Home
Mercury
Sable
1988 problems

FaultScore report

1988 Mercury Sable problems

Owners have filed 189 complaints about the 1988 Mercury Sable with NHTSA between 1995 and 2003. The largest single group is the engine & cooling.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Mercury Sable

—

Not graded

Too few complaints, too short a model run, or older than 1993 — the year the federal file can first describe fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

189

Complaints

Crashes reported

Fires reported

Injuries reported

Safety recalls

6 US, 8 Canadian

How 1988 compares with every other Mercury Sable

Click any bar to open that year's report.

1 55 105 189 300 220 346 517 981 534 485 391 326 243 302 578 528 541 251 75 112 2 81 27

84 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 08 09

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1988 Mercury Sable

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Engine & Cooling 34 18.0%

0 crashes, 6 fires

Electrical System 29 15.3%

0 crashes, 16 fires

Steering 28 14.8%

2 crashes, 8 fires

Transmission & Drivetrain 25 13.2%

1 crashes, 1 fires · median 144,000 mi

Body & Structure 16 8.5%

Seat Belts 9 4.8%

Fuel & Propulsion 8 4.2%

0 crashes, 2 fires

Acceleration & Cruise Control 7 3.7%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Equipment & Accessories 6 3.2%

Seats 6 3.2%

Tires 4 2.1%

Lights 4 2.1%

Brakes 4 2.1%

Median failure at 144,000 miles

Suspension 3 1.6%

Other & Unspecified 2 1.1%

Wheels 2 1.1%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 2 1.1%

1 crashes, 1 fires

Exactly what failed

NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.

Engine 20 23.5%

Automatic Transmission 17 20.0%

Switch 13 15.3%

Hose, Piping, AND Connections 9 10.6%

Frame AND Members 8 9.4%

AIR Conditioner 6 7.1%

Gasoline 6 7.1%

Buckle Assembly 6 7.1%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Feb 1995 peak 16 Dec 2003

NHTSA investigations into the 1988 Mercury Sable

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

RQ97009 Opened 29 Aug 1997 Closed 16 Feb 1999 STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

REAR LOWER SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY

TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE CARS THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE SAFETY RECALL 93V-106 SHOULD BE RECALLED DUE TO THE SAME FAILURE PHENOMENON, AND TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS REMEDY FAILURE ISSUE

DP95004 Opened 8 Aug 1995 Closed 30 Aug 1995 UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIE RODS

EA94008 Opened 16 Feb 1994 Closed 27 Feb 1995 STEERING

BROKEN TIE RODS

PE93100 Opened 2 Dec 1993 Closed 30 Jun 1994 SUSPENSION

POLYCAST ROAD WHEEL CRACKS

PE93065 Opened 15 Jul 1993 Closed 30 Nov 1993 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

UNDERBODY FUEL LINE FAILS

PE93058 Opened 15 Jun 1993 Closed 16 Feb 1994 STEERING

BROKEN TIE RODS

EA92040 Opened 30 Nov 1992 Closed 30 Jun 1993 STRUCTURE

SUB-FRM/UNIBODY ABSOR.FAIL

PE92056 Opened 1 Jul 1992 Closed 30 Nov 1992 STRUCTURE

SUB-FRM/UNIBODY ABSOR.FAIL

Recalls on the 1988 Mercury Sable

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

United States — NHTSA

98V323000 16 Dec 1998

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGNIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT CAN EXPERIENCE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IF SUBJECTED TO LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN FRACTURE AND LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWS THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.

Risk: IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

94E036000 25 Nov 1994

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER

THE ARC WELDS ON THE SWAY BAR BRACKET, WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE STRUT RESERVE TUBE, DID NOT FUSE PROPERLY.

Risk: OVER TIME, A PORTION OF THE BRACKET CAN TEAR AWAY FROM THE STRUT, FALLING INTO AND PUNCTURING THE TIRE OR CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

93V106000 23 Jun 1993

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TAURUS AND SABLES BUILT FROM 10-14-85 THROUGH 8-19-88, AND LINCOLN CONTINENTALS BUILT FROM 11-4-87 THROUGH 9-30-88 (EXCEPT 1989 - 1991 2.5L TAURUS AND 1989 - 1992 SHO). THE AFFECTED CARS WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, AND WISCONSIN. THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, MAY BECOME DETACHED DUE TO CORROSION OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT RETAINING PLATE. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.

Risk: IF ONE OF THE REAR CORNERS DROPS, ONLY MINOR INDICATIONS OF A MALFUNCTION SUCH AS A CLUNKING NOISE OR SLIGHT CHANGE IN STEERING WHEEL ALIGNMENT ARE NOTICEABLE. HOWEVER, IF BOTH REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME DROP, STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT, WHICH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT VEHICLE CONTROL AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

92V065000 11 May 1992

WHEELS

CHILDREN CAN ACCIDENTALLY LOCK THEMSELVES IN THE FOOTWELL AREA OF THE REAR-FACING THIRD SEAT, OR IN THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT IN STATION WAGONS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN OPTIONAL THIRD SEAT. ONCE THE COMPARTMENT IS CLOSED IT CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE.

Risk: THERE IS A DANGER OF AIR DEPRIVATION, HYPERTHERMIA,AND/OR PANIC RESPONSE TO A CHILD WHO HAS LOCKED HIMSELF OR HERSELF INTO THECOMPARTMENT, WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF ASPHYXIATION.

91V134000 6 Aug 1991

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SEVERE CORROSION IF OPERATED IN AREAS WHERE CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND SODIUM CHLORIDE ARE USED EXTENSIVELY.

Risk: SEVERELY CORRODED ROTORS MAY FRACTURE OR SEPARATE NEARTHE INNER EDGES OF THE BRAKE DISCS RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS,HIGHER THAN NORMAL PEDAL EFFORTS, LOUD GRINDING NOISES, AND MODERATE PULLS WHENTHE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS MAY INCREASE MINIMUMSTOPPING DISTANCES, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

91V036000 4 Mar 1991

SEATS

THE POWER SEAT SWITCH WIRING IS ROUTED OVER RATHER THAN UNDER THE FRONT SEAT SUPPORT BRACE, ALLOWING DAMAGE BY SEAT CUSHION SPRING ENDS WHEN SEAT IS OCCUPIED.

Risk: POWER SEAT SWITCH WIRING INSULATION MAY BECOME ABRADED,OR PUNCTURED, AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD OCCUR THAT COULD RESULT IN A FIREIN THE SEAT CUSHION MATERIAL.

Canada — Transport Canada

Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.

Recall 1998250 22 Dec 1998 251,032 units in Canada

Steering

On certain vehicles located in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador, the lower sub frame mount plate nut may corrode and fail due to exposure to road salt. This could result in loss of structural integrity of the subframe mount attachment. Detachment of the body mounts at the rear corners of the sub frame which supports the engine and transmission, allows the rear corners of the sub frame to drop. Should both rear corners drop, steering control would be adversely affected. Correction: Dealers will install subframe rear mount bolts, reinforcement plate and plate nuts.

Recall 1992166 30 Dec 1992 157,101 units in Canada

Structure

On certain vehicles with 3.0 Litre and 3.8 Litre engines, the body mounts on the rear corners of the subframe which supports the engine and transmission may become detached due to corrosion of the rear lower mount retaining plates, allowing the rear corners of the subframe to drop. Should this occur, steering could become very difficult, thereby adversely affecting vehicle control. Correction: modified lower body mounts and attaching bolts will be installed on affected vehicles.

Recall 1992099 21 Aug 1992 16,233 units in Canada

Emissions

NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8 LITRE ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S 1105 - EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS. CORRECTION: PURGE VALVE AND HOSE ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.

Recall 1992060 20 May 1992 48,330 units in Canada

Structure

Note: Station wagon vehicles only. Young children left unattended in the vehicle could lock themselves in the footwell area of the rear-facing third seat (or the underfloor storage compartment in station wagons not equipped with the optional third seat). Once the compartment is closed, it cannot be opened from the inside, and there is the danger of air deprivation, excessive body heat and panic response to a child who may have closed himself or herself in the compartment. Correction: A modified latch will be installed which does not have a self-latching feature and allows the compartment cover to be pushed open from the inside.

Recall 1991055 27 Mar 1991 7,442 units in Canada

Electrical

IMPROPER ROUTING OF THE POWER SEAT SWITCH WIRING WILL ALLOW THE WIRING TO BE CONTACTED AND POTENTIALLY DAMAGED BY THE SEAT CUSHION SPRING ENDS WHEN THE SEAT IS OCCUPIED. THIS COULD ABRADE OR PUNCTURE THE WIRING AND CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH COULD IN TURN RESULT IN A FIRE. CORRECTION: POWER SEAT SWITCH WIRING WILL BE REROUTED AND DAMAGED WIRING WILL BE REPLACED.

Recall 1991021 11 Feb 1991 113,833 units in Canada

Engine

THIS RECALL SUPERSEDES RECALL 90-27 FOR VEHICLES IN THE MARITIMES. THE THROTTLE MAY STICK IN AN OPEN POSITION DUE TO LINKAGE BINDING CAUSED BY CORROSION. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO RUN AT HIGHER THAN IDLE SPEED WHEN THE THROTTLE IS RELEASED AND COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT DRIVER CONTROL RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE CRASH. CORRECTION: A STAINLESS STEEL SLEEVE, WHICH WILL BE PLACED OVER THE HUB ON THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY, AND A SECONDARY THROTTLE LEVER TO FIT THE SLEEVE, ALONG WITH OTHER MOUNTING PARTS, WILL BE INSTALLED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.

