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2001 Mercury Sable Lighting problems

Owners have filed 15 complaints about the 2001 Mercury Sable's lights with NHTSA - 3% of all its complaints, most recently on December 23, 2015. They describe 0 crashes, 1 fire and 1 injury. Headlights, tail lights, brake lights, turn signals and interior lighting failures.

Complaints
15
Recalls
2
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
1
Deaths
0

Lighting recalls for the 2001 Mercury Sable

Exterior lighting: switch

04V106000938,789 vehicles affected

The problem
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.
The risk
In addition, if the switch and/or associated wiring fail in the open position, the brake lights will not actuate and the driver will not be able to shift the vehicle out of "park" if they fail in the closed position, the brake lights will remain on, which will not allow the speed control to be activated. This could also cause the battery to discharge.
The fix
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.

Exterior lighting: switch

01V078000157,000 vehicles affected

The problem
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with adjustable pedals. If the grease from the adjustable pedal assembly enters the stop lamp switch, it can contaminate the contacts leading to carbon build up, and potentially, a short circuit.
The risk
A short circuit could lead to either the brake lamps staying on, or to a loss of brake lamp function, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix
Dealers will replace the brake lamp switch and wipe down the adjustable pedal assembly to remove excess grease. Owner notification began march 22, 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 1-800-392-3673.

Lighting complaints

Electrical systemLights

For over ten (10) years the headlights (but not the side driving lights) have been going off (for about 3 minutes) and then coming back on. This does not occur every time the lights come on and seems to be more frequent in the summer time when it is warm or hot outside. The date below is just approximately when this problem started and is not the only date/'time it has occurred, it has occurred sporadically but continuously since that date.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 10811845
Electrical systemLights

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 mercury sable. The contact stated that the alarm system and interior lights would activate independently and recurringly. The vehicle was not taken for diagnosis or inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the incident. The approximate failure mileage was 189,000.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 10557016
Electrical systemLightsBrakes

There was a recall on my car back in mar 02 2004 (ford recall number 04s12) for an exterior lighting:brake lights:switch, which was (according to ford) done jan 10 2005. I had failed again on 11/15/2012 leaving me without brake lights and not being able to get it out of park. Had to put it in neutral first before I started my car so I could drive it to get fixed. *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lighting · Service brakesNHTSA 10485403
Lights

The knob to turn on the headlight broke off. It seems to be made of plastic that is not strong enough. Now it's very difficult to turn on the headlights. We read that this is a problem in the 2000 model and ford had a recall on the 2000 model. We had the exact same problem with the 2001 model. Maybe some of the faulty knobs were installed on some of the 2001 models and those should be included in the recall as well since it's the exact same problem. *Tr

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 10473917
Lights

2001 Mercury sable vin: (see other part of complaint) I stopped at a business put car in park got out. Upon returning the car would start but not come out of park. I found I had no tail lights. I later found also there was no cruise control. I parked the car a couple days trying to find out what was wrong with it and when I got in the car I found the battery had gone dead. I just got done researching this and found recall 01s08 and nhtsa # 01v078000 saying the recall was on a break switch due to grease...

Read the full complaint

compromising the switch. The description of the malfunction matches my problem exactly! Upon calling the dealer that sold the vehicle they said they couldn't find a recall of this based on my vin. Ford customer service also stated they couldn't find a recall of this based on my vin. Well obviously the recall should have included my vin as the same thing has happened to my car. Now with the problem of not being able to shift the vehicle properly the transmission is giving an error dash light saying that the vehicle is trying to shift and is in the wrong gear?? At 70mph there is only one gear that will run the car under 3k on the tach so it has to be in the right gear.. Maybe its trying to shift out.. Not sure have to look into this more. *Tr

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 10293689
Electrical systemLights

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 mercury sable. The vehicle is experiencing electrical system failure. Whenever it rains, the fuse box on the driver's side door gets wet. The interior lights remain illuminated in the passenger compartment. The current mileage was 113,754 and failure mileage was 113,700.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Interior lightingNHTSA 10230959
SuspensionEngine & coolingLightsWheels & tires

2001 Sable coolant light came on frequently. *Ts the coil springs make noise. The brake harness light was defective. All four tires needed air every week (dot numbers w2x8lh01802 and w2x8lh04102). *Nm

Filed Incident Suspension · Engine and engine cooling · Exterior lighting · TiresNHTSA 10145346
Lights

2001 Mercury sable gs. The stop lights are stuck on, indicating a problem, similar to the problem addressed by a current ford recall. However, upon calling ford motor customer service 800 number, they tell me, my car isn't covered by the recall, even though it has the exact same problem as those sables that are being recalled. *Jb

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 10140333
Lights

While driving 20 mph, the consumer noticed that the turn signals were inoperative. Please provide additional details. *Jb

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 10101545
Lights

Recall notice regarding stop lamp switch problems.*Mr while driving the stop lamp became struck in the on position. The vehcile was taken to a local mechanic who replaced the stop lamp switch. *Nm

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 10081911
LightsFire1 injury

While driving at 35 mph consumer was notified by a passing motorist that trunk was on fire. Upon inspection, it had been determined that fire started in the rear tail light. One of the occupants sustained third degree burns. Ford advised that the cause of the problem is unknown. *Ak *ts *nlm

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 10040024
Lights

The right headlight has an over abundance of moisture inside the lens. Dealer was informed of the problem, but refused to remedy it.*Ak

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 10042402
Lights

I had to get my brake light switch replaced because my car wouldn't shift out of park. When speaking to the dealership's service technician, it sounded like this was a common problem with my type of car. A friend of mine with a similar car (ford taurus) had the same problem. Is this a possible defect that should be recalled?*Ak

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 10025613
Lights

The replacement switch for brake/stop lamp recall 01 v 078 000 failed twice. *Nlm *ts

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 10017399
Engine & coolingElectrical systemVisibility & wipersLightsEquipment & accessories

When trying to start vehicle, the key would stick, dash is completely inoperable, consumer could hear something running and vehicle would become very hot, dash did not light up, so there was no warning, vehicle made a grinding sound. Took to dealer, ignition has been changed twice.*Ak. Consumer states the power windows were inoperable, the radio did not work, there was no air conditioning or heat, the windshield wipers were inoperative, there was a noise coming from the flywheel, and the dashboard did not light up.*Jb

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical system · Visibility · Interior lighting · EquipmentNHTSA 8007445

Mercury Sable lighting complaints by year

Sable lighting problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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