Total Complaints
981 filings
MERCURY SABLE · model year
981 NHTSA complaints, 24 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1993MERCURYSABLE carries 981 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 24 crashes, 15 fires, 17 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 1993 SABLE is engine and engine cooling:engine with 284 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (65) and power train:automatic transmission (36). 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 1993 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.
Total Complaints
981 filings
Crashes Reported
24 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 284 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 65 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 36 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS | 34 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 33 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 29 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 26 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 24 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 23 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH | 22 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 22 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 18 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 18 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 16 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 15 |
WHILE DRIVING DOWN RD GAS PEDAL STUCK MY DAUGHTER ROAD THE BRAKE UNTIL SHE COULD GET OFF ROAD .SHE CALLED I WORK THE LINKAGE FOR THE GAS BY HAND THAT FREED IT UP TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC HE TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE SAID ITS NOT RELEASING FAST ENOUGH HE TRIED A COUPLE THINGS VACUUM HOSES AND SOME OTHER PARTS THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM HE WENT ON LINE AND FOUND THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE CABLE AND TOLD ME TO CALL FORD. *TR
Mileage: 153,600
WHILE DRIVING DOWN RD GAS PEDAL STUCK MY DAUGHTER ROAD THE BRAKE UNTIL SHE COULD GET OFF ROAD .SHE CALLED I WORK THE LINKAGE FOR THE GAS BY HAND THAT FREED IT UP TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC HE TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE SAID ITS NOT RELEASING FAST ENOUGH HE TRIED A COUPLE THINGS VACUUM HOSES AND SOME OTHER PARTS THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM HE WENT ON LINE AND FOUND THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE CABLE AND TOLD ME TO CALL FORD. *TR
Mileage: 153,600
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED ILLUMINATING AND COULD CAUSE A CRASH. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V009000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 05/08/12*LJ
Mileage: 50,000
I BELIEVE THIS CAR WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR FAULTY BOLTS HOLDING THE ENGINE FRAME(REAR BOLTS. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN OCTOBER OF 2006. IN DECEMBER OF 2011 I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER FOR A STEERING PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE REAR BOLTS AND IT COST ME ALMOST $400 DOLLARS. JUST RECENTLY I DISCOVERED THIS CAR HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN THE, I BELIEVE 1998 RECALL NOTICE FOR REPLACING THE REAR BOLTS BECAUSE OF THE DANGER OF THEM RUSTING OUT. MY QUESTION IS: IS THERE THE POSSIBILITY THAT I CAN STILL BE COVERED UNDER ANY FORD/MERCURY TERMS, SOMETHING LIKE A FORD MOTORS GOODWILL PROGRAM. ONE BOLT WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND BROKEN AND THE OTHER JUST RUSTED BUT NOT YET BROKEN. SHOULD THE FORD/MERCURY DEALER I BROUGHT THE CAR TO HAVE KNOWN THAT THIS WAS A RECALLED VEHICLE AND DISCUSSED THIS WITH ME. MILEAGE AT THAT TIME WAS 79,524. *TR
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THE CAR SHUTS OFF AT RANDOM I'VE REPLACED THE BRAIN NO LUCK OH WELL THE PROBLEM IS THE CAR SHUTS OFF AT RANDOM SITTING DRIVING 1-100 MILES AN HOUR OH YEAH I GOT PULLED OVER FOR DOING 85 CAR SHUT OFF AT THAT SPEED BUT THAT'S NOT ALL SHUTS OFF COLD WARM 1 MIN 10 MIN DOESN'T MATTER WHEN EVER IT FEELS THE NEED IT DOES IT IM SO AFRAID OF THE CAR I WANT TO GIVE IT BACK TO FORD SO IT CAN KILL THEM I WILL NO LONGER EVEN TOUCH THIS VEHICLE I WANT SOME ONE TO TAKE IT AWAY ITS BEEN SITTING FOR ALMOST 6 MONTHS I HAVE NO IDEA THE PARTICULAR DATE BUT LIKE I SAID IM AFRAID OF THE VEHICLE... *TR
Mileage: 123,000
IN EARLY JANUARY 2008, MY MERCURY SABLE 3.0 WAGON, BEGAN TO HAVE TRANSMISSION (AX4S) PROBLEMS OF ERADICT UPSHIFTING AND DOWNSHIFTING WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AND CLIMBING A HILL. IN ADDITION WHEN I CHECKED THE FLUID LEVEL WHEN THE MOTOR IS HOT IT APPEARS LOW IN ATF FLUID, BUT WHEN THE MOTOR HAS COOLED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID STICK INDICATES THE TRANSMISSION FULL AT THE RIGHT LEVEL. I HAVE BECOME AWARE THAT THE AX4S HAS A HISTORY OF "INADEQUATE INTERNAL LUBRICATION OF CRITICAL PARTS AND A WEAK FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON THAT CRACKS AND LEAKS PRESSURE" THAT LEADS TO COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. MY CAR IS NO LONGER OPERATIONAL DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE ESTIMATED COST ON AVERAGE FROM TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOPS IN MY AREA IS 2200.00. I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THE CAR AND REALIZE NOW THAT THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION HAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF FAILURE AND FORD IS AWARE OF THE FACTORY DEFECTS BUILT INTO THE TRANSMISSION. I WOULD LIKE FORD TO REPAIR MY TRANSMISSION AT THERE EXPENS
Mileage: 181,978
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A HALT AT A STOP SIGN, ACCELERATION WAS ATTEMPTED, AND THE BOLTS THAT HELD THE MOTOR FRAME FELL OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE'S VIN# DID NOT FIT UNDER ANY RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED OR REPAIRED.
Mileage: 119,000
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AS THE CONTACT WAS TURNING LEFT ONTO THE HIGHWAY; THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND AND THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 98V323000, REGARDING THE STRUCTURE: FRAME AND MEMBERS. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
Mileage: 131,720
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE HAD VISIBLE WIRES AND THE TIRE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THERE WAS A KNOT IN THE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THREE THOUSAND MILES LATER, THE TREAD ON BOTH FRONT TIRES WAS COMPLETELY WORN AND THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE TREAD HAS WORN ON THE FRONT TIRES AGAIN, AND THE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHICH DETERMINED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE TO CAUSE THE ABNORMAL WEAR OF THE FRONT TIRES.
Mileage: 86,921
CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING THE 1993 MERCURY SABLE PAINT CHANGIN COLORS. *TS
DT: LAST SUMMER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ON AND OFF. THIS HAPPENED EVERY TIME THE CAR WAS DRIVEN AT NIGHT. THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE WITH TIME. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF WHEN THEY WERE ON DIM OR BRIGHT. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO FORD, AND THERE WAS RECALL 98V009000. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT TAKEN THE CAR FOR DIAGNOSIS. THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK
Mileage: 100,000
BLOWEN HEAD GASKET ON 1993 FORD SABLE WAGON WITN 87,000 MILES ON ENGINE ENGINE REPLACEMENT NEEDED
Mileage: 89,374
DEFECTIVE BRAKE SYSTEM. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ABS WAS AS NON- EFFECTIVE AS A NORMAL HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE, HOWEVER THE LOCAL DEALER QUESTIONED AUTHENTICITY OF THE NOTICE.*JB
IN 1993 I HELPED MY MOTHER PURCHASE A NEW MERCURY SABLE IN RACINE, WISCONSIN WHERE SHE LIVED. BY 2001 MY MOTHER WAS AT AN AGE SHE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING FOR SEVERAL REASONS. THE BIG EVENT WAS WHEN SHE BROKE HER HIP AND WE ALSO LEARNED SHE WAS STARTING TO LOSE HER SHORT TERM MEMORY. IN LATE 2001 WE HAD THE 1993 MERCURY SABLE WITH ONLY ABOUT 30 TO 35,000 MILES STORED PENDING DECIDING IF ANOTHER FAMILY COULD USE THE CAR. IN EARLY 2002 WE HAD THE TITLE TRANSFERRED TO MY SON AND HE STARTED TO DRIVE THE CAR. HE TOLD US WITHIN A WEEK THERE WAS A TERRIBLE NOISE AND WE HAD THE CAR CHECKED AT OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER IN LEXINGTON ILLINOIS. THERE SERVICE MANAGER, DANNY, TOLD ME BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. I FOUND THIS VERY ODD BECAUSE OF THE LOW MILES ON THE CAR AND IT WAS NOT DRIVEN MUCH IN THE WINTER SALT. I HAD DANNY SAVE BOTH OF THE OLD SPRINGS FOR ME BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD COVER THE EXPENSE. BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SPRINGS WERE BROKEN IN THE SAME AREA AND T
Mileage: 33,000
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE BLEW OUT. *AK
Mileage: 75,000
AFTER FILLING UP THE GAS TANK CONSUMER CAN SMELL GAS FOR 3 DAYS. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED BECAUSE CHILDREN ARE BEING TRANSPORTED DAILY IN THIS VEHICLE. *AK
I DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION FOR ALL THE ABOVE BUT COULD FIND IT IF NECESSARY. I AM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEAD GASKET WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM THAT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO AND, LIVING ON A SMALL PENSION AND SOCIAL SECURITY, DO NOT HAVE THGE MONEY TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE VEHICLE.
I DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION FOR ALL THE ABOVE BUT COULD FIND IT IF NECESSARY. I AM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEAD GASKET WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM THAT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO AND, LIVING ON A SMALL PENSION AND SOCIAL SECURITY, DO NOT HAVE THGE MONEY TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE VEHICLE.
I DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION FOR ALL THE ABOVE BUT COULD FIND IT IF NECESSARY. I AM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEAD GASKET WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM THAT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO AND, LIVING ON A SMALL PENSION AND SOCIAL SECURITY, DO NOT HAVE THGE MONEY TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE VEHICLE.
I DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION FOR ALL THE ABOVE BUT COULD FIND IT IF NECESSARY. I AM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEAD GASKET WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM THAT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO AND, LIVING ON A SMALL PENSION AND SOCIAL SECURITY, DO NOT HAVE THGE MONEY TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE VEHICLE.
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.