IllustrationMERCURY/FORD TOLD ME 4-19-00 THAT ONLY '93 & '94 3.8 LITER ENGINES WITH HEADGASKET FAILURES WOULD BE FIXED IF LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. I HAD PLANNED TO KEEP THE CAR FOR 2-3 MORE YEARS BASED ON LOW USAGE AS I COMMUTE TO DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS VIA BUS--BUT NOW THE CAR DOESN'T APPEAR WORTH FIXING. *AK
1991 Mercury Sable
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1991 Mercury Sable do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 201.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sable years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 4 of 221 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 101 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports9 fire reports5 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
56 reportsMY ENGINE FAILED, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, AS A RESULT OF FAULTY HEAD GASKETS. MY FORD DEALER TOLD ME WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR IN THAT FORD HAD INSTALLED DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS IN CERTAIN MODELS, INCLUDING MINE, IN THE EARLY 1990S, AND THAT THESE GASKETS FAILED, CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE OIL, WHICH IN TURN DAMAGED THE BEA…
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MY ENGINE FAILED, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, AS A RESULT OF FAULTY HEAD GASKETS. MY FORD DEALER TOLD ME WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR IN THAT FORD HAD INSTALLED DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS IN CERTAIN MODELS, INCLUDING MINE, IN THE EARLY 1990S, AND THAT THESE GASKETS FAILED, CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE OIL, WHICH IN TURN DAMAGED THE BEARINGS AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE. MY FORD DEALER ALSO TOLD ME THAT FORD HAD A PROGRAM TO HELP THOSE WITH 1994 AND 1995 CARS. I WROTE FORD TO ASK IT TO REIMBURSE ME, BUT FORD WAS RUDE AND ENTIRELY UNHELPFUL. WHY SHOULD IT RECOMPENSE ONLY THE OWNERS OF THE 1994 AND 1995 CARS, IF THE OLDER MODELS (1991-1993) ALSO HAD THESE DEFECTIVE GASKETS? MY DEALER TOLD ME I WAS AMAZINGLY LUCKY THAT THE ENGINE HADN'T FAILED EARLIER, AND THAT NO ACCIDENT HAD OCCURRED. PLEASE HELP ME GET FORD TO REIMBURSE ME FOR BUYING A NEW ENGINE AS A RESULT OF ITS PRODUCT DEFECT. THANK YOU. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, AND THE VEHICLE IS HARD TO TURN. VEHICLE WILL GO ANY OTHER WAY BESIDES THE WAY CONSUMER IS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, AND THERE IS A LEAKAGE WITHIN THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET AND TRANSMISSION, AND SMOKE IS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK
MY CHILDREN AND I WERE ALMOST KILLED RECENTLY WHEN WE WERE DOING 70 MPH ON I-85 AND THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. I HAD TALKED WITH MECHANICS IN GERMANY WHEN IT DID IT TO MY HUSBAND ON THE AUTOBAHN ONCE COMING FROM FRANKFURT. WE WERE TOLD THE CAR REACHES A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE AND HAS AN AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE READS…
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MY CHILDREN AND I WERE ALMOST KILLED RECENTLY WHEN WE WERE DOING 70 MPH ON I-85 AND THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. I HAD TALKED WITH MECHANICS IN GERMANY WHEN IT DID IT TO MY HUSBAND ON THE AUTOBAHN ONCE COMING FROM FRANKFURT. WE WERE TOLD THE CAR REACHES A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE AND HAS AN AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE READS NORMAL SO WHY WOULD THE CAR SHUT DOWN AT NORMAL TEMPERATURE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CAN HAPPEN AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS. I WAS LUCKY I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR TO THE SIDE WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES AND COAST TO A STOP. AFTER 30 MINUTES OF SITTING THE CAR WILL START AND GO. IT WILL THEN GET TO THAT TEMPERATURE AND SHUTOFF AGAIN. AFTER THIS HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME IN GERMANY MY HUSBAND AND I NEVER DROVE THE CAR OF THE MILITARY POST BECAUSE WE WERE AFRAID OF AN ACCIDENT. WE RECENTLY HAVE COME BACK TO THE STATES AND HAVE TO DO A LOT OF TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE, THIS IS WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I RECENTLY SAW SEGMENT ON DATELINE OR ONE OF THOSE SHOWS WHERE THIS HAD HAPPENED TO A FORD TAURUS AND EVIDENTLY THE PEOPLE WERE KILLED OR INJURED SERIOUSLY. WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO MY SABLE WAS THE SAME THING THIS FORD TAURUS WAS EXPERIENCING. I WOULD APPRECIATE ALL THE HELP IN THE MATTER, AS I CAN'T DRIVE FAR FROM HOME BECAUSE OF THE SERIOUSNESS.
