2002 Mercury Sable
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.
- Complaints
- 440
- Recalls
- 4
- Investigations
- 4
- Top problem
- Suspension
Campaigns on file for 2002
Opened by NHTSA
61% of complaints
Complaints per year
2002: 440 complaints
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1984 | 1 |
| 1985 | 0 |
| 1986 | 47 |
| 1987 | 78 |
| 1988 | 129 |
| 1989 | 242 |
| 1990 | 168 |
| 1991 | 229 |
| 1992 | 372 |
| 1993 | 678 |
| 1994 | 388 |
| 1995 | 350 |
| 1996 | 304 |
| 1997 | 228 |
| 1998 | 190 |
| 1999 | 258 |
| 2000 | 464 |
| 2001 | 430 |
| 2002 | 440 |
| 2003 | 201 |
| 2004 | 52 |
| 2005 | 83 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 61 |
| 2009 | 20 |
Known problem areas
Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.
Suspension
61% · 268 reportsMost commonly citing coil springs and front.
Vehicle speed control
13% · 56 reportsMost commonly citing accelerator pedal and cruise control.
Show complaint excerpts
This has caused me much problems as my brother no longer let's me drive my mom's car thinks he's running the show which is quickly changing... Pulled into garage at 2 miles a hour.
NHTSA ODI report, 2013-09-02
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Mercury Sable. The contact stated that while descending a hill at unknown speeds, the vehicle erroneously accelerated and the contact crashed into a fence. There were no injuries and no police report.
NHTSA ODI report, 2013-07-29
While traveling 5 MPH and attempting avoid a crash consumer depressed brake pedal with force to floorboard resulting in accelerator pedal being depressed at the same time. This caused a crash. Please provide further information.
NHTSA ODI report, 2002-09-18
Also filed under Service brakes, hydraulic
Visibility
6% · 28 reportsMost commonly citing windshield and fan/motor.
Service brakes
6% · 27 reportsMost commonly citing hydraulic and electric.
Show complaint excerpts
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Mercury Sable. While attempting to park the vehicle, it experienced unintended acceleration. As a result, the vehicle jumped a curb and struck a metal table outside.
NHTSA ODI report, 2016-06-29
Air bags
6% · 25 reportsMost commonly citing frontal.
Show complaint excerpts
Vehicle was involved in a frontal collsion in which it hit a parked car and ran into a house, and neither air bag deployed. Feel free to provide any further information.
NHTSA ODI report, 2002-08-13
Front collision at 45 MPH, drivers airbag did not deploy, passenger airbag deployed. Damage to vehicle was 5000 dollars. *ak.
NHTSA ODI report, 2002-05-28
Safety timeline
4 recalls · 4 investigations · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
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2002Complaint volume 440 complaints filed for this model year.
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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…
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2003-03-31Visibility03V087000 Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 212, "Windshield mounting." The windshields may potentially exhibit increased wind…
Remedy: Dealers will replace these windshields. Owner notification began on March 31, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the…
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2003-10-23Recall queryClosed 2004-03-05 Brake light switch failure
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2003-10-31RPClosed 2004-03-23 Brake/accelerator pedal application
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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.…
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2008-08-28Engineering analysisClosed 2011-06-30 Front Suspension Coil Spring Fracture
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2012-10-24Preliminary evaluationClosed 2013-06-26 Speed control cable damage
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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.
Buy-smart checklist
2002 Mercury Sable — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Suspension: 268 reports on file for this year.
- Vehicle speed control: 56 reports on file for this year.
- Visibility: 28 reports on file for this year.
Verify these recalls were completed
- Recall 02V266000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
- Recall 03V087000 · Visibility
- Recall 04V106000 · Exterior lighting
- Recall 16E026000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
Other years of this model
See all years ranked →FAQ
- Is the 2002 Mercury Sable reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2002 Mercury Sable is rated "worse than typical".
- What are the most common problems with the 2002 Mercury Sable?
- The most-reported component is suspension, accounting for 61% of complaints on file.
- How many recalls does the 2002 Mercury Sable have?
- 4 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.