MYRModel Year Report

2001 Mercury Sable

◆ Worse than typical
2001 Mercury Sable
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
430
Recalls
9

Campaigns on file for 2001

Investigations
8

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Suspension

52% of complaints

Complaints per year

1984: 1 complaint 1984 1985: 0 complaints 1986: 47 complaints 1987: 78 complaints 1987 1988: 129 complaints 1989: 242 complaints 1990: 168 complaints 1990 1991: 229 complaints 1992: 372 complaints 1993: 678 complaints 1993 1994: 388 complaints 1995: 350 complaints 1996: 304 complaints 1996 1997: 228 complaints 1998: 190 complaints 1999: 258 complaints 2000: 464 complaints 2001: 430 complaints 2001 430 2002: 440 complaints 2003: 201 complaints 2004: 52 complaints 2005: 83 complaints 2005 2006: 1 complaint 2008: 61 complaints 2009: 20 complaints 2009
1984: 1 complaint 1984 1985: 0 complaints 1986: 47 complaints 1986 1987: 78 complaints 1988: 129 complaints 1988 1989: 242 complaints 1990: 168 complaints 1990 1991: 229 complaints 1992: 372 complaints 1992 1993: 678 complaints 1994: 388 complaints 1994 1995: 350 complaints 1996: 304 complaints 1996 1997: 228 complaints 1998: 190 complaints 1998 1999: 258 complaints 2000: 464 complaints 2001: 430 complaints 2001 430 2002: 440 complaints 2003: 201 complaints 2004: 52 complaints 2004 2005: 83 complaints 2006: 1 complaint 2006 2008: 61 complaints 2009: 20 complaints 2009
1984: 1 complaint 1984 1985: 0 complaints 1985 1986: 47 complaints 1986 1987: 78 complaints 1987 1988: 129 complaints 1988 1989: 242 complaints 1989 1990: 168 complaints 1990 1991: 229 complaints 1991 1992: 372 complaints 1992 1993: 678 complaints 1993 1994: 388 complaints 1994 1995: 350 complaints 1995 1996: 304 complaints 1996 1997: 228 complaints 1997 1998: 190 complaints 1998 1999: 258 complaints 1999 2000: 464 complaints 2000 2001: 430 complaints 2001 430 2002: 440 complaints 2002 2003: 201 complaints 2003 2004: 52 complaints 2004 2005: 83 complaints 2005 2006: 1 complaint 2006 2008: 61 complaints 2008 2009: 20 complaints 2009

2001: 430 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19841
19850
198647
198778
1988129
1989242
1990168
1991229
1992372
1993678
1994388
1995350
1996304
1997228
1998190
1999258
2000464
2001430
2002440
2003201
200452
200583
20061
200861
200920

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Suspension

52% · 222 reports

Most commonly citing coil springs and rear.

FIRE

Vehicle speed control

14% · 62 reports

Most commonly citing accelerator pedal and cables.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Transmission issues included a near death experience when faulty cruise control wiring / functionality caused automatic transmission to rev to to high rpms.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-02-06

Also filed under Electronic stability control (esc) and power train

My 2001 Mercury Sable accelerated as I entered the highway. The car would not stop even when I applied the brake. I called 911. The 911 operator suggested that I apply the parking brake which I did.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-10-26

Also filed under Service brakes

2001 Mercury Sable. Consumer writes in regards to cruise control failure *tgw the consumer stated the vehicle rolled over twice. The consumer and his wife had to be extricated from the vehicle. The vehicle was totaled.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-04-24

Service brakes

9% · 39 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Electrical system

7% · 28 reports

Most commonly citing interior/under dash and fuses and circuit breakers.