Recall 1990193 7 Dec 1990 127,161 units in Canada

Brakes

THE COMPOSITE CONSTRUCTION FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ON THESE VEHICLES MAY CORRODE, WEAKEN AND FRACTURE, RESULTING IN A REDUCTION OF BRAKING PERFORMANCE. SUCH A FRACTURE WOULD RESULT IN LOSS OF BRAKING AT THE CORRESPONDING FRONT WHEEL WHICH COULD IN TURN RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE AND A POSSIBLE CRASH. CORRECTION: FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WILL BE REPLACED.

Recall 1990027 9 Feb 1990 15,909 units in Canada

Engine

RANGER/BRONCO II - 2.9 LITRE ENGINES TAURUS/SABLE - 3.0 LITRE ENGINES NOTE: VEHICLES LOCATED IN NEWFOUNDLAND, NOVA SCOTIA, NEW BRUNSWICK AND PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. THE THROTTLE MAY STICK IN AN OPEN POSITION DUE TO LINKAGE BINDING CAUSED BY CORROSION. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO RUN AT HIGHER THAN IDLE SPEED WHEN THE THROTTLE IS RELEASED AND COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT DRIVER CONTROL RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE CRASH. CORRECTION: ON VEHICLES WITH 2.9 LITRE ENGINES, DEALERS WILL CLEAN, MODIFY AND LUBRICATE THE HUB PIN AND LEVER BUSHINGS WITH A MARINE-TYPE ANTI-SEIZE GREASE. ADDITIONALLY, ON VEHICLES WITH 3.0 LITRE ENGINES, THE HUB PIN LEVER ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED. NOTE: THIS RECALL HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED BY RECALL NO. 91021.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Filed 16 Mar 2000 Petaluma, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

FIVE HOURS AFTER LAST USE HORN WENT OFF,WHEN I WENT TO SEE THE PROBLEM SMOKE POURIHG OUT CRACK MADE IN WINDSHIELD FROM FIRE.BATTERY DISCONNECTED STOPPED FIRE,HOWEVER POLICE STILL HAD FIRE DEPT. GIVE IT A GOOD HOSING.

NHTSA complaint #720191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 13 Jul 1999 Philadelphia, PA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

11/8/98 RETURNED HOME AFTER TAKING HUSBAND TO WORK 4 MILE ROUND TRIP. PARKED 2 DOORS DOWN, 20 TO 25 MINUTES, HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND GOT A TELEPHONE CALL FROM NEIGHBOR THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE , FIRE TRUCK ARRIVED AND SAID MY BATTERY CAUSED THE FIRE. MY CAR WAS RULED AS TOTALED. I DO HAVE A REPORT FROM THE FIRE MASHALL'S OFFICE. 2ND COMPLAINT, RELPACED 2 PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE AND 1 RETURN HOSE AND STILL HAD A POWER STEERING LEAK. ALSO 3 BATTERIES AND 2 TENSIONERS.

NHTSA complaint #708553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 13 Jul 1999 Philadelphia, PA Fire

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

NHTSA complaint #708553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 13 Jul 1999 Philadelphia, PA Fire

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

NHTSA complaint #708553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 24 Mar 1999 Delran, NJ Fire

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID

POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKS FROM FAULTY CONNECTIONS, CAUSING FLUID TO IGNITE ON EXHAUST

NHTSA complaint #704876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 2 Feb 1999 Gaithersburg, MD Fire

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE WAS VIBRATING, AND THERE WAS KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE MOTOR MOUNTS. ALSO, TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. IN ADDITION, WHEN CONSUMER TRIED START VEHICLE UP, VEHICLE DIED OUT WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #834378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Filed 5 Dec 2003 at 144,000 miles Grafton, WI

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

INITIALLY THE GEARS WERE SLIPPING WHILE DRIVING. CURRENTLY, THE CONSUMER CANNOT SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO ANY GEAR. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MUST BE REBUILT. *AK . THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING ASSISTANCE TO CORRECT HIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY DEFECT DESIGN IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH CAUSED SLIPPAGE WHILE OPERATING. *CB SEVERAL YEARS AGO THE DISC BRAKE SEPARATED FROM THE ROTOR RING WHILE DRIVING. AFTER SEEKING ASSISTANCE, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ROTOR, HOWEVER HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED.

NHTSA complaint #10050139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 5 Dec 2003 at 144,000 miles Grafton, WI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

NHTSA complaint #10050139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 15 Oct 2002 Bell, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TWICE. CURRENTLY IN THE VEHICLE RADIO LIGHT AND DOME LIGHT INTERMITTENLY COMES ON. HORN ALSO HONKS AS I DRIVE . STEERING WHEEL FEELS WOBBLY AND THERE ARE POPPING NOISES COME FROM AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN. FRONT PASSENGER SEAT LUMBAR BUTTON IS STUCK. TIRES HAVE BEEN CHANGED 4 TIMES IN THE FRONT. ELECTRIC WINDOWS FAILED THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE WHOLE DEAL IS THAT THE CAR WILL STOP RUNNING WHEN YOUR DRIVING AT55 MPH; THIS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE. MR