Total Complaints
105 filings
MERCURY SABLE · model year
1987 MERCURY SABLE
105 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987MERCURYSABLE carries 105 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 7 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1987 SABLE is structure:frame and members with 10 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition:switch (10) and power train:automatic transmission (8). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 22 investigation files overlapping the 1987 SABLE. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
105
Complaints
4
Crashes
7
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
4 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 10 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 10 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 8 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 5 |
| SEATS | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 3 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 2 |
| TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 2 |
Recent Complaints
20060606STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM AS NHTSA 98V323000. SUBFRAME BUSHINGS BROKE LOOSE CAUSE NEAR ACCIDENT AND LOSS OF STEERING. LOCAL FORD MOTOR COMPANY DENIED TO FIX BECAUSE OF VIN NUMBER.
20040719CrashSEAT BELTS
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION. DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT UNLATCHED, AND DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK
20040719CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION. DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT UNLATCHED, AND DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK
20040507SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
DRIVERS SEAT BROKE LOOSE FROM MOUNT. SEAT ROCKS FORWARD AND BACK. DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. DOORS ARE CLOSED. FUEL GAUGE INACCURATE.*AK
Mileage: 131,000
20040507STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DRIVERS SEAT BROKE LOOSE FROM MOUNT. SEAT ROCKS FORWARD AND BACK. DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. DOORS ARE CLOSED. FUEL GAUGE INACCURATE.*AK
Mileage: 131,000
20040507FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
DRIVERS SEAT BROKE LOOSE FROM MOUNT. SEAT ROCKS FORWARD AND BACK. DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. DOORS ARE CLOSED. FUEL GAUGE INACCURATE.*AK
Mileage: 131,000
20020708ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED WHILE ON VACATION IN FLORDIA, I WHEN TO A AUTO SHOP AND BROUGHT A PUSH PULL 50 AMP SWITCH AND BY PASSED THE PARTS OF THE SWITCH THAT HAD MELTED. I REPLACED THE PUSH SWITCH A NUMBER OF TIMES, CHEAPER THEN GOING TO A DEALER AND GETTING ROBBED FOR PART THAT WAS DEFECTIVE IN THE FIRST PLACE.*AK
20020131ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING LIGHT FOR DRIVER'S DOOR WILL ILLUMINATE. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL THEN UNLOCK ON ITS OWN. CAUSE OF PROBLEM IS UNKNOWN. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20020131STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
WHILE DRIVING LIGHT FOR DRIVER'S DOOR WILL ILLUMINATE. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL THEN UNLOCK ON ITS OWN. CAUSE OF PROBLEM IS UNKNOWN. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20010828TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
THE ORIGINAL SPARE TIRE, WHICH WAS NEVER USED, WAS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE, WHILE DRIVING THE TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD/BELT SEPARATION, THE TIRE MAKE/MODEL WAS NOT GIVEN BECAUSE THE CONSUMER STATED THAT IT WAS UNREADABLE, THE TIRE HAD UNDER 300 MILES ON IT, SPECIFIC INJURY INFORMATION WAS NOT GIVEN. NLM
20001108WHEELS:HUB
WHILE GOING 30-35 MPH SMELLED SMOKE. AFTER PULLING OVER CONSUMER NOTICED FRONT LEFT WHEEL HUB BASE COVER MELTED. CONTACTED DEALER. PROBLEM MAY BE LINKED TO BRAKE VACUUM PLATE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20001108SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHILE GOING 30-35 MPH SMELLED SMOKE. AFTER PULLING OVER CONSUMER NOTICED FRONT LEFT WHEEL HUB BASE COVER MELTED. CONTACTED DEALER. PROBLEM MAY BE LINKED TO BRAKE VACUUM PLATE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20000908WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL RIM AND TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHILCLE, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS
20000403STEERING:RACK AND PINION
BOLT THAT HOLDS STEERING RACK PULLED THOUGHT THE FRAME. VEHICLE WAS NOT STEERABLE, AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO MECHANIC
20000322STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF RECALL (98S36) SUB-FRAME MOUNTS PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE WHILE DRIVING CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN STEERING. *MJS
19990618ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE STALLING PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR. THE DEALER SAID THEY SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER'S ENGINEER, BUT, HE TOO WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERS WASHED HIS HANDS. THE MANUFACTURER TOO WOULDN'T RESPONSE. SO WE GAVE UP. BUT HEARD OF A RECENT LAW SUIT IN CALIFORNIA. WOULD LIKE YOUR ADVICE. ALTHOUGH THE CAR HAS A LOT OF MILEAGE BUT WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN NEAR MISSES SEVERAL TIMES. WE TRY TO AVOID CONGESTED RAODS AND ROADS WHERE WE COULD GET TRAPPED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED PROMPT RESPONSE.
19990616ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE STALLS AND SHUTS DOWN. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT IS LOOSE, CAUSING SEAT TO MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARD. DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
19990616SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE STALLS AND SHUTS DOWN. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT IS LOOSE, CAUSING SEAT TO MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARD. DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
19990616SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATBELT BUCKLES BROKE OFF, CAUSING NO PROTECTION TO THE OCCUPANTS IN EVENT OF A CRASH. REPLACED BUCKLES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
19990407STEERING
STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN FLUID LEAKS FROM RACK AND PINION. ALSO MAKES NOIS EIN POWER STEERING. *AK
Compare 1987MERCURYSABLE to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1987 MERCURY SABLE have?▼
The 1987 MERCURY SABLE has 105 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 7 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 MERCURY SABLE?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 MERCURY SABLE is STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS with 10 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1987 MERCURY SABLE safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.