IllustrationPROBLEMS WITH SUSPENSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, TIRES AND DRIVER SEAT. MR
1992 Mercury Sable
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1992 Mercury Sable do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 201.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sable years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 15 of 364 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 151 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports6 fire reports5 injury reports
Visibility complaints
13 reportsHEATER HOSES DAMAGED. YH
DRIVER'S WINDOW HAS FALLEN OFF THE TRACKS AND INTO THE DOOR FRAME, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK *ML
WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT COMPLETELY TURN OFF AND MOVE TO "STOWED" POSITION WHEN THE CONTROL KNOB IS TURNED OFF; THE BLADES STAY UP A LITTLE ON THE WINDSHIELD. WIPER MOTOR CONTINUES TO MAKE WIPERS MOVE SLIGHTLY. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. I JUST USED TODAY'S …
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WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT COMPLETELY TURN OFF AND MOVE TO "STOWED" POSITION WHEN THE CONTROL KNOB IS TURNED OFF; THE BLADES STAY UP A LITTLE ON THE WINDSHIELD. WIPER MOTOR CONTINUES TO MAKE WIPERS MOVE SLIGHTLY. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. I JUST USED TODAY'S DATE AS T HE DATE OF THE INCIDENT BECAUSE IT HAPPENED AGAIN THIS MORNING.
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MALFUNCTIONED,CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED.
IN APRIL 1996 WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOPPED WORKING IN RAIN AND ICE STORMS. WE HAD TO PULL OFF OF THE HIGHWAY MANY TIMES TO TRY TO CLEAN THE WINDOWS WHILE ON A COUPLE DIFFERENT TRIPS. THEY WOULD STOP ANYWHERE ON THE WINDSHIELD. IN DECEMBER 1996, FED UP TOOK CAR INTO THE FORD DEALER. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS…
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IN APRIL 1996 WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOPPED WORKING IN RAIN AND ICE STORMS. WE HAD TO PULL OFF OF THE HIGHWAY MANY TIMES TO TRY TO CLEAN THE WINDOWS WHILE ON A COUPLE DIFFERENT TRIPS. THEY WOULD STOP ANYWHERE ON THE WINDSHIELD. IN DECEMBER 1996, FED UP TOOK CAR INTO THE FORD DEALER. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG AND DIAGNOSED THE STEERING COLUMN/DASH SWITCH ASSEMBLY AND REPLACED THE SWITCH-MULTI-FUNCTION/WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY. I LEFT THE DEALER, WAS CAUGHT IN RAIN AND THE WIPERS DID NOT WORK AGAIN. THE FORD DEALER HAD ME RETURN THE NEXT WEEK. THEY STILL COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I THEN WAS ABLE TO FIND SOMEONE WHO COULD HELP SOME AND REPLACED THE WIPER MOTOR. THIS SEEMED TO LESSEN THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE WIPERS STILL STOP WHERE THEY WANT TO ON THE WINDSHIELD. I AM HOPING THAT AFTER HEARING THE NEWS ABOUT THE 1993 AND 1994 MERCURY SABLE WIPER PROBLEM THAT SOMEONE HAS ARRIVED AT A RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM AND, CAN ASSIST AND POSSIBLY COMPENSATE FOR MY EXPENSES IF THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER'S PROBLEM. WHEN I SPOKE TO MERCURY IN FEBRUARY FOR THE LATEST RECALL THEY STATED THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY REPORTS ON THE WIPER PROBLEM. PLEASE LET ME KNOW MY NEXT STEP, IF ANY. THANK YOU, JANICE L. ROWLAND. *AK
INTERMITTENT SWITCH. WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE IN RECENT SNOWSTORM, WIPER/WASHER WOULD NOT WORK. SAME PROBLEM TWICE ON ANOTHER, 1994, VEHICLE OF SAME TYPE. DEALERS ACKNOWLEDGE REGULAR FAILURE/COMPLAINTS ON THESE SWITCHES. DEALER, REGIONAL OFFICE, AND FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER REFUSE TO REPLACE SWITCH EXCEPT AT FULL CHA…
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INTERMITTENT SWITCH. WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE IN RECENT SNOWSTORM, WIPER/WASHER WOULD NOT WORK. SAME PROBLEM TWICE ON ANOTHER, 1994, VEHICLE OF SAME TYPE. DEALERS ACKNOWLEDGE REGULAR FAILURE/COMPLAINTS ON THESE SWITCHES. DEALER, REGIONAL OFFICE, AND FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER REFUSE TO REPLACE SWITCH EXCEPT AT FULL CHARGE OF NEARLY $200. SUDDEN LOSS OF VISIBILITY DUE TO POOR DESIGN/DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE!
