RoadVitals

1989 Mercury Sable Fuel system Problems

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

Data refreshed

Fuel system 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.
9
Latest Oct 12, 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.
4%
of 238 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.
6
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 fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1989 Mercury Sable submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 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 fuel system

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

Fuel system
Filed Oct 12, 1999
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 35MPH VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AT THE FUEL INJECTION LINE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & HAD THE FUEL PUMP CHANGED DUE TO BEING WEAK. *AK

NHTSA ID
850494
Incident
Aug 25, 1999
Fuel system
Filed Aug 18, 1999
Fire reported

CONCLUSION: THE FIRE DAMAGE AROUND THE FUEL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (NEAR THE FIRE WALL) WAS FOUND TO BE THE AREA OF ORIGIN. THERE WAS NO INDICATIONS OF ELECTRICAL MALFUNTIONS. THE CAUSE OF THIS FIRE IS DETERMINED TO BE ACCIDENTAL DUE TO MECHANICAL FAILURE. PER COLUMBIA, MO. FIRE MARSHALL'S REPORT NO. 99-03407

NHTSA ID
710167
Incident
Jul 26, 1999
Fuel system
Filed Aug 7, 1998
Fire reported

FUEL LINE BURST CAUSING FIRE. (QCAW)

NHTSA ID
538904
Incident
Jun 8, 1998
Fuel system
Filed Jul 1, 1998

WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING DUE TO THE FUEL PUMP WHICH NEEDED REPLACING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. *AK

NHTSA ID
824919
Fuel system
Filed Oct 9, 1997
Fire reported

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER CAR, WHICH APPEARED TO BE RADIATOR SMOKE. WITHIN A FEW MOMENTS THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS TOTALLED. INSURANCE COMPANY BELIEVES FIRE WAS A FAILURE OF THE FUEL INJECTION LINES. *AK

NHTSA ID
816404
Incident
Sep 4, 1997
Fuel system
Filed May 8, 1997
Crash reported

CONSUMER STATES WHEN AUTO GETS HOT THE FUEL PUMP DIES, HAS HAD NEAR ACCIDENTS 13 TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID
812118
Incident
Feb 8, 1997
BrakesElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Aug 12, 1996
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE TOWARDS WORK, NOTICED SMOKE IN FRONT, THOUGHT VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING, BRAKES STARTED FAILING, PULLED VEHICLE OVER, LIFTED HOOD, FLAMES SHOT OUT UNEXPECTEDLY.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
800775
Incident
Jun 10, 1996
Fuel system
Filed Aug 25, 1995

FUEL PUMP CAVITATES AT 90 DEGREE TEMPERATURES, CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL. *AW

NHTSA ID
483451
Incident
Jun 1, 1993
Fuel system
Filed Jun 14, 1995

A SMELL OF GASOLINE IS NOTED WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON. TT

NHTSA ID
966819
Incident
Jun 14, 1995

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

Electrical54Engine50Seat belts44Body & structure23Steering22Transmission19Interior & seats13Brakes13Driver assistance13

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .