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1994 Mercury SableProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 387 owner complaints about the 1994 Mercury Sable, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 4 safety recalls.

38
CarFlaw IndexUse caution1.6× the Sable median · #5 of 22 years by complaints
Safety recalls4Free fix at dealersOwner complaints38739 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage75kEngine and engine cooling, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 18, 2016. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1994 Mercury Sable has problems

387 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
Engine and engine cooling1424
Power train953
Electrical system292
Exterior lighting272
Visibility251
Service brakes, hydraulic222
Fuel system, gasoline201
Structure201
Vehicle speed control191
13 other systems8317

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

4 recalls

1994 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

Headlights: switch

Recall 98V-009 · Jan 21, 1998 · 506,000 vehicles

Risk. LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION CAN AFFECT A DRIVER'S ABILITY TO NAVIGATE THE ROADWAY AND REDUCE THE VISIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK…

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

Cooling system: fan

Recall 97V-019 · Feb 25, 1997 · 75,200 vehicles

Risk. 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.

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

1994 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

1994 Mercury Sable safety ratings

1994 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
4 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1994 Mercury Sable, and the recalls they led to.

  1. HEADLIGHT FAILUREEA96019 · closed Jan 26, 1998
    Led to recall 98V-009
  2. ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRESEA96024 · closed Apr 15, 1997
    Led to recall 97V-019
  3. ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRESPE96033 · closed Sep 30, 1996
    Led to recall 97V-019
  4. FRONT SUSPENSION SPRINGRQ99017 · closed Feb 16, 2000
    Led to recall 98V-094
In owners' words

What Sable owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

THE KEY INSERT DOES NOT ALIGN, HAVE HAD 2 TRANSMISSIONS IN 5 YEARS. (I KNOW TO CHECK MY FLUIDS) NEW ENGINE, & THE PAINT IS AWFUL. ENGINE, MOTOR, GAS, GASPS AND JERKS WITH ME. HAVE HAD MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED, NOTHING HELPS. HEATER COIL(?) WENT OUT, I HAVE NO HEAT NOW. WE HAD TO BYPASS. THE REST I…
Complaint 10070159 · Jan 15, 2004
HATCH GLASS CAME LOOSE STARTED LEAKING(56000) FUEL PUMP STARTED ACTING UP GET HOT AND HANG UP(75000) NO RECALL. STATE FARM SHOWED THEY PAID FOR TOWING ON MANY, FORD PRODUCTS THAT USED THE SAME PUMP STILL NO RECALL. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS DOWN, OR SHIFTS OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING SMITH FORD CONWAY WAS…
Complaint 10070028 · Jan 15, 2004 · 85,000 miles
MY 1994 MERCURY SABLE SUDDENLY ACCERERATED TO 60 MPH WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND SLOWED ERRATICALLY. I TRIED BRAKING BUT WAS UNABLE TO SLOW SUFFICIENTLY. IUSED THE EMERGENY BRAKE BUT STILL COULD NOT SLOW ENOUGH AVOID HITTING A PHONE POLE. THREE PASSENGERS WERE INJURED. I HAD…
Complaint 10039542 · Sep 25, 2003 · 124,000 miles

Own a 1994 Sable?

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