RoadVitals

1993 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.
673
Latest Dec 28, 2012
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.
28
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 3, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 673 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 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 673 · page 1 of 27

Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Dec 28, 2012

WHILE DRIVING DOWN RD GAS PEDAL STUCK MY DAUGHTER ROAD THE BRAKE UNTIL SHE COULD GET OFF ROAD .SHE CALLED I WORK THE LINKAGE FOR THE GAS BY HAND THAT FREED IT UP TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC HE TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE SAID ITS NOT RELEASING FAST ENOUGH HE TRIED A COUPLE THINGS VACUUM HOSES AND SOME OTHER PARTS THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM HE WENT ON LINE AND FOUND THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE CABLE AND TOLD ME TO CALL FORD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10490315
Incident
Dec 25, 2012
Mileage
153,600 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 11, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED ILLUMINATING AND COULD CAUSE A CRASH. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V009000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 05/08/12*LJ

NHTSA ID
10454832
Incident
Apr 10, 2012
Mileage
50,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 2, 2012

I BELIEVE THIS CAR WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR FAULTY BOLTS HOLDING THE ENGINE FRAME(REAR BOLTS. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN OCTOBER OF 2006. IN DECEMBER OF 2011 I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER FOR A STEERING PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE REAR BOLTS AND IT COST ME ALMOST $400 DOLLARS. JUST RECENTLY I DISCOVERED THIS CAR HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN THE, I BELIEVE 1998 RECALL NOTICE FOR REPLACING THE REAR BOLTS BECAUSE OF THE DANGER OF THEM RUSTING OUT. MY QUESTION IS: IS THERE THE POSSIBILITY THAT I CAN STILL BE COVERED UNDER ANY FORD/MERCURY TERMS, SOMETHING LIKE A FORD MOTORS GOODWILL PROGRAM. ONE BOLT WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND BROKEN AND THE OTHER JUST RUSTED BUT NOT YET BROKEN. SHOULD THE FORD/MERCURY DEALER I BROUGHT THE CAR TO HAVE KNOWN THAT THIS WAS A RECALLED VEHICLE AND DISCUSSED THIS WITH ME. MILEAGE AT THAT TIME WAS 79,524. *TR

NHTSA ID
10442063
Incident
Oct 18, 2011
Fuel system
Filed Mar 23, 2009

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THE CAR SHUTS OFF AT RANDOM I'VE REPLACED THE BRAIN NO LUCK OH WELL THE PROBLEM IS THE CAR SHUTS OFF AT RANDOM SITTING DRIVING 1-100 MILES AN HOUR OH YEAH I GOT PULLED OVER FOR DOING 85 CAR SHUT OFF AT THAT SPEED BUT THAT'S NOT ALL SHUTS OFF COLD WARM 1 MIN 10 MIN DOESN'T MATTER WHEN EVER IT FEELS THE NEED IT DOES IT IM SO AFRAID OF THE CAR I WANT TO GIVE IT BACK TO FORD SO IT CAN KILL THEM I WILL NO LONGER EVEN TOUCH THIS VEHICLE I WANT SOME ONE TO TAKE IT AWAY ITS BEEN SITTING FOR ALMOST 6 MONTHS I HAVE NO IDEA THE PARTICULAR DATE BUT LIKE I SAID IM AFRAID OF THE VEHICLE... *TR

NHTSA ID
10262737
Incident
Sep 19, 2008
Mileage
123,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 19, 2008

IN EARLY JANUARY 2008, MY MERCURY SABLE 3.0 WAGON, BEGAN TO HAVE TRANSMISSION (AX4S) PROBLEMS OF ERADICT UPSHIFTING AND DOWNSHIFTING WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AND CLIMBING A HILL. IN ADDITION WHEN I CHECKED THE FLUID LEVEL WHEN THE MOTOR IS HOT IT APPEARS LOW IN ATF FLUID, BUT WHEN THE MOTOR HAS COOLED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID STICK INDICATES THE TRANSMISSION FULL AT THE RIGHT LEVEL. I HAVE BECOME AWARE THAT THE AX4S HAS A HISTORY OF "INADEQUATE INTERNAL LUBRICATION OF CRITICAL PARTS AND A WEAK FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON THAT CRACKS AND LEAKS PRESSURE" THAT LEADS TO COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. MY CAR IS NO LONGER OPERATIONAL DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE ESTIMATED COST ON AVERAGE FROM TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOPS IN MY AREA IS 2200.00. I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THE CAR AND REALIZE NOW THAT THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION HAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF FAILURE AND FORD IS AWARE OF THE FACTORY DEFECTS BUILT INTO THE TRANSMISSION. I WOULD LIKE FORD TO REPAIR MY TRANSMISSION AT THERE EXPENSE SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THESE PROBLEM FOR YEARS YET CONTINUED TO MANUFACTURE AND INSTALL THIS TRANSMISSION INTO THERE VEHICLES BEING SOLD TO THE PUBLIC. *TR