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. ALSO, THE MOTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
RADIATOR FAILED CAUSING LEAKAGE, SEVERAL TIMES.
Official recalls
498V323000 · Structure:frame And Members
Dec 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 & remedy
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.
97V025000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Feb 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 & remedy
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.
97V019000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
Feb 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 & remedy
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.
92V065000 · Wheels
May 11, 1992
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 & remedy
Consequence: 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: REPLACE THE SELF-LATCHING ASSEMBLY CURRENTLY USED IN THE REAR STORAGE COMPARTMENT WITH A LATCH ASSEMBLY THAT CAN ONLY BE CLOSED WITH A KEY.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
11EA96024 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires
Opened Sep 30, 1996 · Closed Apr 15, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available
EA96019 · Headlight Failure
Opened Jul 31, 1996 · Closed Jan 26, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
EXCESSIVE HEAT IN AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED CIRCUIT BREAKER WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CAUSED THAT CIRCUIT BREAKER TO OPEN FOR TIME PERIODS OF VARYING LENGTH TO COOL OFF.OPENING OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER IN THIS MANNER INTERRUPTS ELECTRIC CURRENT FLOW TO THE HEADLIGHTS, SHUTTING THEM OFF.HEADLIGHT OUTAGES HAVE RANGER FROM BRIEF FLICKERS (LESS THAN ONE SECOND) TO GREATER THAN 20 SECONDS.OVER TIME, THE OUTAGES GROW IN LENGTH AND DURATION BECAUSE OF HEAT-INDUCED DETERIORATION OF THE SWITCH AND ASSOCIATED WIRING.RECALL 98V-009 WILL APPLY TO APPROXIMATELY 506,000 TAURUS, SABLE, MARK VIII, AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM 1-DEC.-92 THROUGH 30-SEP-93 AT THE ATLANTA, CHICAGO,AND WIXOM ASSEMBLY PLANTS.87% OF MY 1992-1995 TAURUS/SABLE AND 97% OF MY 1993-1995 MARK VIII WARRANTY REPAIRS (HEADLIGHT SWITCH REPLACEMENT) INVOLVED VEHICLES BUILT DURING THE DEC. 92 - OCT. 93 BUILD RANGE.
PE96033 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires
Opened May 2, 1996 · Closed Sep 30, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
IN DECEMBER 1995, FORD RECALLED 119,313 VEHICLES IN CANADA TO REMEDY THE SUBJECT CONDITION IN CERTAIN 1992-95 TAURUS, SABLE, TEMPO, TOPAZ AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES.FORD IS AWARE OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS OCCURRING IN NORTHERN REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT MAINTAINS THAT THE FREQUENCIES DO NOT WARRANT A FINDING OF AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.
DP95004 · Alleged Defective Tie Rods
Opened Aug 8, 1995 · Closed Aug 30, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other
ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIE RODS
EA94008 · Broken Tie Rods
Opened Feb 16, 1994 · Closed Feb 27, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE93100 · Polycast Road Wheel Cracks
Opened Dec 2, 1993 · Closed Jun 30, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
EA93022 · Idle Air Spd Ctrl Vlv Malf
Opened Jul 30, 1993 · Closed Aug 31, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available
PE93065 · Underbody Fuel Line Fails
Opened Jul 15, 1993 · Closed Nov 30, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE93058 · Broken Tie Rods
Opened Jun 15, 1993 · Closed Feb 16, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE93010 · Idle Air Spd Ctrl Vlv Malf
Opened Mar 2, 1993 · Closed Jul 30, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available
EA92040 · SUB-FRM/UNIBODY Absor.fail
Opened Nov 30, 1992 · Closed Jun 30, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
Additional source detail variants (2)
Structure
There is no summary currently available
Structure
There is no summary currently available