Mercury Sable complaints by model year
5,381 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 61 | 8 | 3 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | 83 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | 52 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 2003 | 201 | 13 | 1 | 3 |
| 2002 | 440 | 32 | 5 | 3 |
| 2001 | 430 | 32 | 7 | 8 |
| 2000 | 464 | 34 | 8 | 7 |
| 1999 | 258 | 22 | 4 | 5 |
| 1998 | 190 | 28 | 3 | 2 |
| 1997 | 228 | 10 | 5 | 3 |
| 1996 | 304 | 20 | 10 | 5 |
| 1995 | 350 | 11 | 14 | 5 |
| 1994 | 387 | 16 | 9 | 4 |
| 1993 | 674 | 21 | 7 | 6 |
| 1992 | 364 | 12 | 7 | 4 |
| 1991 | 221 | 11 | 9 | 4 |
| 1990 | 166 | 13 | 19 | 5 |
| 1989 | 238 | 13 | 64 | 6 |
| 1988 | 126 | 4 | 27 | 5 |
| 1987 | 76 | 3 | 7 | 8 |
| 1986 | 46 | 0 | 6 | 8 |
| 1984 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 1999–2009. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2008 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 48 | 158 | 204 | 239 | 47 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 16 | 71 | 61 | 56 | 28 | 15 | 38 | 1 | 10 | 5 |
| Service brakes | 29 | 66 | 39 | 24 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| Power train | 28 | 31 | 22 | 23 | 30 | 12 | 26 | 0 | 11 | 3 |
| Air bags | 17 | 33 | 27 | 24 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 22 | 25 | 23 | 20 | 19 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 7 | 23 | 26 | 17 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 7 | 54 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Mercury Sable recalls (46)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one Sable model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16V247000 | Apr 26, 2016 | Air Bag Second Stage may not Inflate Properly | 2008 | 84.3% |
| 04V332000 | Jul 15, 2004 | FORD/FRONT COIL SPRINGS | 1999, 2000, 2001 | — |
| 04V330000 | Jul 8, 2004 | FORD/POWER ADJUSTABLE SEAT | 2004 | — |
| 04V105000 | Mar 2, 2004 | FORD/AIR FILTER PAPER/FIRE | 2003 | — |
| 04V106000 | Mar 2, 2004 | FORD/BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH | 2000–2003 | — |
| 03V087000 | Mar 10, 2003 | FORD/FMVSS 212/WINDSHIELD MOUNTING | 2002, 2003 | — |
| 02V266000 | Oct 2, 2002 | FORD/BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL DISTANCE | 2000, 2001, 2002 | — |
| 01V390000 | Dec 21, 2001 | FORD/ENGINE COOLING FAN BEARING | 1995 | — |
| 01V258000 | Aug 8, 2001 | FORD/WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR COVER | 2000, 2001 | — |
| 01V144000 | Apr 27, 2001 | FORD/SEAT BELT BUCKLES | 2001 | — |
| 01V075000 | Mar 12, 2001 | FORD/HEADLAMP SWITCH | 2000 | — |
| 01V078000 | Mar 12, 2001 | FORD/FOOT PEDAL GREASE/STOP LAMPS | 2000, 2001 | — |
| 00V396000 | Nov 28, 2000 | FORD/FMVSS 225/CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHOR | 2001 | — |
| 00V242000 | Aug 24, 2000 | FORD/FMVSS 110/CERTIFICATION LABEL | 2000 | — |
| 00V240000 | Aug 24, 2000 | FORD/CHILD SAFETY SEAT ANCHOR LATCH | 2001 | — |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
Mercury Sable FAQ
How many recalls has the Mercury Sable had?
NHTSA lists 46 recall campaigns that cover at least one Mercury Sable model year from 1984 to 2009. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Mercury Sable year has the most complaints?
Among the last 15 model years with settled counts, the 2000 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (464) and the 2006 the fewest (1). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Mercury Sable problems?
Across the 1999–2009 model years, owners most often name the suspension, vehicle speed control, service brakes in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the Mercury Sable get?
EPA rates the 2009 Mercury Sable at 19 to 21 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.