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1995 Mercury SABLE: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

228 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

81,545 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 38 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 41 of 228 complaints (18.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation198.3%
Transmission and shifting135.7%
Braking behavior114.8%
Steering behavior73.1%
Fuel system concerns41.8%
Electrical and battery issues31.3%

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.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
41
Power Train
40
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
23
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan
20
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs
13
Engine And Engine Cooling
11
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
11
Structure:Frame And Members
11
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine41
Power Train40
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline23
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan20
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs13
Engine And Engine Cooling11
Power Train:Automatic Transmission11
Structure:Frame And Members11

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 41; Power Train: 40; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 23; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan: 20; Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 13; Engine And Engine Cooling: 11; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 11; Structure:Frame And Members: 11

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
5
25,000 to 49,999
3
50,000 to 74,999
10
75,000 to 99,999
9
100,000 to 149,999
10
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0005
25,000 to 49,9993
50,000 to 74,99910
75,000 to 99,9999
100,000 to 149,99910
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 1

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 190 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.

1995
12
1996
4
2000
65
2001
38
2002
52
2003
22
2004
13
2005
5
2006
4
2007
2
2008
3
2009
1
2010
4
2013
2
2015
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
199512
19964
200065
200138
200252
200322
200413
20055
20064
20072
20083
20091
20104
20132
20151

1995: 12; 1996: 4; 2000: 65; 2001: 38; 2002: 52; 2003: 22; 2004: 13; 2005: 5; 2006: 4; 2007: 2; 2008: 3; 2009: 1; 2010: 4; 2013: 2; 2015: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 19 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 11 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10000311 · 2002-12-20 (December 20, 2002)

BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON ALL FORD 3800'S. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 70,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000311 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10000604 · 2002-12-26 (December 26, 2002)

HEAD GASKET BLEW ON DEC. 25 2002

Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000604 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10001043 · 2002-12-17 (December 17, 2002)

WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN AND PUNCTURED THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE. TS SCC

Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001043 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10003978 · 2003-01-15 (January 15, 2003)

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE GOES FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND WILL NOT REGISTER THE CORRECT SPEED. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION . *NLM *DT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003978 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10005771 · 2003-02-12 (February 12, 2003)

DRIVER WAS DRIVING CAR ON STATE ROAD 84. CAR WAS STALLING. DRIVER PULLS OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD, OPENS HOOD ENGINE COMPARTMENT ENGULFED IN FLAMES AS STATED IN FIRE MARSHALL'S REPORT. FIRE MARSHALL STATES THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAR WAS TOTALLED.

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005771 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10005912 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)

ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE DEFECTIVE. *AK *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005912 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10007906 · 2003-02-21 (February 21, 2003)

MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN ACTING UP EVER SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR IN 1999. IT ONLY HAD 86000 MILES ON IT AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR NEEDED TO BE DRIVEN FOR A WHILE AND IT WOULD STRAIGHTEN ITSELF OUT. WELL, NOW IT'S SITTING IN MY FRONT YARD NEEDING A $1700 TRANSMISSION IN IT. LUCKY FOR ME, I WAS ON MY WAY HOME ON A BACK ROAD INSTEAD OF ON A HIGHWAY WITH TRAFFIC ZOOMING BY.

Owner-reported narrative. 123,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007906 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10007926 · 2003-02-21 (February 21, 2003)

MY COMPLAINT RELATES TO FORD AND ITS HANDLING OF THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 3.8 ENGINE. WHEN NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL BECAUSE OF THE GASKET PROBLEM I TOOK MY 1995 SABLE TO A FORD DEALER FOR CORRECTION. THE CAR IS NOT USED TOO MUCH, AND CONSEQUENTLY THE TIME EXTENSION(TO 7 YEARS) RAN OUT, BUT WITH ONLY 28,000 MILES ON THE NEW GASKETS (72,000 MILES TOTAL ON THE VEHICLE), THEY FAILED LAST MONTH. FORD HAS NO INTEREST IN PROVIDING ANY RELIEF. MILEAGE TO THEM IS IRRELEVANT, ONLY THE TIME. PRETTY LOUSY APPROACH TO FIXING AN ENGINEERING DESIGN FLA…

Owner-reported narrative. 72,230 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007926 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

01V390000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan

Reported: 2001-12-21 (December 21, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TAURUS/SABLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L AND 3.8L ENGINES AND MUSTANG VEHICLES WITH 3.8L AND 5.0L ENGINES. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE ENGINE COOLING FAN BEARING TO SEIZE.

Consequence: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, EXCESSIVE HEAT COULD BE GENERATED WHICH COULD MELT THE FAN MOTOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. COMPONENTS INSIDE THE COOLING FAN MOTOR COULD IGNITE POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ENGINE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY AND INSTALL A CIRCUIT BREAKER. IF THE COOLING FAN IS INOPERATIVE, THE FAN AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 28, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
94V198000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages

Reported: 1994-10-11 (October 11, 1994)

THE RETAINER CLIP WHICH HOLDS THE MASTER CYLINDER PUSH ROD TO THE BRAKE PEDAL ARM IS MISSING OR NOT COMPLETELY INSTALLED. THE PUSH ROD CAN SEPARATE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL ARM.

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY AND AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL THE RETAINER CLIP.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
97V019000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan

Reported: 1997-02-25 (February 25, 1997)

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: 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: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ELECTRICAL JUMPER HARNESS CONTAINING AN AUTOMATIC RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PROTECT THE FAN MOTOR LOW SPEED CIRCUITRY FROM OVERHEATING.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
97V025000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Reported: 1997-02-26 (February 26, 1997)

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: 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: DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
98V323000 · Structure:Frame And Members

Reported: 1998-12-16 (December 16, 1998)

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: IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.

NHTSA campaign record ↗