2002 Mercury Sable Complaint Log

I STARTED MY CAR AND STARTED TO BACK OUT OF MY GARAGE. I WENT ABOUT 1 FOOT WHEN I HEARD A POP, THEN THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR DROPPED INSTANTLY. THE TIRE WAS FLAT, SO TOOK ANOTHER VEHICLE TO WORK. WHEN I CAME HOME FROM WORK, I JACKED THE CAR UP TO PULL THE TIRE OFF, BUT COULDN'T. AT INSPECTING THE FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY IN NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING WAS INTO THE TIRE SIDE WALL. NOT KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED, I CALLED MY MECHANIC WHO CAME THE NEXT DAY TO INSPECT THE DAMAGE. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL THE TIRE OFF THE CAR AND WE SAW THAT THE BOTTOM PART OF THE SPRING HAD BROKEN OFF AND WENT INTO THE TIRE. MY MECHANIC SAID BOTH FRONT SPRINGS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED WITH THE TIRE AND STRUT SUPPORT. HE SAID I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING, BECAUSE I OR PERSONS COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERLY INJURED. I DRIVE 22 MILES ONE WAY TO WORK ON HILLY AND WINDY ROADS. THE BROKE SPRING WAS NOT DAMAGED OR HAVE ANY CORROSION. THERE WAS A RECALL OF SABLE AND TAURUS VEHICLES (NHTSA #04V332000) FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM FOR 2002 SABLE / TAURUS. WHY HASN'T THE PREVIOUS RECALL FOR THE EARLIER VEHICLES BE EXTENDED TO YEAR 2002? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHILE REVERSING THEN THE LEFT FRONT END DROPPED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC AND WAS INSPECTED. THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED DUE TO CORROSION AND CUT THE TIRE SIDE WALL. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND PIERCED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND THE STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE VEHICLE NOT BEING INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,800. UPDATED 3/13/13 *CN

I HAVE A 2002 MERCURY SABLE I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR I GOT MY SPEED UP TO ABOUT 50 MPH, I THEN TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR BUT THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK, THE SPEED STARTED CLIMBING BY IN ITSELF IT GOT UP TO 70MPH. I TAPED THE ACCELERATOR A FEW TIMES TO TRY TO GET IT TO RELEASE, I ALSO TRIED TO LIFT PEDAL WITH MY FOOT. I HAD TO RIDE THE BRAKES AND THAT BROUGHT ME DOWN TO ABOUT 50 MPH, IT FINALLY LET LOOSE AND SLOWED DOWN. MY HUSBAND HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO HIM TODAY JANUARY 22,2013, HE STEPPED ON THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE HE THEN PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL THE ENGINE WAS REVVING HE HAD TO SHUT THE CAR OFF THEN TURN THE KEY BACK TO THE ON POSITION SO HE COULD STEER THE CAR AND COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. *TR

WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, MY CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE BY ITSELF. IT WAS FULL THROTTLE, AND I COULD NOT STOP IT FROM SPEEDING UP. THANK GOD I WAS ENTERING THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED, BECAUSE I COULD NOT SLOW THE CAR DOWN. WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, I HELD MY FOOT ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE BRAKE, AND THE CAR WOULD STILL NOT GO BELOW 65 MPH. WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, IT GOT UP TO 95 MPH AND WOULD HAVE KEPT GETTING HIGHER. SO I DROVE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AT 65 MPH, WEAVING IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC. I TRIED SWITCHING INTO NEUTRAL, BUT THIS HAD NO EFFECT. I CALLED 911 AND THEY SENT A POLICE OFFICER OUT TO FOLLOW ME. I WAS DRIVING LIKE THIS FOR 10-15 MINUTES WITH MY LIFE CONSTANTLY FLASHING BEFORE MY EYES. EVENTUALLY, I WAS INSTRUCTED BY 911 TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION OFF WHILE IN NEUTRAL (WHICH I DID NOT KNOW COULD BE DONE UNTIL THEY TOLD ME). IF THERE HAD BEEN TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY AT ANY POINT, I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT AND COULD HAVE INJURED/KILLED MYSELF AND OTHERS. IT WAS A VERY TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE, AND I AM EXTREMELY SHAKEN UP. ACCORDING TO THE AUTO SHOP THAT IS WORKING ON MY CAR, THE INCIDENT OCCURRED BECAUSE THE CABLE THAT RUNS FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL TO THE THROTTLE BODY BROKE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD SNAPPING NOISE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE HE DROVE THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE BLEW. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER FRONT COIL SPRING BROKEN. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V332000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: SPRINGS: COIL SPRINGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT AND MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

DRIVING AT APPOX 30 MPH CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE TO OVER 60 MPH WITH BRAKES BEING FULLY APPLIED. SLOWED CAR AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BEFORE SHIFTING CAR INTO PARK AND CAR SKIDDING OFF ROAD TO A STOP. BRAKES WERE SMOKING FROM TRYING TO STOP CAR. CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC. ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON RT 16 EAST OF RT 395 IN WEBSTER MA AT 11:30 AM. *TR

FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING FRACTURED WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR. CAR WAS PARKED. COIL SPRING PENETRATED THE FRONT TIRE AND RUPTURED IT. THIS IS IDENTICAL TO THE FAILURE REPORTED IN 04V332000, BUT MY CAR IS ABOUT 6 MONTHS OLDER THAN THE MANUFACTURING RANGE OF THAT RECALL. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON ROUTE 31 WEST IN MEDINA NY AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP I HAD TO PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND MY TRANSMISSION WAS REALLY GRINDING. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS IN THE AREA OR SOMEONE WOULD HAVE BEEN REALLY HURT ? I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE CAUSE WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL AND IT WAS REMOVED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED BACK ON THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL CABLE SNAPPED AND THREW THE VEHICLE INTO A FULL THROTTLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000. ..UPDATED 11/14/12 *BF UPDATED 11/19/2012 *JS

PER EA08018 FRONT RIGHT COIL FRACTURED UPON BACKING UP, RIPPED DEEP HOLE IN NEWER TIRE CAUSING FLAT. *TR

THIS MECHANICAL PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TWO TIMES. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 120,000 MILES.THE CAR IS ALWAYS SERVICED, WELL MAINTAINED AND RUNS TERRIFIC. I WAS DRIVING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES ON THE PARKWAY. SUDDENLY I EXPERIENCED THE CAR STICKING LIKE IT WAS CHOKING, LOSING POWER AND THEN SURGING AHEAD. I WAS SHOCKED, CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND IT EVENTUALLY CLEARED ITSELF. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY OTHER SYMPTOMS OR INCIDENTS LIKE THIS IN THE PAST. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A CLOGGED FUEL INJECTOR SO I IMMEDIATELY ADDED SOME FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC THE NEXT MORNING BUT HE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED WAS ABOUT 3 - 4 WEEKS LATER AND I CALLED THE MECHANIC AGAIN. WE ONLY FOUND A SMALL TRANSMISSION LEAK BUT NOTHING ELSE. I HAPPENED TO MENTION THE INCIDENTS TO A MECHANIC FRIEND OF MINE AT WORK AND HE TOLD ME IT SOUNDED LIKE THE THROTTLE. HE SAID HE ALSO THOUGHT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY CAR. I BELIEVE THIS IS A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AND NEED THE DEALER AND THE NHTSA TO ADVISE IF THERE IS A RECALL! IF THERE ISN'T THEN THERE SHOULD BE ONE. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THERE WAS AN INCREASE ON ENGINE RPMS AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN PARK HE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD THE CABLE DISCONNECTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING FURTHER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE ACCELERATOR WAS RELEASED, THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE GEAR WAS PLACED IN THE NEUTRAL AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SHOULDER AS THE RPMS INCREASED TO 4,000. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

