5.2
fairly significant- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 18,583 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.
I own a 2003 Mercury Sable, in 2007, I noticed the paint on the passenger rear wheel-well was starting to bubble rust, my husband and I made numerous complaints to the dealership, at the time, they were undergoing a buyout and we had a difficult time getting any answers from anyone, once the buyout happened, we were then told all the computer files were being updated, they did not have any record of the issues we reported to the previous owners, so we started over...in July of 2008, finally got the manufacturer to share in the expense of the repairs as this had now passed the warranty timeframe, however, when the original problem was reported, we were quoted a repair estimate of $250, by the time we received approval from Ford to go ahead with the repairs and they stated the repair estimate had increased to $ $550 because the rust area had worsen. It is now 8 months later, and the bubbling and rust is starting to appear again. I have read several articles about Ford having issues with the paint used on their vehicles during the 200 - 2005 period.. apparently - not too many complaints have been filed to warrant a recall, this is the basis for my compliant now. My car is taken care of, garaged, etc.... I have never had a rusting problem with an vehicle I have owned, and this does not seem fair that this car should be rusting, and for a second time within 8 months after the repairs.
- Colchester, CT, USA
Whenever the car is rained upon, water runs into the fan motor air intake, then into the fan blower motor, which is inside the car behind the glove box, and then runs out onto the right front passenger floorboard. I have had to replace one blower motor that shorted out from the water in it, and have to pull the carpet up so it can dry out. Also, afraid of the possibility of mold growing either in the air vents or in the carpet. I took the car to the dealership and the service representative told me he has seen other cars like mine having the same problem. The dealership sells a part to install under the hood over the air blower intake to channel water away to correct the problem.
- Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Water leaked into car interior foot area and shorted out ac/heater blower motor.
- Hermitage, TN, USA
Ford Taurus and the Mercury Sable's have a problem with water leaking into the heater core box which eventually causes the heater motor and stop working. I understand from reading post on the internet that is apparently a design flaw. My car had 44,000 miles at the point where the motor quit working. The bill to repair the car was $471.28. The warranty had obviously expired but I felt like Ford Motor Co should re-imburse the cost of the repair since it is a very common problem. They declined to help with the cost of the repair.
- Paragould, AR, USA
Mercury Sable 2003 leaks water onto the passenger floor board also causing my ac blower motor to short out.
- Crowley, TX, USA
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.
- Bronx, NY, USA
: the contact stated water leaked into the front right side of the ventilation system, onto the floor, as the vehicle was driven at 45 mph, while it was raining. The service dealer has been made aware of the problem, but the manufacturer was not notified.
- Cleveland, OH, USA
Water leak in the front passenger cowl and has caused my blower motor to short and am no longer able to use it.
- Saint James, NY, USA
No events leading up to incident. Whenever it rains, water leaks onto the front passenger side floorboard. Water also leaks onto blower motor and resistor causing failure. Caused by a manufacturer design flaw in a plastic cowling in engine compartment.
- Sperry, OK, USA
Water collected in the heater blower motor causing it need repalcement. I have heard this is a design flaw.
- St. Louis, MO, USA
Consumer has problems seeing through windshield when the sun is shining. The reflection is so bad that it distorts vision. When looking through the windshield, instead of seeing what is on the outside, the consumer sees the reflection of the dashboard. The reflection is very strong.
- Huntington Station, NY, USA
- Valrico, FL, USA