2005 Mercury Sable Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2005 Mercury Sable has 83 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 67, ranking it 2nd worst of 4 model years with data. It carries a Caution verdict, driven mainly by engine complaints (54% of cases) and transmission problems (31%).
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 67/100
- #2 of 4 Sable years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 83
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 0
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 3
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 3
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 19.5
- 17 city / 24.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 0
Top 2005 Mercury Sable problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine45 (54%)
- Transmission & Powertrain26 (31%)
- Brakes8 (10%)
- Steering7 (8%)
- Electrical System6 (7%)
- Airbags4 (5%)
- Fuel System3 (4%)
- Other3 (4%)
- Structure & Body3 (4%)
- HVAC2 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Steering can lose control suddenly while driving, with owners reporting the car pulling hard to the right before impact.
- Airbags reportedly failed to prevent significant injury in rear-end collision situations.
- The accelerator pedal has been reported to stick or vibrate during acceleration, in one case leading to a crash into a guard rail.
- Owners describe the automatic transmission losing power or refusing to shift, sometimes coasting to a stop unexpectedly in traffic.
- Rear brakes have locked up unexpectedly at highway speed on multiple occasions in the same vehicle.
- The blower motor and wiper cowl have failed together with water leaking onto the passenger-side carpet.
2005 Mercury Sable recalls
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
2005 Mercury Sable fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17 MPG
- Highway
- 24.5 MPG
- Combined
- 19.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,325
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2005 compared with other Sable years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2005 Mercury Sable reliable?
- NHTSA data shows 83 complaints for the 2005 Sable and a complaint index of 67, giving it a Caution verdict. It ranks 2nd worst among the 4 Sable model years with data, behind the 2008 model.
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Mercury Sable?
- Engine issues make up 54% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 80,000. Transmission and powertrain problems follow at 31% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 82,640.
- Does the 2005 Mercury Sable have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2005 Sable, including 0 do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2005 Sable compare to other model years?
- The 2005 Sable's complaint index of 67 is worse than the 2009 model's 33 (Good verdict) but better than the 2008 model's 100 (Avoid verdict, with 1 recall).
- What is the fuel economy of the 2005 Mercury Sable?
- The EPA rates the 2005 Sable at 19.5 mpg combined (17 city / 24.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,325.