2004 Mercury Sable Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 12about this part
- Share
- 23%of 52 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 95,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 12 complaints about the brakes of the 2004 Mercury Sable, 23% of the 52 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 95,000 miles.
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 parked, tried to put car in reverse to back out of driveway but car will not shift out of park. Only way to get car to shift out of park is to apply emergency brakes then shift car into neutral while key turned to off position. Break lights will not illuminate when brake pedal applied. I checked all the fuses and replaced the break lamp bulbs to troubleshoot issue according to owners manual however problem still exists. When researching online I read about the same exact issues occurring in same model and make that were recalled. …”
NHTSA complaint #11119888, filed 2018-08, 172,000 miles“I received a panicked phone call from my 16 year old daughter after a life threatening experience. She was driving at 35 MPH when the car began to accelerate on it's own, the engine raced to 4,000 RPM and stayed there, while she frantically pressed the brake. Thankfully she was able to contain control of the vehicle as she pulled off it the road. She immediately turned off the engine, after waiting a few minutes she started the car, again it raced to 4,000 RPM. After trying this multiple times I had the car towed home. …”
NHTSA complaint #10553933, filed 2013-11, 54,296 miles“The brake light switch failed causing inability to get shift lever out of park mode. Brake lights stay on all the time or not come on at all. The problem was noted after parking in our garage and noticing the brake lights being on all the time. I discovered that turning the ignition switch to first indent that the shift lever can be placed in the neutral mode so engine can be started. In driving the car, the brake lights do not work. When stopping the car and shifting to the park mode, the shift lever cannot be taken out of the park mode without going through the sequence described above. …”
NHTSA complaint #10918494, filed 2016-10, 28,100 miles“Car will not come out of park, nor will brake lights operate when pedal depressed. Exact symptoms as described in previous model year recalls. Only wayto get car out of park is to place in neutral after turning key in ignition to first available position, then applying brake pedal to release shift lock.”
NHTSA complaint #10663755, filed 2014-12, 54,000 miles“Brake light switch at pedal faulty with same symptoms as recall NHTSA I.d. # 04v10600...brake lights won't activate when pedal depressed while driving or parked and when parked transmission range selector is stuck in park position. These symptoms could cause an accident from the rear and or leave family members stranded. Curiously this recall doesn't list the recalled switches part number and certainly ford motors won't admit that a few were installed on 2004 models.”
NHTSA complaint #10494895, filed 2013-01, 137,590 milesBrakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 2 | 10% |
| 2008 | 6 | 10% |
| 2005 | 8 | 10% |
| 2004 | 12 | 23% |
| 2003 | 14 | 7% |
| 2002 | 24 | 5% |
| 2001 | 40 | 9% |
| 2000 | 67 | 14% |
| 1999 | 29 | 11% |
| 1998 | 29 | 15% |
| 1997 | 19 | 8% |
| 1996 | 20 | 7% |
| 1995 | 11 | 3% |
| 1994 | 26 | 7% |
| 1993 | 48 | 7% |
| 1992 | 41 | 11% |
| 1991 | 19 | 9% |
| 1990 | 10 | 6% |
| 1989 | 13 | 5% |
| 1988 | 4 | 3% |
| 1987 | 5 | 7% |
| 1986 | 2 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2004 Mercury Sable
15 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
12 complaintsExterior lighting
7 complaintsElectrical system
6 complaintsEngine
3 complaintsSeat belts
3 complaintsSeats
3 complaintsAir bags
2 complaintsEngine cooling
2 complaintsFuel system
2 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsBody and structure
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Mercury Sable
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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