RoadVitals

1987 Mercury Sable Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Jun 18, 1999
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
13%
of 76 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1987 Mercury Sable submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Jun 18, 1999

THE STALLING PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR. THE DEALER SAID THEY SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER'S ENGINEER, BUT, HE TOO WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERS WASHED HIS HANDS. THE MANUFACTURER TOO WOULDN'T RESPONSE. SO WE GAVE UP. BUT HEARD OF A RECENT LAW SUIT IN CALIFORNIA. WOULD LIKE YOUR ADVICE. ALTHOUGH THE CAR HAS A LOT OF MILEAGE BUT WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN NEAR MISSES SEVERAL TIMES. WE TRY TO AVOID CONGESTED RAODS AND ROADS WHERE WE COULD GET TRAPPED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED PROMPT RESPONSE.

NHTSA ID
707663
Incident
Aug 10, 1988
EngineInterior & seats
Filed Jun 16, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE STALLS AND SHUTS DOWN. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT IS LOOSE, CAUSING SEAT TO MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARD. DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
839917
ElectricalEngineFuel system+2 more
Filed Mar 15, 1999

REPLACEMENT OF THREE FAILED RADIATORS SINCE PURCHASE.

NHTSA ID
544365
EngineSteering
Filed Feb 22, 1999

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND THEN THE VEHICLE LOST ITS STEERING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. *AK

NHTSA ID
835145
Incident
Feb 8, 1999
BrakesEngine
Filed Feb 20, 1999

ANTILOCK BRAKES LOCK UP, PREVENTING VEHICLE FROM COMING TO A STOP.

NHTSA ID
530902
Incident
Jan 16, 1998
Engine
Filed Apr 20, 1998

VEHICLE STALLS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE AIR INLET PORTS (MANIFOLD:ENGINE).

NHTSA ID
534383
Engine
Filed Sep 24, 1997

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE EXPRESSWAY IT WILL CUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF FREQUENTLY AT ANY GIVEN TIME, AND LOSES THE POWER STEERING IN THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
816620
Incident
May 5, 1989
Engine
Filed Jul 30, 1996

MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED. *SD

NHTSA ID
506880
Incident
Jul 25, 1996
Engine
Filed Apr 26, 1996
Fire reported

PARKED VEHICLE IN TWO CAR GARAGE, WHEN OWNER WAS ALERTED @ WORK FROM HIS HOME OF VEHICLE FIRE. GARAGE AND VEHICLE DESTROYED IN FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
983642
Incident
Mar 19, 1996
BrakesEngineSteering+1 more
Filed Feb 1, 1995

REPLACED HEAD GASKET.

NHTSA ID
481151
Incident
Sep 30, 1993

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Body & structure17Electrical16Steering8Seat belts8Transmission8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .