1988 Mercury Sable

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

• NHTSA recall #98V323000December 16, 19982,697,000 vehicles affected

  structure: frame and members

  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.

  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.

• NHTSA recall #93V106000June 23, 19931,610,000 vehicles affected

  structure: frame and members

  Vehicle description: taurus and sables built from 10-14-85 through 8-19-88, and Lincoln continentals built from 11-4-87 through 9-30-88 (except 1989 - 1991 2.5L taurus and 1989 - 1992 sho). The affected cars were originally sold or currently registered in the following states: connecticut, illinois, indiana, maine, massachusetts, michigan, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, and wisconsin. The body mounts at the rear corners of the subframe, which supports the engine and transmission, may become detached due to corrosion of the subframe mount retaining plate. This would allow the rear corners of the subframe to drop.

  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. However, if both rear corners of the subframe drop, steering becomes very difficult, which could adversely affect vehicle control and possibly result in an accident.

  Remedy

  Install a corrosion-resistant reinforcing plate and a new bolt on both rear subframe mounts. This recall campaign has been superseded by recall 98V-323.

• NHTSA recall #92V065000May 11, 1992654,000 vehicles affected

  wheels

  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.

  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.

• NHTSA recall #91V134000August 6, 1991325,000 vehicles affected

  service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor

  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.

  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.

• NHTSA recall #91V036000March 4, 1991278,000 vehicles affected

  seats

  The power seat switch wiring is routed over rather than under the front seat support brace, allowing damage by seat cushion spring ends when seat is occupied.

  Power seat switch wiring insulation may become abraded,or punctured, and an electrical short could occur that could result in a firein the seat cushion material.

  Remedy

  Revise routing of power seat wiring to prevent damage from seat cushion spring contact.

Other model years

• 1986 46
• 1987 76
• 1988
• 1989 238
• 1990 166
• 1991 221
• 1992 364
• 1993 674
• 1994 387
• 1995 350
• 1996 304
• 1997 228
• 1998 190
• 1999 258
• 2000 464
• 2001 430
• 2002 440
• 2003 201
• 2004 52
• 2005 83
• 2008 61