1993 Mercury Sable: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 1993 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 671 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 29 Mar 2018. Recall file through 30 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

6 campaigns, newest first. 3,772,112 units in total.

98V32300016 Dec 1998Structure / Frame and Members
98V0940006 May 1998Suspension / Front / Springs / Coil Springs
98V00900021 Jan 1998Exterior Lighting / Headlights / Switch
97V02500026 Feb 1997Vehicle Speed Control
97V01900025 Feb 1997Engine and Engine Cooling / Cooling System / Fan
93V0230004 Jan 1993Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

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.
98V094000Received 6 May 1998. 281,000 units.
Suspension / Front / Springs / Coil Springs
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the states of new york, michigan, ohio, illinois, wisconsin, pennsylvania, massachusetts, indiana, new jersey, maine, connecticut, new hampshire, rhode island, vermont, minnesota, iowa, missouri, kentucky, maryland, delaware, and west virginia. The front coil springs can fracture as a result of corrosion in combination with small cracks in the springs.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
The front tire could deflate due to a broken front coil spring contacting the tire, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will install a spring catcher bracket which will prevent a fractured spring from contacting a tire.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Manufacturer campaign number 98S15. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 4 Nov 1998.
98V009000Received 21 Jan 1998. 506,000 units.
Exterior Lighting / Headlights / Switch
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The headlights can flash intermittently as a result of the circuit breaker opening. The vehicle's headlights can go out for brief intervals.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
Loss of headlights during vehicle operation can affect a driver's ability to navigate the roadway and reduce the visibility of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will install a headlight switch that incorporates a cricuit breaker of revised design and installation of a wiring harness connector and wiring, if needed.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 15 Apr 1998.
97V025000Received 26 Feb 1997. 212,700 units.
Vehicle Speed Control
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Vehicle description: vehicles equipped with 3.8l engines and originally sold or currently registered in the following states: alaska, colorado, iowa, idaho, illinois, indiana, kansas, massachusetts, maine, michigan, minnesota, missouri, montana, north dakota, nebraska, new hampshire, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, south dakota, vermont, wisconsin, and wyoming. Water can accumulate within the speed control cable conduit. If enough water accumulates, it could freeze within a low area of the cable routing when exposed to a long term cold soak at temperatures at least several degrees below freezing.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
Driver control of vehicle speed using the speed control system or the accelerator control system would be diminished increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will add a boot to the speed control cable.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Manufacturer campaign number 97S65. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 23 Apr 1997.
97V019000Received 25 Feb 1997. 75,200 units.
Engine and Engine Cooling / Cooling System / Fan
Defect, in the NHTSA record
These vehicles are originally sold or currently registered in the following states: alaska, iowa, minnesota, nebraska, north dakota, and south dakota. The vehicles involved are 1992-1994 tempo/topaz vehicles with 3.0l engines; 1994 tempo/topaz with 2.3l engines; 1992-1995 taurus/sable with 3.8l engines; 1994-1995 taurus/sable with 3.0l engines and 1992-1994 lincoln continental vehicles with 3.8l engines. During high winds, heavy, blowing and drifting snow, and low temperatures, the engine cooling fan can become blocked or frozen with snow. The fan motor may not rotate and could overheat.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
This condition can cause smoke or flames from the fan and/or shroud, the fan electrical wiring, or the fan motor resulting in a vehicle fire.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will install an electrical jumper harness containing an automatic resetting circuit breaker to protect the fan motor low speed circuitry from overheating.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Manufacturer campaign number 97S66. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 31 Mar 1997.
93V023000Received 4 Jan 1993. 212 units.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Anti-lock brake system controllers designed for rear wheel drive cars may have been installed on these front wheel drive cars..
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
This could result in reduced braking ability and possiblevehicle accident.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Replace the rear wheel drive ABS controller with a front wheel drive ABS controller.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 7 May 1993.

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

671 complaints, 977 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.

1993 Mercury Sable
All 1993 vehicles

1993 Mercury Sable: complaints by component, per 1,000 component mentions
Component	1993 Sable	All 1993 vehicles	Sable, all years	Mentions
Engine and Engine Cooling	437.1	142.9	211.7	427
Exterior Lighting	73.7	32.7	40	72
Suspension	59.4	36.5	131	58
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	57.3	188.7	66.9	56
Visibility	57.3	47.8	44.9	56
Electrical System	53.2	80.6	66.9	52
Power Train	51.2	85.5	118.2	50
Structure	36.8	44.2	48.3	36
Equipment	32.8	22.1	21.8	32
Steering	29.7	33.9	47.2	29

The table shows the 10 components with the most mentions, of 21.

Complaints that report a crash: 21
Complaints that report a fire: 7
Injuries in the complaints: 16
Deaths in the complaints: 1
Date of the newest complaint: 23 Mar 2009

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 1993 Mercury Sable, by the year NHTSA received them. The largest year is 2000, with 186 complaints.

Investigations

NHTSA investigations that name the 1993 Mercury Sable
Number	Type	Subject	Component	Opened	Closed	Campaign
RQ99017	Recall query	FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING	Suspension	9 Aug 1999	16 Feb 2000	98V094000
EA99023	Engineering analysis	WINDSHIELD WIPER	Visibility	6 Aug 1999	12 Jun 2001
PE99015	Preliminary evaluation	WINDSHIELD WIPER	Visibility	24 Feb 1999	6 Aug 1999
EA96024	Engineering analysis	ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRES	Engine and Engine Cooling	30 Sep 1996	15 Apr 1997	97V019000
EA96019	Engineering analysis	HEADLIGHT FAILURE	Exterior Lighting	31 Jul 1996	26 Jan 1998	98V009000
PE96033	Preliminary evaluation	ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRES	Engine and Engine Cooling	2 May 1996	30 Sep 1996	97V019000
PE96018	Preliminary evaluation	HEADLIGHTS FAILURE	Exterior Lighting / Headlights	5 Mar 1996	31 Jul 1996
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
PE93058	Preliminary evaluation	BROKEN TIE RODS	Steering	15 Jun 1993	16 Feb 1994

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 1993 Mercury SableThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 1993 Mercury Sable: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/mercury/sable/1993/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through 30 Sep 2026.

Sources

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence: US government work, public domain
Recall file through: 30 Sep 2026
Complaint file through: 29 Mar 2018
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 1993 Mercury Sable?: 3,772,112 units in 6 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. 6 of them name the 1993 model year.
Which component do the complaints about the 1993 Mercury Sable name most often?: Engine and Engine Cooling: 427 of 977 component mentions, or 437.1 per 1,000. For all 1993 vehicles the figure is 142.9 per 1,000.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 1993 Mercury Sable open?: No. Each of the 11 investigations that name this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.