2002 Mercury Sable problems
The 2002 Mercury Sable has 541 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (50%) concerns suspension. Next are cruise control (10%) and wipers, windshield & visibility (5%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 541 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Suspension 50% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 39 and 5
- Injuries and deaths
- 25 and 2
- Typical mileage
- 76,000 miles 440 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 25 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 45 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 76 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 92 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 98 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 52 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 26 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 12 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 7 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 4 |
| 200k+ miles | 3 |
What the data shows
Of the 440 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 76,000 miles. For suspension specifically, the median reported mileage is about 82,000 miles (253 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 39 complaints mention a crash; 5 complaints mention a fire; 25 injuries reported; 2 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2002 ranks 7th most-complained-about out of 18 model years of the Mercury Sable with enough data (218 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While driving a tractor trailer jumped in front of consumer's vehicle. Driver applied the brakes and the pedal went to the floor. Driver lost control of the vehicle and slid underneath tractor trailer. The driver's side airbag did not deploy, but the passenger's side air bag did deploy. Driver sustained head injuries and died thirty minutes later.
For about five months there has been a fuel smell entering the passenger cabin. About two weeks ago the vehicle blew up and burned the driver. The fire was extinguished by the fire department.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 mercury sable. While the tires were being rotated, the contact was informed that the rear springs had failed and punctured the rear tires. The mechanic stated that this should not have occurred on a vehicle of this year, make, and model. There was a recall for the front springs on the 1999 and 2001 models. The dealer stated that nothing could be done since the VIN was not related to the recalls.
On 2/6/2017 my 2002 mercury sable wagon with 63512 miles on it the front spring broke tore the inside of tire apart not sure what else was damaged at this point . My car being in very good condition not your typical n.y rust not a issue this is a very dangerous design defect.