FaultScore

1989 Mercury Sable electrical problems

67 of the 300 complaints about the 1989 Mercury Sable are about the electrical system — 22% of everything reported for this model year.

F

67

Complaints

1

Crashes

35

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Switch 21 31.3%
Ignition 12 17.9%
Front Underhood 9 13.4%
Interior/Under Dash 6 9.0%
Module 4 6.0%
Electrical System 3 4.5%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator 3 4.5%
Wiring 2 3.0%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers 2 3.0%
Cables 2 3.0%

Electrical System across every Mercury Sable year

1987 15 3.4%
1988 29 6.5%
1989 67 15.0%
1990 21 4.7%
1991 16 3.6%
1992 30 6.7%
1993 52 11.6%
1994 33 7.4%
1995 33 7.4%
1996 20 4.5%
1997 21 4.7%
1998 16 3.6%
2000 25 5.6%
2001 29 6.5%
2002 19 4.3%
2003 10 2.2%
2008 11 2.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Continental, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

THIS MORNING (7-8-04) I WAS PULLED OVER FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER AND THE OFFICER SAID I WAS DOING 75 IN A 55 WHEN MY SPEEDOMETER READ 65. I ASKED THE GENTLEMAN IF THERE WAS SOMEWAY HE COULD FORGET THE TICKET SINCE IT WAS MY FIRST TIME EVER AND HE SAID NO. HE DID NOT EXPLAIN TO ME EVERYTHING ON THE TICKET AND YOU CAN HARDLY READ HALF THE?!@#$% HE WROTE. I AM GOING TO TAKE THIS TO COURT SINCE HE DID NOT HAVE ME SIGN THE TICKET LIKE IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE. THEY DON'T PUT THE WORD "SIGNATURE" ON THE A LINE FOR NOTHING. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF I RECEIVED A CALL OR AT LEAST AN E-MAIL WITH IN THE NEST 24 HOURS. THANK YOU AND PLEASE DO DRIVE SLOW.

NHTSA complaint #10065801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Colville, WA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

WE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, GATHERED OUR THINGS AND WENT IN TO THE HOUSE. THE NEXT MORNING I WENT TO BRUSH THE SNOW OFF OF THE CAR AND NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD WAS BROKEN, I OPENED THE DRIVER DOOR AND DISCOVERED THE WHOLE DASHBOARD WAS MELTED LIKE A CANDLE, WE HAD JUST FILLED UP THE TANK THE PREVIOUS DAY AND WERE VERY LUCKY WE DIDN'T LOSE OUR HOME ALSO. WE FIGURE THE REASON THE CAR DIDN'T BECOME FULLY INVOLVED WAS BECAUSE THE WINDOWS WERE ROLLED UP TIGHT AND IT SUFFOCATED THE FLAMES, THE CAR IS STILL A COMPLETE LOSS. THE WIRING IN THAT CAR HAD NEVER BEEN TOUCHED,CUT OR MODIFIED. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN EXCEPT FOR A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE WAY WE SEE IT MERCURY SHOULD OWE US ONE CAR OR BLUE BOOK VALUE. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

NHTSA complaint #10054774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bronx, NY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FIRE, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE PART THAT CONTROLS THE HEATER UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #560569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bronx, NY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FIRE, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE PART THAT CONTROLS THE HEATER UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #560569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Buffalo, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE CUT OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL POWER STEERING/BRAKES, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE CONTROL VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #879172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pasadena, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THIS IS A SECOND IDENTICAL INCIDENT DURING THE LAST 2 YEARS. WHEN STARTING THE CAR THE STARTER RELAY GOT STUCK AND CONTINUED TO CRANK THE ENGINE EVEN AFTER TAKING THE KEY OUT OF IGNITION. I STOPPED IT BY DICONNECTING THE BATTERY, BUT MEANWHILE THE BATTERY STARTED BOILING AND LEAKING. THE INCIDENT OCCURED 4-5 TIMES DURING 3 DAYS. I REPLACED THE STARTER RELAY AND THE BATTERY. AFTER THIS, THE INCIDENT OCCURED ONLY ONE MORE TIME, ABOUT 5 DAYS AFTER THE STARTER RELAY WAS REPLACED. THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURED FOR THE FIRST TIME TWO YEARS BEFORE (1998), WITH THE ORIGINAL STARTER RELAY. I THAT TIME I REPLACED THE RELAY, AND FOR 2 YEARS EVERYTING SEEMD OK. THIS IS A MATTER OF CONCERN BECAUSE IT ALSO HAPPENED WITH A NEW STARTER RELAY INSTALLED, WHICH SEEMS TO INDICATE SOME OTHER PROBLEM IN THE IGNITION SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #729630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lodi, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WON'T PASS SMOG AND EGR PLUG AND WIRE ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE FROM DEALER OR ANY OTHER AUTO PARTS STORE. HOW DO I GET IT SMOGGED WHEN PARTS ARE MELTED AND I CAN'T GET THE PARTS TO REPLACE THE BURNED ONES?

