Brake complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 2 | 10% | 23,000 miles |
| 2008 | 6 | 10% | 30,000 miles |
| 2005 | 8 | 10% | 67,000 miles |
| 2004 | 12 | 23% | 95,000 miles |
| 2003 | 14 | 7% | 33,000 miles |
| 2002 | 24 | 5% | 43,000 miles |
| 2001 | 40 | 9% | 57,000 miles |
| 2000 | 67 | 14% | 36,000 miles |
| 1999 | 29 | 11% | 50,000 miles |
| 1998 | 29 | 15% | 85,000 miles |
| 1997 | 19 | 8% | 58,000 miles |
| 1996 | 20 | 7% | 96,000 miles |
| 1995 | 11 | 3% | 75,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Sable. The contact stated their daughter was driving at 55 mph, when the driver was approaching an intersection at a red light the driver depressed on the brake pedal and the brake pedal went straight to the floor and the vehicle could not stop causing the vehicle to hit the vehicle in front of them in the rear. The air bags did not deploy. The driver does not remember if there was any warning light illuminated on the vehicle. The crash caused damage to the front bumper and pushed in the front grill and hit the radiator of the vehicle. There were no injuries reported. A police report was filed. The contact was a former mechanic and inspected the vehicle but could not diagnose the failure, but was concern that there was an issue with anti- lock brake system. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. …
We were stopped behind traffic, and as we slowly started to proceed, the car surged at a high rate of speed, and as the brakes were applied, they either were not working or else it was the ABS coming on. This was a dry, sunny day-no moisture on the road-of course that would not have had a bearing on why the car surged/accelerated. Then the car shut itself off completely. We then got it started again, and nothing happened getting it back the aproxx. 4 miles back to home-all was normal after the incident all the way to home, though it has not been driven since. It has been reported to Ford hq's and to the dealership we purchased from.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Mercury Sable. While driving various speeds, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to stop as the rpms increased. The contact stated that the failure would occur occasionally. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but the failure could not be duplicated. The contact mentioned that the failure occurred prior to purchasing the vehicle. The contact requested that the dealer repair the vehicle before the sale was finalized, but the issue persisted. The contact was unaware of the repairs. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Purchase vehicle used in June of 2015, one repair after another. Owned 1yr and here are repairs that we have had to do: drain plug replaced, trans filter, additive & fluid, re-built transmission, fluid, replace rear brake shoes, replace valve cover gasket, oil pan gasket, EGR sensor. Cost incurred $3,275.20 way more than any car should have in one year! Anybody going to reimburse these expenses?
The brake light switch failed causing inability to get shift lever out of park mode. Brake lights stay on all the time or not come on at all. The problem was noted after parking in our garage and noticing the brake lights being on all the time. I discovered that turning the ignition switch to first indent that the shift lever can be placed in the neutral mode so engine can be started. In driving the car, the brake lights do not work. When stopping the car and shifting to the park mode, the shift lever cannot be taken out of the park mode without going through the sequence described above. There was a recall to repair this on the 2000-2004 sables (reference 04V106000), but Ford tells me the 2004 sables are not under recall although the 2004 models use the same defective brake light switch causing the exact problems as the 2000-2003 models.
The car will not come out of park, nor do the brake lights work and sometimes the brake lights stay on. There was a recall for this very issue. Recall #04s12 or 04V106000. However the recall stops at 2003. My vehicle has the same defective switch in it but Ford is refusing to replace it. They claim my vehicle was made a few days after the recall stopped. Well that doesn't make my brake pedal switch any safer. I'm being handed a line of crap by Ford. They installed a defective switch and have admitted its defective and wont fix mine because of a manufacture date. What court wouldn't prosecute Ford if I have a serious accident because of this defective switch that they know is defective but refuse to fix it.
My car is trying to kill me! I was driving at approximately 40 MPH, when I started to brake for a stop before turning . The car slowed down, as I held my foot on the brake, but suddenly the car started to accelerate. I already had my foot on the brake, and the brake held, but I had to take the car out of gear, and shut the engine off. The engine was racing at a speed I would estimate at 80 MPH. It was a frightening and dangerous experience. I checked to see if a floor mat was pressing on the gas pedal. It was not. The same incident happened on two more occasions. My mechanic has not found the problem. I no longer drive the car.
Consumer was concerned that brake pedal went to the floor intermittently when applied. Vehicle was to dealer on several occasions, and dealer was unable to locate the problem. Afterwards vehicle was involved in a crash because the brake pedal went to the floor while coming onto oncoming traffic. No injuries were reported. Vehicle was taken to the dealer, whoinformed the consumer that the problem was the master cylinder.
Related recalls (3)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Pedals and linkages
Certain passenger vehicles equipped with adjustable padels are being recalled in order to adjust the brake and accelerator pedals to a minimum of 50 mm of lateral separation. Simultaneous application of both the brake and accelerator pedals could result in an increase in engine RPM.
Remedy: Owners will be instructed as to the proper way to set the position of the pedals and to take their vehicles to a dealer to have the spacing between the brake and accelerator pedals measured.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Brake fluid low warning › Lamp
The brake system fluid level indicator lamp switch can malfunction. This does not comply with FMVSS no. 105, "hydraulic brake systems."
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake system fluid level indicator lamp switches.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Pedals and linkages
The retainer clip which holds the master cylinder push rod to the brake pedal arm is missing or not completely installed. The push rod can separate from the brake pedal arm.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, install the retainer clip.
NHTSA investigations
Brake/accelerator pedal application
Ms. Rodman reported that after her vehicle was inspected for the recall, her mother experienced a sudden acceleration and crashed the sable into a light pole.previously NHTSA had conducted an investigation for this issue (pe02-035) that resulted in the recall (02v-266) of 369,000 my 2000-2002 taurus and sable vehicles equipped with adjustable brake and accelerator pedals to insure that the separation between the…
Brake/accel pedal separation
Frequently asked questions
Which Mercury Sable years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2000 (67), 2001 (40), 1998 (29), 1999 (29) and 2002 (24) model years. Brake complaints make up 14% of all complaints for the 2000.
Is there a recall for Mercury Sable brake problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 02V-266 (pedals and linkages, Oct 2, 2002); 96V-016 (lamp, Jan 25, 1996); 94V-198 (pedals and linkages, Oct 11, 1994). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Mercury Sable brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 55,000 miles; 46% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (67 mentions), followed by the pedals and linkages (38).
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.