RoadVitals

1992 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.
28
Latest Sep 4, 2008
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.
8%
of 364 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.
2
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 1992 Mercury Sable submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 28 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

The 25 most recent of 28, in the owner's own words

Browse every complaint
Body & structureSteeringSuspension
Filed Sep 4, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCURY SABLE. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, CORROSION WAS DISCOVERED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. HE ALSO DISCOVERED THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V323000 (STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE; HOWEVER, THEY STATED THAT BECAUSE IT HAD EXCEEDED TEN YEARS, THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 85,591. UPDATED 10/16/08. *LJ THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE SIDE. UPDATED 10/17/08. *JB

NHTSA ID
10240898
Incident
Sep 4, 1992
Mileage
85,591 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 2, 2005

MERCURY SABLE 1992 POWER STEERING LEAKED. *BF THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE RACK AND PINION. *NM

NHTSA ID
10113594
Incident
Sep 2, 2004
Mileage
83,983 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 23, 2002
Fire reported

POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED. FLUID POURED OUT ON TO VERY HOT CATALYTIC CONVERTER, PRODUCING FIRE IN REAR OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. EXTINGUISHED QUICKLY BUT DAMAGE TO WIRING, VACUUM LINE. VERY DANGEROUS FOR POWER STEERING LINE WITH FLAMMABLE FLUID TO PASS DIRECTLY OVER CATALYT CONVERTER.*AK

NHTSA ID
766127
Incident
Aug 12, 2002
SteeringTires & wheels
Filed Feb 4, 2002

STEERING FAILED. EACH FRONT TIRE POINTED DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.*AK

NHTSA ID
757750
Incident
Jan 25, 2002
Steering
Filed May 19, 2001

RIGHT FRONT TIE ROD FAILED IN SELF -SERVICE CAR WASH WHEN EXITING POSITIONING CRADLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
745533
Incident
May 11, 2001
EngineSteering
Filed Dec 15, 2000

SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING.AFTER PUMP REPLACED HOSES BLEW.2000 MILES LATER,HEAD GASKET BLEW.

NHTSA ID
737864
Incident
Nov 1, 2000
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jun 9, 2000

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE SPEED SENSITIVE STEERING "OSCILATES" BETWEEN LOW-EFFORT & HIGH-EFFORT WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A CURVE. MAKES VEHICLE TRICKY TO CONTROL. ALSO EXHIBITS INTERMITTENT PULLING TO EITHER SIDE THAT HAS NOT BEEN ELIMINATED BY THOROUGH FRONT-END MAINTENANCE. OTHERS WITH LIKE VEHICLES REPORT SAME PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID
723784
Steering
Filed Feb 26, 2000
Fire reported

POWER STEERING HOSE RUPTURED AND SPRAYED CATALYTIC CONVERTER WITH FLUID, CAUSING A FIRE THAT BURNED PART OF THE WIRE HARNESS. *AK

NHTSA ID
719316
Incident
Nov 4, 1999
SteeringSuspension
Filed Feb 7, 2000

WHEN TURNING CAR TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE PRESENT. VEHICLE DOES NOT FULLY TURN ALSO, DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE, AND SAID STEERING RACK WAS SENDING FLUID INTO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *AK

NHTSA ID
856406
Body & structureSteering
Filed May 18, 1999

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER CONCERNING SUBFRAME, RECALL REPAIRS COMPLETED. RECALL NUMBER 98V323000. LOOSE STEERING WHEEL HAS TOO MUCH PLAY. *AK

NHTSA ID
836318
BrakesSteeringSuspension
Filed Apr 27, 1999

BRAKES HAVE CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH NOISE AND VIBRATION, REPLACEMENT OF ROTORS AND PADS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, HOWEVER CONTINUE TO FAIL. MJS

NHTSA ID
545222
Incident
Feb 11, 1993
Steering
Filed Mar 29, 1999

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING LOOSE/POOR STEERING WHEEL CONTROL.

NHTSA ID
544649
Steering
Filed Apr 26, 1998

LOOSE STEERING AND PLENTY OF PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA ID
534813
Steering
Filed Apr 10, 1998

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO JERK OR KICK BACK .

NHTSA ID
533990
Incident
Nov 8, 1997
Steering
Filed Mar 5, 1998

LEFT INNER TIE ROD BROKE COMPLETELY OFF; CAUSED BY FATIGUE FAILURE, NO MALFUNCTION OF VEHICLE BEFORE FAILURE, CAUSED LEFT WHEEL TO TURN TOTALLY TO RIGHT, COULD NOT CONTROL. REPAIR SHOP REPLACED TIE ROD, COULD HAVE CAUSED CRASH/ROLLOVER. *AK

NHTSA ID
816160
Incident
Sep 5, 1997
SteeringSuspensionTransmission
Filed Dec 4, 1997

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. IN ADDITION, INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS AND LOWER BALL JOINT/CONTROL ARM/STRUTS/SHOCKS FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID
523074
Incident
Aug 2, 1997
Steering
Filed Jul 7, 1997

THERE IS PLENTY OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL DUE TO A LOOSE STEERING RACK.

NHTSA ID
534800
Steering
Filed Jan 22, 1997

AT 30,00 MILES THE RACK AND PINION FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. PLEASE ADD FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
808004
Incident
Oct 1, 1996
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jan 13, 1997

RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE STEERING WAS PULLING TO RIGHT. ALSO, REPLACED OXYGEN SENSOR/MOTOR MOUNTS/RIGHT AND LEFT OUTER CV BOOT. *AK

NHTSA ID
807527
Steering
Filed Dec 3, 1996

WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING GIVES OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. HAD THE POWER STEERING RACK REPLACED 6 TIMES BUT VEHICLE STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID
805834
Incident
May 12, 1995
Steering
Filed Dec 2, 1996

THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE IS LEAKING FLUID ONTO THE ENGINE AND THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID
805778
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jun 11, 1996

TURNS IGNITION SWITCH AND NOTHING HAPPENS. SHAKES THE STEERING COLUMN AND IT WILL CATCH. *JB

NHTSA ID
985513
Incident
Jun 1, 1996
EngineSteeringTransmission
Filed May 27, 1996

ENGINE PROBLEMS. *DH

NHTSA ID
504990
Incident
May 27, 1996
SteeringTransmission
Filed May 11, 1996

STEERING FAILED 8 TIMES. *SD.

NHTSA ID
504370
Incident
May 11, 1996
BrakesEngineOther / unspecified+3 more
Filed Apr 10, 1996

RIGHT WHEEL LOOSE

NHTSA ID
503710
Incident
Jun 29, 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

Engine151Transmission57Brakes42Body & structure29Electrical26Driver assistance22Suspension17Visibility13Airbags11Exterior lighting10Tires & wheels10Interior & seats8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .