Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 45 of 190 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
28 crash reports3 fire reports15 injury reports
What owners actually said
190 reports
80,926 miles · Jan 26, 2005
Suspension
WHILE THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER WAS BACKING THE CONSUMER CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE NOTICED A SCRAPING NOISE. TOW TRUCK DRIVER FOUND THAT THE COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE LEFT TIRE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FRONT…
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WHILE THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER WAS BACKING THE CONSUMER CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE NOTICED A SCRAPING NOISE. TOW TRUCK DRIVER FOUND THAT THE COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE LEFT TIRE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FRONT SPRINGS, STRUTS, SWAY BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TC
NHTSA ODI #10095112
94,950 miles · Dec 23, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
IN 1998 I PURCHASED A NEW MERCURY SABLE. STOPPING DISTANCE HAS BEEN INADEQUATE SINCE NEW. RETURNED TO DEALER 3 TIMES, CHECKED AND STATED EVERYTHING WAS FINE. IN PANIC STOPS IT FEELS AS IF ONLY THE REAR WHEELS ARE BRAKING. NOW, AFTER 95,000 MILES I HAVE CHANGED THE REAR BRAKE PADS 3 TIMES AND REAR ROTORS ONCE, BUT THE ORIGINAL FR…
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IN 1998 I PURCHASED A NEW MERCURY SABLE. STOPPING DISTANCE HAS BEEN INADEQUATE SINCE NEW. RETURNED TO DEALER 3 TIMES, CHECKED AND STATED EVERYTHING WAS FINE. IN PANIC STOPS IT FEELS AS IF ONLY THE REAR WHEELS ARE BRAKING. NOW, AFTER 95,000 MILES I HAVE CHANGED THE REAR BRAKE PADS 3 TIMES AND REAR ROTORS ONCE, BUT THE ORIGINAL FRONT PADS ARE STILL ON THE CAR - JUST NOW NEEDING REPLACEMENT. FRONT ROTORS EXCELLENT - NO OUTER RIDGE. OBVIOUSLY, FRONT BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING EFFECTIVELY - NORMALLY FRONT BRAKES PROVIDE ABOUT 60% OF BRAKING POWER. ON NOVEMBER 19 2004 I REAR-ENDED ANOTHER CAR IN A CHAIN-REACTION PANIC STOP. BODY DAMAGE IS NOW REPAIRED, BUT I HESITATE TO PUT IT BACK IN SERVICE WITHOUT DETERMINING AND REPAIRING THE BRAKE PROBLEM THAT HAS EXISTED SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. I WROTE FORD ABOUT THE PROBLEM YEARS AGO BUT RECEIVED NO ANSWER. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO RECORD THAT I EVER COMPLAINED ABOUT INADEQUATE BRAKING. CAR WAS CHECKED AT BRAKEMASTERS, BUT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. WITH MILLIONS OF SABLES AND TAURUSES BUILT BY FORD, I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE THE ONLY CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM. I WONDER HOW MANY OF THESE CARS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN REAR-END COLLISIONS WITH THE OWNERS NEVER REALIZING THAT THEY HAD A BRAKING PROBLEM? I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE FRONT BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING, SO I CAN REPAIR THE PROBLEM!*AK
NHTSA ODI #10104410
Mileage unknown · Dec 23, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
IN 1998 I PURCHASED A NEW MERCURY SABLE. STOPPING DISTANCE HAS BEEN INADEQUATE SINCE NEW. RETURNED TO DEALER 3 TIMES, CHECKED AND STATED EVERYTHING WAS FINE. IN PANIC STOPS IT FEELS AS IF ONLY THE REAR WHEELS ARE BRAKING. NOW, AFTER 95,000 MILES I HAVE CHANGED THE REAR BRAKE PADS 3 TIMES AND REAR ROTORS ONCE, BUT THE ORIGINAL…
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IN 1998 I PURCHASED A NEW MERCURY SABLE. STOPPING DISTANCE HAS BEEN INADEQUATE SINCE NEW. RETURNED TO DEALER 3 TIMES, CHECKED AND STATED EVERYTHING WAS FINE. IN PANIC STOPS IT FEELS AS IF ONLY THE REAR WHEELS ARE BRAKING. NOW, AFTER 95,000 MILES I HAVE CHANGED THE REAR BRAKE PADS 3 TIMES AND REAR ROTORS ONCE, BUT THE ORIGINAL FRONT PADS ARE STILL ON THE CAR - JUST NOW NEEDING REPLACEMENT. FRONT ROTORS EXCELLENT - NO OUTER RIDGE. OBVIOUSLY, FRONT BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING EFFECTIVELY - NORMALLY FRONT BRAKES PROVIDE ABOUT 60& OF BRAKING POWER. ON NOVEMBER 19 I REAR-ENDED ANOTHER CAR IN A CHAIN-REACTION PANIC STOP. BODY DAMAGE IS NOW REPAIRED, BUT I HESITATE TO PUT IT BACK IN SERVICE WITHOUT DETERMINING AND REPAIRING THE BRAKE PROBLEM THAT HAS EXISTED SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. I WROTE FORD ABOUT THE PROBLEM YEARS AGO BUT RECEIVED NO ANSWER. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO RECORD THAT I EVER COMPLAINED ABOUT INADEQUATE BRAKING. CAR WAS CHECKED AT BRAKEMASTERS, BUT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. WITH MILLIONS OF SABLES AND TAURUSES BUILT BY FORD, I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE THE ONLY CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM. I WONDER HOW MANY OF THESE CARS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN REAR-END COLLISIONS WITH THE OWNERS NEVER REALIZING THAT THEY HAD A BRAKING PROBLEM? *AK
NHTSA ODI #10104369
91,000 miles · Dec 17, 2004
Visibility
THE CABIN AIR FILTER EQUIPMENT LEAKS RAINWATER INTO THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS CREATES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF MOISTURE IN THE VEHICLE, HENCE CAUSING EXCESSIVE FOGGING OF THE WINDOW GLASS, OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD, PRESENTING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR COLLISION DUE TO REDUCED VISIBILITY. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10104017
91,000 miles · Oct 6, 2004
Suspension
WHILE PARKED FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE TIRE WAS PUNCTURED. ONE MONTH LATER, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FAILED. *AK CONSUMER DOESN'T KNOW IF FIRST FAILURE WAS OCCURRED WHILE PARKED OR WHILE MOVING IT OUT OF 3FT OF SNOW. CONSUMER COULDN'T SEE IT UNTIL MOVED FROM SNOW, 2ND FAILURE OCCURRED IN THE PAR…
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WHILE PARKED FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE TIRE WAS PUNCTURED. ONE MONTH LATER, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FAILED. *AK CONSUMER DOESN'T KNOW IF FIRST FAILURE WAS OCCURRED WHILE PARKED OR WHILE MOVING IT OUT OF 3FT OF SNOW. CONSUMER COULDN'T SEE IT UNTIL MOVED FROM SNOW, 2ND FAILURE OCCURRED IN THE PARKING LOT. BOTH TIMES IT RIPPED A 12' WHOLE IN THE TIRE. CONSUMER NEIGHBOR ALSO HAS THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE AND THE SAME PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE BOTH COIL SPRINGS AND TIRES.*SB
NHTSA ODI #10095175
Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2004
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
CONSUMER PRESSED DOWN ON ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. INTERNAL FAILURE. HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10091730
Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2004
Suspension
WHILE DRIVING LEFT SPRING POPPED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE, CAUSING IT TO BLOW OUT. ONE YEAR LATER THE SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED WITH THE RIGHT SIDE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10087889
92,000 miles · Aug 6, 2004
Suspension
RECALL 04V332000 CONCERNING FRONT COIL SPRINGS FAILURE. DEALERSHIP DID NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10087366
89,000 miles · Aug 5, 2004
Air BagsElectrical SystemPower Train
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OVERDRIVE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THIS CAUSED THE SPEEDOMETER TO DROP TO ZERO, AND THE SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. ALSO, HORN BECAME INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10087325
54,000 miles · Jul 20, 2004
Suspension
CAR SET IN DRIVEWAY AND LEFT FRONT SPRING BROKE. *LA
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL SEAT TRACKS. THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ATTACHING STUD MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED. THIS HEAT TREATMENT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN CRACKS DEVELOPING IN THE STUD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE STUD IS CRACKED, IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MOUNTING BRACKET AND STUD ASSEMBLY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TEXT AND/OR GRAPHICS FOR THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONFUSED BY THE AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS TO BE IMPROPERLY AIMED.
Remedy: OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Defect investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.
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