2002 Mercury Sable Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 13about this part
- Share
- 3%of 440 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 66,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2002 Mercury Sable, 3% of the 440 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 66,000 miles. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Automatic headlights relay soddard into backside of fuse panel (gem) was bad location for a person with no experience to fix or locate most people never got it fixed because of no experience and amount of money to have an electrical mechanic to fix. I understand there was a few people did get it fixed through a recall but I didn't and I never got a recall for this in the mail. I would like ford motor company fix this because I was never notified of this problem. My car has had this problem for about 12 years.”
NHTSA complaint #11100705, filed 2018-06, 35,000 miles“Wire harness failure in rubber boots from body of car to rear lift gate on station wagon model. Insulation cracking and wire breaking completely in flexible rubber boot causes erratic behavior and ultimate failure of high brake light, back up lights, license plate lights, rear windshield wiper, rear window defroster, open lift gate and open rear window safety sensors and stereo speakers. Insulation and wiring within boot has become brittle and fatigued. Clean breaks in wires from opening and closing lift gate are evident. …”
NHTSA complaint #10457115, filed 2012-05, 90,000 miles“While driving at any speed intermittently headlights malfunctioned without any notice. Also, on several occasions, when the dimmer switch was used the headlights failed.”
NHTSA complaint #10053763, filed 2004-01, 7 miles“The contact owns a 2002 Mercury Sable. The contact stated that the brake lights remained illuminated and caused the battery to drain. The contact mentioned that the brake lights dimmed when the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 168,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10767317, filed 2015-09, 168,000 miles“The contact owns a 2002 Mercury Sable. While driving 25 MPH, the headlights failed to remain illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 04v106000 (exterior lighting). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 102,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10808810, filed 2015-12, 102,000 milesRelated recalls
- 04V106000Mar 2, 2004Certain passenger vehicles are being recalled to correct a problem with a malfunctioning stop lamp switch and/or associated wiring. This malfunctioning could…Covers: Mercury Sable 2000–2003, Ford Taurus 2000–2003
Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 7 | 13% |
| 2003 | 12 | 6% |
| 2002 | 13 | 3% |
| 2001 | 13 | 3% |
| 2000 | 54 | 12% |
| 1999 | 7 | 3% |
| 1998 | 5 | 3% |
| 1997 | 8 | 4% |
| 1996 | 13 | 4% |
| 1995 | 9 | 3% |
| 1994 | 27 | 7% |
| 1993 | 63 | 9% |
| 1992 | 13 | 4% |
| 1991 | 4 | 2% |
| 1990 | 8 | 5% |
| 1989 | 4 | 2% |
| 1988 | 3 | 2% |
| 1987 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2002 Mercury Sable
239 complaintsVehicle speed control
56 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
27 complaintsAir bags
24 complaintsBrakes
24 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
23 complaintsEngine cooling
20 complaintsElectrical system
17 complaintsBody and structure
13 complaintsFuel system
9 complaintsTires
9 complaintsWheels
6 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Mercury Sable
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology