RoadVitals

1991 Mercury Sable Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
221
Latest Jul 11, 2008
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
20
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jan 9, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 221 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1991 Mercury Sable. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 221 · page 1 of 9

Body & structure
Filed Jul 11, 2008

I HIT A SMALL POTHOLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY MOVED TO A ONE O'CLOCK POSITION WHILE THE WHEELS WERE POINTING STRAIGHT AHEAD. MY ALIGNMENT SHOP INSPECTED THE CAR AND FOUND THAT THE CAUSE WAS A FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE SUB-FRAME MOUNTING BOLT ANCHOR. THE LOCAL DEALER SAID MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL (98S36) I DEMAND AN ANSWER AS WHY MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10233972
Incident
Jun 29, 2008
Mileage
57,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 6, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE DELAY TO DISENGAGED THE SPEED CONTROL. THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE PUMPED SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL THE DRIVER REGAINED CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE'S SPEED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER # 97V025000 BUT MISPLACED IT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO REFUSED TO PRODUCE A NEW LETTER BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS TOO OLD. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE THE SPEED CONTROL MALFUNCTIONING ENTAILED A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK.

NHTSA ID
10167502
Incident
Dec 7, 2002
Mileage
80,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 6, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATES THE HEAD LAMP SENSOR SWITCH BURNED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER THE VIN NUMBER IS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE. *MR

NHTSA ID
10066634
Incident
Apr 6, 2003
Mileage
100,000 mi
BrakesEngineFuel system+3 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004

OTHER THAN THE REST OF MY PROBLEMS WITH THE ABOVE MY NEWEST COMPLAINT IS THAT I JUST FOUND OUT THAT DUE TO THE FACT FORD INSTALLED AN ALUMINIM PISTON WHERE THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A STEEL ONE WHICH IS THE ONLY ONE AVAILABLE NOW SINCE YOU DISCOVERED YOUR PROBLEMS. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW AND I'M BEING TOLD IT WILL COST BETWEEN $1200.00 - $1500.00 TO FIX DUE TO FORD'S POOR DESIGN. THIS IS NOT MY FIRST SABLE WAGON. THE FIRST ONE HAD ALL KINDS OF A/C PROBLEMS AND I'M GETTING TIRED OF PAYING FOR YOUR MISTAKES. MY A/C IS OUT NOW, I REPLACE BRAKE PADS ALL THE TIME.

NHTSA ID
10070144
Incident
Mar 15, 2003
Body & structure
Filed Jul 17, 2003

NORTHPORT FORD IN COMMACK, NY FAILED TO PROPERLY PERFORM SAFETY RECALL 98S36 FOR THE SUBFRAME ON MY 1991 MERCURY SABLE. THE SUBFRAME SUBSEQUENTLY BROKE FREE CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY MOTOR MOUNTS, TRANSMISSION AND STEERING COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CLOSEST FORD DEALER IN PATCHOGUE NY. FORD AGREED TO REINSTATE THE RECALL FOR THE DEALER TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. THE DEALER CALLED FORD WITH THE PRICE OF THE SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE AND FORD WITHDREW THE OFFER TO REPAIR. THEY WANTED TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK AT A PRICE THEY DECIDED ON. I AM ON DISABILITY WITH A WORK RELATED ACCIDENT. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT MY VEHICLE. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE AT THE BUYOUT PRICE FORD WANTS TO GIVE ME. I FEEL THAT THIS ACCURED DUE TO A SAFETY RECALL THAT WAS NOT PERFORMED PROPERLY AND FORD SHOULD DEAL WITH THAT DEALERSHIP AND FIX MY VEHICLE AT NO CHARGE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10028532
Incident
May 30, 2003
Mileage
130,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 2, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE BUSHINGS ARE MADE OF A VIBER MATERIAL THAT WEARS OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STEER IMPROPERLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10026456
Steering
Filed May 19, 2003

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHEN THE CONSUMER MADE LEFT TURNS. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10020062
Incident
Apr 12, 2003
Body & structure
Filed May 16, 2003

THE LEFT REAR SUB-FRAME MOUNT BROKE. THE RIGHT REAR SUB-FRAME MOUNT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO BREAK. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10020010
Incident
May 16, 2003
Body & structure
Filed May 13, 2003

THE CONSUMER VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SYMPTOMS OF NHTSA RECALL # 98-V-323-000 WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT. THE CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10019777
Incident
May 13, 2003
Suspension
Filed Nov 20, 2002

PLNHTS#6954-94-E-036-000: SWAY BAR BRACKET WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE STRUT RESERVE TUBE DID NOT FUSE PROPERTY. CONSUMER STATES HAS THE SAME PROBLEM (MAKING SOME NOISE). DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID
8023055
Incident
Nov 20, 2002
Electrical
Filed Oct 14, 2002
Fire reported

AUTO WAS PARKED. APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF LATER, ACCORDING TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT, A FIRE WAS REPORTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. FIRE GUTTED OUT THE ENTIRE MOTOR AND THE CAR WAS TOTALED. NO INJURIES. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS INDICATION OF ANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. MR

NHTSA ID
768437
Incident
Oct 13, 2002
Engine
Filed Aug 2, 2002

VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8015406
Incident
Jul 29, 2002
BrakesVisibility
Filed Apr 22, 2002

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS NOISY.*JB

NHTSA ID
565302
Incident
Dec 12, 1991
Steering
Filed Nov 24, 2001

REPAIR IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE WAS POWER STEERING LINE - REPORTED TO SELLER IMMEDIATELY THE NEXT WEEK AFTER PURCHASE. *AK

NHTSA ID
754852
Incident
Nov 17, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 5, 2001

LEFT/REAR COOPER TIRE, SIZE: P205/65R15, DOT: U9UREK7139 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE TRAVELING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES ON THE TIRE, AND IT WAS NOT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON 1991, MERCURY, SABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
898730
Incident
Nov 1, 2001
Engine
Filed Nov 1, 2001

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE, THE ENGINE DID NOT TURN OVER. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND TECHNICIAN STATED HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
898648
Incident
Oct 22, 2001
Engine
Filed Aug 29, 2001

ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
895376
Incident
Aug 24, 2001
Transmission
Filed Jul 31, 2001

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. NLM

NHTSA ID
562297
Incident
Sep 14, 1993
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 24, 2001
Fire reported

I HAVE LOCATED WHAT APPEARS TO BE A REPETITIVE SEVERE PROBLEMWHERE THE WIRE HARNESS IS RUBBING AGAINST A SHARP BENT METAL EDGE NEXT TO THE FUSE BOX AND AFTER TRYING TO LOCATE PARTS TO REPAIR I OBSERVED SEVERAL BURNED OUT TAURUS AND SABLE VEHICLES WHERE IT APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED AT OR UNDER THE DASH. ALSO A SIMILAR YEAR MK 7 BURNED THE SAME WAY. QUITE UNNERVING. ALSO HAVE A SECOND TAURUS WAGON I'VE HAD FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND EXAMINED IT WIRING AND SAME PROBLEM CHAFFED WIRE HARNESS APPROXIMATELY 3" FROM FUSE BOX. ALSO MY WIRES INTO BOX LOOSE ENOUGH TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN VEHICLE ELECTRICAL FUNCTION, FIRST TIME HAPPENED GOING 65 ON FREEWAY. ALSO SHIFT LEVER ON COLUMN POORLY DESIGNED TILL 93 WHEN IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN REDESIGNED TO CORRECT PROBLEM I HAD WHERE SHIFTS OUT OF GEAR BECAUSE OF SLOP AND WEAR. PREVIOUS OWNER SPENT FORTUNE REPLACING TRANS AND IT WASN'T PROBLEM LINKAGE COULDN'T BE PROPERLY LOCATED BECAUSE OF SLOP IN SHIFT LEVER DUE TO UNUSUAL WEAR. OTHERWISE MY CARS CANNOT BE TOLD FROM NEAR NE. *AK

NHTSA ID
747302
Incident
Jun 22, 2001
Transmission
Filed May 16, 2001

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP VEHICLE WILL HESITATE , FEELS AS THOUGH VEHICLE IS IN NEUTRAL , LIKE IT IS OUT OF GEAR AND WILL NOT MOVE. CONSUMER MUST RESTART VEHICLE, BUT EVENTUALLY DEFECT WILL REOCCUR. CONSUMER RECEIVED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY IN NOVEMBER 1994 FOR THIS PROBLEM WHICH STATED THAT DEFECT WILL CAUSE ERRATIC TRANSMISSION OPERATION. MANUFACTURER CLAIMED IT HAS PASSED THE WARRANTY BY YEARS AND WILL NOT COVER COSTS. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
888371
Incident
Mar 1, 2001
Airbags
Filed Apr 20, 2001

AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF, INDICTATING A DEFECT. CONSUMER HAS NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
886358
Transmission
Filed Mar 28, 2001

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, AND CURRENT TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR AT ANY SPEED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
884438
Incident
Aug 1, 1999
Transmission
Filed Feb 28, 2001

CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED MANUFACTURER REGARDING TRANSMISSION ,AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON "TRANSMISSIONS" FOR THIS VEHICLE... VEHICLE REGISTERED IN NEBRASKA WHERE THERE WAS RECALL 98V323000 REGARDING SUBFRAME CORROSION WHICH COULD EFFECT TRANSMISSION/ENGINE. CONSUMER WAS GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
881694
Incident
Feb 1, 2001
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 14, 2001
Crash reported

THIS IS VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS AFTER ADDING OIL TO THE ENGINE OF THIS VEHICLE YESTERDAY I MADE SURE THE HOOD WAS SECURLY LATCHED ( BECAUSE IT HAS COME OPEN ON ME PREVIOUSLY WHILE IN MOTION ) I PULLED UP ON THE HOOD AND IT WOULD NOT OPEN. I LEFT THE GAS STATION AND GOT ON THE INTERSTATE. WHILE IN THE FAST LANE DOING APPROXAMATLY 70 MPH THE HOOD CAME COMPLETELY OPEN BENT BACK AND SMASHED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. I WAS TOTALY BLINDED BY IT. I WAS LUKY TO GET THE CAR STOPED WITH OUT GETTING KILLED IN THE PROCESS. I WOULD LIKE THIS CHECKED OUT TO SEE IF IT IS A DEFAULT. I WOULD HATE TO SEE ANYONE DYE OVER THIS TYPE OF THING. *AK

NHTSA ID
740895
Incident
Feb 13, 2001
Engine
Filed Jan 4, 2001

THERE WAS NO HEAT AND ENGINE OVERHEATED, CAUSING TEMPARATURE TO RISE. CONSUMER HADTO TURN OFF CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO AVOID OVER HEATING. WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF TAIL PIPE. *AK

NHTSA ID
877440
Incident
Dec 10, 2000

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.

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