identified concerns with post-repair failures in recalled vehicles,failures in my 2001-02 vehicles with…
Headlight complaints in other Sable years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2000 Mercury Sable?
NHTSA has 56 complaints about the lights of the 2000 Mercury Sable, 12% of the model year's 464 complaints. The component named most often is brake lights › switch (19 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Mercury Sable headlight problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 04V-106 (switch, Mar 2, 2004); NHTSA recall 01V-075 (switch, Mar 12, 2001); NHTSA recall 01V-078 (switch, Mar 12, 2001). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2000 Mercury Sable headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 40,000 miles, and 30% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to lights problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.