There are 8 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2003 Mercury Sablein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
ALARM SYSTEM GOES OFF AT WILL, SOUNDING HORN, FLASHING LIGHTS, CAUSING OTHER FLOWING TRAFFIC TO BE DISTRACTED. CONCERNED THAT THE ALARM SYSTEM MAY ACTIVATE WHILE IN MOTION. CONCERNED THAT IT MAY STOP THE VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC. *TR
DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE 90 IN SOUTH DAKOTA WHEN THE ELECTRICAL JUST SHUT OFF AT NIGHT. WE HAD NO POWER, LIGHTS OR STEERING CONTROL GOING 75 MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR SINCE WE GOT THE VEHICLE IN 2009. AT THAT SPEED AND WITH NO ONE ABLE TO SEE US DUE TO NO LIGHTING WE BECOME A HAZARD TO OURSELVES AND OTHERS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS AN ENDEMIC PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND WHY NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIND THE ISSUE. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO 3 REPAIR PLACES INCLUDING A FORD DEALERSHIP AND NO ONE CAN FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WE WOULD LIKE FORD TO MAKE IT RIGHT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT, THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CORRODED WIRING AND IT WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
HEATER/AC FAN CONTINUOUSLY STOPS WORKING. I FIRST REPLACED THE MOTOR RESISTOR IN AUGUST 2012. IT WORKED FOR 2 WEEKS WHEN IT BROKE FOR THE 2ND TIME. I WENT TO FIX IT AGAIN, ONLY TO FIND OUT IT STOPS WORKING AGAIN AFTER 2 MORE WEEKS.IT IS NOW OCTOBER AND THE MOTOR RESISTOR BROKE 2X AND NOW THE MOTOR BLOWER IS COMPLETELY GONE. NO AC/HEATER. THE TEMPERATURE IN NY IN OCTOBER IS NOT COMPLIANT WITH NO HEATER. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. BROKE 3XS IN A SPAN OF 6 WEEKS OR SO. *TR
OUTSIDE LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF NEED NEW STOP LAMP AND AIR FILTER BOTH PARTS WERE RECALLED IN 2004 AND SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH NEW FOR FREE [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
I OWN A 2003 MERCURY SABLE, AND APPROXIMATELY BACK IN 2010 I EXPERIENCED MY FIRST FAILURE OF THE BLOWER RESISTOR MOTOR. THEN ONE MONTH LATER I EXPERIENCED ANOTHER FAILURE, BEING UNDER WARRANTY THEY REPLACED IT, ANOTHER MONTH GOES BY AND YET ANOTHER FAILURE, TAKE IT BACK AND WE TRIED TO FIGURE WHY IT WAS FAILING. WE THEN COME UP MY CAR WAS MAINLY GARAGED, AND I RARELY DRIVE IN THE RAIN. ON THE THREE DIFFERENT DATES OF FAILURE WE WERE EXPERIENCING HEAVY RAIN THAT I HAD DRIVEN IN AND UPON THE NEXT DAY OR TWO GOING OUT IT FAILED. THEY THEN PUT SILICONE AROUND AND NEAR EVERYTHING. NOW IT IS MAY OF 2012 AND I EXPERIENCE ANOTHER FAILURE, DOING SOME OF MY OWN INVESTIGATING I AM SHOCKED TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR 2001 - 2004 FORD TAURUS AND MERCURY SABLE CARS. AND THERE IS A TSB 04-15-3 ON HOW TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. TO ME THIS IS A VERY POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD SINCE WHEN THE WATER COMES INTO CONTACT WITH LIVE ELECTRICITY TO CAUSE THE BLOW OUT CAN INDEED CAUSE A SHOCK OR EVEN DAMAGE THE BLOWER MOTOR. AND IF A PERSON FOOT HAPPENS TO BE IN THE AREA WHEN THE SHORT HAPPENS THEY COULD GET AN UNEXPECTED JOLT AND GET HURT. THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY RECALL EVENT FOR THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR
WATER AND RAIN LEAK INTO BLOWER HOUSING AND THEN ONTO PASSENGER FLOOR. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME IT RAINS AND THIS DISABLES THE HEATING THE AND COOLING SYSTEMS IN THE CAR. *JB
WATER AND RAIN LEAK INTO BLOWER HOUSING AND THEN ONTO PASSENGER FLOOR. IN HEAVY RAIN THE BLOWER CAN BE HEARD AGITATING THE WATER. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS THAT THIS WILL EVENTUALLY DISABLE THE BLOWER MOTOR AND THEREFORE THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE NO DEFROSTER, CREATING A POTENTIAL HAZARD. *JB
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.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026