THREE OF THE FOUR MOTOR MOUNTS WERE FOUND TO HAVE BROKEN/CRACKED.
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THERE IS A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER FOR REPAIR SERVICE, AND DEALER NOTICED THAT FRONT RIGHT MOTOR MOUNT AND RIGHT REAR MOTOR MOUNT WERE BROKEN.*AK
ENGINE MOUNTS BROKE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FALL OUT OF THE ENGINE WELL. DEALER WAS OF NO ASSISTANCE *AK
WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10MPH WHEN A BURNING ODOR WAS NOTICED. STOPPED THE VEHICLE & LIFTED THE HOOD. FLAMES SHOT OUT FROM NEAR THE ENGINE AREA WHERE FAN WAS LOCATED. THE PLASTIC COVERING FAN AND RADIATOR WAS BURNING, WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. *AK
ENGINE MOUNTS REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL DUE TO BEING LOOSE, HOWEVER RECALL DOES NOT INCLUDE MOTOR MOUNTS, ONLY SUBFRAME MOUNTS. (98V-323)
TRANSMISSION FAILED. (MJS)
Official recalls
498V323000 · Structure:frame And Members
Dec 16, 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.
97V025000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Feb 26, 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.
92V065000 · Wheels
May 11, 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: REPLACE THE SELF-LATCHING ASSEMBLY CURRENTLY USED IN THE REAR STORAGE COMPARTMENT WITH A LATCH ASSEMBLY THAT CAN ONLY BE CLOSED WITH A KEY.
91V134000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor
Aug 6, 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: REPLACE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH FULL CAST FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
11EA96024 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires
Opened Sep 30, 1996 · Closed Apr 15, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available
PE96033 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires
Opened May 2, 1996 · Closed Sep 30, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
IN DECEMBER 1995, FORD RECALLED 119,313 VEHICLES IN CANADA TO REMEDY THE SUBJECT CONDITION IN CERTAIN 1992-95 TAURUS, SABLE, TEMPO, TOPAZ AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES.FORD IS AWARE OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS OCCURRING IN NORTHERN REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT MAINTAINS THAT THE FREQUENCIES DO NOT WARRANT A FINDING OF AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.
DP95004 · Alleged Defective Tie Rods
Opened Aug 8, 1995 · Closed Aug 30, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other
ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIE RODS
EA94008 · Broken Tie Rods
Opened Feb 16, 1994 · Closed Feb 27, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE93100 · Polycast Road Wheel Cracks
Opened Dec 2, 1993 · Closed Jun 30, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
PE93070 · Failure Of Wheel Studs
Opened Jul 27, 1993 · Closed Nov 22, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
PE93065 · Underbody Fuel Line Fails
Opened Jul 15, 1993 · Closed Nov 30, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE93058 · Broken Tie Rods
Opened Jun 15, 1993 · Closed Feb 16, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
EA92040 · SUB-FRM/UNIBODY Absor.fail
Opened Nov 30, 1992 · Closed Jun 30, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
Additional source detail variants (2)
Structure
There is no summary currently available
Structure
There is no summary currently available
EA91042 · Storage Compar Suffocation
Opened Oct 28, 1991 · Closed May 21, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
===
PE91108 · Storage Compar Suffocation
Opened Aug 1, 1991 · Closed Oct 28, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available