2003 MERCURY SABLE Complaints

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. *AK

NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO INCIDENT. WHENEVER IT RAINS, WATER LEAKS ONTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD. WATER ALSO LEAKS ONTO BLOWER MOTOR AND RESISTOR CAUSING FAILURE. CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURER DESIGN FLAW IN A PLASTIC COWLING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *NM

ON A 2003 MERCURY SABLE THE BLOWER MOTOR QUIT WORKING. FOR SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, WATER COULD BE HEARD SLOSHING AROUND UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND THE CARPETING BECAME WET. THE FAN MOTOR AND RESISTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF WATER DAMAGE. THE MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED IT TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT FORD IS AWARE OF IT. THE FAN MOTOR LITERALLY SITS IN A PUDDLE OF WATER. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO SPARKING WHICH COULD HAVE LED TO A FIRE. IT COST OVER $300 TO REPAIR. FORD MOTOR CO. IS AWARE OF THIS DESIGN DEFECT AND SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS.*JB

I OWN A 2003 MERCURY SABLE PLATINUM EDITION. I HAVE EXPERIENCED FOUR FLAT TIRES IN THE LAST YEAR WITH THIS VEHICLE (2/2005 TO 2/2006). THE FIRST THREE I HAD REPAIRED AT A LOCAL TIRE STORE, AS I WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE VEHICLE'S ALUMINUM WHEELS. IN EACH CASE THE WHEELS CORRODED AROUND THE SEALING BEAD, OR THE VALVE STEM CAUSING AN AIR LEAK. THE CORROSION OCCURS ON THE INTERIOR OF THE WHEEL, HIDDEN FROM SIGHT. THE ONLY CLUE IS WHEN THE TIRES BEGIN TO LOSE PRESSURE. THE FIRST FLAT TIRE OCCURRED IN FEBRUARY OF 2005. THE SECOND AND THIRD HAPPENED IN MARCH AND APRIL OF 2005 RESPECTIVELY. FINALLY THE THREE WHEELS THAT HAD BEEN REPAIRED AND THE FOURTH BEGAN LEAKING, AND IN SEPTEMBER 2005 I HAD ALL FOUR OF THE WHEELS REPAIRED AT A LOCAL FORD DEALER. IN DECEMBER OF 2005 I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE TIRE INFLATION PROBLEMS AGAIN, BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO ADMIT THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. CURRENTLY I AM FORCED TO CHECK MY TIRE PRESSURE DAILY, AND FILL THE TIRES EACH TWO TO THREE DAYS. THE LAST FLAT TIRE OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 23, 2006, BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TIRE FILLED BEFORE IT TOTALLY DEFLATED. PLEASE NOTE THIS VEHICLE (PLATINUM EDITION) COMES EQUIPPED WITH SPECIAL WHEELS NOT AVAILABLE ON THE NORMAL LS EDITION. I FEEL THAT THIS CONDITION IS HORRIBLY UNSAFE, AND AT THIS POINT I AM BEGINNING TO FEAR THAT THE VEHICLE WILL BECOME UNDRIVABLE.*JB

ABS ACTIVATED AFTER GOING OVER SEVERAL "BUMPS" IN A SERIES AND BRAKES APPLIED LIGHTLY. LIGHTLY BEING AS WHEN SLOWING DOWN IN TRAFFIC FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND STOPPING. ABS LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. HOWEVER, ABS LIGHT HAS SUBSEQUENTLY COME ON. ABS LIGHT DOES NOT NECESSARILY COME ON AGAIN THE NEXT TIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. ALSO THE BRAKES CAN APPEAR TO BE FINE UNTIL THE NEXT SERIES OF "BUMPS" IS ENCOUNTERED WHEN DRIVING. *NM

WATER COLLECTED IN THE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR CAUSING IT NEED REPALCEMENT. I HAVE HEARD THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. *NM

DT: CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD LIGHT UP AND THE RADIO WOULD GO OUT, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF. SHE PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT. SHE CONTACTED THE MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE TWO SENSORS ON THE VEHICLE. *AK THE MECHANIC STATED THE VEHICLE THINKS IT IS BEING STOLEN. THE VEHICLE IS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

DT: THE CONTACT STATED HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT SIDE REAR OF THE CAR BOTTOMING OUT WHEN HE HITTING A BUMP OR POTHOLE. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE RUBS THE FENDER WELL. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES TO TRY TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. NOW, THE CONTACT THINKS THAT THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE BEEN TAMPERED WITH BEFORE HE TOOK OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR. *AK

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR HAS NOT WORKED FOR AT LEAST 18 MONTHS- PART ON ORDER FOR AT LEAST THIS TIME. *NM

DT THE CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY STOPPING THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTPEMTED TO STOP, THE ENGINE STARTED TO RACE. *JB DEALER REPLACED IAC VALVE ASSEMBLY. *TT