2003 MERCURY SABLE Complaints

ON JUNE 11, MY MOTHER WAS INVOLVED IN A FENDER BENDER IN TRAFFIC. WHEN SHE PULLED OUT OF TRAFFIC INTO A SHOPPING PLAZA SHE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED INSTEAD OF BRAKING. HER 2003 MERCURY SABLE WAGON SPUN AROUND AND CRASHED FIRST INTO A HUGE CEMENT LAMPOST, THEN PROCEEDED TO RUN OVER TWO SHRUBS AND A TREE WHERE THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DID NOT, EVEN THOUGH THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS TOTALLY DEMOLISHED. ALTHOUGH MY MOTHER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, THE LACK OF THE AIR BAG GOING OFF RESULTED IN MY MOTHER SNAPPING FORWARD RESULTING IN A SPINAL CORD INJURY TO THE NECK AND PARALYSIS FROM THE CHEST DOWN- A C6 INJURY. SINCE THE CAR WAS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE THAT THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. THERE MUST BE SOME DEFECT WITH THAT MODEL AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE ELSE SUFFERS AND ENDS UP PARALYZED. THE AUTO BODY SHOP STATED THAT THEY'D SEEN OTHER FORD CARS IN TOTAL COLLISIONS THAT ALSO DIDN'T HAVE THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG GO OFF. HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE TO DO WITH THE SENSORS. EITHER WAY, THE PRODUCT ISN'T WORKING. *JB

2003 MERCURY SABLE STATION WAGON RAN OFF THE ROAD INTO A STONE LINED DITCH. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT.*MR..... ON APRIL1, 2005 WHILE DRIVING WITHIN THE SPEED LIMIT VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD INTO A ROCK LINED DITCH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO INFLATE. DRIVER SUSTAINED CHEST PAINS AND NUMEROUS BURNS. DRIVER WAS IN PAIN FOR ABOUT 4 WEEKS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, HOWEVER, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK *SC THE VEHICLE WAS SENT 10-15 FEET INTO A DITCH. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD BROKEN OFF ALL OF IT'S MOUNTINGS AND SHIFTED 3 INCHES. *SC *JB

CONTACT STATES: WHILE DRIVING WITH PASSENGERS, CHILD SAFETY SEAT WITH PASSENGER IN TOW PULLED THE SEATBELT ACROSS HERSELF. THIS BECAME ENTANGLED AROUND THE PASSENGERS NECK CAUSING GREAT DISCOMFORT. CONCERNED OCCUPENTS TRY TO FREE AND DISENGAGE SEAT BELT ATTACHMENT WITH EVERY EFFORT THE SEAT BELT BECOMES TIGHTER AND SLACK IS DISAPPEARING CHOKING THE CHILD. FORTUNATELY THE CHILD WAS FREED WITH THE HELP OF A POCKET KNIFE, CHILD HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF THE RESTRAINT. CHILD SUBSTAINED DEEP TISSUE BRUISING AS DIAGNOSED BY DOCTOR. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE SEAT BELT.

2003 MERCURY SABLE BLOWER MOTOR INOPERABLE. OCCURRED IN JANUARY AS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE. MOTOR FAILED COMPLETELY IN MAR 2005. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED EFFECTIVE 7/16/2004 STATES: 2001-2004 TAURUS/SABLE: WATER IN BLOWER CASE-BLOWER MOTOR/RESISTOR FAILURE-VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN 5/1/2003 TO 12/15/2003. SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT WATER IN BLOWER CASE, RESULTING IN LEAKAGE TO INTERIOR PASSENGER FLOOR. INSPECT AND SEAL COWL AREA AND INSTALL RAIN-HAT. INSPECT AND REPLACE BLOWER MOTOR. THE BLOWER MOTOR WAS REPLACED AS WAS THE RESISTOR. THE COWL LEAK IS NOT ON RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT CAUSES SIGNIFICANT WATER DAMGE TO ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND INTERIOR PASSENGER SPACE. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND SHOULD NOT BE THE BURDEN OF THE CONSUMER.

WHEN STOPPING ON AN INCLINE FOR A LIGHT OR SIGN WITH FOOT ON BRAKES VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS WHEN FOOT WAS TAKEN OFF THE BRAKES TO ACCELERATE. WOULD EITHER DEPRESS THE BRAKES AGAIN OR ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO KEEP VEHICLE FROM HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE BEHIND. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIPS BUT MECHANIC DID NOT NOTICE OR FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED AT LEAST 6 TIMES BEFORE.*AK

2003 MERCURY SABLE HAS PROBLEMS WITH HEATER FAN EQUIPMENT.*MR THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER WATER LEAKED INTO THE BLOWER MOTOR AND DESTROYED IT. WATER ALSO LEAKED INTO THE COMPARTMENT CABIN FILTER. A NEWLY DESIGNED COWL PIECE WAS INSTALLED THAT WOULD PREVENT WATER FROM LEAKING INTO THE FAN. *JB

WHILE DRIVING IN HIGH SPEEDS CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD CLANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP COMPLETELY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK THERE WAS A GAS SMELL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, A STEERING VIBRATION AND THE OIL PAN GASKET WAS REPLACED. *JB

WHILE TURNING RIGHT INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE SUDDENNLY ACCELERATED, JUMPED A CONCRETE WHEEL BARRIER AND SCRAPED A POST. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY. THE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM