IllustrationENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAD BEEN COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR YEARS. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REMEDIED. WHILE DRIVNG 40 MPH THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM TAILPIPE, AND ENGINE WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, A BLOWN HEADGASKET WAS DIAGNOSED.*AK
1992 Mercury Sable
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1992 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: 15 of 364 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 151 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports6 fire reports5 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
151 reportsWITH OUT NO WARNING I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND NOTICED THAT MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS GOING UP. I WAS ON A BUSY 3 LANE HIGHWAY AT QUITTING TIME TRYING TO GET OFF A EXIT TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION. I CAME TO AN INTERSECTION AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SMOKE EVERYWHERE, SMOKING UP THE WHOLE INTERSECTION TO WHE…
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WITH OUT NO WARNING I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND NOTICED THAT MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS GOING UP. I WAS ON A BUSY 3 LANE HIGHWAY AT QUITTING TIME TRYING TO GET OFF A EXIT TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION. I CAME TO AN INTERSECTION AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SMOKE EVERYWHERE, SMOKING UP THE WHOLE INTERSECTION TO WHERE NO MOTORIST COULD PROCEED. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS ANTI-FREEZE COMING OUT OF MY EXHAUST. I HAD THE CAR TAKEN TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE MECHANIC INFOMED ME THAT THIS YEAR OF CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINES AND THE HEAD GASKETS. I NOTICED THAT MY HEATER WAS NOT PUTTING OUT ANY HEAT AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON. SO I DECIDED TO RESEARCH THIS MODEL AND SEE IF THERE WAS ANY WARRANTY OR RECALLS ON THIS TYPE OF THING AND TO MY SURPRISE THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ON GOING PROBLEM THAT FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT. I BOUGHT THIS CAR EXACTLY 1YR AGO THIS MONTH FROM A FORD DEALER AND I FEEL THAT THIS DEALER KNOWING THE PROBLEMS THAT THIS CAR HAS HAD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SELLING ME A LEMON. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER WITH THIS BEING MY ONLY CAR AND I AM LOOKING AT $1000.00 TO $1500.00 TO EITHER REPLACE THE MOTOR OR FIX IT. NOW DOES FORD THINK THAT I'M GOING TO BUY ANOTHER MOTOR AND TAKE THE CHANCE ON THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENING AGAIN. I THINK THAT FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. IS IT GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE THEY WILL DO SOMETHING. THIS HEAD GASKET BLOWS WITH NO WARNING AND CAUSED TREMENDOUS SMOKE WHICH BLOCKS OTHER MOTORISTS VIEW. THIS IS A DEFECT DUE TO FORD AND FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO PAY FOR THERE DEFECT NOT ME. I COULD SEE IF THIS WAS A ISOLATED ISSUE BUT IT IS NOT AND I'M SURE THAT THERE ARE MANY MORE PEOPLE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO AND THEY HAVE NEVER BOTHERED TO REPORT IT. SOMEONE NEEDS TO STEP IN AND MAKE FORD RESPONSIBLE.*AK
MOTOR HAS FAILED, AND DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE COMPLETELT SHUTSDOWN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
ON A TRIP TO NC THE ENGINE TEMP ROSE AND STALLED MANY TIMES. LOCAL DEALERS CAN'T DUPLICATE OR VERIFY WITH DIAGNOSTIC TEST. REPLACED OXYGEN SENSORS AND MOTOR MOUNTS NEW FUELFILTER. FORD DEALER REFUSED ADDITIONAL WORK FOR IGNITION PROBLEM THAT HE CANNOT SEE ON THIS CAR.CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE STALLING COULD TAKE PLACE.
FAILURE OF ENGINE HEAD GASKET CAUSED FAILURE OF ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM. *AK
ENGINE MOUNTS WERE REPLACED IN RECALL 10/27/94 BUT CONTINUE TO BREAK; WHY DOESN'T FORD WANT TO FIX?*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILURE RESULTED IN REPAIR BILL OF $1336.18, PLUS $399.51 FOR RENTAL CAR FOR EIGHT DAYS (CAR WAS AT MECHANIC'S FROM 5/20/01 THROUGH 6/13/01, BUT I WAS ABLE TO BORROW A CAR FOR TWO WEEKS), PLUS $45 FOR TOW TO MECHANICS SHOP. MY MECHANIC HAD WARNED THAT CAR MIGHT HAVE TO STAY IN HIS SHOP FOR AT LEAST TWO WEEKS BECAU…
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HEAD GASKET FAILURE RESULTED IN REPAIR BILL OF $1336.18, PLUS $399.51 FOR RENTAL CAR FOR EIGHT DAYS (CAR WAS AT MECHANIC'S FROM 5/20/01 THROUGH 6/13/01, BUT I WAS ABLE TO BORROW A CAR FOR TWO WEEKS), PLUS $45 FOR TOW TO MECHANICS SHOP. MY MECHANIC HAD WARNED THAT CAR MIGHT HAVE TO STAY IN HIS SHOP FOR AT LEAST TWO WEEKS BECAUSE OF SCARCITY OF PARTS DUE TO HIGH DEMAND. AFTER HEARING THAT PARTS WERE SCARCE, I DECIDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON INTERNET AND LEARNED THAT THAT FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT HEAD-GASKET FAILURE/VULNERABILITY ON ALL 1988-95 TAURUS/SABLES (AS WELL AS OTHER FORD MODELS) SINCE 1998 (TSB 98-4-9). FORD ISSUED A LIMITED RECALL, THE COVERAGE OF WHICH INCLUDED SABLES, BUT ONLY 1994-95 MODEL YEARS, EVEN THOUGH HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AFFECTS ALL 1988-95 FORD CARS WITH 3.8L V6 ENGINES. MY CAR HAD ONLY 51,244 MILES ON IT AT TIME THAT HEAD GASKET BLEW; FURTHERMORE, MY CAR HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED, AND I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR ALL MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON VEHICLE FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. MY MECHANIC ALSO INFORMED ME THAT ALTHOUGH THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED, MY CAR IS NOT GUARANTEED AGAINST FUTURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. I BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A FULL RECALL, ONE THAT COVERS ALL 1988-95 FORD CARS WITH 3.8L V6 ENGINES IVE LEARNED THROUGH RESEARCH THAT HEAD GASKETS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A NONMAINTENANCE ITEM AND ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR (OR AT LEAST 120,000 MILES). *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILED. CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. THE MORNING OF 5/15/2001 CAR DID NOT START. CAR WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC, UPON HIS CHECK HE CONCLUDED THAT HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED.*AK
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.
97V019000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
Feb 25, 1997
THESE VEHICLES ARE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, IOWA, MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA. THE VEHICLES INVOLVED ARE 1992-1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES WITH 3.0L ENGINES; 1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ WITH 2.3L ENGINES; 1992-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.8L ENGINES; 1994-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.0L ENGINES AND 1992-1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL VEHICLES WITH 3.8L ENGINES. DURING HIGH WINDS, HEAVY, BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW, AND LOW TEMPERATURES, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN CAN BECOME BLOCKED OR FROZEN WITH SNOW. THE FAN MOTOR MAY NOT ROTATE AND COULD OVERHEAT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE SMOKE OR FLAMES FROM THE FAN AND/OR SHROUD, THE FAN ELECTRICAL WIRING, OR THE FAN MOTOR RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ELECTRICAL JUMPER HARNESS CONTAINING AN AUTOMATIC RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PROTECT THE FAN MOTOR LOW SPEED CIRCUITRY FROM OVERHEATING.
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.
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
EA96019 · Headlight Failure
Opened Jul 31, 1996 · Closed Jan 26, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
EXCESSIVE HEAT IN AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED CIRCUIT BREAKER WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CAUSED THAT CIRCUIT BREAKER TO OPEN FOR TIME PERIODS OF VARYING LENGTH TO COOL OFF.OPENING OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER IN THIS MANNER INTERRUPTS ELECTRIC CURRENT FLOW TO THE HEADLIGHTS, SHUTTING THEM OFF.HEADLIGHT OUTAGES HAVE RANGER FROM BRIEF FLICKERS (LESS THAN ONE SECOND) TO GREATER THAN 20 SECONDS.OVER TIME, THE OUTAGES GROW IN LENGTH AND DURATION BECAUSE OF HEAT-INDUCED DETERIORATION OF THE SWITCH AND ASSOCIATED WIRING.RECALL 98V-009 WILL APPLY TO APPROXIMATELY 506,000 TAURUS, SABLE, MARK VIII, AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM 1-DEC.-92 THROUGH 30-SEP-93 AT THE ATLANTA, CHICAGO,AND WIXOM ASSEMBLY PLANTS.87% OF MY 1992-1995 TAURUS/SABLE AND 97% OF MY 1993-1995 MARK VIII WARRANTY REPAIRS (HEADLIGHT SWITCH REPLACEMENT) INVOLVED VEHICLES BUILT DURING THE DEC. 92 - OCT. 93 BUILD RANGE.
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
EA93022 · Idle Air Spd Ctrl Vlv Malf
Opened Jul 30, 1993 · Closed Aug 31, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
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
PE93010 · Idle Air Spd Ctrl Vlv Malf
Opened Mar 2, 1993 · Closed Jul 30, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
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