2003 Mercury Sable Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 8about this part
- Share
- 4%of 201 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 29,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the air bags of the 2003 Mercury Sable, 4% of the 201 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 29,500 miles. 8 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
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.
“While driving at 45 MPH the consumer's vehicle was struck by another vehicle, and the passenger air bag deployed, however, the driver's side air bag did not deploy. The vehicle was totaled. The vehicle was sent 10-15 feet into a ditch. The insurance adjuster stated that the engine had broken off all of it's mountings and shifted 3 inches.”
NHTSA complaint #10115158, filed 2005-05, 30,000 miles“My wife swerved to avoid hitting another vehicle encroaching into her lane. She lost control of her 2003 Mercury Sable and slammed head-on into the concrete center divider of the westbound 60 fwy diamondbar ca. The passenger side air bag deployed, but the drivers side bag did not. She suffered a concussion, a fractured mandible, and a molar tooth was broken from the jaw bone which the maxillo-facial surgeon was unable to save. The car was a total loss.”
NHTSA complaint #10079045, filed 2004-06, 19,999 miles“While driving at approximately 55 to 60 MPH vehicle was involved in a collision. Upon impact, driver's side air bag did not deploy.vehicle was totaled.”
NHTSA complaint #10059630, filed 2004-02, 29,000 miles“The contact owned a 2003 Mercury Sable. While driving 35 MPH, another vehicle collided with the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belt did not lock, which forced the contact to strike the steering wheel during the crash. The contact sustained a concussion, back, and neck injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's home and then towed to a junk yard. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 100,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10948477, filed 2017-01, 100,000 miles“2003 Mercury Sable station wagon ran off the road into a stone lined ditch. The passenger air bag deployed but the driver's side air bag did not. ..... On april1, 2005 while driving within the speed limit vehicle ran off the road into a rock lined ditch. Upon impact, driver's side air bag failed to inflate. Driver sustained chest pains and numerous burns. Driver was in pain for about 4 weeks.”
NHTSA complaint #10121462, filed 2005-05Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 4 | 7% |
| 2005 | 4 | 5% |
| 2004 | 2 | 4% |
| 2003 | 8 | 4% |
| 2002 | 24 | 5% |
| 2001 | 27 | 6% |
| 2000 | 33 | 7% |
| 1999 | 17 | 7% |
| 1998 | 14 | 7% |
| 1997 | 12 | 5% |
| 1996 | 15 | 5% |
| 1995 | 8 | 2% |
| 1994 | 10 | 3% |
| 1993 | 24 | 4% |
| 1992 | 11 | 3% |
| 1991 | 10 | 5% |
| 1990 | 14 | 8% |
Other parts of the 2003 Mercury Sable
47 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
30 complaintsVehicle speed control
28 complaintsBody and structure
20 complaintsEngine cooling
19 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
19 complaintsBrakes
14 complaintsExterior lighting
12 complaintsElectrical system
10 complaintsEngine
8 complaintsFuel system
7 complaintsSeat belts
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 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