24 of the 300 complaints about the 1989 Mercury Sable are about the steering — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 100,000 miles.
24
Complaints
2
Crashes
11
Fires
2
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND U-TURN AT 30 MPH STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER TO HIT A CURVE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK VEHICLE ALSO JUMPED UP INTO A CURVE AND DENTED THE LEFT FENDER BY A TREE.
NHTSA complaint #10064604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
CONSUMER IS HAVING DIFFICULTY STEERING VEHICLE, DEALERSHIP ADVISED CONSUMER THAT POWER STEERING PUMP HAD FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #785003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
TIE ROD AND SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED. MJS
NHTSA complaint #548372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
PARKED & TURNED VEHICLE OFF. EXHAUST FUMES ENTERED VEHICLE. GOT OUT & LIFTED HOOD. A LOT OF SMOKE BILLOWED OUT. LATER NOTICED FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED & PUT FLAMES OUT. FIRE WAS WAS CAUSED BY STEERING HOSES RUBBING AGAINST EACH OTHER & CAUSING A LEAK WHICH DRIPPED FLUID ONTO ENGINE AND CAUSING A FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #837483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
POWER STEERING HOSE CAUGHT ON FIRE TWICE BECAUSE OF LEAKING FLUID. DEALER HAS HAD VEHICLE 3 TIMES FOR SAME REASON.
NHTSA complaint #833299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
POWER STEERING IS DEFECTIVE. WHILE DRIVING ON A VERY HOT DAY THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND THE POWER STEERING WAS LEAKING, CAUSING A VAPOR WHICH IGNITED ON THE MANIFOLD, RESULTING IN A FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT, THE CAR WAS TOTALLED. AN INSURANCE ADJUSTER WILL INVESTIGATE THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BURNED UP. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #824705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
STEERING FAILED TO TUFN RESULTING IN ACCIDENT AND TOTALING CAR
NHTSA complaint #702082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK RESULTING IN FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #510149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
POWER STEERING HOSES CRACKED, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK, RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #523236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING HIGH PRESSURE LINE, THE HIGH PRESSURE LINE IS LEAKING FLUID, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. CONSUMER ALSO CONTACTED THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE PRESSURE LINE.
NHTSA complaint #806332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
REAR MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE PRIOR TO RECALL, CAUSING ENGINE TO DROP/LOSS OF STEERING, ALSO CAUSED THE TIE RODS TO COME FREE.
NHTSA complaint #507097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
POWER STEERING FAILS INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO PROBLEM WITH THE RACK.
NHTSA complaint #507097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED 4 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #485523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK AND PINION FAILED 4 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #485523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
VEHICLE PARKED IN PARKING LOT AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. PROGNOSIS: FIRE ORIGINATED IN STEERING COLUMN.
NHTSA complaint #984439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
POWER STEERING PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #488879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK AND PINION WENT OUT COULD NOT MAKE TURNS. TT
NHTSA complaint #976737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES
LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME INWARD AND PUSHED FLOOR BOARDS INWARD. TT
NHTSA complaint #973862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE CAUSED BY POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING. TT
NHTSA complaint #972803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED AND CAUSED FIRE. TT
NHTSA complaint #971861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO A LEAK IN THE POWER STEERING LINE, LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE. TT
NHTSA complaint #969460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
DEFECT/POWER STEERING HOSE CAUSED FIRE; WHILE PARKING, HEARD POPPING SOUND;STEERING WHEEL FROZE;SMOKE STARTED POURING FROM ENGINE;OPENED HOOD, SAW FLAMES/SMOKE.
NHTSA complaint #969392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WENT OUT THEN SMOKE CAME THROUGH VENTS, POWER STEERING FLUID CAUGHT FIRE ON MANIFOLD. TT
NHTSA complaint #963636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
POWER STEERING PUMP/HOSE REPLACED. TEN DAYS LATER VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA complaint #959176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.