Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Engine 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.
144
Latest Aug 18, 2016
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.
37%
of 387 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.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
7
What this page shows
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1994 Mercury Sable submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 144 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 engine
The 25 most recent of 144, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OR IDLING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
NHTSA ID
10896925
Incident
Jul 18, 2016
Mileage
96,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesEngine+4 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004
THE KEY INSERT DOES NOT ALIGN, HAVE HAD 2 TRANSMISSIONS IN 5 YEARS. (I KNOW TO CHECK MY FLUIDS) NEW ENGINE, & THE PAINT IS AWFUL. ENGINE, MOTOR, GAS, GASPS AND JERKS WITH ME. HAVE HAD MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED, NOTHING HELPS. HEATER COIL(?) WENT OUT, I HAVE NO HEAT NOW. WE HAD TO BYPASS. THE REST I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO REPAIR. I HATE THIS CAR. I AM WORRIED EVERYTIME I GET IN IT THAT MY MOTHER AND I ARE NOT GOING TO GET HOME. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED SO MANY TIMES, THE MAN WHO DOES THE TOWING KNOWS ME AND MY CAR ON SIGHT. I WILL NOT GO MORE THAN 30 MILES FROMT HE HOUSE. MY MECHANIC EVEN HATES THE CAR. I CALL HIM AN ANGEL, BECAUSE HE HAS KEPT IT RUNNING.
NHTSA ID
10070159
Incident
Sep 15, 2003
Body & structureEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004
HATCH GLASS CAME LOOSE STARTED LEAKING(56000) FUEL PUMP STARTED ACTING UP GET HOT AND HANG UP(75000) NO RECALL. STATE FARM SHOWED THEY PAID FOR TOWING ON MANY, FORD PRODUCTS THAT USED THE SAME PUMP STILL NO RECALL. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS DOWN, OR SHIFTS OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING SMITH FORD CONWAY WAS SUPPOSED TO CHECK THE HEADS FOR LEAKS SIX MONTHS LATER THE HEAD GASKET BLEW,AND THE AIR WENT OUT AT THIS TIME I WAS TOLD THE THE DATE THIS CAR WAS ORIGINALLY PUT IN SEVICE MADE IT OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS CAR IS SITTING IN MY GARAGE WITH MOTOR OUT OF IT BECAUSE FORD DIDN'T DO ITS JOB. PAINT PEELED OFF THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR POST.
NHTSA ID
10070028
Incident
Sep 15, 1999
Mileage
85,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 15, 2004
HEAD GASKETS BROKE, POSSIBLY CAUSED CRACKED CYLINDER HEADS/FURTHER ENGINE DAMAGE
NHTSA ID
10069376
Incident
Feb 15, 2003
Mileage
62,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 25, 2003
Crash reported3 injuries reported
MY 1994 MERCURY SABLE SUDDENLY ACCERERATED TO 60 MPH WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND SLOWED ERRATICALLY. I TRIED BRAKING BUT WAS UNABLE TO SLOW SUFFICIENTLY. IUSED THE EMERGENY BRAKE BUT STILL COULD NOT SLOW ENOUGH AVOID HITTING A PHONE POLE. THREE PASSENGERS WERE INJURED. I HAD NEW FRONT BRAKES INSTALLED THE DAY BEFORE AND RECEIVED AN INSPECTION STICKER THE DAY BEFORE.
