Fuel System complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
We recently purchased a 2008 Mercury Sable . We love this car and all of the options it has to offer,but the vapor lock light comes on and stays on and spits and sputters when it does this. When we completely fill the car with gas it stays on full for days then it drops to the halfway mark and thats when the vapor lock light comes on and stays on till we fill it up 2 or 3 times.. Same problem as the Ford recall on 2008 mecury Sable for has just recalled. I would like the option to have my car looked at because I think it is the same problem with the other Ford makes of cars! Once the light comes on its likes it has flooded itself or something. But it is vernoticeable when driving.
On the above date - September 28, 2011, I became aware that the gas in the gas tank was moving around (sloshing) whenever the vehicle stopped or started moving from a dead stop. I contacted Ford customer relationship in florida and they were not helpful at all. I talked to them 3 different times - - -they couldn't tell me if there are baffles in the tank to prevent the sloshing - they didn't even know what a baffle was - -would not direct me to someone with more technical knowledge. Last contact was Thursday, oct. 13,2011, yesterday - - was on the phone 32 minutes with an individual who couldn't find the answer and wouldn't try to find someone who could give me an answer. A gas tank should not have a problem such as this in 39 months of ownership. Gas tanks don't "wear out" in this period of time. And I can't get any answers. There has been no accident or damage to this vehicle. …
Shortly after buying this car last year, the throttle body failed at speed (approx 55), causing the car to accelerate uncontrolled on a curvy 2 lane highway. Had to break very hard against the surging engine to slow, and turn off engine with key to get car to stop. Very scary. Very dangerous. The Ford dealer in kingston, ny, did not tell me this was a known problem! Towed, rented a car, and paid $420.00 to repair.
The engine suddenly quit running while cruising at 60 MPH in darkness on a heavily traveled congested 6 lane interstate highway. The time was 6:50 pm and there was no unusual weather. The car shook for a few seconds at the time of shut-down. I attributed the shake of the car to a loaded semi flat bed truck running in the next lane at approximately 65 MPH. We were at normal spacing between vehicles. There was neither contact with this truck nor any other vehicle. The incident occurred on i270 near bridgeton, mo. We merged onto mo 340 and continued coasting until we found a safe place to pull over to call for help. I tried to restart the engine several times while coasting, to no avail. While waiting for help to arrive, I tried to understand what May have caused the engine to quit running. The fuel tank registered one-half full. …
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle stalled while traveling at 5 MPH causing an accident. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle intermittently restarts after a few minutes, other times if May be up to an hour. It was towed once because it would not restart. This occurs more often when it's raining. The vehicle has been to the dealership five times. On one occasion the fuel pump and fuel injection sensor were replaced. On every other occasion the dealership could not duplicate the problem.
1. The hood closes apparently fine, it does not open if I try to, however keeps opening every 20 minutes after driving. I could not find the cause. 2. Very strong smell of gas keeps ocurring, no signs or drops or viisual leak puddle.
Intermittent fuel smell in passenger compartment over past year and a half. Had it checked and problem could not be identified as the fuel smell would not be present when brought in for service check. In December of 2010, fuel began pouring out from top of fuel tank and onto ground when engine was running. Problem discovered in plastic connection elbow at top of fuel pump which connects to fuel line above fuel tank at the pump. Elbow had a fine crack along the top and fuel would spray out when fuel pump was running. This was the original factory pump. Car was original with no history of collision or repairs in this area. I have retained the pump.
My car has been a terrible liability since day one,I am ahndicapped and on a permanent budget,,I need to get this looked at and my car taken care of soon,im scared I May soon end up on foot if these horrid issues rnt rectified,,I bought my car from first class cars in salt lake city utah,,ive asked 4 times to get it traded in,,much to my shock they wouldnt even talk to me,,please help me!my car reves at times then while sitting stil it wil try to drive without me pushing the excelirator,,im scared it gonna leap out amy hands soon,,im terirfied of it!!
Related recalls (1)
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles previously serviced under Ford service bulletin 97-17-9 from August 1997 through December 1997. These vehicles were inadvertenly equipped with an 18-gallon fuel tank rather than the 16-gallon as specified.
Remedy: Dealers will install the correct fuel tank.
NHTSA investigations
Engine stalling ffv
On October 11, 2006, public citizen petitioned odi to investigate reports of engine stalls caused by e85 fuel in certain model year (my) 2003 - 2005 Ford taurus flex-fuel vehicles (ffv). Odi's review of the petition and other available data found a low stall rate attributable to e-85 fueling and that the main concerns,prolonged engine start and rough idle during cold engine startup at winter temperatures, were…
Frequently asked questions
Which Mercury Sable years have fuel system problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1995 (19), 2001 (13), 1996 (10), 2000 (10) and 1997 (9) model years. Fuel System complaints make up 5% of all complaints for the 1995.
Is there a recall for Mercury Sable fuel system problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 98V-067 (tank assembly, Mar 25, 1998). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Mercury Sable fuel system problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 76,000 miles; 38% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the delivery › fuel pump (20 mentions), followed by the storage › tank assembly (18).
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.