10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
30,000 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #4

Jul 302009

Sable

  • 70,000 miles
Driver's side airbag failed to deploy on front impact car crash. The car is a 2003 Mercury Sable. The passenger air bag did deploy (though there was no passenger). The highway patrol cut open the steering wheel cover to reveal that there was indeed a driver's side air bag with the number tgp037spaeit P5206000-00ee09. The VIN number of the vehicle is [xxx] my daughter was driving and is unsure of the speed of the car when she lost control of the car and hit the wall. I'm guessing it was in the 35-45 mph range. Her injuries were minor - thanks to the seat belt - I am very concerned that the air bag did not deploy to offer her further protection as expected. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Bay Village, OH, USA

problem #3

Jun 112005

Sable

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
On June 11, my mother was involved in a fender bender in traffic. When she pulled out of traffic into a shopping plaza she inadvertently accelerated instead of braking. Her 2003 Mercury Sable wagon spun around and crashed first into a huge cement lampost, then proceeded to run over two shrubs and a tree where the car finally stopped. The passenger side air bag deployed but the driver's side did not, even though the entire front end was totally demolished. Although my mother was wearing a seat belt, the lack of the air bag going off resulted in my mother snapping forward resulting in a spinal cord injury to the neck and paralysis from the chest down- a C6 injury. Since the car was only two years old, it doesn't make sense that the air bag didn't deploy. There must be some defect with that model and I want to make sure that no one else suffers and ends up paralyzed. The auto body shop stated that they'd seen other Ford cars in total collisions that also didn't have the drivers side air bag go off. He thought it might have to do with the sensors. Either way, the product isn't working.

- Everett, MA, USA

problem #2

Mar 102005

Sable 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles
While driving at 45 mph the consumer's vehicle was struck by another vehicle, and the passenger air bag deployed, however, the driver's side air bag did not deploy. The vehicle was totaled. The vehicle was sent 10-15 feet into a ditch. The insurance adjuster stated that the engine had broken off all of it's mountings and shifted 3 inches.

- Lansing, MI, USA

problem #1

Jun 212004

Sable 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 19,999 miles
My wife swerved to avoid hitting another vehicle encroaching into her lane. She lost control of her 2003 Mercury Sable and slammed head-on into the concrete center divider of the westbound 60 fwy diamondbar ca. The passenger side air bag deployed, but the drivers side bag did not. She suffered a concussion, a fractured mandible, and a molar tooth was broken from the jaw bone which the maxillo-facial surgeon was unable to save. The car was a total loss.

- La Habra, CA, USA