Steering
Filed Jul 16, 2002
CONSUMER CAN HEAR NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN WHICH CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 8014009
- Incident
- Jun 26, 2002
1990 Mercury Sable Steering Problems
Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Steering 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.
24
Latest Jul 16, 2002
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.
14%
of 166 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.
4
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 steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1990 Mercury Sable submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 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 steering
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Steering
Filed Jan 2, 2002
HEARD A CLICKING NOISE IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY INNER TIE ROD BROKE OFF. TIE ROD BALL WAS RUSTED IN THE SOCKET. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED TIRE ROD.*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 8001362
- Incident
- May 25, 1997
Steering
Filed Feb 28, 2001
CONSUMER WAS FOLLOWING A RIGHT CURVE AT 40 MPH WHEN STEERING FROZE UP, HALFWAY AROUND, COULD NOT TURN OR MOVE STEERING. CONSUMER CONTINUED OFF ROAD, AND APPLIED BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. DEFECT WAS DUE TO FAULTY RACK AND PINION STEERING. ALSO, MIDAS TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS A SPECIFIC PROBLEM WITH RACK AND PINION. CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF ANOTHER SABLE 1990 THAT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH DUE TO FAILURE OF RACK AND PINION, AND KILLED THE PASSENGER IN OTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY PROFESSIONAL MECHANIC THAT THIS MODEL AND YEAR OF VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUT ON RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT BECAUSE IT WAS A KNOWN DEFECT. *AK *SLC
- NHTSA ID
- 881695
- Incident
- Feb 16, 2001
Steering
Filed Oct 13, 1999
THE SUBFRAME BOLTS HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY HAVE WORN DOWN. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 850592
- Incident
- Oct 5, 1999
Steering
Filed Feb 26, 1999
I HAVE REMOVED THE TIE ROD AND EXAMINED THE END - SHEARED OFF INSIDE OF RUBBER BOOT. ABSOLUTELY NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO OTHER COMPONENTS IN THE WHEEL/STEERING ASSEMBLIES. WE WERE VERY VERY LUCKY THAT THIS FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR AT SPEED.
- NHTSA ID
- 703781
- Incident
- Feb 6, 1999
Steering
Filed Dec 11, 1998
WHEN WIFE WAS DRIVING VEHICLE SHE TRIED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND AT THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH ONCOMING TRAFIC, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND DID NOT TURN, FORCING THE VEHICLE TO GO STRAIGHT, BUT AT THE LAST MINUTE THE CONSUMER'S WIFE PULLED TO LEFT AND HANDLED VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 832217
- Incident
- Dec 9, 1998
Steering
Filed Sep 21, 1998
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 35MPH, STARTED TO TURNING LEFT, WAS UNABLE TO RETURN STEERING WHEEL TO ORIGINAL POSITION. HAD TO BE FORCED BACK. TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 828068
- Incident
- Jul 22, 1998
Fuel systemSteering
Filed Dec 19, 1997
OUTER TIE ROD FAILED. ALSO, FUEL LEAK. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 523321
- Incident
- Apr 1, 1995
Steering
Filed Oct 15, 1997
TIE ROD BROKE WHILE DRIVING CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. MJS
- NHTSA ID
- 604634
Steering
Filed Jun 5, 1997
Fire reported
UNDER THE HOOD COMPARTMENT FIRE, POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK, THE HOSES ARE ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO EXHAUST MANIFOLD, A HEAT SOURCE, CAUSING A FIRE.
- NHTSA ID
- 812804
- Incident
- May 29, 1997
Steering
Filed Apr 3, 1997
RECALL RELATED, 93V106002, STRUCTURE , FAILURE OF MOTOR MOUNTS, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MOVE AND STEERING FLUID PUMP CRACKED. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 810670
- Incident
- Nov 1, 1996
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Mar 19, 1997
STARTER REPLACED.
- NHTSA ID
- 515724
Steering
Filed Dec 4, 1996
TIE ROD SNAPPED, CAUSING STEERING DIFFICULTY.
- NHTSA ID
- 512193
- Incident
- Jun 12, 1996
Steering
Filed Sep 17, 1996
Fire reported
POWER STEERING HOSE LEAKED RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE.
- NHTSA ID
- 605944
- Incident
- Oct 14, 1994
Steering
Filed Sep 11, 1996
Fire reported
WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING HOSES BURST, LEAKED FLUID, FLUID IGNITED, CAUSING UNDERHOOD FIRE.*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 802213
- Incident
- Jun 15, 1996
Other / unspecifiedPowertrain (other)Steering+2 more
Filed Aug 14, 1996
TRANSMISSION PLANETARY SET, TORQUE CONVERTER AND MOUNTS FAILED, ALSO POWER STEERING PUMP, RIGHT WHEEL BOOT AND AXLE FAILED.
- NHTSA ID
- 507456
- Incident
- Jul 1, 1996
Steering
Filed May 30, 1996
AFTER A CURSORY LOOK THROUGH THE NHTSA LIST OF COMPLAINTS FOR 1990 SABLES, I NOTICED MANY TIE ROD FAILURES & WONDERAT WHAT POINT FAILURE CONSTITUTES GROUND. *
- NHTSA ID
- 985029
Steering
Filed Oct 20, 1995
Fire reported
LEAK FROM POWER STEERING HOSE RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
- NHTSA ID
- 973699
- Incident
- Oct 11, 1995
Steering
Filed Oct 13, 1995
BOTH FRONT TIE RODS FAILED W/POOR HANDLING AND SEVERE WEAR OF RIGHT FRONT TIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
- NHTSA ID
- 973361
Steering
Filed Aug 30, 1995
INNER TIE ROD BROKE. TT
- NHTSA ID
- 971324
Body & structureBrakesEngine+3 more
Filed May 19, 1995
REPLACED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.
- NHTSA ID
- 486502
- Incident
- May 1, 1993
Exterior lightingSteering
Filed Mar 9, 1995
HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING RACK WHEN MAKING TURNS STEERING WHEEL WOULD MAKE A CRACKING NOISE AND DID NOT RETURN PROPERLY. TT
- NHTSA ID
- 961595
- Incident
- Jan 27, 1995
Steering
Filed Feb 23, 1995
WHILE BACKING OUT OF PARKING LOT, TIE ROD END BROKE AT APPROX. 5MPH, RENDERING STEERING CAPABILITY INOPERATIVE. TT
- NHTSA ID
- 960434
- Incident
- Feb 20, 1995
Steering
Filed Jan 20, 1995
OUTER TIE ROD THAT CONNECTS WHEEL TO STEERING BROKE/SNAPPED WITHOUT ANY WARNING; VERY LOW SPEED. TT
- NHTSA ID
- 958970
- Incident
- Aug 18, 1994
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
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 .