FIRE

Air bags

6% · 27 reports

Most commonly citing side/window and frontal.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

While driving the passenger side impact air bag falsley deployed injuring the passengers right arm, the dealer replaced the passenger side air bag, seat cover and rcm module.…

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-09-17

The vehicle hit a pot hole while driving, upon impact the the drivers side impact air bag falsely deployed hitting the consumer causing bruising and soreness.…

NHTSA ODI report, 2001-05-21

Safety timeline

9 recalls · 8 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2000-09-11Seat belts00V240000 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The child safety seat anchor latch (Iso-fix anchor) fasteners do not have adequate residual torque. The anchors are secured to the floor pan with a…

    Remedy: Dealers will remove and re-install the bracket nut using a torque retention material (Red loctite). Owner notification began September 11, 2000. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. ▮
    2001Complaint volume 430 complaints filed for this model year.
  3. R
    2001-03-06Equipment00V396000 Vehicle description: certain sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS 225, "Child restraint anchorage systems." The affected…

    Remedy: Owners will be provided with owner guide inserts revised to provide the required information, and instructions for affixing these inserts to their owner guides. Customers will also be advised that…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2001-03-22Exterior lighting01V078000 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…

    Remedy: 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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2001-05-04Seat belts01V144000 Vehicle description: passenger cars. The seat belt buckle tongue may not fully eject from the buckle assembly when the release button is pushed slowly. This condition could also result in a…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver and right front passenger seat belt buckles. Owner notification began May 4, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2001-08-20Visibility01V258000 Vehicle description: passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, and light and medium duty pickup trucks. A switch located in the plastic cover of the wiper motor gear case could malfunction and…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the date code on the wiper motor. Motors built with the suspect time frame will have the wiper motor gear case cover replaced. Owner notification began August 20, 2001.…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. I
    2002-03-15Preliminary evaluationClosed 2002-10-22 Brake/accel pedal separation
  8. R
    2002-09-13Service brakes, hydraulic02V266000 Certain passenger vehicles equipped with adjustable padels are being recalled in order to adjust the brake and accelerator pedals to a minimum of 50 mm of lateral separation. Simultaneous…

    Remedy: Owners will be instructed as to the proper way to set the position of the pedals and to take their vehicles to a dealer to have the spacing between the brake and accelerator pedals measured. If the…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. I
    2003-01-06Preliminary evaluationClosed 2003-07-02 Frontal air bag non-deployment in crash
  10. I
    2003-07-02Engineering analysisClosed 2004-06-23 Frontal air bag non-deployment in crash
  11. I
    2003-10-23Recall queryClosed 2004-03-05 Brake light switch failure
  12. I
    2003-10-31RPClosed 2004-03-23 Brake/accelerator pedal application
  13. R
    2004-04-05Exterior lighting04V106000 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…

    Remedy: 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.…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  14. R
    2005-01-10Suspension04V332000 On certain passenger vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan…

    Remedy: Dealers will install protective spring shields. In addition, Ford is extending the warranty coverage of the front coil springs in all other states, for fracture only, up to 10 years of service or…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  15. I
    2005-09-27Preliminary evaluationClosed 2006-01-24 Rear coil spring fracture
  16. I
    2006-01-24Engineering analysisClosed 2007-02-05 Rear coil spring fracture
  17. I
    2012-10-24Preliminary evaluationClosed 2013-06-26 Speed control cable damage
  18. R
    2016-05-26Service brakes, hydraulic16E026000 Bosch Brake Components LLC (Bosch) is recalling certain aftermarket replacement front brake pads, models Bosch QuietCast BC598 and BP765, Bosch Blue BE598 and BE598H, Prostop PD598 and PD765M, Duralast Gold DG598, Duralast MKD598, Stop Master ST598,...

    Remedy: Bosch will instruct the owners how to have the affected brake pads replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2016. Owners may contact Bosch customer service at 1-888-715-3616.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2001 Mercury Sable — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Suspension: 222 reports on file for this year.
  • Vehicle speed control: 62 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 39 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 00V240000 · Seat belts
  • Recall 00V396000 · Equipment
  • Recall 01V078000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 01V144000 · Seat belts
  • Recall 01V258000 · Visibility
  • Recall 02V266000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 04V106000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 04V332000 · Suspension
  • Recall 16E026000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2001 Mercury Sable reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2001 Mercury Sable is rated "worse than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Mercury Sable?
The most-reported component is suspension, accounting for 52% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2001 Mercury Sable have?
9 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.