1987 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 1987 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 & structure1717.0%
- Electrical1616.0%
- Engine1010.0%
- Steering88.0%
- Seat belts88.0%
- Transmission88.0%
- Interior & seats77.0%
- Brakes66.0%
- Fuel system44.0%
- Tires & wheels44.0%
- Other / unspecified33.0%
- Suspension33.0%
- Driver assistance22.0%
- Visibility11.0%
- Heating & air conditioning11.0%
- Exterior lighting11.0%
- Powertrain (other)11.0%
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
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM AS NHTSA 98V323000. SUBFRAME BUSHINGS BROKE LOOSE CAUSE NEAR ACCIDENT AND LOSS OF STEERING. LOCAL FORD MOTOR COMPANY DENIED TO FIX BECAUSE OF VIN NUMBER.
DRIVERS SEAT BROKE LOOSE FROM MOUNT. SEAT ROCKS FORWARD AND BACK. DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. DOORS ARE CLOSED. FUEL GAUGE INACCURATE.*AK
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED WHILE ON VACATION IN FLORDIA, I WHEN TO A AUTO SHOP AND BROUGHT A PUSH PULL 50 AMP SWITCH AND BY PASSED THE PARTS OF THE SWITCH THAT HAD MELTED. I REPLACED THE PUSH SWITCH A NUMBER OF TIMES, CHEAPER THEN GOING TO A DEALER AND GETTING ROBBED FOR PART THAT WAS DEFECTIVE IN THE FIRST PLACE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING LIGHT FOR DRIVER'S DOOR WILL ILLUMINATE. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL THEN UNLOCK ON ITS OWN. CAUSE OF PROBLEM IS UNKNOWN. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
BOLT THAT HOLDS STEERING RACK PULLED THOUGHT THE FRAME. VEHICLE WAS NOT STEERABLE, AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO MECHANIC
STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN FLUID LEAKS FROM RACK AND PINION. ALSO MAKES NOIS EIN POWER STEERING. *AK
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION. DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT UNLATCHED, AND DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK
DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATBELT BUCKLES BROKE OFF, CAUSING NO PROTECTION TO THE OCCUPANTS IN EVENT OF A CRASH. REPLACED BUCKLES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND VEHICLE STALLS. ALSO, THERE IS A LEAKAGE WITHIN THE VEHICLE, AND THERE IS A SHORT IN THE WIRES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIR SERVICE, AND THEY CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT OUT OF FIRST LIKE IT IS SUPPOSE TO DO. GEAR DRAGS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVERS SEAT BROKE LOOSE FROM MOUNT. SEAT ROCKS FORWARD AND BACK. DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. DOORS ARE CLOSED. FUEL GAUGE INACCURATE.*AK
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
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
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION. DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT UNLATCHED, AND DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK
WHILE GOING 30-35 MPH SMELLED SMOKE. AFTER PULLING OVER CONSUMER NOTICED FRONT LEFT WHEEL HUB BASE COVER MELTED. CONTACTED DEALER. PROBLEM MAY BE LINKED TO BRAKE VACUUM PLATE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
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
DRIVERS SEAT BROKE LOOSE FROM MOUNT. SEAT ROCKS FORWARD AND BACK. DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. DOORS ARE CLOSED. FUEL GAUGE INACCURATE.*AK
REPLACEMENT OF THREE FAILED RADIATORS SINCE PURCHASE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE ORIGINAL SPARE TIRE, WHICH WAS NEVER USED, WAS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE, WHILE DRIVING THE TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD/BELT SEPARATION, THE TIRE MAKE/MODEL WAS NOT GIVEN BECAUSE THE CONSUMER STATED THAT IT WAS UNREADABLE, THE TIRE HAD UNDER 300 MILES ON IT, SPECIFIC INJURY INFORMATION WAS NOT GIVEN. NLM
WHILE GOING 30-35 MPH SMELLED SMOKE. AFTER PULLING OVER CONSUMER NOTICED FRONT LEFT WHEEL HUB BASE COVER MELTED. CONTACTED DEALER. PROBLEM MAY BE LINKED TO BRAKE VACUUM PLATE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*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
WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL RIM AND TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHILCLE, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS
SPARE TIRE BECAME AIRBORNE IN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT, INJURING CHILD RIDING IN CAR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
REPLACEMENT OF THREE FAILED RADIATORS SINCE PURCHASE.
STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TURN WHEN DRIVING. STEERING WHEEL IS STIFF INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CONTACTED AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. FRONT END ALIGNMENT DONE AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *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
POWER STEERING PUMP MALFUNCTIONED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. IN ADDITION, TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND SHIFTS VIOLENTLY /BRAKES SQUEAL AND VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT/THROTTLE STICKS AND CRUISE CONTROL REACTIVATES SUDDENLY WHEN PRESSING THE OFF BUTTON. *AK
SUDDEN ACCELERATION: THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE A NEAR ACCIDENT. *AK
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 DRIVING, TURN SIGNALS, HEATER FAN AND REAR DEFROSTER ALL WENT OUT AT ONCE, HEARD POPPING NOISE; IGNITION SWITCH AND HARNESS MELTED. *AK *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
BODY MOUNTS SNAPPED OFF, CAUSING FRONT END TO COLLAPSE. *AW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING, TURN SIGNALS, HEATER FAN AND REAR DEFROSTER ALL WENT OUT AT ONCE, HEARD POPPING NOISE; IGNITION SWITCH AND HARNESS MELTED. *AK *JB
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
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE UPHILL AND APPLYING GAS THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND SMOKE COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SUDDENLY VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR. DEALER SAID THE TRANSAXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *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 .