MY DAUGHTER HAD JUST MERGED ONTO THE HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 65MPH. INITIALLY IT FELT DIFFICULT TO GET THE CAR UP TO SPEED. SHE NOTICED SHE WAS EDGING UP ON THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER AND TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR TO SLOW DOWN BUT INSTEAD THE CAR SPED UP. SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES WHICH DID NOT SLOW THE CAR DOWN. SHE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR IN AN ATTEMPT TO "UNSTICK" IT WHICH HAD NO EFFECT ON THE SPEED OF THE CAR. SHE THEN ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES FURTHER AT WHICH TIME THE BRAKES BEGAN SMOKING. THE CAR HAD REACHED 90MPH AT THIS POINT AND WAS SHAKING. WHILE CONTINUING TO KEEP HER FOOT ON THE BRAKES, SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE AND PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL BUT THE VEHICLE ONLY SLOWED DOWN MINIMALLY AT WHICH TIME SHE PUT THE CAR INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE THEN STOPPED BUT SHE KEPT HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE BECAUSE THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV BETWEEN 3,000 - 4,000 RPMS AND SHE COULD FEEL RESISTANCE AS IF THE CAR WANTED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD DESPITE BEING IN PARK. AT THAT TIME SHE SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE. WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I ARRIVED ON SCENE MY HUSBAND VERIFIED THAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS NOT STUCK ON ANYTHING, SUCH AS A FLOOR MAT. ONCE HE SAW THAT THE ACCELERATOR APPEARED TO BE IN A NORMAL POSITION HE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE WAS REVING WITH RPMS AGAIN BETWEEN 3,000 - 4,000. THE ENGINE WAS AGAIN SHUT OFF AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY PARKED WHEN THE COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND PIERCED THROUGH THE FRONT DRIVER'S TIRE. THE VEHICLE OPERATED PROPERLY PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 72,000. UPDATED 09/05/12*LJ UPDATED 09/10/2012 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS BROKE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT REQUESTED THE CRUISE CONTROL BE DISCONNECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE CASE WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 86,000.

WE WERE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE & THE CAR ACCELERATED AS THOUGH I HAD PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, BUT THE FIRST TIME GOING IN REVERSE. BOTH OTHER TIMES THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE. THE FIRST TIME I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND I ASSUMED MY FOOT HAD ACCIDENTALLY PUSHED THE GAS, SO I IGNORED IT. THE SECOND TIME I WAS ON A COUNTY ROAD, AND AGAIN I ASSUMED IT WAS MY FAULT. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I COULD HAVE REALLY HURT SOMEONE, AND THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

THE CRUISE CONTROL GAS CABLE BROKE OFF THE HOLDER BY THE THROTTLE VALVE, RESULTING IN JAMMING THE THROTTLE VALVE IN OPEN POSITION, THE CAR BECAME OUT OF CONTROL AS THE BRAKES ARE NOT ABLE TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR, ONLY TURNING OFF THE IGNITION HELPED SLOWING DOWN THE CAR SO NO BRAKE BOOSTER. ONE VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE DESIGN AND MATERIAL ARE OF SUBSTANDARD. I HAVE IT DOCUMENTED WITH PICTURES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED ACCELERATING. THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT ALSO BEGAN TO OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY. AS THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE IDLE WAS ADJUSTED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

WIRE HARNESS FAILURE IN RUBBER BOOTS FROM BODY OF CAR TO REAR LIFT GATE ON STATION WAGON MODEL. INSULATION CRACKING AND WIRE BREAKING COMPLETELY IN FLEXIBLE RUBBER BOOT CAUSES ERRATIC BEHAVIOR AND ULTIMATE FAILURE OF HIGH BRAKE LIGHT, BACK UP LIGHTS, LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER, REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER, OPEN LIFT GATE AND OPEN REAR WINDOW SAFETY SENSORS AND STEREO SPEAKERS. INSULATION AND WIRING WITHIN BOOT HAS BECOME BRITTLE AND FATIGUED. CLEAN BREAKS IN WIRES FROM OPENING AND CLOSING LIFT GATE ARE EVIDENT. WIRES WHERE INSULATION HAS BROKEN THROUGH ARE COMING IN CONTACT WITH OTHER CIRCUITS WHERE THAT INSULATION HAS BROKEN THROUGH AND RESULTS IN "CONFUSING" OPERATION OF LIGHTS. IE PUT CAR IN REVERSE AND HIGH BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON - PUT FOOT ON BRAKE AND HIGH BRAKE LIGHT GOES OUT. BACKUP LIGHTS DON'T COME ON AT ALL. IE TURN ON REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER AND LICENSE PLATE LIGHT COMES ON. WIRING DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF MULTIPLE INTERNAL COPPER STRANDS OR SUPPLE ENOUGH INSULATION TO PROVIDE NEEDED FLEXIBILITY DURING REGULAR OPENING AND CLOSING OF REAR LIFT GATE. BELIEVE THIS TO BE A LATENT SAFETY DEFECT. MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE KNOWN DURING DESIGN THAT WIRING IN BOOT TO STATION WAGON LIFT GATE WOULD BE PRONE TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WITH REGULAR USE. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AND HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,000.

ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN RACING, (AS IF THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK) WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT THE MALL. WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BY FIRMLY APPLYING THE BRAKES. CHECKED AND VERIFIED THAT THE FLOOR MAT WAS NOT INTERFERING WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. *TR

I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE WHEN I IMMEDIATELY BECAME AWARE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING NORMALLY, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLAT. WHEN I WAS CHANGING THE TIRE I NOTICED THE SPRING HAD BROKEN AND PUNCTURED AND RUINED THE TIRE. THIS EVIDENTLY HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AS I HEARD NO NOISE FROM THE BREAKING SPRING OR ESCAPING AIR. I FEEL FORTUNATE THIS HAPPENED IN THE GARAGE AND NOT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TT

THE FOLLOWING ADDRESSES AN ISSUE I ENCOUNTERED WITH MY VEHICLE, A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. ON JANUARY 12TH, 2012, I WAS DRIVING ON A TWO WAY ROAD DURING A HEAVY SNOWSTORM. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR, WHICH WAS BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT, DUE TO THE ROAD CONDITIONS. AT THIS TIME, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF CONTROL OVER MY VEHICLE. AFTER PULLING OVER, I INVESTIGATED THE NOISE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS COMPLETELY SHREDDED AND PARTIALLY OFF THE RIM. I TOWED THE CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP AND LEARNED THAT THE SUSPENSION SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE AND DAMAGED THE STRUT. THIS IS ALSO A YEAR AND A HALF AFTER I HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT LEFT SPRING. NEITHER THE STRUT NOR THE TIRES WERE DAMAGED DURING THIS EVENT AT THAT TIME. *TR

DRIVER BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE WHEN HEARD METALLIC GRINDING SOUND FOLLOWED BY A BANG. THEN WE HEARD THE SOUND OF METAL ON PAVEMENT. WHEN GOT OUT OF CAR THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR WAS SITTING SO LOW THAT I COULD NOT GET A JACK UNDER IT. THE DRIVER FRONT TIRE WAS COMPLETELY SHREDDED ON THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL WELL. IT IS COSTING US $700 TO REPAIR. AS PER ODI RESUME EA 08-18 DOCUMENT UNDER REASON FOR CLOSING THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE APPEARS, "THE COIL SPRINGS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE DEFECTIVE." EVEN IF THERE IS NO REAL DANGER TO TRAFFIC SAFETY IT IS STILL AND ISSUE THAT FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO ADDRESS, WE AS THE DRIVING PUBLIC SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR IT. ALSO IF FORD WANTS TO KEEP THEIR CUSTOMERS THEY SHOULD ADDRESS PROBLEMS SUCH AS THIS. WE ARE THINKING OF LOOKING TO TOYOTA OR HONDA FOR OUR NEXT CAR AFTER DRIVING FORDS SINCE 1997. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE GS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW. THE CONTACT ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS SHE MERGED ONTO THE SHOULDER AND ROLLED INTO A DITCH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DAMAGED. THE TIRE WAS REMOVED AND THE SPARE WAS INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TIRE WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED AND AFTER INSPECTION, THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE COIL SPRING CAUSED THE TIRE DAMAGE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE COIL SPRING FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HEARD A BANGING NOISE WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS DAMAGED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

