Mercury · Sable · 2003
4
Recalls
201
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2003 Mercury Sable has 4 recalls and 201 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: suspension (47 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
Bosch Brake Components LLC (Bosch) is recalling certain aftermarket replacement front brake pads, models Bosch QuietCast BC598 and BP765, Bosch Blue BE598 and BE598H, Prostop PD598 and PD765M, Duralast Gold DG598, Duralast MKD598, Stop Master ST598, UltraStop ULT598, UltraLife MX598 and MX765, BrakeBest MKD765, and Prostop Platinum PGD598. These brake pads, manufactured October 1, 2014, to October 31, 2015 are intended for use on 2001-2007 Ford Taurus, 2001-2005 Mercury Sable, 1995-1999 Ford Taurus SHO, 1995-2002 Lincoln Continental, and 1993-1998 Lincoln Mark VIII vehicles. The brake pad shim may shift out of position causing the shim to contact the brake disc resulting in damage to the disc.
Remedy Status
Bosch will instruct the owners how to have the affected brake pads replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2016. Owners may contact Bosch customer service at 1-888-715-3616.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ARE BEING RECALLED TO CORRECT A PROBLEM WITH A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH AND/OR ASSOCIATED WIRING. THIS MALFUNCTIONING COULD RENDER THE STOP LAMPS INOPERABLE OR CAUSE THEM TO STAY ON ALL THE TIME. THIS COULD CAUSE CONFUSION TO A FOLLOWING DRIVER, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH AND ASSOCIATED WIRING ASSEMBLY AND INSTALL A NEWLY DESIGNED STOP LAMP SWITCH AND WIRE ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON APRIL 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE AIR FILTER PAPER IN THESE VEHICLES CAN SMOLDER OR BURN.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR FILTER ELEMENT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 10, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 212, "WINDSHIELD MOUNTING." THE WINDSHIELDS MAY POTENTIALLY EXHIBIT INCREASED WIND NOISE, WATER LEAKAGE, AND SQUEAKS AND RATTLES.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE WINDSHIELDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD/MERCURY AT 1-800-392-3673.
The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Sable. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle coasted to the side of the road and was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
IDRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS ON A CITY STREET IN 2003 MERC SABLE WITH 33K MILES. WHILE IN MOTION, THE TRANSMISSION FAILS WITH NO FORWARD OR REVERSE WORKING OR ANY OTHER MECHANICAL WARNINGS.( NO TRANSMISSION CODES ON OBDII. I WAS IMMEDIATELY ABLE TO COAST INTO A DRUGSTORE PARKING LOT. CAR TOWED TO LOCAL FORD DEALER. DEALER INFORMED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER SPLINES HAVE FAILED AND TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDS TO REPLACED FOR $ 1726.00. DEALER REPAIRED VEHICLE, REPLACED WITH FORD RE-MANUAFACTURED TORQUE CONVERTER. SEARCHED INTERN NET AND FOUND SAME NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF FORD TORQUE CONVERTERS SPLINE FAILURES. BASED ON THE TYPE AND NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THIS APPEARS TO WARRANT AN AUDIT OF THIS SAFETY PROBLEM. THERE ARE OTHER REPORTED COMPLAINTS THAT VEHICLES WERE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAYS AND SUFFERED TRANSMISSION FAILURES WHILE IN MOTION WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. *TR
SO SORRY TO BOTHER YOU. I HAVE A MERCURY SABLE 03 WHICH HAS BEEN ACCELERATING BY ITSELF BECAUSE THE THROTTLE CABLE GETS STUCK. I SAW AN ARTICLE THAT SAID MY YEAR TAURUS AND SABLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM AS WELL AS SAW THAT ALL THOSE IN THE JUNK YARD HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IN THE ARTICLE IT SAID FORD AGREED TO FIX THOSE TO STOP FURTHER INVESTIGATION. HOW WOULD I GO ABOUT GETTING THIS FIXED? PLEASE AND THANK YOU. MY VEHICLE STARTED GOING 79 AND WOULDN'T STOP. EVEN IN NEUTRAL IT WENT 4000 RPM UNTIL THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS UNJAMMED. AND CONTINUES TO DO SO
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON A CITY STREET AND THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN AND I TRIED TO BRAKE BUT MY BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. I HAD TO PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BREAK TO SLAM HARD ENOUGH TO TRY TO GET IT TO SLOW DOWN EVEN A LITTLE. I FOUND OUT THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE GOT STUCK AND COULD NOT GO BACK IN CAUSING THE CAR TO KEEP ACCELERATING.
