Total Complaints
300 filings
MERCURY SABLE · model year
1989 MERCURY SABLE
300 NHTSA complaints, 16 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1989MERCURYSABLE carries 300 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 16 crashes, 72 fires, 12 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 1989 SABLE is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 37 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (26) and structure:frame and members (24). 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 1989 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.
300
Complaints
16
Crashes
72
Fires
12
Injuries
1
Deaths
Crashes Reported
16 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 37 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 26 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 24 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 21 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 19 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 15 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 12 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 12 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS | 10 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 9 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 8 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 6 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 5 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 4 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 4 |
Recent Complaints
20070428STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
CORROSION-RELATED DETERIORATION IN 1989 MERCURY SABLE RESULTED IN DETACHMENT OF SUB-FRAME REAR PLATE NUT AND BOLT PULLING THROUGH. SYMPTOMS AS DESCRIBED IN RECALLS 93V106002 AND 98V-323/98S36. ADVISED BY FORD DEALER THAT THESE RECALLS DO NOT APPLY TO MY VIN AND ARE LIMITED TO EASTERN US STATES. HOWEVER 98V-323 STATES THAT VEHICLES WITH THESE SYMPTOMS ARE TO BE REPAIRED FREE BY DEALERS. NO ACCIDENT/INJURY HAS OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE IS SCHEDULED FOR REPAIR ON MONDAY APRIL 29 2007. I NEED TO KNOW IF THE RECALL WILL BE EXTENDED TO COVER MY VEHICLE REPAIR AND IF NOT, WHY NOT. SALT IS USED EXTENSIVELY IN UT FOR SNOW AND ICE CONTROL. *TR
Mileage: 147,230
20040408ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
THIS MORNING (7-8-04) I WAS PULLED OVER FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER AND THE OFFICER SAID I WAS DOING 75 IN A 55 WHEN MY SPEEDOMETER READ 65. I ASKED THE GENTLEMAN IF THERE WAS SOMEWAY HE COULD FORGET THE TICKET SINCE IT WAS MY FIRST TIME EVER AND HE SAID NO. HE DID NOT EXPLAIN TO ME EVERYTHING ON THE TICKET AND YOU CAN HARDLY READ HALF THE?!@#$% HE WROTE. I AM GOING TO TAKE THIS TO COURT SINCE HE DID NOT HAVE ME SIGN THE TICKET LIKE IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE. THEY DON'T PUT THE WORD "SIGNATURE" ON THE A LINE FOR NOTHING. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF I RECEIVED A CALL OR AT LEAST AN E-MAIL WITH IN THE NEST 24 HOURS. THANK YOU AND PLEASE DO DRIVE SLOW.*AK
20040322STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND U-TURN AT 30 MPH STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER TO HIT A CURVE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK VEHICLE ALSO JUMPED UP INTO A CURVE AND DENTED THE LEFT FENDER BY A TREE. *LA
Mileage: 100,000
20040123FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, GATHERED OUR THINGS AND WENT IN TO THE HOUSE. THE NEXT MORNING I WENT TO BRUSH THE SNOW OFF OF THE CAR AND NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD WAS BROKEN, I OPENED THE DRIVER DOOR AND DISCOVERED THE WHOLE DASHBOARD WAS MELTED LIKE A CANDLE, WE HAD JUST FILLED UP THE TANK THE PREVIOUS DAY AND WERE VERY LUCKY WE DIDN'T LOSE OUR HOME ALSO. WE FIGURE THE REASON THE CAR DIDN'T BECOME FULLY INVOLVED WAS BECAUSE THE WINDOWS WERE ROLLED UP TIGHT AND IT SUFFOCATED THE FLAMES, THE CAR IS STILL A COMPLETE LOSS. THE WIRING IN THAT CAR HAD NEVER BEEN TOUCHED,CUT OR MODIFIED. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN EXCEPT FOR A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE WAY WE SEE IT MERCURY SHOULD OWE US ONE CAR OR BLUE BOOK VALUE. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *LA
20030612SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS DO NOT LATCH PROPERLY. THE WARRANTY PROGRAM ON THE SEAT BELTS HAS EXPIRED. *AK
20021126POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE VEHICLE JUMP INTO OVERDRIVE WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD ANY ADDTIONAL INFORMATION. TS
20020917WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHILE DRIVING, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE FELL OFF, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, ALL 5 LUG BOLTS WERE BROKEN OFF, OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *SLC
20020917SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
CONSUMER STATES BRAKE WORK HAD RECENTLY BEEN COMPLETED ON VEHICLE. *SLC
20020514POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION MOUNTS ARE FAULTY. *SLC
20020514FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FIRE, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE PART THAT CONTROLS THE HEATER UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. *SLC
20020429SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT RETRACTOR WILLCLICK IN, BUT WILLNOT STAY OPEN. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
20020404SUSPENSION
NOTICING CLUNKING NOISE WHEN DRIVEING/ STOPPING AND GOING. *AK
20020307FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FIRE, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE PART THAT CONTROLS THE HEATER UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. *SLC
20020228ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE HEAD BLEW.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE HEAD APPEARED TO HAVE ABNORMALITIES, SUGGESTING POOR MANUFACTURING.*JB
20020228ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE HEAD BLEW.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE HEAD APPEARED TO HAVE ABNORMALITIES, SUGGESTING POOR MANUFACTURING.*JB
20011210SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT THAT SLIDES INTO THE BUCKLE WILL NOT LATCH. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. MANUFACTURER STATED SEAT BELT WAS UNDER WARRANTY FOR 12 YEARS, AND WARRANTY EXPIRED .*AK
20011113SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE RELEASES ON ITS OWN. SOMETIME ENGAGES WHEN BUCKLING UP. STAYS LATCHED & COULD SELF RELEASE @ ANYTIME. MANY TIMES HAVE TO STRUGGLE FOR LATCHING TO TAKE PLACE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST 16 MONTHS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP WHAT COULD BE DONE! THANKS! B.E.*AK
20011101SUSPENSION
BUSHINGS AND RADIUS ARM ARE GONE ON RIGHT SIDE. HEARED A LOUD BANGING NOISE WHEN BACKING OR GOING FORWARD. CONTACTED DEALER, AND TOOK VEHICLE IN TO BE CHECKED.*AK
20011002ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING AROUND A CURVE IN TRAFFIC, VEHICLE STALLED, CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS ARE FAULTY. *SLC
20011002ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AROUND A CURVE IN TRAFFIC, VEHICLE STALLED, CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS ARE FAULTY. *SLC
Compare 1989MERCURYSABLE to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1989 MERCURY SABLE have?▼
The 1989 MERCURY SABLE has 300 NHTSA complaints, 16 crashes, 72 fires, 12 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 MERCURY SABLE?▼
The most-complained component for the 1989 MERCURY SABLE is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 37 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS.
Is the 1989 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.