CRUISE CONTROL CABLE BROKE OR CAME LOOSE CAUSING THROTTLE RETURN SPRING TO FALL OFF. I COULD NOT STOP CAR NO MATTER HOW HARD I PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ENGINE RAN AT FULL SPEED. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ON. I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. I STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN AND IT REVVED UP TO FULL SPEED IMMEDIATELY. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE THE CAR OFF THE MAIN ROAD WITHOUT STARTING THE ENGINE. WE WERE FORTUNATE THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF US WHEN THIS HAPPENED. WE WERE ABOUT 50 YARDS FROM HAVING TO MAKE A SHARP LEFT TURN TO GO ONTO THE MAIN HIGHWAY AND TRAFFIC. WE NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THE TURN WITHOUT CRASHING OR THE CAR TURNING OVER. MY WIFE AND I HAD JUST PICKED UP TWO OF OUR DOGS AT THE VET AND WERE RETURNING HOME. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD GARAGE IN THE NEXT TOWN. I BELIEVE FORD HAS A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN THEY ARE ADMITTING. THE MERCURY'S SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THEIR PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:04V332000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000. THE VEHICLE WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. UPDATED 08/31/11*LJ

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK DOWN TO FLOOR, RPM AND SPEEDOMETER CONTROLS WERE AT THE MAXIMUM AND THE ENGINE REVVED UP. VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE SO I DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL SLOWING THE VEHICLE DOWN ENOUGH TO SHIFT IT INTO PARK AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. A PASSERBY STOPPED BY AND TAPED THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE BACK TOGETHER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A WEBASTO HOLLANDIA 600 SUNROOF. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V124000(VISIBILITY:SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY). ONCE SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER AND WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDED AN ESTIMATED TIME OF AVAILABILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 123,000. IT WAS SAID TO TAKE TWO WEESKS UNTIL PARTS WERE IN. NEVER RECIEVED PHONE CALL. IT HAS BEEN CLOSE TO TWO MONTHS. UPDATED 09/01/2011 *LN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE, AND NOTICED THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT DUE TO THE COIL SPRING WHICH BROKE IN HALF AND PUNCTURED THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS, THE STABILIZER LINK, AND TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR, BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V332000 SUSPENSION: FRONT: SPRINGS: COIL SPRINGS. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILES WERE 104,000.

MY WIFE ENTERED OUR 2002 MERCURY SABLE WAGON TO GO TO WORK TODAY. AS SHE SAT DOWN IN THE CAR, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED. WHEN WE REMOVED THE TIRE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED, IT WAS APPARENT THAT THE COIL SPRING IN THE SUSPENSION HAD BROKEN AND A SHARP POINT ON THE SPRING PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THANKFULLY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEN NOTICED THE PASSENGERS FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ALSO NOTICED THE FRONT COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED PREVIOUSLY THAT THE REAR COIL SPRINGS HAD ALSO BROKEN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,372.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN REVERSE, THE CONTACT SMELLED BURNING RUBBER AND STATED THAT THE TIRE WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SPRINGS AND SHOCKS WERE ALSO REPLACED APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

