1990 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 #92V113000August 17, 1992565,000 vehicles affected

  seat belts: front: buckle assembly

  The rigid mounted safety belt buckles are defective in three ways. First, a fastened safety belt buckle will not unlatch when the release button is depressed. This results from interference between the buckle ejector finger and the buckle tongue window. The second defect is the safety belt buckle may not latch. The third possible defect is that the tongue may be retained by the buckle, but it may not be latched sufficiently to provide occupant protection.

  An insufficiently latched or unlatched safety beltincreases the risk of injury to seat occupants in the event of a sudden stop oraccident. If the safety belt buckle will not unlatch, it will not allow theoccupant to get out of the vehicle in an emergency situation.

  Remedy

  Ford will replace the rigid mounted safety belt buckles with end release safety belt buckles designed to prevent latch problems.

• 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 #89V171000October 13, 19892,900 vehicles affected

  exterior lighting: headlights: switch

  An incorrect transistor may cause autolamp system light sensor module malfunction.

  Headlamps could turn off while vehicle is being driven orremain on after vehicle is parked. Loss of headlights while driving at nightcould be hazardous to the driver and other trafific.

  Remedy

  Replace light sensor modules.

Other model years

• 1986 46
• 1987 76
• 1988 126
• 1989 238
• 1990
• 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