Engine
3.0L 6-cyl
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.
Fault profile
Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.
When it fails
The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.
Vehicle age when the failure occurred
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 82 of 83 complaints with a usable failure date.
Odometer when the failure occurred
Owner-reported mileage at failure, in 20,000-mile bands. Based on 70 of 83 complaints reporting a plausible odometer (500 to 500,000 miles; unverified).
Known issues
The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.
Speed control
38 complaint records1 crash report
"THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WENT LOOSE FROM THE THROTTLE AND MY CAN ACCELERATED WITHOUT MY PUSHING ON THE GAS PEDAL. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *TR..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse speed control parts in the directory →
Power train
26 complaint records
"WHILE DRIVING RECENTLY, MY 2005 SABLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, FORCING ME TO BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL WHILE AT SPEED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 OR 4 OTHER TIMES.IN THE PAST. NOW THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE. *TR..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse power train parts in the directory →
Engine & cooling
8 complaint records
Owners filed 8 complaint records naming this system.
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse engine & cooling parts in the directory →
Federal defect investigations
Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.
| Investigation | Status | Component | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE12005 opened Mar 2012 | closed Oct 2012 | Vehicle Speed Control | Stuck throttle Preliminary Evaluation (PE)12-005 was opened to investigate allegations of speed control cables detaching from the throttle body and subsequently interfering with the throttle closing fully to the idle position in model year (MY) 2005 and 2006 Ford Taurus... |
| DP06005 opened Dec 2006 | closed Dec 2007 | Fuel System, Other | ENGINE STALLING FFV ON OCTOBER 11, 2006, PUBLIC CITIZEN PETITIONED ODI TO INVESTIGATE REPORTS OF ENGINE STALLS CAUSED BY E85 FUEL IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 - 2005 FORD TAURUS FLEX-FUEL VEHICLES (FFV). |
Service bulletins and warranty extensions
Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSB 20-2233 Jul 2020 | 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 appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. | |
| TSB 19-2026 Feb 2019 | 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 dust. Panel replacement is recommended. | |
| 0607 Dec 2006 | Power Train | EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR VEHICLES WITH HARD START WHEN OPERATING ON E85 FUEL, POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) CALIBRATION. WARRANTY EXTENDED FOR 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES WHICH EVER COMES FIRST. SAMPLE CONSUMER LETTER ATTACHED. *KB | |
| 04208 Jan 2006 | Engine And Engine Cooling | CAMSHAFT TICK NOISE - 3.0L 4V ENGINE ONLY. *TT | |
| 05224 Nov 2005 | Latches/Locks/Linkages | POWER LOCK CONCERNS - SERVICE TIP. *TT |
Show 23 more bulletins
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05227 Nov 2005 | Visibility | POWER WINDOW CONCERNS - SERVICE TIP. *TT | |
| 041601 Nov 2005 | Engine And Engine Cooling | WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR ROUGH RUNNING. *TT | |
| 052218 Nov 2005 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SPARK KNOCK, HESITATION ABOVE 3000 RPM, LOSS OF POWER, MISFIRE, AND POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO DETONATION AND PRE-IGNITION - 3.0L-2V VULCAN GAS/FFV. *TT | |
| 042421 Jun 2005 | Seat Belts | SAFETY BELT RETRACTION SPEED. *TT | |
| 18614 May 2005 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SURGE, IDLE ROLL, ROUGH IDLE ONLY WHEN THE ENGINE COOLING FANS ARE OPERATING. *TT | |
| 18471 Mar 2005 | Equipment | RKE INOPERATIVE. *EH | |
| 05310 Feb 2005 | Seat Belts | SAFETY BELT WEB STOP BUTTON SERVICE. *EH | |
| 0529 Feb 2005 | Engine And Engine Cooling | HARD START, EXCESSIVE OIL PRESSURE, OIL LEAKS AT OIL FILTER O-RING ON 3.0L 2V ENGINES BUILD DATES 9/27/2004 AND 9/28/2004 ONLY. *TT | |
| 04224 Dec 2004 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ACCELERATION PEDAL VIBRATION. *EH UPDATES. *TT | |
| 042616 Dec 2004 | Structure | WELD BONDING PROCEDURE. *TT | |
| 042512 Dec 2004 | Electrical System | NO CRANK - BATTERY DISCHARGED ON 3.0L 4V ENGINE. *TT | |
| 04189 Dec 2004 | Visibility | REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER GRID/INTEGRAL ANTENNA DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR - TERMINAL TAB REPAIR. *TT | |
| 042107 Dec 2004 | Power Train | GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT | |
| 04217 Nov 2004 | Power Train | GENERAL POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT | |
| 041512 Sep 2004 | Power Train | 4F50N TRANSAXLE NO 1-2 UPSHIFT AND DIAGNOSITC TROUBLE CODE P0732. *TT | |
| 031404 Aug 2004 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE MISFIRE OR RUNNING - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIPS. TO INCLUDE VARIOUS 2005 MODELS. * AR THIS ARTICLE 04161 SUPERSEDES TSB 03-14-04. | |
| 17358 Aug 2004 | Power Train | GROAN/BUZZ/VIBRATION WHEN THE GEAR SELECTOR IS IN PARK WITH THE VEHICLE PARKED ON AN INCLINE. *TT THIS BULLETIN UPDATES PREVIOUS BULLETIN 17358, DATED 11/01/2003 TO INCLUDE 2005 MODELS. *TT | |
| 17551 Feb 2004 | Electrical System | AIR BAG SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) B1884. *MJ | |
| 051115 | Electrical System | DTCS P0760 AND P0763-4F50N TRANSAXLE-VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE 3/15/2005. THIS MAY BE DUE TO A SHORTED TRANSAXLE INTERNAL HARNESS, CAUSED BY A SHARP EDGE ON THE INSIDE OF THE SIDE COVER CASTING. *SC | |
| 05145 | Power Train | ERRATIC FLUID LEVEL READING ON TRANSAXLE DIPSTICK-LEAKS-4F50N, AX4N, AX4S TRANSAXLE. *SC | |
| 051113 | Engine And Engine Cooling | VARIOUS DRIVEABILITY CONDITIONS-3.0L 2V AND FLEX FUEL ENGINE. *SC | |
| 19087 | Electrical System | TENTHS DIGIT NOT DISPLAYED ON ODOMETER AFTER 10,000 MILES/KILOMETERS. *TT | |
| 0751 | Engine And Engine Cooling | 3.0L 4V - MIL ON - WITH MULTIPLE COIL DTC CODES. *KB |
Before you buy this vehicle
A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.
- Test the throttle response and the cruise control on an open road.A surge, a hang in engine speed after lifting off, or cruise that will not set or cancel cleanly are the speed-control complaints on this vehicle.
- Drive it from a dead stop, twice, on a hill if you can.Shudder, hesitation, or a lurch under light throttle is how this vehicle's largest complaint cluster shows itself. Then ask for the transmission service history in writing; repeat repairs are a pattern, not a fluke.
- Cold-start it yourself and listen for the first thirty seconds.Knocking, ticking that fades as it warms, or blue or white smoke on startup are the sounds of this vehicle's engine cluster. Check the oil level and the coolant color, and ask whether the engine or its head gaskets have ever been out.
- Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.
Parts search directory
The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.
Open the parts directory for this Mercury Sable →