LEFT FRONT SPRING BROKE GOUGING AN 8 INCH TEAR IN TIRE SIDE WALL CAUSING A BLOWOUT AND DAMAGE TO ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. TRANSMISSION MOUNT WAS ALSO DAMAGED. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND BRAKING COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES. FORD DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY. I WAS TOLD THAT FORD HAD ADMITTED FREQUENT SPRING FAILURE ON ITS 1999 TO 2001 TAURUS/SABLE VEHICLES AND INSTALLED GUARDS TO PROTECT THE TIRES FROM BLOWOUT. THIS IS SECOND SPRING FAILURE IN 2 YEARS. THE FIRST TIME WAS THE RIGHT REAR SPRING BROKE DAMAGING STRUT AND GOUGING TIRE BUT NOT CAUSING DEFLATION. TWO SPRING FAILURES ON THE SAME VEHICLE IN 2 YEARS INDICATE THAT IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THIS IS TIME BOMB WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO GET SERIOUSLY INJURED.

WE WERE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, HEARD A "WHOOSH" AND FOUND THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE HAD DEFLATED. CALLED AAA TO HAVE IT PUMPED UP OR THE SPARE PUT ON. WHEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO TAKE THE TIRE OFF, IT WAS STUCK. THE COIL SPRING HAD COME LOOSE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE COIL WAS STICKING THROUGH THE TIRE LIKE A MEAT HOOK. WE HAD TO CUT THE REST OF THE RUBBER ON THE TIRE TO RELEASE IT. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND ARE AWAITING THE REPAIR ESTIMATE. DOING RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THIS IS A LONG-STANDING PROBLEM ON FORD VEHICLES, SPECIFICALLY THE MERCURY SABLE AND TAURUS. RECALLS ON 1999-2001 MODELS WERE NOT EXTENDED BEYOND THOSE YEARS, DESPITE SIMILAR PROBLEMS. WE FEEL WE WERE VERY LUCKY IN THIS INSTANCE, AS THE PREVIOUS DAY, WE HAD A 230 MILE BUSINESS TRIP. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER AT 72MPH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE COIL SPRINGS WERE FRACTURED ON THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THERE WERE SIMILAR FAILURES REPORTED BUT THERE WAS ONLY A RECALL FOR THE PRIOR YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,320.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH WHEN THE FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN AUTOMOTIVE SHOP. IN ADDITION, THE REAR SPRINGS WERE ALSO FRACTURED AND ALL FOUR STRUTS AND SPRINGS WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE SWAY BAR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000. UPDATED 06/24/11 *BF UPDATED 06/30/11.*JB

BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY I HEARD A LOUD CLUNK AND THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. DISCOVERED MY LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION, THE SPRING COIL HAD BROKEN AND POPPED THE TIRE. GETTING THE TIRE REPLACED THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE BACK SPRING WAS BROKEN ALSO. *TR

FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND BLEW THROUGH FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED. HAD TO REPLACE BROKEN FRONT COIL SPRINGS, STRUTS AND UPPER MOUNTS AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND THE TIRE AND A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THANKFULLY THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED. IT WAS VERY SCAREY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN SNOWY WEATHER, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS DEFLATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE COIL SPRING HAD FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ENTERING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY DRIVING 5 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE COIL SPRING AND WAS ADVISED THERE WAS NO ACTIVE RECALL FOR THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. UPDATED 05/04/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE SRPING FAILED, BREAKING THE SWAY BAR END LINK AND TORE A HOLE IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. UPDATED 05.09.11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH WHEN THE FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING BROKE ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONE YEAR AFTER THE FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE LEFT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,450.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE, RUINING THE BRAKE HOSE AND STABILIZER LINK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,832 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,554.

DRIVING 15MPH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SUSPENSION COIL (SURROUNDING THE STRUT) BROKE, IT RIPPED THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE AND SEVERED THE BRAKE LINE. THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN OR PUSHED BECAUSE PART OF THE COIL WAS CAUGHT UP INSIDE THE TIRE. *TR

HEATER/DEFROSTER FAN HAS FAILED. THIS ALSO PREVENTS THE A/C FROM CLEARING THE WINDSHIELD OF CONDENSATION. *TR