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2003 Mercury SableProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 201 owner complaints about the 2003 Mercury Sable, most often about the suspension. It is covered by 3 safety recalls.

2003 Mercury Sable
54
CarFlaw IndexSolid year13% below the Sable median · #15 of 22 years by complaints
Safety recalls3Free fix at dealersOwner complaints20122 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage75kSuspension, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through March 13, 2023. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2003 Mercury Sable has problems

201 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Suspension470
Power train300
Vehicle speed control280
Structure202
Engine and engine cooling190
Visibility180
Exterior lighting120
Service brakes, hydraulic112
Electrical system100
15 other systems4512

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

3 recalls

2003 Mercury Sable recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Engine and engine cooling

Recall 04V-105 · Mar 2, 2004 · 399,926 vehicles

Risk. THIS CAN LEAD TO DAMAGE TO THE AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM ON THESE VEHICLES AND/OR AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Brake lights: switch

Recall 04V-106 · Mar 2, 2004 · 938,789 vehicles

Risk. IN ADDITION, IF THE SWITCH AND/OR ASSOCIATED WIRING FAIL IN THE OPEN POSITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT ACTUATE AND THE DRIVER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT THE…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Visibility: windshield

Recall 03V-087 · Mar 10, 2003 · 67,894 vehicles

Risk. POTENTIAL LOSS OF WINDSHIELD RETENTION MAY ALSO REDUCE OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Mercury.

Mileage at failure

When do suspension problems start?

75kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 41 suspension complaints. 76% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
1under 30k miles31under 100k miles10100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2003 vs. every other Sable year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sable median. How we score

'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'08'09
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2003 Mercury Sable safety ratings

2003 Mercury Sable 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
4 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2003 Mercury Sable, and the recalls they led to.

  1. ENGINE STALLING FFVDP06005 · closed Dec 28, 2007
    No recall
  2. Front Suspension Coil Spring FractureEA08018 · closed Jun 30, 2011
    No recall
  3. Speed control cable damagePE12033 · closed Jun 26, 2013
    No recall
  4. BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILURERQ03008 · closed Mar 5, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-106
In owners' words

What Sable owners report

Recent suspension complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

ORIGINALLY, 2 DAYS PRIOR, CAR FELT LIKE I WAS DRAGGING SOMETHING UNDERNEATH. GOT OUT AND LOOKED AROUND CAR, DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. LEFT CAR FOR 2 DAYS, THEN STARTED TO HEAD TO WORK. WAS GOING ONLY ABOUT 20MPH WHEN SMOKE POURED OUT FROM UNDER MY CAR. A MOMENT LATER MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW.…
Complaint 10701460 · Mar 24, 2015 · 105,000 miles
2003 MERCURY SABLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FRONT SPRING BROKE AND SLASHED TIRE WHICH CAUSED AN IMMEDIATE FLAT TIRE. *SMD
Complaint 10578720 · Apr 14, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED DUE TO A FRACTURED COIL SPRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE…
Complaint 10561182 · Jan 23, 2014 · 91,000 miles

Own a 2003 Sable?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.