1986 Mercury Sable Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1986 Mercury Sable, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Body & structure1120.8%
- Transmission713.2%
- Engine713.2%
- Seat belts611.3%
- Electrical611.3%
- Interior & seats59.4%
- Driver assistance23.8%
- Fuel system23.8%
- Brakes23.8%
- Visibility23.8%
- Other / unspecified11.9%
- Powertrain (other)11.9%
- Steering11.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
SUBFRAME WELDS BROKE AND FRAME DROPPED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. NO INJURIES. THERE IS A RECALL BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED.*JBSUBFRAME MOUNTING BOLTS/BRACKETS BROKE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE REAR MOUNTS CAUSING THE ENGINE AND TRANSAXLE TO FALL BACKWARD AND MAKE STEERING IMPOSSIBLE. *JG
REAR SUBFRAME BOLTS AND NUTS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE. NLM (RECALL #98S36) 98V-323.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
AFTER DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL. STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO REV UP QUITE HIGH WHILE STILL STAYING IN NEUTRAL UNTIL, SUDDENLY THE TRANSMISSION WILL KICK INTO GEAR AND "BURN RUBBER" CAUSING THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD IN AN "UNCONTROLLED" WAY AT HIGH SPEED. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO A LEAK FROM TRANSMISSION'S COOLING UNIT AND LINES. ALSO, MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE/SHAKE AND STALL. CONSUMER HAD TO PUT VEHICLE IN REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *ML
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO A LEAK FROM TRANSMISSION'S COOLING UNIT AND LINES. ALSO, MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE/SHAKE AND STALL. CONSUMER HAD TO PUT VEHICLE IN REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *ML
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 TO 30 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE SUB-FRAME SEPARATED FROM THE REAR CORNER OF THE VEHICLE WHICH SUPPORTS THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO, POOR STEERING. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
RE CENTURY INFANT SEAT SMARTFIT PLU MODEL # 4529STC, BABY'S HEAD SWINGS FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHILE SLEEPING BECAUSE ANGLE OF SEAT IS MORE OF A SITTING POSITION; AS A RESULT, BABY HAS PINCHED NERVE IN NECK AREA AND RECEIVING MEDICAL TREATMENT; ALSO BABY'S CHEEKS HAVE BRUISES FROM PLASTIC BUCKLES. *AK
SEAT SEAT FELL APART.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE BECAME VERY HOT/STALLED AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP DUE TO THE TFI IGNITION MODULE BEING TOO CLOSE AND MOUNTED ON THE SIDE OF THE DISTRIBUTOR. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
BOLT INTACT, MOUNT FAILED, METAL FAILURE. *AK
BOLT IN THE SEAT IS BROKEN, CAUSING THE CONSUMER'S SEAT TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN DRIVING. WHEN CONSUMER STOPS THE SEAT WILL MOVE, AND CAN HEAR SOME NOISE COMING FROM THE SEAT, AS IF THE MOTOR IN THE SEAT IS RUNNING, BUT THE SEAT IS BROKE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE TRAVELING WITHOUT ANY INDICATION RMPS WOULD RUN HIGH. THEN, SOON AFTER VEHICLE WOULD STALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
ENGINE SURGES INTERMITTENTLY. *DSH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR WAS PARKED TWO DAYS AFTER BEING DRIVEN CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE CAR WAS TOTALED . TT
FUEL PUMP FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKE CALIPER IS HANGING OUT, CAUSING HUB CAP TO MELT ONTO THE TIRE.*AK
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL (91V-143). TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE SITTING ON DRIVER'S SIDE WITH CHILDREN SITTING IN REAR SEAT, A PERSON ALERTED CONSUMER THAT ONE OF THE CHILDREN GOT STUCK BETWEEN WINDOW OF VEHICLE, WHERE POWER WINDOW COULD NOT BE ACTIVATED. *AK
WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. CONSUMER STATED SHE BOUGHT VEHICLE AS IT IS, AND SHE WANTS TO FILL OUT A SAFETY COMPLAINT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
RIGHT FRONT HUB CRACKED, CAUSING VIBRATION/NOISE. *SKD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE DIGITAL COMPUTER WENT DIM ON THE SPEED ODOMETER. CONSUMER STATES SPEED CAN NOT BE READ DURING THE DAY AND AT NIGHT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO READ. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 TO 30 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE SUB-FRAME SEPARATED FROM THE REAR CORNER OF THE VEHICLE WHICH SUPPORTS THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO, POOR STEERING. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .