There are 21 stored owner reports matching the powertrain & transmission leading-label group for the 2001 Mercury Sable in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 21 of 21 matching reports. The list controls page through the loaded reports only.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)TRANSMISSION ISSUES INCLUDED A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE WHEN FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL WIRING / FUNCTIONALITY CAUSED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO REV TO TO HIGH RPMS. WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL GEAR AND WAS FORCED TO JUMP FROM VEHICLE TO AVOID POTENTIALLY FATAL WRECK. BRAKE PADS BURNED THROUGH TO THE CALIPERS WHEN TRYING TO BRAKE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE BRAKES BEING DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE RMPS INCREASED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RELEASED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,133 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,136.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP, THE GEAR SHIFTER ENGAGED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE TRANS AXLE AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS NOT ENGAGING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 182,000.
UNABLE TO SHIFT 2001 MERCURY SABLE SEDAN OUT OF "PARK" GEAR/POSITION. IT SEEMS LIKE A SIMILAR ISSUE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 04V106000. THE MANUFACTURER (FORD) CLAIMS THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. *TT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE TWO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST BEING THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START INTERMITTENTLY. THE ENGINE WOULD START IF IT WAS BOOSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE REPAIR PERSONNEL DISCOVERED THE BATTERY CABLES HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TERMINALS. THE CABLES WERE REPAIRED. THE SECOND WAS A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AND THE VEHICLE DRIVES NORMAL. THE FRONT BUMPER FASCIA CRACKED. THE LEFT REAR TIRE FAILED. UPDATED 03/03/06. *JB
2001 MERCURY SABLE, 31,000 MILES. GOT INTO VEHICLE AFTER WORK,PUT INTO REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF PARKING SPOT, VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. TRANSMISSION FOUND TO HAVE FAILED-LOCKED INTO FORWARD GEAR. ALL GEAR SELECTOR POSITIONS ARE NOW FORWARD INCLUDING NEUTRAL AND REVERSE. DEALER AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY NOTIFIED OF SITUATION. TRANSMISSION TO BE REPLACED. OLD TRANSMISSION MAY BE AVAILABLE AFTER WORK IS COMPLETE. I AM DISSATISFIED WITH FORD'S RESPONSE TO THIS ISSUE, BOTH FINANCIALLY AND THE LACK OF CONCERN FROM THE SAFETY ISSUE THIS COULD CREATE.*JB
MERCURY SABLE 2001 SEDAN, 47,300 MILES, BOTH FRONT AXLE SEALS WARPED. THIS WAS DISCOVERED DURING AN OIL CHANGE WHEN THE CAR WAS ON A LIFT. MANY OTHER CONSUMERS MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THIS MAY BE OCCURRING IN THEIR CARS. ICALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER AND THEY WOULD NOT WARRANTY BEYOND 36,000 MILES. ITHE CONSUMER TOLD THEM THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE PRINTED OWNER'S MANUAL CONCERNING EXTENDED DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY. THEY SHOULD NOT BE FAILING AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. IT MAY LEAD TO SERIOUS PROBLEMS, AND CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX THIS-- THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *NM
VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD. TRANSMISSION POPPED INTO GEAR ON ITS OWN. THE RPMS ACCELERATED, THEN VEHICLE WOULD STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE, AND COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR INDICATOR WAS MISSING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONSUMER DID KNOW WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS IN. *AK *JB
THE TRANSMISSION WOULD LOCK IN PARK AND DISENGAGE AT 40K, A SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THEN AT 49K THE TRANSMISSION BLEW WHILE DRIVING (INTERNAL). POOR TRANSMISSION ENGINEERING. I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD/MERCURY. *JB
TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AT 67,500 MILES. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 44000 MILES WITHOUT ANY NOTICE AT ALL. THIS CAR IS TWO YEARS OLD AND JUST OUT OF THE WARRANTY. FORD WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THERE IS SOMETHING VERY WRONG ABOUT THIS!!!
WHEN THE GEAR WAS SWITCHED FROM PARK TO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *JB..*AK
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. CAUSE OF PROBLEM STILL UNKNOWN. TS
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN BREAKING THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD WITH NO WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED TS
MY MERCURY SABLE 2001 LS WAGON TRANSMISSION FAILED IN MAY 2002 (25 K MILES). AT THAT TIME FORD VOIDED MY WARRANTY SAYING I HAD ABUSED THE CAR (DRAG RACING). I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY A TRANSMISSION SPECIALTY SHOP, COST $3,000). THAT TRANSMISSION FAILED IN MAY 2004 (52K MILES) AND WAS REBUILT BY AAMCO TRANSMISSIONS (COST $2,200). THAT TRANSMISSION FAILED DECEMBER 2006 (78K MILES). IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR TRANSMISSION REPAIR. IN JULY 2002 I HAD INITIATED AN INDEPENDENT REPORT DONE ON THE CAR, THERE IS A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION DESIGN. MY COST FOR TRANSMISSION REPAIRS IS IN EXCESS OF $5,000 PRIOR TO THIS LATEST TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *NM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
TRANSMISSION FITTING NOT SECURED CAUSING LOSE OF FLUID, TRANSMISSION TO SLIP WITH SUDDEN RAPID ACCELERATION RESULTING. CAUSING VERY NEAR MISS WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. GROSS NEGLIGENCE , NO EVIDENCE OF SAFETY INSPECTION HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED 35 MILES BECAUSE IT WAS UNDRIVABLE, CAR ONLY 4 DAYS OLD. DEALER CLAIMS NEGLIGENCE DUE TO FACTORY ERROR.
I PURCHASED A 2001 MERCURY SABLE, I TOOK THE AUTO AND ON THE SECOND DAY I PUT THE AUTO IN DRIVE, THE MOTOR RACED LIKE THE PEDAL WAS PUSHED TO THE FLOOR,I CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM I WILL NOT DRIVE THIS AUTO THEY SENT ATOW TRUCK ANDTHE NEXT DAY THEY GAVE ME A NEW SABLE. SINCE I HAVE THIS NEW SABLE THE GAS PEDAL GIVES ME THE SAME REACTION AS THE OLD ONE. IT OCCURRED ABOUT 9 OR 10 TIMES OVER THE LAST 9 YEARS. VERY RARE BUT IT DOES OCCUR. MY WIFE REFUSES TO DRIVE IT. BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENS TO THE ACCELERATOR. EVERY TIME I START THE CAR I MAKE SURE MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE. I FEEL ITS THE COMPUTER THAT OCCASIONALLY GOES BESERK. I BRING THIS UP BECAUSE I SEE WHERE TOYOTA IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THERE COMPUTERS ALSO. IT'S VERY FRIGHTENING WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATES LIKE SOMETHING IS CONTROLLING THE GAS PEDAL AT THIS HIGH RATE OF SPEED. WHEN THIS DOES OCCUR I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE GOES BACK TO NORMAL. *TR
THERE IS A VIOLENT JARRING OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE END OF A STOP. DEALER CLAIMS THAT IT IS A NORMAL DOWNSHIFT OF THE TRANSMISSION.*AK
Showing 1-20 of 21 loaded complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
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Vehicle import recorded: Apr 28, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.