CarBrief

NHTSA has 440 owner complaints on file for the 2002 Mercury Sable, and suspension is the largest group[1][2]. The car also has 3 recalls on file, so check any car you are considering by VIN[3].

440owner complaints[1]
3recalls[3]
19–21MPG combined (EPA)[4]

Most reported problems

These are unverified reports that owners sent to NHTSA, and one complaint can name more than one part[1]. Of the 440 complaints, 32 mention a crash and 5 a fire, and the complaints report 22 injuries[1]. One death is reported in these complaints[1].

Component group Complaints Crashes Median miles at failure
Suspension[2] 239 2 81,811
Speed control[5] 56 6 87,755
Visibility[6] 26 0 54,000
Air bags[7] 24 20 49,000
Engine[8] 24 1 60,643
Brakes[9] 23 7 36,950
Power train[10] 23 1 45,000
Electrical system[11] 17 0 51,000

Suspension. This group has 239 complaints[2]. In the sample of complaint texts we read, owners describe coil springs that corroded and broke. Some say a broken spring punctured a tire and damaged a strut or a sway bar link. Some say they paid for the repair themselves and could not get reimbursed because no recall covered their car[2].

Speed control. There are 56 complaints, with 6 crashes[5]. In the sample we read, owners describe the car surging or speeding up on its own, often while braking or shifting into gear. One describes a foot catching between the brake and accelerator pedals[5]. The pedal recall below describes a similar situation[12].

Visibility. There are 26 complaints[6]. In the sample we read, owners describe windshield leaks, wind noise and rattles, and water reaching the blower motor, which then fogs the windows. Some owners waited a long time for windshield recall parts, and some found their VIN was not covered by the recall. A couple describe a side window shattering without warning[6].

Air bags. Only 24 complaints name air bags, but 20 of them mention a crash, and they report 12 injuries and 1 death[7]. In the sample we read, owners describe air bags that did not deploy in a frontal collision, often the driver side bag[7]. These are owner reports and NHTSA has not verified them[1].

Engine, brakes, power train and electrical each have 17 to 24 complaints[8][9][10][11]. Brakes stand out only for 7 crashes among 23 complaints[9]. We did not read complaint texts for these groups, so we do not describe what owners report.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2002 Sable[3]. Newest first:

Fuel economy

EPA lists a 3.0L 6-cylinder engine with an Automatic 4-spd and front-wheel drive for the Sable and the Sable Wagon[4][15]. The ratings are close, but they differ by entry.

Body and fuel City / highway / combined MPG EPA annual fuel cost
Sable, regular[4] 18 / 25 / 21 $3,200
Sable, regular[16] 18 / 25 / 20 $3,350
Sable, gasoline or E85[17] 18 / 25 / 21 $3,200
Sable Wagon, regular[15] 17 / 24 / 20 $3,350
Sable Wagon, regular[18] 17 / 24 / 19 $3,550
Sable Wagon, gasoline or E85[19] 17 / 24 / 19 $3,550

The annual cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices from when the car was new. It is a way to compare cars, not a bill you should expect.

Safety ratings

NHTSA shows no 5-star safety ratings for this model year[20]. The 4-door, 4-door W/SAB and 4-door wagon entries are all listed as not rated[20][21][22].

How 2002 compares with other years

1995: 350 complaints, 5 recalls19951996: 304 complaints, 5 recalls19961997: 228 complaints, 3 recalls19971998: 190 complaints, 2 recalls19981999: 258 complaints, 5 recalls19992000: 464 complaints, 7 recalls20002001: 430 complaints, 8 recalls20012002: 440 complaints, 3 recalls44020022003: 201 complaints, 3 recalls20032004: 52 complaints, 1 recalls20042005: 83 complaints, 0 recalls20052008: 61 complaints, 1 recalls20082009: 20 complaints, 0 recalls2009
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Sable model year. The 2002 is highlighted[3].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
19953505
19963045
19972283
19981902
19992585
20004647
20014308
20024403
20032013
2004521
2005830
2008611
2009200

NHTSA data covers 13 Sable model years[3]. The 2002 has 440 complaints, the second most[3]. Only 2000 has more at 464, and 2001 is just behind at 430[3]. The 2002 has 3 recalls[3]. That is fewer than 2000 with 7 and 2001 with 8, and also fewer than 1995, 1996 and 1999 with 5 each[3]. It matches 1997 and 2003 at 3 each[3].

Complaints fall to 201 for 2003 and 52 for 2004[3]. These counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so use them as a rough comparison within the Sable only.

Should you buy a used 2002 Sable?

The record is mixed. Suspension has by far the most complaints at 239, and owners in our sample describe broken coil springs, so ask for a close look at the springs before you buy[2]. The air bag and speed control reports include crashes, but they are unverified owner reports[7][5][1]. Check the VIN for open recalls on the brake light switch, windshield and pedals[13][14][12]. Fuel economy is 21 combined MPG at best[4], and our data has no reliability scores, so it cannot say whether a particular car is a good buy.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Mercury Sable?
Suspension is the largest complaint group with 239 of 440 NHTSA complaints[2][1]. Speed control has 56 and visibility 26[5][6]. In the sample of complaints we read for suspension, owners describe broken coil springs[2].
Does the 2002 Mercury Sable have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls: 04V106 for the brake light switch, 03V087 for windshield mounting and 02V266 for brake and accelerator pedal spacing[13][14][12].
What gas mileage does the 2002 Mercury Sable get?
EPA lists 18 city and 25 highway MPG for the sedan, with a combined rating of 21 or 20[4][16]. The wagon is rated 17 city and 24 highway, with a combined rating of 20 or 19[15][18].
Is the 2002 Mercury Sable a good year for the model?
It has the second most complaints of the listed Sable years at 440, behind 2000 at 464[3]. The 2003 model has 201 complaints[3].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 440 owner complaints on file for the 2002 Mercury Sable (32 mention a crash, 5 a fire, 22 injuries, 1 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. 239 complaints name the suspension component group (2 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 81,811). NHTSA vehicle records
  3. Owner complaints and recalls for every Mercury Sable model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  4. EPA rating for Sable, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 25 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  5. 56 complaints name the speed control component group (6 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 87,755). NHTSA vehicle records
  6. 26 complaints name the visibility component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 54,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 24 complaints name the air bags component group (20 crashes, 0 fires, 12 injuries, median mileage at failure 49,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 24 complaints name the engine component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 60,643). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 23 complaints name the brakes component group (7 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 36,950). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 23 complaints name the power train component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 45,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 17 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 51,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. Recall 02V266, filed October 2, 2002: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals And Linkages. NHTSA recall database
  13. Recall 04V106, filed March 2, 2004: Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch. NHTSA recall database
  14. Recall 03V087, filed March 10, 2003: Visibility › Windshield. NHTSA recall database
  15. EPA rating for Sable Wagon, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 24 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  16. EPA rating for Sable, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 25 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  17. EPA rating for Sable, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 25 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  18. EPA rating for Sable Wagon, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 24 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  19. EPA rating for Sable Wagon, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 24 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  20. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4-DR WAGON None: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  21. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4-DR W/SAB None: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  22. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4-DR None: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.