NHTSA ID
10039542
Incident
Sep 25, 2003
Mileage
124,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 11, 2003
THE HEAD GASKET FAILED, AND THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*JB
NHTSA ID
10007045
Engine
Filed Jan 9, 2003
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKETS. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 45 MPH THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A DEFECTIVE ENGINE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM BUT IT EXPIRED ON SEP/2002 AND DEALER WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALL. *NLM
NHTSA ID
10002410
Engine
Filed Jan 4, 2003
MOTOR WAS REPLACED IN 04/00 DUE TO BAD HEAD GASKETS WITH 73,200 MILES ON ORIGINAL ENGINE. HEADS FAILED AGAIN 12/02 WITH 43,000 MILES ON NEW MOTOR. CLAIM DENIED BY FORD DUE TO NO AVAILABLE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PACKAGE AVAILABILITY. TS
NHTSA ID
10000527
Incident
Dec 26, 2002
Engine
Filed Sep 6, 2002
3.8L V6 ENGINE HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. TEMPERATURE WOULD FLUCTUATE WHILE DRIVING AND THER EWOULD BE A LOSS OF COOLANT. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ID
8018060
Incident
Aug 26, 2002
Engine
Filed Aug 16, 2002
BELT BROKE - MFG. SAYS THAT THIS IS OKAY AFTER 6 YEARS. *AK
NHTSA ID
765729
Incident
Aug 2, 2002
Engine
Filed Aug 13, 2002
CONSUMER STATES DUE TO AN ENGINEERING FLAW THE HEAD GASKET AND ENGINE FAILED AT 9000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH A LONG BLOCK. HOWEVER ON THE FACTORY REPLACED ENGINE, THE HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED AGAIN. DEALERSHIP HAS SUGGESTED THAT AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT IS THE BEST CHOICE. CONSUMER HAS ASKED DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR AN ENGINE WHICH HAS FAILED TWICE. DEALERSHIP UNWILLING TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. CONSUMER FILED COMPLAINT WITH BUREAU OF CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY. *TT
NHTSA ID
567107
Engine
Filed Apr 15, 2002
CONSUMER STATES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN IT WILL OVERHEAT AND THE OIL LIGHT FLASHES, CONSUMER STATES HE JUST RECENTLY BECAME AWARE OF THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM, AND IS REQUESTING THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM ISSUED HIM A CREDIT TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE.*JB
NHTSA ID
565146
EngineTransmission
Filed Apr 11, 2002
DROVE VEHICLE AT 65 MPH FOR ABOUT 70 MILES. AT STOP LIGHT ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AND SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER VEHICLE. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND A MODERATE AMOUNT OF ENGINE OIL WAS COMING FROM THE OIL PAN SEAL. HAD CARD TOWED BACK TO FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED. DEALER CLAIMS TRANSMISSION HAD NO FLUID IN IT. VECHICLE WAS JUST SERVICED TWO DAYS BEFORE THIS TRIP AND WORKED FINE. WHEN PULLED OFF CHECKED OIL AND TRANSMISSION. OIL WAS DOWN SOME, BUT NOT ALL. TRANMISSION HAD FLUID INDICATING ABOVE THE OK TO DRIVE MARK. WAS ABLE TO MOVE CAR BACK AND FORWARD FOR TOW TRUCK TO ATTACH. TRANSMISISON REBUILT BY FORD AT 88000 IN 1998 TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. OIL PAN GASKET REPLACE JUNE 0F 2001 AT 117,000 MILES.*AK
NHTSA ID
760567
Incident
Apr 5, 2002
Engine
Filed Apr 5, 2002
SINCE 2000, THE CAR HAS BROKEN DOWN SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME REASONS. WE HAVE JUST REPLACED THE WATER PUMP AND THE RADIATOR AND NOW WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH $800.00 TO GET THE HEAD GASKET FIXED. IF IN ANYWAY PLEASE E-MAIL ME BACK AT [email protected] OR CALL 757-854-4027
NHTSA ID
760324
Incident
Feb 24, 2000
EngineVisibility
Filed Mar 29, 2002
