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1986 Mercury SableProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 46 owner complaints about the 1986 Mercury Sable, most often about the structure. It is covered by 8 safety recalls.

82
CarFlaw IndexOne of the best years78% below the Sable median · #20 of 22 years by complaints
Safety recalls8Free fix at dealersOwner complaints468 with a crash, fire or injuryTop problem11Structure

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 16, 2003. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1986 Mercury Sable has problems

46 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Structure111
Power train80
Engine and engine cooling71
Seat belts61
Electrical system64
Seats40
Vehicle speed control20
Visibility20
Service brakes, hydraulic20
4 other systems51

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

8 recalls

1986 Mercury Sable recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Structure: frame and members

Recall 98V-323 · Dec 16, 1998 · 2,697,000 vehicles

Risk. IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Structure: frame and members

Recall 93V-106 · Jun 23, 1993 · 1,610,000 vehicles

Risk. IF ONE OF THE REAR CORNERS DROPS, ONLY MINOR INDICATIONS OF A MALFUNCTION SUCH AS A CLUNKING NOISE OR SLIGHT CHANGE IN STEERING WHEEL ALIGNMENT ARE NOTICEABLE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Wheels

Recall 92V-065 · May 11, 1992 · 654,000 vehicles

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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Disc: rotor

Recall 91V-134 · Aug 6, 1991 · 325,000 vehicles

Risk. SEVERELY CORRODED ROTORS MAY FRACTURE OR SEPARATE NEARTHE INNER EDGES OF THE BRAKE DISCS RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS,HIGHER THAN NORMAL PEDAL…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 4 more recalls
–no report yet

Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 87V-139 · Sep 4, 1987 · 3,600,000 vehicles

Risk. COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Windshield wiper/washer: motor

Recall 87V-017 · Feb 19, 1987 · 28,000 vehicles

Risk. GLASS COULD FRACTURE WHILE STATION WAGON IS BEING DRIVENOR PARKED, CREATING A RISK OF INJURY TO OCCUPANTS OR SUDDEN DISTRACTION TO THEDRIVER.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Column locking: anti-theft device

Recall 85V-172 · Dec 26, 1985 · 4,500 vehicles

Risk. IF THE CAR IS LEFT UNATTENDED WITH THE KEY REMOVED AND THE IGNITION SWITCH NOT IN LOCK POSITION, THE CAR CAN BE EASILY STOLEN.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Mercury.

Best & worst years

1986 vs. every other Sable year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sable median. How we score

'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'08'09
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
20 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1986 Mercury Sable, and the recalls they led to.

  1. STALLINGEA88032 · closed Jan 12, 1990
    No recall
  2. FRONT SEAT BRACKETEA89023 · closed May 22, 1990
    No recall
  3. THROTTLE STICKINGEA90042 · closed Dec 31, 1991
    No recall
  4. BRAKE DISC HUB SEPARATIONSEA90045 · closed Sep 12, 1991
    Led to recall 91V-134
  5. STORAGE COMPAR SUFFOCATIONEA91042 · closed May 21, 1992
    Led to recall 92V-065
  6. SUB-FRM/UNIBODY ABSOR.FAILEA92040 · closed Jun 30, 1993
    Led to recall 93V-106
  7. STEERING BINDINGPE87030 · closed Aug 24, 1987
    No recall
  8. HIGH BRAKE PEDAL EFFORTPE88014 · closed May 26, 1988
    No recall
  9. HEAD REST DROPSPE89006 · closed Jun 26, 1989
    No recall
  10. FRONT SEAT BRACKETPE89007 · closed May 25, 1989
    No recall
  11. EXHAUST GAS INTRUSIONPE89091 · closed Jul 13, 1989
    No recall
  12. SPEED CONTROL FAILUREPE90019 · closed Mar 27, 1990
    No recall
  13. THROTTLE STICKINGPE90066 · closed Aug 31, 1990
    No recall
  14. BRAKE DISC HUB FAILUREPE90071 · closed Jun 28, 1990
    No recall
  15. DOOR HANDLES BREAKAGEPE91036 · closed May 22, 1991
    No recall
  16. STORAGE COMPAR SUFFOCATIONPE91108 · closed Oct 28, 1991
    No recall
  17. FIRES IN IGNITION SWITCHPE91128 · closed Jan 27, 1992
    No recall
  18. SUB-FRM/UNIBODY ABSOR.FAILPE92056 · closed Nov 30, 1992
    No recall
  19. POLYCAST ROAD WHEEL CRACKSPE93100 · closed Jun 30, 1994
    No recall
  20. REAR LOWER SUBFRAME ASSEMBLYRQ97009 · closed Feb 16, 1999
    Led to recall 93V-106
In owners' words

What Sable owners report

Recent structure complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

SUBFRAME WELDS BROKE AND FRAME DROPPED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. NO INJURIES. THERE IS A RECALL BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED.*JBSUBFRAME MOUNTING BOLTS/BRACKETS BROKE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE REAR MOUNTS CAUSING THE ENGINE AND TRANSAXLE TO FALL BACKWARD AND MAKE STEERING IMPOSSIBLE. *JG
Complaint 8009024 · May 2, 2002
DOOR LATCH ON INSIDE DRIVERS DOOR HAS BROKEN ON TWO OCCASIONS, DRIVERS SIDE SEAT ANCHOR HAS A STRESS FRACTURE ALLOWING SEAT TO MOVE. TT
Complaint 959493 · Feb 2, 1995
THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A RECALL ON VEHICLE. *AK
Complaint 834205 · Jan 28, 1999

Own a 1986 Sable?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.