My 2001 mercury sable has now failed me over 8 times without warning. I would drive turn the car off then try to start it again and it would not start. It was completely dead. I called aaa had the car towed. I took it to the dealer and they charged me for everything. A battery, an alternator, wiring, the works then, the same thing happened. The last time my car was at the dealer for a week before I was told it needed a fuel pump. I have now decided to never buy another mercury after being a long time customer. I never received a notice of a recall and just now found out the rear springs which I replaced was also happening to other customers. They have not fixed my problem and the car is sitting because I'm to frighten to drive anywhere. It's sad. All the money spent could gone toward some other car where service people care of course, now the warranty is expired. The miles on my car is 58,000.
Mercury Sable won't start problems
28 of the 4,888 owner complaints about the Mercury Sable describe won't start, most of them for the 2001 model year.
- owner complaints
- 28
- worst model year
- 2001
- typical mileage
- 57,800
By model year
Often reported together
Fuel pump 5Stalling 3Overheating 2Wipers 1Transmission failure 1Slipping 1Misfire 1Jerking 1
What owners say
2001 sable with 57000 miles. Vehicle will start, kill and then cannot be restarted for at least 1/2 hour. Sometimes will not start at all. Service people have hooked up to sensors but cannot find what is wrong. Problem is sporadic, happening about 1 to 2 times per week. Scoped fuel pump but said it was working properly. Said fuel filter and all other systems checked out ok. Don't know what to do next. Feel uneasy about driving the car anywhere far from home.
I have a 2000 mercury sable station wagon that occasionally without warning the engine will shut off briefly and the theft light flashes. Frequently it will not crank until you go through multiple actions, off unlocking the doors and pushing the alarm button on the remote. One time I could not get it to crank at all and had to have it towed to the dealer. I have had it to the dealer four times now (it is currently there) and I have spent three hundred dollars on the first three times and the problem still exists.
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.
I own a 2001 mercury sable. In august of 2003 the car would not start and was towed to the dealer. It had 23038 miles. The fuel pump was replaced with no charge to me due to the manufacturers warranty. On october 3, 2005, my mercury sable would not start. Again it was towed with only 64492 miles. Once again the dealer informed me that the fuel pump was bad and replaced it. This cost me $50 deductible due to the extended warranty which I purchased. On top of all of this, I own a 2002 ford taurus with only 27000 miles on it. In september of 2005, it would not start. The fuel pump was replaced on it. I will put this incident into a different complaint.
The vehicle will not start or will crank, start and idle very rough, then stop rumnning. Two dealers have investigated and duplicated the problem but no cause has been found.
My 2001 mercury sable has now failed on me at least 6 times since I purchased it on nov. 15,2002. Without warning, I would turn my car off, come back to it and it wouldn't start. Nothing, completely dead. The only thing that did work was the theft light would flash. At first, you could wait for 15 to 30 minutes and it would suddenly start again. This last time, that was not the case. I had it at the ford dealership three times for this problem and they could never diagnose the problem because it wouldn't do it to them. After my third time of being stranded I told them to keep the car until it was fixed. After three days, they decided they would go ahead and make new keys and replace the theft system although they still had not diagnosed this to be the problem. It worked for a couple of months and guess what, here I am again without a car. Keep in mind, the three times I had the car in for this problem it was still covered under warranty; it no longer is, it has exceeded the mileage.
Car has stalled since first day when stopping and upon acceleration engine stalls and won't crank,also had broken motor mounts,power windows not working,tachometer not working,windshield wiper was mising when bought.
At 25mph, vehicle shut off and could have caused an accident. Cause unknown. Dealer notified.*ak consumer states at times the vehicle will cut off while driving, at other times the vehicle will not start.
On two occasions on march 18, 2002, and one occasion on march 25, 2002 vehicle failed to start while on a trip from toledo, oh to charlotte, nc. Vehicle would not crank, but exhibited no other faults. After a period of about 15 to 20 minutes, vehicle started. After first incident vehicle one march 18 was taken to turnpike ford in marmet, wv. Service there could not identify problem. After third incident on march 25 vehicle was taken to astrog ford in parkersburg, wv. Service there first reported they were unable to identify problem, but in preparing to return vehicle to me, it failed to start. Astorg ford reported to me that the vehicle needed a new pats switch, but they did not have the part. They suggested I proceed to toledo, not turn off the ignition, and take it to local ford dealer. On march 27 I delivered the vehicle to franklin park lincoln mercury and reported the problem. They kept the vehicle until april 4 and reported that "problem is intermit could not verify at this time all system operate as designed."
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling
- What is wrong
- On certain vehicles, the air filter paper in these vehicles can smolder or burn.
- Risk
- This can lead to damage to the air induction system on these vehicles and/or an underhood fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the air filter element. Owner notification began on march 10, 2004. Owners should contact ford at 1‑800‑392‑3673.
Recall number 04V105000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: taurus/sable vehicles equipped with 3.0l and 3.8l engines and mustang vehicles with 3.8l and 5.0l engines. It is possible for the engine cooling fan bearing to seize.
- Risk
- Should this occur, excessive heat could be generated which could melt the fan motor electrical connector. Components inside the cooling fan motor could ignite potentially resulting in an underhood fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the engine cooling fan assembly and install a circuit breaker. If the cooling fan is inoperative, the fan and motor assembly will be replaced. Owner notification began december 28, 2001. 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 at 1‑866‑436‑7332.
Recall number 01V390000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan
- What is wrong
- These vehicles are originally sold or currently registered in the following states: alaska, iowa, minnesota, nebraska, north dakota, and south dakota. The vehicles involved are 1992-1994 tempo/topaz vehicles with 3.0l engines; 1994 tempo/topaz with 2.3l engines; 1992-1995 taurus/sable with 3.8l engines; 1994-1995 taurus/sable with 3.0l engines and 1992-1994 lincoln continental vehicles with 3.8l engines. During high winds, heavy, blowing and drifting snow, and low temperatures, the engine cooling fan can become blocked or frozen with snow. The fan motor may not rotate and could overheat.
- Risk
- This condition can cause smoke or flames from the fan and/or shroud, the fan electrical wiring, or the fan motor resulting in a vehicle fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install an electrical jumper harness containing an automatic resetting circuit breaker to protect the fan motor low speed circuitry from overheating.
Recall number 97V019000 · Recall details
Questions about the Mercury Sable won't start
Which Mercury Sable years have won't start problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2001 (8 complaints), 1993 (6 complaints) and 1994 (3 complaints).
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