2000 Mercury Sable Problems
- Complaints
- 464filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 64,122miles, 232 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 7campaigns on record
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 20 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl FWD · 17 city / 26 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2000 Mercury Sable (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this model year most often describe broken coil springs — front springs covered by a corrosion-related recall, and rear springs that owners say are not — sometimes with the fractured end damaging a tire. A second recurring theme is unintended or stuck acceleration tied to the speed control system, along with stop lamp switch faults that leave brake lights on or dead.
- Suspension
Broken coil springs, front and rear
- 149 complaints (32%)
- median 68,078 mi at 6.5 yrs old (116 state mileage)
- 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $502 (median of 16 quotes)
- filed 2000–2016
Complaints describe coil springs fracturing, often discovered as a bang or clang while driving, a sudden sag, or a rubbing noise from a wheel well. In several cases the broken end of the spring contacted and damaged a tire. Owners report the front springs were addressed under a corrosion-related recall with shields or replacement, while rear spring failures were generally handled as paid repairs; some owners describe parts not being available when the recall work was requested. Reported across a wide range, from under 30,000 to over 150,000 miles, often described as normal driving in areas where corrosion is a factor.
Recall 04V3320004 related service bulletins
What to check: Ask whether front spring recall work was completed and look for shields or newer springs; have a shop inspect all four springs and the spring seats for breaks and corrosion before buying.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“My daughter was driving my 2000 Mercury Sable around a curve to the left when the rear of the vehicle began to slide to the left causing her to loose control and strike 2 guard rails,2 vehicles traveling in the opposite direction and then head-on into a stone retaining wall. Vehicle was severely damage and my daughter suffered a minor head injury. The airbags did not deploy even after striking the wall head-on. …”
NHTSA complaint #10483131, filed 2012-11, 81,213 miles“Ford taurus/Mercury Sable rear coil springs. Although, not under recall, the rear springs appear just as susceptible to failure as the front springs which are under recall. On 2/23/07 the coil springs failed. This was within 3 months of front coil spring failure. The vehicle is a 2000 Mercury Sable with only 59,000 miles. My brother in law is the service manager of the local ford dealership and said I'm surprised we haven't seen a recall on the rear springs too. …”
NHTSA complaint #10184606, filed 2007-03, 59,500 miles - Vehicle speed control
Unintended or stuck acceleration / cruise control
- 69 complaints (15%)
- median 75,500 mi at 10.0 yrs old (28 state mileage)
- 16 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2000–2019
Owners describe the vehicle accelerating on its own or holding speed after the accelerator is released, sometimes with cruise control engaged. Several say the cruise control could not be switched off with the on/off button and that braking was needed to slow the car; some describe raising engine rpm in neutral after stopping. Repairs reported by owners were often inconclusive, with dealers finding nothing or recommending diagnostics first. Mostly reported between roughly 35,000 and 130,000 miles, at highway and low speeds alike.
What to check: Test the cruise control on/off and brake-cancel functions and check the speed control cable and throttle linkage for damage, kinks, or binding; a service bulletin describes cable damage and interference with throttle return on these vehicles.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I was turning into a driveway,almost stopped,car accelerated even though I was stomping down on the brake.I ended up in a garage door,causing damage to my car,their car and garage door. I took car to dealer,nothing wrong.ford refuses to acknowledge any problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10088434, filed 2004-08, 65,000 miles“I am having problems with it stalling constantly when I have sat at a light I dont javw the money to fix this due to on a fixed income was told it has a problem with the throttle control issue and they said there was a recall on it due this”
NHTSA complaint #11267023, filed 2019-10, 55,000 miles - Exterior lighting
Brake lights stay on or fail (stop lamp switch)
- 45 complaints (10%)
- median 28,850 mi at 3.9 yrs old (24 state mileage)
- 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2000–2014
Complaints describe stop lamps staying lit after parking, which drains the battery, or brake lights failing altogether. Some owners link the problem to grease from the adjustable pedal assembly contaminating the stop lamp switch, and a few report the switch melting or being replaced more than once after recall work. Reported from very low mileage (a few thousand) up to about 157,000 miles, often noticed as a dead battery or a following driver's reaction.