NHTSA complaint #723430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fontana, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #723599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lacrosse, LA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

UNDERHOOD FIRE NEAR WIRING HARNESS IN CENTER BACK OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT NEAR HEATER RELAY.

NHTSA complaint #721058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Woodward, IA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

KEY WAS OUT OF IGNITION AND VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN FOR ABOUT AN HOUR WHEN A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.

NHTSA complaint #839146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Reedsburg, WI Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

CAR HAD BEEN PARKED IN CUSTOFOAM CORPORATION, MAUSTON, WI., PARKING LOT FOR ONE AND A HALF DAYS. RECEIVED CALL ON FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1999 AT 2:30 PM THAT THE OFFICE MANAGER AND OTHER EMPLOYEES HAD TO BREAK THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WINDOW IN ORDER TO OPEN THE HOOD AND DISCONNECT THE BATTERY CABLES. INTERIOR OF CAR WAS FILLING WITH HEAVY SMOKE AND CAR WAS TRYING TO START ITSELF. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND WIRING WAS BADLY BURNED.

NHTSA complaint #706348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Downers Grove, IL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

CONSUMER'S T.I.F IGNITION MARGINAL BURNED APPROXIMATELY IN 1995.

NHTSA complaint #836566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bartow, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

VEHICLE CUT OFF. MECHANIC WORKED ON CAR, PUT ON COMPUTER FOR DIAGNOSTICS, AND STATED THE COMPUTER BRAIN WAS GONE OUT ON THE CAR. COULD BE MANY REASONS THAT CAUSE CASCADE PROBLEMS. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #827316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Westlake, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

THE PARKING LIGHTS AND INTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS DID NOT FUNCTION WHEN HEADLIGHTS WERE ON BECAUSE OF OVERHEATING CONTACTS IN THE WIRING. *AK

NHTSA complaint #833834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kelseyville, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

IGNITION OF ENGINE SHUTS DOWN AT INTERMITANT AND UNUSUAL TIMES USUALLY GOING UPHILL TO THE RIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #700847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

South SAN Francisco, CA Crash

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE SURGE AND COMPUTER SYSTEM. IN ONE INSTANCE, THE ENGINE SURGED AND RAN INTO A CONCRETE WALL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE TOTALED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY AN ENGINE SURGE, WHICH WAS THE RESULT OF A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA complaint #829829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Portage, IN Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

DEFECT WITHIN THE IGNITON WIRING, CAUSING THE WIRING TO BURN AND VEHICLE TO LOCK UP. THIS HAPPENED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK POSITION. DEALER AND FORD HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #827883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Latham, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

THE VEHICLE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLICKERED, AND WENT BLACK BECAUSE THE FUSE BURNED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REAR LIGHTS DID NOT WORK, REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF PARTS SW-1975. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #827181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Huntsville, TX Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

IGNITION FAILURE CAUSING VEHICLE FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #535131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Medford, MA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SMOKING. DRIVER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OPENED THE HOOD, AND THE WIRE WAS MELTED IN THE HARNESS IN THE STEERING WHEEL. EVERYTHING WAS MELTED, AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT START UP WITH THE KEY IN. IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #823538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Spirit LAK, IA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT, CAUSING FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #514700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Redmond, OR

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

STARTED VEHICLE, IMMEDIATELY SMELLED SMOKE AND TURNED MY HEAD FORWARD TO SEE SMOKE BILLOWING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN, PUSH CAR OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND DISCONNECTED BATTERY.

NHTSA complaint #503984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tewksbury, MA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

DRIVING THE VEHICLE NOTICED SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND OPENED THE HOOD UP AND THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE WAS A INVESTIGATION, BUT IT IS CLOSED PE 911 128. THE WHOLE VEHICLE WAS BURNED UP.

NHTSA complaint #815573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lakewood, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, RESULTING IN CLOCK, RADIO, AND POWER WINDOW FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #517772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Reston, VA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

IGNITION ELECTRIC ASSEMBLY SPARKED AND CAUSED A SMALL FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #517414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cudahy, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WHILE PARKING, SUDDENLY HEARD LOAD NOISE, THEN SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERHOOD, PASSERBY SAW THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, MOMENTS LATER FLAMES SHUT UP FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT, FIRE DEPT SUSPECTED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FRONT WIRING HARNESS AS CULPRIT.

NHTSA complaint #808777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pleasentville, OH Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND BURED BUMPER TO BUMPER. FIRE DEPT. TOLD CONSUMER THAT IT WAS AN ELETRICAL FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #807956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Carlisle, AR Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

CAR WAS PARKED AND CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE DASH .

NHTSA complaint #807589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW York, NY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT STARTED SMOKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THEN WENT UP IN FLAMES.

NHTSA complaint #806926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bismarck, ND

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING SMOKE.

NHTSA complaint #511009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1989 Mercury Sable problems

← Full 1989 Mercury Sable report