5.1

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
19,100 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #19

Oct 152006

Sable 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,165 miles
Brake switch failure.... the same brake switch and failure covered in a previous recall!

- Newport News, VA, USA

problem #18

Oct 012003

Sable

  • 62,520 miles
Complaint regarding the way recall repair was performed on vehicle. The consumer had experienced the same problems issued in the recall for brake lights and the dealership stated that the recall had expired on there vehicle and it was out dated. The consumer was very dissatisfied with the dealership assistance because repairs had not been made to ensure the safety ness of the vehicle. Please respond promptly in resolving matters.

- Spotsylvania, VA, USA

problem #17

Mar 112004

(reported on)

Sable

  • 10,080 miles
Vehicle was stuck in park, and brake lights would not go off. Took vehicle to the dealer, and they replaced the wiring stop lamp 01S08. 10,000 miles later, problem recurred.

- Fremont, CA, USA

problem #16

Mar 172004

(reported on)

Sable 6-cyl

  • 25,300 miles
Consumer is unable to take vehicle out of park with engine running. The vehicle had to be turned off to be taken out of park. Vehicle is then put into neutral and started. The dealership indicated that, "this is a common problem with these vehicle", and provided a temporary remedy. The brake switch was covered in grease and caused the brake lights not to work. The dealer indicated that the switch was in a bad location and that it would probably fail again. The consumer believes the manufacturer should be responsible for the repair and that they should recall the vehicle.

- La Vergne, TN, USA

problem #15

Sep 092003

Sable 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 24,696 miles
Stop lamps stay on. Condition causes dead battery. Stop lamp switch is defective. This vehicle was involved in recall 01S08 for the stop lamp switch replacment. Contacted Ford customer assistance. They claim recall was done 2 years ago. Part has failed again and they will not cover this. Recall letter advises filing complaint on this site.

- New Bedford, MA, USA

problem #14

May 292003

Sable 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 46,000 miles
While driving, another motorist informed the consumer the brake lights on the vehicle stayed on all the time and other motorists were unable to tell when the consumer was actually braking. The dealer replaced the brake light switch. Examination of the switch showed a small plastic nub which held contacts open wore down and allowed contacts to stay closed all the time.

- West Milford, NJ, USA

problem #13

Jul 172003

(reported on)

Sable

  • 24,000 miles
Problems with 2000 Mercury Sable brake light switch. On two occasions the brake light switch melted and discolored which caused the brake light to stay on.

- Hoffman Estates, IL, USA

problem #12

Jul 142003

(reported on)

Sable

  • miles
The brake lights malfunctioned by constantly remaining illuminated whether or not foot is applied to pedal. This occurred as a result of foot pedal grease coming into contact with the stop lamp socket. Related recall 01V078000, but consumer's vehicle not included due to VIN.

- Prospect, CT, USA

problem #11

Apr 152002

Sable 6-cyl

  • 28,141 miles
Brake light switch replacement for 2000 Mercury Sable. The vehicle needed a brake light switch on two separate occasions.

- Grand Junction , CO, USA

problem #10

Jul 052003

Sable 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 24,000 miles
Brakes shudder when applied, been cut down once already stopped for about 5000 miles then started again increasing in intensity as mileage climbed, also car will shut off for a moment or two causing loss of all power, and all dash indicator lights to come on, also had to replace brake light switch twice now.

- Deltona, FL, USA

problem #9

May 272003

Sable

  • 68,000 miles
Vehicle's brake light switch malfunctioned.

- North Potomac, MD, USA

problem #8

May 212003

Sable

  • miles
NHTSA recall repair of the adjustable pedals failed. NHTSA recall # 01-V-078-000.

- New Hope, MN, USA

problem #7

May 072003

Sable 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12,000 miles
The back brake lights are not working again. (4th time) also, the car will not move out of park after you start the car. I know these two problems are related to the brake switch. This item has been (replaced) two other times. I am putting the powers that be on notice that if I am in a crash because of this safety issue, I am responsible for it. Also, there is some sort of electrical problem that will keep the car for starting.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #6

Apr 172003

Sable 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The rear brake lights did not illuminate when the brake was applied. The brake light switch was replaced 4 times which one out of the 4 repairs was recall related. Also the ABS light was illuminated. Once the switch failed the shifter would not come out of park position. On another occasion, the sun roof was inoperative.

- Canton, OH, USA

problem #5

Sep 182002

(reported on)

Sable

  • miles
I have now had to have the brake light switch on my car replaced twice. On July 23, 2002 while on vacation in the adirondack mountains the brake lights were stuck on. I had to drive over 100 miles with the brake lights on to have it repaired. This morning (9/18/02) on my way to drop off my children at school, a passenger in another vehicle flagged me down and told me I had no brake lights. Another trip to the dealer and the brake light switch was replaced again. There is obviously something wrong with this part. Thank you.

- Syracuse, NY, USA

problem #4

Jul 232002

Sable

  • miles
I purchased new, and still own this vehicle. At 27083 miles, the rear brake lights stuck in the on position. Bill dube Ford of dover, nh replaced the brake light switch free of all costs to me under recall notice # 01S08. At 45395 miles the rear brake lights again stuck in the on position. However, brighton Ford-Mercury of brighton, mi refused to replace the defective switch under the recall notice claiming that, since the switch had already been replaced under the recall notice, Ford only responsibility was to warrant the replaced switch for a period not to exceed 12000 miles or 12 months. As a consequence, I paid $63.33 to have the switch replaced. Based on the fact that all three switches, ie., the original equipment switch, and both replacement switches had identical part numbers (yf1Z*13480) how can I be assured that: 1) Ford Motor Company and/or the supplier of the switch ever made any attampt to redesign the switch. With the same part number, there could be thousands of defective switches still in the marketplace. 2) the replacement switch, currently installed, will not fail in approx. 25000 miles just as the first two switches failed. 3) the lives of my family members, including myself, will not be in jeopardy every 27000 miles because of a rear-end collision resulting from someone's mistaken identity of the constantly on brake lights for running lights, 4) why Ford Motor Company, or any automobile manufacturer, is not held responsible for the costs of replacing parts involved in a recall until a permanent fix is found? nlm

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

problem #3

Aug 132002

Sable

  • miles
Break light switch replaced 7-17-2001 at 26000 miles again 8-23-2002 AT38000 miles.

- Owensboro, KY, USA

problem #2

May 292002

Sable

  • miles
Left out of driveway went two blocks parked car front of friends house, two hours later I proceeded to leave. Started the car applied my brake pedal and got ready to shift in gear when it didn't move even the button on the side wouldn't go in, turned the car off and called for a towing truck. Towing truck came and said that it might be some switch on the brake system because he towed at least 4 that same week for the same problem. Also the brakes lights will not come on. This poses as a danger because if a person is driving and you can't take it out of drive the only thing you would be able to do is stop the car with the brakes and keep holding the brake until you get help you can only hold the brakes for so long.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #1

Aug 222000

Sable

  • miles
Koons Lincoln-Mercury service technicians have stated that the emission light stays illuminated because vehicle has a defective fuel vapor transfer system. Air bag light was illuminated due to a defective left front air bag sensor. Brake lights inoperative due to a switch stop lamp and broken wire. This defect almost caused me to get rear-ended in stop and go traffic on baltimore's beltway.

- Baltimore, MD, USA