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, THE HEATER FAILED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER OF A PREVIOUS RECALL REGARDING THE ENGINE AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL ENGINE WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER FEELS THE RECALL INFORMATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN PRIOR TO PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. *SLC *SCC
NHTSA ID
785643
Incident
Dec 1, 2001
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Mar 25, 2002
ROUGH IDLING YESTERDAY, HEAD GASKET BLEW TODAY. PUFF OF WHITE SMOKE AND USUAL ERUCTION OF ANTIFREEZE. AVOIDED ACCIDENT THOUGH I DID SWERVE INTO NEXT LANE BETWEEN 2 CARS.. *AK
NHTSA ID
759815
Incident
Mar 25, 2002
Engine
Filed Mar 20, 2002
3.8 V6 ENGINE WAS LOSING COOLANT AND OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ID
8005972
Incident
Mar 17, 2002
Engine
Filed Jan 8, 2002
ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE ONTO ENGINE COMPARTMEN. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ID
8001798
Incident
Dec 1, 2001
Engine
Filed Jan 4, 2002
HEADGASKET FAILED AT 56000 MILES. DEALER REBUILT ENGINE, HEADGASKET FAILED AGAIN AT 33000 MILES. *AK
NHTSA ID
8001556
Incident
Oct 1, 2001
Engine
Filed Dec 5, 2001
WE PURCHASED VEHICLE IN OCT. OF 2000. WE NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTICES. WHEN WE HAD HEAD GASKET FAILURE, WE CONTACTED FORD, AND THEY DENIED COVERAGE. SAID THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT THEY PROVIDED HAD EXPIRED. WERE UNWILLING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ID
755305
Incident
Dec 1, 2001
EngineTransmission
Filed Nov 8, 2001
THE HEAD GASKETS ON MY CAR WHICH IS A 94 MERCURY SABLE W/ A 3.8 LITER V6 ENGINE. THE HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED ON MY CAR AND I WAS NOT INFORMED OF A EXTENDED WARRANTY NOT EVEN WHEN I CALLED MY DEALER AND ASKED FOR A QUOTE ON THE 94 SABLE WHICH I WAS QUOTED1350.00 , IF THE ENGINE IS GONE TO THEN 3000.00. I FEEL IT IS UNFAIR I AM BEING PENALIZED FOR A FAULTY PART I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF AND ONLY 300 MILES AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, THE COPY OF THE WARRANTY STATES TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET CHANGED EVEN IF THERE IS NO PROBLEMS.*AK
NHTSA ID
754269
Incident
Nov 1, 2001
Engine
Filed Nov 2, 2001
I HAVE EXPERINCED OVERHEATING W/ MY CAR FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM WAS INSPECTED AND SHOWED IT WAS FINE NOW I HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AT 90,000 MILES AFTER PAMPERING THE CAR FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING AND AT A STOP LIGHT THE CAR STALLED , I RESTARTED AND A BLUE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE REAR AFTER HAVEING A MECHANIC LOOK INTO IT , HE DTERMINED IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET.
NHTSA ID
754013
Incident
Sep 21, 2001
Engine
Filed Oct 11, 2001
AFTER REPLACING FIRST ENGINE AT 56,000 MILES UNDER FORD CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, SECOND ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED AFTER 33,000 MILES OF WEAR. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT WARRANTY ON SECOND ENGINE WAS GOOD FOR 2 YEARS OR 22,000 MILES. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA ON THIS MATTER. *AK *JB
NHTSA ID
897595
Incident
Oct 9, 2001
Engine
Filed Oct 1, 2001
THE HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT, THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RECALLED AND A NOTICE WAS SENT OUT, THE CONSUMER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL. NLM
NHTSA ID
563583
Engine
Filed Sep 26, 2001
ENGINE MOUNTS DO NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH SUPPORT TO HOLD ENGINE, BOLTS PREMATURELY BREAK WHICH CAUSES ENGINE TO DROP, ENGINE MOUNTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. *AKCONSUMER STATED SHE SOLD THE VEHICLE IN OCT, 2001 BECAUSE OF REOCURRING ENGINE MOUNT PROBLEMS.*SLC
NHTSA ID
896894
Incident
Jun 20, 1997
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