Recall 04V106000Recall 01V078000Recall 01V075000
What to check: Confirm the stop lamp switch recall work was done, verify both brake lights work with the pedal released and pressed, and ask whether the switch has been replaced since.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10044514, filed 2003-10, 62,520 miles“Brake light switch continued to fail, which was caused by grease contamination from the adjustable pedal linkage as stated in recall 01 v 078 000. Ford failed to address the problem and stated the brake light switch was not under warranty.”
NHTSA complaint #10029789, filed 2003-08, 4,000 miles
Buying note. Inspect all four coil springs and their seats, confirm the front spring and brake light switch recalls were completed, and check pedals and cruise control operation. A pre-purchase inspection plus service records covers most of what owners report for this model year.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 464 consumer complaints for the 2000 Mercury Sable. 232 of the complaints include a mileage, and 34% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 64,122 miles. Of all complaints, 34 involved a crash, 8 a fire, 20 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns and 27 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Suspension158 34%
- Vehicle speed control71 15%
- Brakes67 14%
- Exterior lighting54 12%
- Air bags33 7.1%
- Transmission and drivetrain31 6.7%
- Engine cooling25 5.4%
- Electrical system23 5.0%
- Other or unknown15 3.2%
- Seat belts12 2.6%
Also reported: Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (12), Fuel system (10), Tires (10), Body and structure (8), Engine (5), Equipment (5), Steering (5), Seats (4), Interior lighting (3), Wheels (3), Latches, locks and linkages (2).
Example complaints
Suspension: “The car was being driven as normal when the rear end started to sag. Once we inspected the problem we realized both rear strut springs were broken at about the same place. After investigating we found the front springs were serviced under a recall but rears weren't covered even though they were prone to the same breakage. I am going to pay to have repairs done.”
NHTSA complaint #10240800, filed 2008-09, 70,000 milesVehicle speed control: “On several occasions, the throttle stuck and car continued to accelerate at a very fast speed. Mechanic ran diagnostic test and finally replaced throttle cable assembly. Problem continued. I had two trips to mechanic and repaired and replaced my garage door three times because I couldn't stop the car. Mileage 93119. Finally gave up and traded car in.”
NHTSA complaint #10489461, filed 2012-12, 91,421 milesBrakes: “This Sable had the stuck throttle problem recall performed in october 2013. Yesterday, a dangerous acceleration condition occurred. While accelerating from a stop light, the car kept accelerating even after taking all pressure from the accelerator pedal. I entered an on ramp and accelerated to join with traffic. Even after completely removing my foot from the pedal the car kept accelerating to over 75 miles an hour. I attempted to brake, but had to shut off the ignition to pull to the side of the road. …”
NHTSA complaint #10588947, filed 2014-05, 146,000 milesExterior lighting: “On three occasions over past few weeks, my headlights have gone out while driving at night. They both turn off for 1-3 seconds, and then turn back on. All other lights (interior instrument lights, and exterior parking lights) remain on. I did not hit any bumps or have any other shaking that would indicate a loose wire. This was both headlights, so I do not expect a loose bulb or single wire.”
NHTSA complaint #10139295, filed 2005-10, 95,600 milesMileage when problems were reported
34% of the 232 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 40,000 and 94,973 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2000 Mercury Sable. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sable · sedan (side air bags) | not rated | 5 / 5 | — | — | — |
| Sable · sedan | not rated | 5 / 5 | — | — | — |
Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2000 Mercury Sable version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sable FWD | 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 17 | 26 | 20 | $3,350 |
| Sable Wagon FWD | 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 17 | 25 | 20 | $3,350 |
| Sable Wagon FWD | 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 17 | 24 | 19 | $3,550 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 04V332000Jul 15, 2004Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil springsCovers: Mercury Sable 1999–2001, Ford Taurus 1999–2001
On certain passenger vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio…
- 04V106000Mar 2, 2004Exterior lighting › Brake lights › SwitchCovers: Mercury Sable 2000–2003, Ford Taurus 2000–2003
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 cause them to stay on all the time. This could cause confusion…
- 02V266000Oct 2, 2002Service brakes, hydraulic › Pedals and linkagesCovers: Mercury Sable 2000–2002, Ford Taurus 2000–2002
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 application of both the brake and accelerator pedals could result in…
- 01V258000Aug 8, 2001Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › MotorCovers: Mercury Sable 2000–2001, Ford F-250 2000–2001, Focus 2000–2001 +12 more
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 overheat, potentially resulting in loss of intermittent wiper…
- 01V075000Mar 12, 2001Exterior lighting › Headlights › SwitchCovers: Mercury Sable 2000, Ford Excursion 2000, Taurus 2000
Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles. Due to the use of incorrect material by a supplier, the headlamp switch knob can fracture and separate from the headlamp switch.
- 01V078000Mar 12, 2001Exterior lighting › Tail lights › SwitchCovers: Mercury Sable 2000–2001, Ford Taurus 2000–2001
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 carbon build up, and potentially, a short circuit.
See all 7 recalls for the 2000 Mercury Sable → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 27 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10177863Jul 13, 2020Body and structure. This article supersedes TSB 19-2026 to update the vehicle model years affected. Some 2000 and newer Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns…
- 10156863Feb 7, 2019Equipment, Body and structure. Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white…
- 10155551Feb 7, 2019Body and structure. Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white…
- 10205033Apr 21, 2016Suspension. Safety recall 04S17 - Front coil springs - requests for recall service action
- 10183769Apr 21, 2016Suspension. For 1999-2001 Taurus or Sable vehicles Safety Recall 04S17 has been issued for vehicles that are operated in high corrosion areas for an extended period, where the front coil springs could…
- 10058102Sep 9, 2014Suspension. Mercury/ford: safety recall regarding front coil springs can fracture on vehicles operating for extended periods in high corrosion areas. Model 1999-01 taurus, sable.
- 10056656Aug 11, 2014Suspension. Mercury/ford: front coil springs can fracture, after operating, for an extended period of time, in high corrosion areas, move move past spring seat and contact rupture front tire, resulting rapid…
- 10052600Jun 21, 2013Vehicle speed control. Ford: see document search button for owner letter. Speed control cable is susceptible to damage and can disconnect during hood maintenance and also interfere with full throttle return to idle after…
- 10018746Nov 14, 2005Engine cooling. Buck/jerk and miss during drive cycle above 3000 rpm - no dtc - 3.0l 2v gas and ffv engine.
- 10018745Nov 14, 2005Engine cooling. Wds cop kit diagnostic tip - coil on plug (cop) ignition systems - engine misfire or rough running.
Other model years of the Mercury Sable
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 20 | 34,450 | 0 | — | 21 | — | Falling |
| 2008 | 61 | 48,000 | 1 | — | 22 | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Falling |
| 2005 | 83 | 80,000 | 0 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 52 | 73,897 | 1 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 201 | 70,000 | 3 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 440 | 75,000 | 3 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 430 | 65,000 | 8 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 464 | 64,122 | 7 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1999 | 258 | 67,850 | 5 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 190 | 91,000 | 2 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 228 | 78,000 | 3 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 304 | 95,000 | 5 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 350 | 81,545 | 5 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 387 | 96,000 | 4 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 674 | 86,921 | 6 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 364 | 103,603 | 4 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 221 | 90,000 | 4 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 166 | 79,500 | 5 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1989 | 238 | 123,615 | 6 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 126 | 144,000 | 5 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1987 | 76 | 131,000 | 8 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1986 | 46 | 111,000 | 8 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
All Mercury Sable model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2000 Mercury Sable?
Owners of this model year most often describe broken coil springs — front springs covered by a corrosion-related recall, and rear springs that owners say are not — sometimes with the fractured end damaging a tire. The issues reported most often: Broken coil springs, front and rear; Unintended or stuck acceleration / cruise control; Brake lights stay on or fail (stop lamp switch).
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2000 Mercury Sable have?
NHTSA recorded 464 consumer complaints for the 2000 Mercury Sable as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2000 Mercury Sable is reported most often?
Suspension is named most often, in 158 complaints (34% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control with 71.
Has the 2000 Mercury Sable been recalled?
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2000 Mercury Sable get?
The EPA rates the 2000 Mercury Sable (Sable, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 17 city and 26 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2000 Mercury Sable reported?
Among the 232 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 64,122 miles and the middle half falls between 40,000 and 94,973 miles; 34% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.