Model Year Problem Record

Mercury Sable 1988 - Problems, Recalls, and Investigations

The complete public record for the 1988 Mercury Sable: what owners reported, which systems drew recalls, and where complaints exist that no recall has ever covered.

126Distinct owner complaintsSource: NHTSA Complaints

5Recall campaignsSource: NHTSA Recalls

20Defect investigationsSource: NHTSA Investigations

39Complaints reporting a crash or fireOwner Reports, Unverified

Complaints by System

Distinct complaints naming each system, most reported first. Select a system for its own page.

Engine33

Fuel and Propulsion System8

Vehicle Speed Control7

Did a Recall Cover It?

The join between complaints and recalls for this model year, system by system. A gap does not prove a defect - it means owners reported the problem and no recall campaign covers that system on this model year.

Engine33 complaints

33 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Electrical System28 complaints

28 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Steering27 complaints

27 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Power Train25 complaints

25 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Vehicle Structure15 complaints

15 complaints; 2 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 93V106000, 98V323000.

Seat Belts8 complaints

8 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Fuel and Propulsion System8 complaints

8 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Vehicle Speed Control7 complaints

7 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Seats6 complaints

6 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 91V036000.

Equipment5 complaints

5 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Brakes4 complaints

4 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 91V134000.

Lighting4 complaints

4 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Tires4 complaints

4 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Suspension3 complaints

3 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Unknown Or Other2 complaints

2 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Wheels2 complaints

2 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 92V065000.

Visibility2 complaints

2 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Recall Campaigns

Every campaign covering this model year, in our own words. The campaign number is the official reference.

91V036000Reported March 4, 1991 - 278,000 vehicles potentially affected

Seats. Recall covering the seats system, reported to NHTSA on March 4, 1991. The campaign covers an estimated 278,000 vehicles across all affected models.

91V134000Reported August 6, 1991 - 325,000 vehicles potentially affected

Brakes. Recall covering the brakes system, reported to NHTSA on August 6, 1991. The campaign covers an estimated 325,000 vehicles across all affected models.

92V065000Reported May 11, 1992 - 654,000 vehicles potentially affected

Wheels. Recall covering the wheels system, reported to NHTSA on May 11, 1992. The campaign covers an estimated 654,000 vehicles across all affected models.

93V106000Reported June 23, 1993 - 1,610,000 vehicles potentially affected

Vehicle Structure. Recall covering the vehicle structure system, reported to NHTSA on June 23, 1993. The campaign covers an estimated 1,610,000 vehicles across all affected models.

98V323000Reported December 16, 1998 - 2,697,000 vehicles potentially affected

Vehicle Structure. Recall covering the vehicle structure system, reported to NHTSA on December 16, 1998. The campaign covers an estimated 2,697,000 vehicles across all affected models.

Defect Investigations

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened these investigations touching this model year.

DP95004Opened August 8, 1995 - Closed August 30, 1995

ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIE RODS. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.

EA90042Opened August 31, 1990 - Closed December 31, 1991

THROTTLE STICKING. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.

EA90045Opened September 28, 1990 - Closed September 12, 1991

BRAKE DISC HUB SEPARATIONS. Resulted in recall campaign 91V134001.

EA91042Opened October 28, 1991 - Closed May 21, 1992

STORAGE COMPAR SUFFOCATION. Resulted in recall campaign 92V065000.

EA92040Opened November 30, 1992 - Closed June 30, 1993

SUB-FRM/UNIBODY ABSOR.FAIL. Resulted in recall campaign 93V106001.

EA94008Opened February 16, 1994 - Closed February 27, 1995

BROKEN TIE RODS. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.

PE89006Opened October 19, 1988 - Closed June 26, 1989

HEAD REST DROPS. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.

PE90019Opened November 27, 1989 - Closed March 27, 1990

SPEED CONTROL FAILURE. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.

PE90066Opened March 27, 1990 - Closed August 31, 1990

THROTTLE STICKING. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.

PE90071Opened April 2, 1990 - Closed June 28, 1990

BRAKE DISC HUB FAILURE. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.

PE91036Opened January 22, 1991 - Closed May 22, 1991

DOOR HANDLES BREAKAGE. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.

PE91108Opened August 1, 1991 - Closed October 28, 1991

STORAGE COMPAR SUFFOCATION. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.

PE91128Opened September 17, 1991 - Closed January 27, 1992

FIRES IN IGNITION SWITCH. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.

PE92014Opened February 4, 1992 - Closed June 25, 1992

ENGINE MOUNT FAILURE. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.

PE92044Opened April 27, 1992 - Closed August 31, 1992

POWER STEERING LEAKS/FIRES. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.

PE92056Opened July 1, 1992 - Closed November 30, 1992

SUB-FRM/UNIBODY ABSOR.FAIL. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.

PE93058Opened June 15, 1993 - Closed February 16, 1994

BROKEN TIE RODS. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.

PE93065Opened July 15, 1993 - Closed November 30, 1993

UNDERBODY FUEL LINE FAILS. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.

PE93100Opened December 2, 1993 - Closed June 30, 1994

POLYCAST ROAD WHEEL CRACKS. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.

RQ97009Opened August 29, 1997 - Closed February 16, 1999

REAR LOWER SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY. Resulted in recall campaign 93V106000.

Complaints by Year Received

When this model year's complaints reached NHTSA - whether its problems surfaced early or late in its life.

199534

199627

199714

199813

199922

20008

20016

20021

20041

How to Read These Counts: complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not failure rates. Older and higher-volume vehicles accumulate more reports, and counts are not adjusted for vehicles sold - no per-sales rate or reliability ranking is shown, because the public data does not support one.

Data as of October 30, 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaints, recalls, and investigations files (U.S. Government public domain). DefectRecord is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. For your specific vehicle, use NHTSA's VIN lookup. Report an error.