1990 Mercury Sable: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1990 Mercury Sable. The newest campaign is 98V323000. NHTSA received the report on 16 Dec 1998. The NHTSA record gives the component Structure / Frame and Members. NHTSA has 166 complaints on file for this model year. 11 NHTSA investigations name this model year.

The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.

This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.

Remedy of the newest campaign, 98V323000, in the NHTSA record

Dealers will install subframe rear mount bolts, reinforcement plates, and plate nuts.

NHTSA VIN lookup

Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on 1 Oct 2026. Complaint file through 15 May 2019. Recall file through 29 Sep 2026.

Since the last update

No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks

All updates to the register

Recall campaigns

5 campaigns, newest first. 4,243,900 units in total.

98V32300016 Dec 1998Structure / Frame and Members
92V11300017 Aug 1992Seat Belts / Front / Buckle Assembly
92V06500011 May 1992Wheels
91V1340006 Aug 1991Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Disc / Rotor
89V17100013 Oct 1989Exterior Lighting / Headlights / Switch

98V323000Received 16 Dec 1998. 2,697,000 units.
Structure / Frame and Members
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
If both rear corners drop, steering would become suddenly very difficult, affecting vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will install subframe rear mount bolts, reinforcement plates, and plate nuts.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Manufacturer campaign number 98S36. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 18 Jan 1999.
92V113000Received 17 Aug 1992. 565,000 units.
Seat Belts / Front / Buckle Assembly
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
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, in the NHTSA record
Ford will replace the rigid mounted safety belt buckles with end release safety belt buckles designed to prevent latch problems.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 30 Oct 1992.
92V065000Received 11 May 1992. 654,000 units.
Wheels
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
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, in the NHTSA record
Replace the self-latching assembly currently used in the rear storage compartment with a latch assembly that can only be closed with a key.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 15 May 1992.
91V134000Received 6 Aug 1991. 325,000 units.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Disc / Rotor
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
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, in the NHTSA record
Replace front brake rotors with full cast front brake rotors.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 26 Sep 1991.
89V171000Received 13 Oct 1989. 2,900 units.
Exterior Lighting / Headlights / Switch
Defect, in the NHTSA record
An incorrect transistor may cause autolamp system light sensor module malfunction.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
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, in the NHTSA record
Replace light sensor modules.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

Complaints by component

166 complaints, 220 component mentions.

A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. The figure per 1,000 component mentions shows how many of each 1,000 mentions name the component.

1990 Mercury Sable
All 1990 vehicles

1990 Mercury Sable: complaints by component, per 1,000 component mentions
Component	1990 Sable	All 1990 vehicles	Sable, all years	Mentions
Engine and Engine Cooling	136.4	104.6	193	30
Steering	109.1	40	46.7	24
Structure	104.5	65.1	47.4	23
Electrical System	95.5	99.2	65.7	21
Power Train	95.5	85.4	116.9	21
Air Bags	63.6	27.2	33.9	14
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	59.1	159.7	61.8	13
Vehicle Speed Control	59.1	43.8	72	13
Seat Belts	54.5	105	29.5	12
Suspension	50	28.2	137.6	11

The table shows the 10 components with the most mentions, of 19.

Complaints that report a crash: 12
Complaints that report a fire: 18
Injuries in the complaints: 8
Deaths in the complaints: 0
Date of the newest complaint: 16 Feb 2010

These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.

Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.

Complaints about the 1990 Mercury Sable, by the year NHTSA received them. The largest year is 1996, with 36 complaints.

Investigations

NHTSA investigations that name the 1990 Mercury Sable
Number	Type	Subject	Component	Opened	Closed	Campaign
DP95004	Defect petition	ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIE RODS	Unknown or Other	8 Aug 1995	30 Aug 1995
EA94008	Engineering analysis	BROKEN TIE RODS	Steering	16 Feb 1994	27 Feb 1995
PE93100	Preliminary evaluation	POLYCAST ROAD WHEEL CRACKS	Suspension	2 Dec 1993	30 Jun 1994
PE93065	Preliminary evaluation	UNDERBODY FUEL LINE FAILS	Vehicle Speed Control / Linkages	15 Jul 1993	30 Nov 1993
PE93058	Preliminary evaluation	BROKEN TIE RODS	Steering	15 Jun 1993	16 Feb 1994
EA92040	Engineering analysis	SUB-FRM/UNIBODY ABSOR.FAIL	Structure	30 Nov 1992	30 Jun 1993	93V106001
PE92044	Preliminary evaluation	POWER STEERING LEAKS/FIRES	Steering	27 Apr 1992	31 Aug 1992
PE92014	Preliminary evaluation	ENGINE MOUNT FAILURE	Engine and Engine Cooling	4 Feb 1992	25 Jun 1992
EA91042	Engineering analysis	STORAGE COMPAR SUFFOCATION	Structure	28 Oct 1991	21 May 1992	92V065000
PE91108	Preliminary evaluation	STORAGE COMPAR SUFFOCATION	Structure	1 Aug 1991	28 Oct 1991
EA90045	Engineering analysis	BRAKE DISC HUB SEPARATIONS	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	28 Sep 1990	12 Sep 1991	91V134001

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

Other model years

The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

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Official channels

NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
NHTSA page of the 1990 Mercury SableThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 1990 Mercury Sable: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/mercury/sable/1990/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through 29 Sep 2026.

Sources

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence: US government work, public domain
Recall file through: 29 Sep 2026
Complaint file through: 15 May 2019
First complaint in the file: 1 Jan 1995
Manufacturer in the recall file: FORD MOTOR COMPANY

The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.

Questions

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 1990 Mercury Sable?: 4,243,900 units in 5 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
How many recall campaigns does the Mercury Sable have for all model years?: NHTSA lists 46 recall campaigns for the Mercury Sable, model years 1984 to 2009. 5 of them name the 1990 model year.
Which component do the complaints about the 1990 Mercury Sable name most often?: Engine and Engine Cooling: 30 of 220 component mentions, or 136.4 per 1,000. For all 1990 vehicles the figure is 104.6 per 1,000.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 1990 Mercury Sable open?: No. Each of the 11 investigations that name this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.