1991 Mercury SABLE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
100 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1991 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 31 of 100 complaints (31.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 32 | 32.0% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 10.0% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 6.0% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 4.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 31 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 21 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 3 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 31; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 21; Structure:Frame And Members: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 3; Power Train:Axle Assembly: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 3; Steering: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 96 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 31 |
| 1996 | 27 |
| 2000 | 17 |
| 2001 | 12 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
1995: 31; 1996: 27; 2000: 17; 2001: 12; 2002: 4; 2003: 5; 2004: 2; 2006: 1; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 32 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10028532 · 2003-07-17 (July 17, 2003)
NORTHPORT FORD IN COMMACK, NY FAILED TO PROPERLY PERFORM SAFETY RECALL 98S36 FOR THE SUBFRAME ON MY 1991 MERCURY SABLE. THE SUBFRAME SUBSEQUENTLY BROKE FREE CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY MOTOR MOUNTS, TRANSMISSION AND STEERING COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CLOSEST FORD DEALER IN PATCHOGUE NY. FORD AGREED TO REINSTATE THE RECALL FOR THE DEALER TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. THE DEALER CALLED FORD WITH THE PRICE OF THE SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE AND FORD WITHDREW THE OFFER TO REPAIR. THEY WANTED TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK AT A PRICE THEY DECIDED ON. I AM ON DISABIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028532 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 486660 · 1995-05-25 (May 25, 1995)
REPLACED TRANSMISSION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 486660 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020062 · 2003-05-19 (May 19, 2003)
THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHEN THE CONSUMER MADE LEFT TURNS. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020062 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070144 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
OTHER THAN THE REST OF MY PROBLEMS WITH THE ABOVE MY NEWEST COMPLAINT IS THAT I JUST FOUND OUT THAT DUE TO THE FACT FORD INSTALLED AN ALUMINIM PISTON WHERE THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A STEEL ONE WHICH IS THE ONLY ONE AVAILABLE NOW SINCE YOU DISCOVERED YOUR PROBLEMS. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW AND I'M BEING TOLD IT WILL COST BETWEEN $1200.00 - $1500.00 TO FIX DUE TO FORD'S POOR DESIGN. THIS IS NOT MY FIRST SABLE WAGON. THE FIRST ONE HAD ALL KINDS OF A/C PROBLEMS AND I'M GETTING TIRED OF PAYING FOR YOUR MISTAKES. MY A/C IS OUT NOW, I REPLACE B…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10070144 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10167502 · 2006-09-06 (September 6, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE DELAY TO DISENGAGED THE SPEED CONTROL. THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE PUMPED SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL THE DRIVER REGAINED CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE'S SPEED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER # 97V025000 BUT MISPLACED IT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO REFUSED TO PRODUCE A NEW LETTER BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS TOO OLD. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE THE SPEED CONTROL MALFUNCTIONING ENTAILED A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK.
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167502 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 500786 · 1996-01-22 (January 22, 1996)
TRANSMISSION PLANETARY RING FRACTURED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 500786 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 503674 · 1996-04-29 (April 29, 1996)
VEHICLE STALLED. (NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE REPORT) *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503674 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 731826 · 2000-09-18 (September 18, 2000)
VEHICLE WAS ON THE ENTRANCE RAMP TO A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN ENGINE POWER WAS SUDDENLY LOST. CAR WAS RESTARTED AFTER A TEN MINUTE COOL DOWN. DROVE FOR ANOTHER 10 MINUTES WHEN ENGINE POWER WAS LOST FOR A SECOND TIME. CAR WAS UNABLE TO START AFTER THE SECOND FAILURE. ROOT CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS A CORRODED GROUND CONNECT, ITENTIFIED AS C112 (FORD #). THIS CONNECTOR PROVIDES THE GROUND (NEGATIVE) FOR MAJOR ENGINE AND INSTRUMENTATION COMPONENTS (INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, INTEGRATED CONTROL MODULE, POWER STEERING MODULE, COOLING FAN, ELECTRONIC ENGINE C…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 731826 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 747302 · 2001-06-24 (June 24, 2001)
I HAVE LOCATED WHAT APPEARS TO BE A REPETITIVE SEVERE PROBLEMWHERE THE WIRE HARNESS IS RUBBING AGAINST A SHARP BENT METAL EDGE NEXT TO THE FUSE BOX AND AFTER TRYING TO LOCATE PARTS TO REPAIR I OBSERVED SEVERAL BURNED OUT TAURUS AND SABLE VEHICLES WHERE IT APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED AT OR UNDER THE DASH. ALSO A SIMILAR YEAR MK 7 BURNED THE SAME WAY. QUITE UNNERVING. ALSO HAVE A SECOND TAURUS WAGON I'VE HAD FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND EXAMINED IT WIRING AND SAME PROBLEM CHAFFED WIRE HARNESS APPROXIMATELY 3" FROM FUSE BOX. ALSO MY WIRES INTO BOX LOOSE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 747302 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 958417 · 1995-01-09 (January 9, 1995)
VEHICLE STALLS OUT WITH NO WARNING AT HWY SPEEDS.POSSIBLY FUEL PUMP PROBLEM, INSTALLED NEW FUEL PUMP AND STALLING CONTINUES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958417 at NHTSA ↗