WHY WAS I CHARGED $249.90 LABOR CHARGES WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY IN MY HANDS FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER BEING PURCHASED FROM KING BUICK BUT NOT FOR PARTS, SHOP MATERIALS AND USE OF A LOANER CAR. I SHOULD HAVE PAID NOTHING UNDER A WARRANTY AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF FORD HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL MY CALL ON [XXX](C) OR [XXX](H) IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS. I WAS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE COMMUNITY WHERE I RESIDE AND DROVE THE CAR TO KING BUICK GMC IMMEDIATELY. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
2003 MERCURY SABLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BEING CHARGED FOR VEHICLE REPAIRS THAT WERE UNDER WARRANTY. *LD *JS
1. THE HOOD CLOSES APPARENTLY FINE, IT DOES NOT OPEN IF I TRY TO, HOWEVER KEEPS OPENING EVERY 20 MINUTES AFTER DRIVING. I COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE. 2. VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS KEEPS OCURRING, NO SIGNS OR DROPS OR VIISUAL LEAK PUDDLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DOM'S GETTY STATION (HEIGHTSTOWN, NJ 08520, PHONE (609) 448-4146) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE TRANSMISSION INPUT SHAFT AND TORQUE CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED, IT LOST ENGINE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DOM'S GETTY SERVICE STATION (308 MERCER ST, HIGHTSTOWN, NJ) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY ON ITS OWN WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE "CHECK ENGINE" INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. FAIRWAY FORD IN SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA DETERMINED THAT THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000. ...UPDATED 10/23/17 *BF UPDATED 11/1/2017*JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO STOP WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT AND RADIATOR HOSE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 121,373.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS STUCK AND COULD NOT MOVE OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE WIRING HAD TO BE PUSHED DOWN TO OVERRIDE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.
THE VEHICLES STOCK JACKING LOCATIONS ARE NO LONGER CONSIDERED AS SAFE. THEY HAVE DETERIORATED DUE TO CORROSION AND RUSTING AWAY. SHOULD SOMEONE DECIDE TO TRUST ANY ONE OF THE AFFECTED JACKING LOCATIONS, THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE FRAME MAY CRUMPLE AND BREAK CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DROP ONTO ANYONE PERFORMING WORK UNDERNEATH, WHICH MAY RESULT IN SEVERE INJURY, OR EVEN DEATH.
PASSENGER FLOOR RUSTED OUT COMPLETELY IN TWO SPOTS ON THE FRONT RIGHT OF FLOOR. TWO MAJOR HOLES. THE REMAINDER OF THE FLOOR IS SHOWING SIGNS THAT IT TOO IS DETERIORATING. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE FLOOR HAS BEEN COMPROMISED AND CAN ALLOW SOMEONE TO FALL THROUGH SHOULD EXCESS WEIGHT BE PLACED IN ANY OF THESE WEAK PLACES AND OR HOLES.
THIS CAR WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V106000. THE RECALL WORK FAILED, CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT COME ON, AND THE VEHICLE TO NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK.
NO ACCIDENT, BUT THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAS STARTED "LATCHING" ONLY ON SPORADIC OCCASIONS. IT DOESN'T LATCH MORE TIMES THAN IT DOES LATCH. THE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY LATCHED THE SEATBELT, IT WILL COME UNLATCH END WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING. THIS HAS NOW BEEN OCCURRING FOR ABOUT A MONTH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE EQUIPPED WITH DOUGLAS X-TRAC 2 TIRES, SIZE: P215/60/R16. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE VEERED BUT THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE AND TIRE WERE NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DOT NUMBER AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,029 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,159.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND AVOIDED A COLLISION. THE CONTACT BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED OF A CUSTOMER SERVICE CAMPAIGN. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED BECAUSE IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN ANOTHER PLANT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2003 Mercury Sable has 4 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 201 owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Mercury Sable.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2003 Mercury Sable.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2003 Mercury Sable are suspension (47 reports), power train (23 reports), vehicle speed control (20 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 4 recalls on record for the 2003 Mercury Sable. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.