NHTSA ID
10215438
Incident
Jan 5, 2008
Mileage
181,978 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 24, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A HALT AT A STOP SIGN, ACCELERATION WAS ATTEMPTED, AND THE BOLTS THAT HELD THE MOTOR FRAME FELL OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE'S VIN# DID NOT FIT UNDER ANY RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED OR REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID
10171742
Incident
Oct 21, 2006
Mileage
119,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 1, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AS THE CONTACT WAS TURNING LEFT ONTO THE HIGHWAY; THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND AND THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 98V323000, REGARDING THE STRUCTURE: FRAME AND MEMBERS. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA ID
10156482
Incident
May 1, 2006
Mileage
131,720 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 8, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE HAD VISIBLE WIRES AND THE TIRE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THERE WAS A KNOT IN THE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THREE THOUSAND MILES LATER, THE TREAD ON BOTH FRONT TIRES WAS COMPLETELY WORN AND THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE TREAD HAS WORN ON THE FRONT TIRES AGAIN, AND THE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHICH DETERMINED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE TO CAUSE THE ABNORMAL WEAR OF THE FRONT TIRES.

NHTSA ID
10152193
Incident
Mar 8, 2006
Mileage
86,921 mi
Filed Nov 30, 2005

CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING THE 1993 MERCURY SABLE PAINT CHANGIN COLORS. *TS

NHTSA ID
10144293
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 22, 2005

DT: LAST SUMMER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ON AND OFF. THIS HAPPENED EVERY TIME THE CAR WAS DRIVEN AT NIGHT. THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE WITH TIME. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF WHEN THEY WERE ON DIM OR BRIGHT. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO FORD, AND THERE WAS RECALL 98V009000. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT TAKEN THE CAR FOR DIAGNOSIS. THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10133777
Incident
May 1, 2004
Mileage
100,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 25, 2005

BLOWEN HEAD GASKET ON 1993 FORD SABLE WAGON WITN 87,000 MILES ON ENGINE ENGINE REPLACEMENT NEEDED

NHTSA ID
10126578
Incident
Jun 6, 2005
Mileage
89,374 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 5, 2004

DEFECTIVE BRAKE SYSTEM. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ABS WAS AS NON- EFFECTIVE AS A NORMAL HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE, HOWEVER THE LOCAL DEALER QUESTIONED AUTHENTICITY OF THE NOTICE.*JB

NHTSA ID
10096865
Incident
Oct 1, 2004
Suspension
Filed Sep 3, 2004

IN 1993 I HELPED MY MOTHER PURCHASE A NEW MERCURY SABLE IN RACINE, WISCONSIN WHERE SHE LIVED. BY 2001 MY MOTHER WAS AT AN AGE SHE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING FOR SEVERAL REASONS. THE BIG EVENT WAS WHEN SHE BROKE HER HIP AND WE ALSO LEARNED SHE WAS STARTING TO LOSE HER SHORT TERM MEMORY. IN LATE 2001 WE HAD THE 1993 MERCURY SABLE WITH ONLY ABOUT 30 TO 35,000 MILES STORED PENDING DECIDING IF ANOTHER FAMILY COULD USE THE CAR. IN EARLY 2002 WE HAD THE TITLE TRANSFERRED TO MY SON AND HE STARTED TO DRIVE THE CAR. HE TOLD US WITHIN A WEEK THERE WAS A TERRIBLE NOISE AND WE HAD THE CAR CHECKED AT OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER IN LEXINGTON ILLINOIS. THERE SERVICE MANAGER, DANNY, TOLD ME BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. I FOUND THIS VERY ODD BECAUSE OF THE LOW MILES ON THE CAR AND IT WAS NOT DRIVEN MUCH IN THE WINTER SALT. I HAD DANNY SAVE BOTH OF THE OLD SPRINGS FOR ME BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD COVER THE EXPENSE. BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SPRINGS WERE BROKEN IN THE SAME AREA AND THE ORIGINAL PAINT WAS ON THE SPRINGS, INDICATING TO ME THEY HAD VERY LITTLE IF ANY SALT DAMAGE. I STILL HAVE THE SPRINGS IN STORAGE. I ALSO LEARNED LATER THAT FORD HAD SOME SORT OF RECALL FOR FRONT COIL SPRINGS, BUT THEY NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED BY DECEMBER 2001. FORD DID NOT PAY THE $340 BILL THAT I PAID TO REPLACE THE SPRINGS IN EARLY 2002. YOU MIGHT ASK, WHY AM I DOCUMENTING THIS NOW. TWO REASONS, ONE I JUST LEARNED OF THE WEB SITE AND TWO, I OWN A 2000 FORD TAURUS AND JUST RECEIVED A LETTER ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS. APPARENTLY, FORD DID NOT LEARN FROM THE EARLIER PROBLEM. I LEARNED LATER HOW THE BROKEN SPRINGS COULD HAVE CAUSED TIRE FAILURE AND A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. ALTHOUGH MY MOTHER ALWAYS HAD HER CAR SERVICED AT THE DEALER, THEY APPARENTLY NEVER CHECKED IT FOR THE RECALL ITEM. I FEEL THERE NEEDS TO BE A MORE ACCOUNTABLITY ON THE PART OF THE MANUFACTURER(FORD) TO ASSURE ALL CARS ARE CHECKED. MY MOTHERS CAR WAS OVERLOOKED, PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF HER AGE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10089075
Incident
Mar 1, 2002
Mileage
33,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 12, 2004

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE BLEW OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10073506
Incident
Apr 1, 1993
Mileage
75,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 11, 2004

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE'S HEAD GASKET FAILED PREMATURELY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWED VEHICLE IS OVER HEATING, WHICH LED TO THE REPLACEMENT OF THE THERMOSTAT; HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL OCCUR. ALSO, MECHANIC NOTED THAT HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN. *LA

NHTSA ID
10032350
Incident
Jul 12, 2003
Mileage
19,724 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 29, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. TOWED VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID
10059796
Incident
Jan 1, 2004
Mileage
84,572 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 23, 2004

AFTER FILLING UP THE GAS TANK CONSUMER CAN SMELL GAS FOR 3 DAYS. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED BECAUSE CHILDREN ARE BEING TRANSPORTED DAILY IN THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10071486
Incident
Apr 12, 2002
Electrical
Filed Mar 17, 2004

AFTER DRIVING FOR 30-45 MINUTES HEADLIGHTS FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY. NHTSA RECALL 98V009000 FOR A CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS ISSUED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10063365
Suspension
Filed Jan 28, 2004

MY 1993 MERCURY SABLE WAS SUBJECT TO A FRONT SUSPENSION RECALL IN 1998 (NHTSA ITEM # 615138). THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED AGAIN ON MY CAR, SAME PROBLEM, SAME REASON (CORROSION). THE ORIGINAL RECALL HAS EXPIRED SO I HAVE NO OPTIONS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. FORD DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, THEY SIMPLY REPAIRED THE DAMAGE WITH PARTS SUBJECT TO THE SAME DEFECTS. THEY WILL NOT HELP ME SO I'M LODGING THIS COMPLAINT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10055051
Incident
Jan 9, 2004
Mileage
165,285 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 15, 2004

I HAVE A 3.8L FORD ENGINE IN MY CAR. IT WAS REPLACED BEFORE I PURCHASED IT AT 126219 MILES WITH ANOTHER REBUILT 3.8L. NOW I HAVE A BLOWN HEAD OR HEAD GASKET. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAY MERCURY DIDNT HAVE THE PROBLEMS. MY VIN SHOWED NO PAST RECALLS. WHATS UP. ITS A REBUILT 3.8L. I CANT AFFORD TO FIX IT AND ITS ONLY GOT 15543 MILES ON IT. CANT FORD DO ANYTHING. THE MOTOR HAS BEEN IN A LITTLE OVER A YR. THE WARRANTY IS UP THE SALESPEOPLE FROM INSTANT AUTO QUOTE. HELP.

NHTSA ID
10069731
Incident
Dec 15, 2002
Mileage
141,762 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 15, 2004

FORD 3.8L HEAD GASKET FAILURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE

NHTSA ID
10069430
Incident
May 15, 2003
Mileage
135,000 mi
EngineSuspension
Filed Jan 15, 2004

ABOUT 1 MONTH AFTER THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER MY HEAD GASKETS WERE REPLACED, MY SABLE STARTED TO HESITATE WHEN WARM. THE VEHICLE HAS NO POWER. THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, AIR FILTER AND THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED WITH NO EFFECT. THE TIMING HAS ALSO BEEN FOUND TO BE RIGHT ON.

NHTSA ID
10068968
Incident
Jun 15, 2003
Mileage
106,000 mi
BrakesEngineSteering+1 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004

I DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION FOR ALL THE ABOVE BUT COULD FIND IT IF NECESSARY. I AM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEAD GASKET WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM THAT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO AND, LIVING ON A SMALL PENSION AND SOCIAL SECURITY, DO NOT HAVE THGE MONEY TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
10068950
Incident
Jul 15, 2003
Body & structure
Filed Dec 10, 2003

VEHICLE'S STRUCTURE HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. AS RESULT THE VEHICLE WILL NEVER PASS INSPECTION AGAIN. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY A TECHNICIAN THAT THE ENTIRE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE UNDERBODY WAS RUSTED AND FALLING APART. *NLM *PH

NHTSA ID
10046233
Incident
Oct 30, 2003
Mileage
142,447 mi
Suspension
Filed Dec 4, 2003

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS SNAPPED, CAUSING THE SUSPENSION TO FALL. THE DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THE SPRINGS PUNCTURED THE FRONT TIRES. RECALL# 98V094000 THE SALES DEALER HAD GONE OUT OF BUSINESS. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10038469
Incident
Jul 15, 2003
Mileage
48,100 mi

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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