Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Mercury Sable owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl contact owns a 2001 Mercury Sable. The contact stated that there is a recall on the brake wire assembly (recall number 04s12). The recall repair was performed and the wire layover stopped at the steering knuckle. The wires were squeezed together at the top, which caused a fire and skewed the wires together at the harness. The recall was created to correct this failure. The wires became a fire hazard and the vehicle caught fire. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they informed him that the repair would be his responsibility. The manufacturer stated that they would not honor the repair. The vehicle is currently at the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 66,000.
For over ten (10) years the headlights (but not the side driving lights) have been going off (for about 3 minutes) and then coming back on. This does not occur every time the lights come on and seems to be more frequent in the summer time when it is warm or hot outside. The date below is just approximately when this problem started and is not the only date/'time it has occurred, it has occurred sporadically but continuously since that date.
Dt*: the contact stated there were two problems with the vehicle. The first being the engine would not start intermittently. The engine would start if it was boosted. The vehicle was taken to the local independent repair shop for inspection. The repair personnel discovered the battery cables had separated from the terminals. The cables were repaired. The second was a transmission failure. The transmission was shifted into park and the vehicle lurched forward. After this incident, the vehicle would not go into any gear. The vehicle was towed to the local repair shop for inspection. The transmission was rebuilt and the vehicle drives normal. The front bumper fascia cracked. The left rear tire failed. Updated 03/03/06.
While driving with my lights on, the lights in the dash went out. Then after 10 to 15 minutes, the lights came back again. This happened quite frequently. The car was taken to the dealer on 11/24/2003 and the dealer said that he fixed it but the lights in the dash kept going of and on occationally. The lights in the dash went off completely in October 2004. Took the car to the dealer again and the dealer said that it was a defective switch and replaced it on 11/24/2004. The same night the lights in the dash went out. I will be taking this car to the dealer again on the 5th of December.
Dt: the contact states on occasion when he puts on the brakes instead of braking the car will accelerate and the engine will rev. Has to stomp on the brakes, turn off the ignition and/or put the car in neutral to get it to stop. The contact noticed this just after purchasing the car in June. It has gotten progressively worse. Vehicle is a 2001 Mercury Sable. The dealer cannot duplicate the problem. He has not talked to the manufacturer. The cigarette lighter was inoperative, the fuse was replaced.
Tl* - the contact owns a 2001 Mercury Sable. The rear coil springs cracked on the vehicle the contact stated the tires were leaking air, and the rear driver and passenger tires were resealed. While repairing the tire the mechanic noticed the rear coil springs were cracked. The contact also stated that the lights on the dashboard will not turn on until 20 minutes after the vehicle has been started. He was unable to view the speed on the speedometer and other gauges. Updated 02/27/07.
There was a recall on my car back in mar 02 2004 (Ford recall number 04s12) for an exterior lighting:brake lights:switch, which was (according to Ford) done jan 10 2005. I had failed again on 11/15/2012 leaving me without brake lights and not being able to get it out of park. Had to put it in neutral first before I started my car so I could drive it to get fixed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Mercury Sable. The contact stated that the alarm system and interior lights would activate independently and recurringly. The vehicle was not taken for diagnosis or inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the incident. The approximate failure mileage was 189,000.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Mercury Sable. The vehicle is experiencing electrical system failure. Whenever it rains, the fuse box on the driver's side door gets wet. The interior lights remain illuminated in the passenger compartment. The current mileage was 113,754 and failure mileage was 113,700.
Re:previous repair ted russell invoice # f1cs560238 dated: 1/19/2007 malfunctions that started February 28, 2007 are same as previously stated in referenced invoice as follows: 1)climate control blows hot air while on fresh air and ac 2)coolant light comes on; this usually happens with the malfunction of the ac control system referenced above. I can stop the car, turn everything off and in 15 seconds restart and light goes off. The coolant light will stay off as long as I keep the climate control off however; when driving for a distance (I.e. 30 miles) and then multiple start / stops in traffic the light will come on if I am running the climate control. Until the recent malfunction of the climate control Wednesday night (2/28/07) this coolant light has not come on since last repair to climate control. For information, the conditions outside were approximately 66 f. …
Electrical complaints in other Sable years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2001 Mercury Sable?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the electrical system of the 2001 Mercury Sable, 6% of the model year's 430 complaints. The component named most often is wiring › interior/under dash (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Mercury Sable electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2001 Mercury Sable, though it has 8 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2001 Mercury Sable electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 2 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system 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.