29 of the 189 complaints about the 1988 Mercury Sable are about the electrical system — 15% of everything reported for this model year.
29
Complaints
0
Crashes
16
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE TRAVELING 65MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART IT. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, AND HAD DISTRIBUTOR/ ROTOR, AND CAP REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #887267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STALLED, A GARAGE MAN FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE A FAULTY IGNITION MODULE. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #558484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
POWER STEERING LEAKS STARTED IN 1995 AFTER THE MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE AND THE AUTOMOBILE WAS TAKEN IN MANY TIMES TO REPAIR THE LEAKS TO NO AVAIL. HOSES AND LINES WERE REPLACED TWICE, SEALS WERE REPLACED ON PS PUMP, AND FINALLY IN 1998 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A NON FORD DEALER AND THEY WERE ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION. THE MONEY SPENT WAS WELL OVER $2100.00 TO FINALLY REPAIR THE LEAKS. THIS INCLUDED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE MOTOR MOUNTS WHICH WERE A RECALL ITEM AND I PAID FOR THIS. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT A WARRANTY OR RECALL PROBLEM. THIS FAILURE LED TO THE EXCESSIVE EXPENDITURES FOR REPAIRS. THE LATEST PROBLEM WITH THE CAR IS THE HEAD GASKETS FAILED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME AND THE ESTIMATE IS FOR $1000.00. THE HEADGASKET SECRET WARRANTY ONLY COVERS THROUGH DEC. 1998. I HAVE YET TO TALLY ALL REPAIRS FOR THIS VEHICLE, BUT I AM SURE IT IS WELL OVER $5000.00 OVER THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION REPLACED, ALTERNATOR, TWO POWER STEERING PUMPS, RACK AND PINION, RADIATOR, TWO HEAD GASKET FAILURES, EXCESSIVE BRAKE JOBS EVER SINCE THE RECALL OF THE ROTORS, ALMOST YEARLY AFTER THIS RECALL. NUMEROUS VACUUM LEAKS UNDER THE DASH AND ONE AGAIN LAST WEEK. TWO SETS OF POWER STEERING LINES. THE CAR NEVER STAYS RUNNING WHEN IT IS HOT. IT HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION. THE THROTTLE CABLE STUCK WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND THEN BROKE AFTER DRIVING IT TO THE DEALER TO CHECK THE PROBLEM. THE REAR ALIGNMENT BOLTS ARE FROZEN. ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION HAVE ALWAYS LEAKED EXCESSIVELY. FROZEN CALIPERS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #720073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE IS JERKING, AND THE BATTERY LIGHT WON'T GO OF, AND THE VEHICLE IS STALLING.
NHTSA complaint #835612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #520374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
PARKED VEHICLE ACROSS STREET NEIGHBOR NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, AND THE VEHICELCAUGHT FIRE.FIREMAN WROTE REPORT UP AS ENGINE FIRE, VEHICLE TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #814634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
OWNER NOT NOTIFIED OF RECALL ON IGNITION SWITCH, WHICH OVERHEATED AND CAUSED FIRE IN WIRING HARNESS.
NHTSA complaint #517676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHEN STARTING VEHICLE A FIRE BROKE OUT UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL # 91V036000 IN AUGUST OF 91. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.
NHTSA complaint #812277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING SMOKE.
NHTSA complaint #507123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #512537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE WHEN NOTICED BURNING SMELL, FOUND WIRING HAD MELTED UNDER DASH, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK CONSUMER STATES BOTH FAILURES INVOLVED THE IDENTICAL PARTS, THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE PLASTIC HARNESS CONNECTOR THAT PLUGS INTO THE SWITCH ALONG WITH SEVERAL INCHES OF 10 OR 8 WIRE, CONSUMER STATES IT IS OBVIOUSLY AN INTERNAL RESISTANCE PROBLEM WITH THE SWITCHES AS THERE IS NO DRAW (CURRENT) THAT WOULD INDICATE A SHORT CIRCUIT AND NO OTHER ABNORMAL INDICATIONS OF ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #806052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE WHEN NOTICED BURNING SMELL, FOUND WIRING HAD MELTED UNDER DASH, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK CONSUMER STATES BOTH FAILURES INVOLVED THE IDENTICAL PARTS, THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE PLASTIC HARNESS CONNECTOR THAT PLUGS INTO THE SWITCH ALONG WITH SEVERAL INCHES OF 10 OR 8 WIRE, CONSUMER STATES IT IS OBVIOUSLY AN INTERNAL RESISTANCE PROBLEM WITH THE SWITCHES AS THERE IS NO DRAW (CURRENT) THAT WOULD INDICATE A SHORT CIRCUIT AND NO OTHER ABNORMAL INDICATIONS OF ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #806052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO MODEL YEAR.
NHTSA complaint #506747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
RECEIVED RECALL # 9V071000 MADE TWO APPOINTMENTS, DEALER SAID HE DOESN'T HAVE THE PARTS . PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #800674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ELECTRICAL SHORT, UNDER THE DASH COMPARTMENT FIRE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #800324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE PARKED IN PARKING LOT, BURST INTO FLAMES DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION.
NHTSA complaint #987217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING USED, VEHICLE SMELLED LIKED BURNING BRAKES, MECHANIC CHECKED UNDER HOOD, FOUND SWITCH HARNESS HAD BURNED.
NHTSA complaint #986065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH OVER HEATED AND MELTED THE CONNECTOR TO THE SWITCH. *AK
NHTSA complaint #985708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #504023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DROVE THE VEHCILE AND PARKED, AFTER FEW SECONDS SAW SMOKE COMING INTO THE VENTS, ELECTRICAL SHORT, ALSO LOSS OF ALL POWER STEERING.
NHTSA complaint #984631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, ELECTRICL COMPONENANTS STOPPED WORKING; IGNITION SHORTED OUT.
NHTSA complaint #983722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, ELECTRICL COMPONENANTS STOPPED WORKING; IGNITION SHORTED OUT.
NHTSA complaint #983722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
REPLACED STARTER MOTOR.
NHTSA complaint #484872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
REPLACED ALTERNATOR.
NHTSA complaint #484872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
IGNITION SWITCH CONNECTOR BURNT UP TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #485065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE STALLS OUT AT HIGH SPEED, NO PARTS WERE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TT
NHTSA complaint #970280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDERHOOD; UNDERHOOD BECAME ENGULFED WITH FLAMES ACCORDING TO FIRE DEPT, COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY FUEL LEAK. *AK CONSUMER STATES IGNITION WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR MELTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT ONE TIME BEFORE THE FIRE OCCURED,8JB
NHTSA complaint #968312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.