Safety ratings
1991 Mercury Sable 4-DR.
- Lane departure warningNo
- Forward collision warningNo
- Electronic stability controlNo
1991 Mercury Sable 4-DR. Wagon
- Lane departure warningNo
- Forward collision warningNo
- Electronic stability controlNo
Crash test videos & photos
No public crash-test footage is available for this vehicle.
Recalls (5)
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCampaign 97V025000 · 26/02/1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L ENGINES AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. WATER CAN ACCUMULATE WITHIN THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT. IF ENOUGH WATER ACCUMULATES, IT COULD FREEZE WITHIN A LOW AREA OF THE CABLE ROUTING WHEN EXPOSED TO A LONG TERM COLD SOAK AT TEMPERATURES AT LEAST SEVERAL DEGREES BELOW FREEZING.
Risk: DRIVER CONTROL OF VEHICLE SPEED USING THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM OR THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD BE DIMINISHED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.
- SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBERCampaign 94E036000 · 25/11/1994
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.
Fix: MONROE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STRUT FREE OF CHARGE.
- STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERSCampaign 98V323000 · 16/12/1998
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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.
- WHEELSCampaign 92V065000 · 11/05/1992
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.
Fix: REPLACE THE SELF-LATCHING ASSEMBLY CURRENTLY USED IN THE REAR STORAGE COMPARTMENT WITH A LATCH ASSEMBLY THAT CAN ONLY BE CLOSED WITH A KEY.
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTORCampaign 91V134000 · 06/08/1991
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.
Fix: REPLACE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH FULL CAST FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.
Owner complaints
Most-reported areas
- POWER TRAIN93
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING46
- STEERING24
- STRUCTURE16
- SERVICE BRAKES13
- HYDRAULIC13
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12
- AIR BAGS10
Read individual complaints (50 most recent)
These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.
- 12/24/1994· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WARPED ROTORS/PADS REPLACED DUE TO METAL TO METAL BRAKE SYSTEM THAT CAN'T DISSIPATE THE HEAT GENERATED, CAUSE BRAKES TO PULSATE/EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *SKD
- 12/23/1997· VISIBILITY
WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL FAILED.
- 12/18/1994· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILED, RESULTING IN NO REVERSE/FORWARD GEARS. *AK
- 12/17/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IGNITION SWITCH NOISE.
- 12/16/1999· STEERING
JUST MAKING A TURN ONTO THE HIGHWAY, TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 10MPH AND SUDDENLY CAR CAME TO A STOP BECAUSE OF THE POSITON OF THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. HAD TO STRAIGHTEN WHEEL MANUALLY, AND MOVE IT OFF THE ROAD. HAD IT TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION. INNER TIE ROD BROKE. *AK
- 12/12/1997· POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING WITH VEHICLE IN DRIVE OWNER STOPPED AT LIGHT WHEN LIGHT CHANGED WITH VEHICLE STILL IN DRIVE, VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE. *AK
- 12/09/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE STALLS CONTINUOUSLY.
- 12/07/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RECALL REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM.THE BODY MOUNTS ARE LOOSE WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO DROP. RECALL NUMBER 93V106002. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
- 12/05/2000· POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED PRIOR TO SERVICE PROGRAM #94M84 IN SEPT OF 1994, IN 2000 THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN, CONSUMER BELIEVES FORD REPLACED THE INITIAL TRANSMISSION WITH ANOTHER TRANSMISSION CONTAINING THE SAME INHERENT DEFECT. NLM
- 12/04/1997· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILED (PISTON/VALVE BODY KIT).
- 12/02/1997· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILURE.
- 12/02/1996· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
- 12/01/1994· STEERING
LEFT FRONT TIE ROD BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. *SKD
- 11/30/1998· STEERING,POWER TRAIN,STRUCTURE
WHILE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, AND THE REAR MOUNT BOLTS PULLED THROUGH THE SUB-FRAME DUE TO CORROSION, CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK UP. *AK THE CUSTOMER WAS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS OF THE VEHICLE'S DEFECTIVE PARTS THAT WERE ON RECALL 93V106002. THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WAS REPLACED BY THE CUSTOMER. *YH
- 11/30/1994· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AW
- 11/24/2001· STEERING
REPAIR IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE WAS POWER STEERING LINE - REPORTED TO SELLER IMMEDIATELY THE NEXT WEEK AFTER PURCHASE. *AK
- 11/22/1999· SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL AND SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. ALSO, THERE WAS VIBRATION WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, LOSS OF CRUISE CONTROL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION,SMOKE CAME FROM UNDERHOOD. *AK
- 11/21/1997· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK
- 11/21/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN
DEFECTIVE ROTOR AND POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE DISC. TT CONSUMER STATES FRONT DISCS WARPED. TRANSMISSION FAILED. *SLC
- 11/20/2002· SUSPENSION
PLNHTS#6954-94-E-036-000: SWAY BAR BRACKET WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE STRUT RESERVE TUBE DID NOT FUSE PROPERTY. CONSUMER STATES HAS THE SAME PROBLEM (MAKING SOME NOISE). DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
- 11/18/1998· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILED RESULTING FROM EXCESSIVE METAL FOUND IN FLUID.
- 11/17/1998· AIR BAGS
IE97027, WHILE DRIVING THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL STAY ON DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
- 11/15/2000· TIRES
RIGHT GOODYEAR TIRE EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT. *SLC
- 11/14/1995· POWER TRAIN
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS TO NEUTRAL WHEN STOPPING. *SD
- 11/13/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
IT APPEARS THAT THE HEAD GASKETS ARE PREMATURELY FAILING ON THE 3.8 LITRE ENGINES MANUFACTURED BY FORD ON MODELS 1988 TO PRESENT. THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN TSB #98-4-9 EXPLAINING THE COMPLAINT BUT HAVE FAILED TO REPAIR THIS KNOW PROBLEM OR MAKE RESOLUTION TO THE COMPLAINTS. *AK
- 11/13/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HEATER/A/C BLOWER REGISTER FAILED.
- 11/10/1993· STEERING
PREMATURE WEAR OF TIE ROD ENDS.
- 11/09/2000· AIR BAGSCrash
BEFORE CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE THEY NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON, THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THEY COULD NOT FIX THE LIGHT DUE TO A FEDERAL LAW AND NEVER SAID THE AIR BAGS DID NOT WORK, THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE AIR BAGS EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT AND 2 OF THE OCCUPANTS INJURIES WERE SORENESS. *SLC
- 11/09/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HEAD GASKETS FAILED WITH ONLY 57,000 MILES ON CAR. VEHICLE IS A 1991 MERCURY SABLE WAGON WITH A 3.8 L 6 CYLINDER ENGINE. CAR HAS ALLWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. I THINK FORDS WARRANTY SHOULD BE FOR ANY 3.8 LITER 6 CYL. VEHICLE PERIOD!!!!!!!. *AK
- 11/08/1996· POWER TRAIN
PLANETARY GEAR FRACTURED CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING DUE TO DESIGN.
- 11/05/2001· TIRES
LEFT/REAR COOPER TIRE, SIZE: P205/65R15, DOT: U9UREK7139 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE TRAVELING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES ON THE TIRE, AND IT WAS NOT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON 1991, MERCURY, SABLE. *AK
- 11/01/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE STARTING VEHICLE, THE ENGINE DID NOT TURN OVER. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND TECHNICIAN STATED HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN. *AK *SLC
- 10/31/1997· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY PRIOT TO RECALL. UPON TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS. TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED, FORD REFUSED TO REPLACE IT HAD TO REPLACE IT AT OWNER'S EXPENSE.
- 10/31/1994· VISIBILITY
DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR REPLACED TWICE DUE TO LOUD NOISE WHEN IN USE. *SKD
- 10/30/1996· STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY, SNAPPING W/WHEELS FACING OUTWARD. OWNER HAS RETURNED SOME PARTS BACK TO FORD MFG, LSO REPLACED ENGINE MOUNTS. *AK
- 10/30/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire
VEHICLE FIRE CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. *AK
- 10/30/1996· TIRES
MICHELIN TIRES REPLACED.
- 10/30/1996· STEERINGFire
POWER STEERING HOSE FLUID LEAK, CAUSING FIRE.
- 10/27/1997· POWER TRAIN
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK
- 10/26/2000· POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSAXLE FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON DESIGN IS MADE OF ALUMINUM WHICH FAILS (CRACKS), THE REPLACEMENT IS MADE OF STEEL, CONSUMER FEELS A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED DUE TO DESIGN FLAW *MJS
- 10/26/1999· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILED, RECALL (94M-84) HOWEVER DENIED DUE TO YEAR/MILEAGE REQUIREMENTS. MJS
- 10/25/1996· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
- 10/25/1996· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
- 10/24/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN
MY 1991 SABLE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPAIRED DUE TO THE FRONT ENGINE MOUNT BOLT FELL-OUT, OR BREAKAGE. AFTER REPAIRS WAS MADE THE FRONT ENGINE MOUNT BOLT CAME OUT OR BREAK OUT TWO OTHER TIMES AS OF 23 OCTOBER 2000. MY SABLE WAS PURCHASED IN WASHINGTON STATE AND REGISTERED IN ALASKA, HOWEVER IT IS LOCATED IN MARYLAND WHERE I LIVE FOR THE PASSED TWO YEARS. *AK
- 10/23/2000· UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
- 10/22/1999· POWER TRAIN
POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSING GEARS TO NOT GO FORWARD / BACKWARD. DEALER CANNOT FIX PROBLEM. *YC
- 10/22/1996· POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IGNITION SWITCH CAN TURN/START ENGINE WITHOUT A KEY. GEAR SHIFT CAN BE MOVED AS WELL. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
- 10/20/1997· TIRES
ALL FOUR TIRES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN BRAKING DURING RAIN/HYDROPLAINING. YH
- 10/19/1995· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS CAR WOULD NOT START. TT
- 10/17/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
REPLACED HEAD GASKET AND O2 SENSORS. THIS IS THE SAME FLAWED ENGINE DESIGN AS THOSE THAT FORD ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON FORD HAS NOT INCLUDED THE '91 ENGINES.