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1991 Mercury SableProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 221 owner complaints about the 1991 Mercury Sable, most often about the power train. It is covered by 4 safety recalls.

51
CarFlaw IndexSolid year3% below the Sable median · #13 of 22 years by complaints
Safety recalls4Free fix at dealersOwner complaints22126 with a crash, fire or injuryTop problem101Power train

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 11, 2008. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1991 Mercury Sable has problems

221 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
Power train1011
Engine and engine cooling565
Steering271
Structure200
Service brakes, hydraulic191
Electrical system164
Suspension101
Air bags105
Equipment81
7 other systems373

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

4 recalls

1991 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

Vehicle speed control

Recall 97V-025 · Feb 26, 1997 · 212,700 vehicles

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.

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 →

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

1991 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
NHTSA crash tests

1991 Mercury Sable safety ratings

1991 Mercury Sable 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
11 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1991 Mercury Sable, and the recalls they led to.

  1. ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIE RODSDP95004 · closed Aug 30, 1995
    No recall
  2. STORAGE COMPAR SUFFOCATIONEA91042 · closed May 21, 1992
    Led to recall 92V-065
  3. SUB-FRM/UNIBODY ABSOR.FAILEA92040 · closed Jun 30, 1993
    Led to recall 93V-106
  4. BROKEN TIE RODSEA94008 · closed Feb 27, 1995
    No recall
  5. ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRESEA96024 · closed Apr 15, 1997
    Led to recall 97V-019
  6. STORAGE COMPAR SUFFOCATIONPE91108 · closed Oct 28, 1991
    No recall
  7. BROKEN TIE RODSPE93058 · closed Feb 16, 1994
    No recall
  8. UNDERBODY FUEL LINE FAILSPE93065 · closed Nov 30, 1993
    No recall
  9. FAILURE OF WHEEL STUDSPE93070 · closed Nov 22, 1993
    No recall
  10. POLYCAST ROAD WHEEL CRACKSPE93100 · closed Jun 30, 1994
    No recall
  11. ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRESPE96033 · closed Sep 30, 1996
    Led to recall 97V-019
In owners' words

What Sable owners report

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

OTHER THAN THE REST OF MY PROBLEMS WITH THE ABOVE MY NEWEST COMPLAINT IS THAT I JUST FOUND OUT THAT DUE TO THE FACT FORD INSTALLED AN ALUMINIM PISTON WHERE THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A STEEL ONE WHICH IS THE ONLY ONE AVAILABLE NOW SINCE YOU DISCOVERED YOUR PROBLEMS. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW AND…
Complaint 10070144 · Jan 15, 2004
WHILE DRIVING AUTO TRANSMISSION POPPED INTO NEUTRAL AND TRANSMISSION SHUT DOWN-CONSUMER STATES COULD HAVE GOTTEN HURT IF THERE WAS TRAFFIC. TT
Complaint 978602 · Jan 31, 1996
TRANSMISSION NEED TO BE REPLACE CONSUMER THERE WAS A RECALL THE MANUFACTURER SAY THAT IT HAS EXPIRE AND MANUFACTURER SEND LETTER TO OLD OWNER CAN'T FIND RECALL
Complaint 967771 · Jun 27, 1995

Own a 1991 Sable?

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