IllustrationDURING VEHICLE OPERATION TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY WILL SLIP OUT OF GEAR AND DROP BACK INTO GEAR WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION. UPON INSPECTION SEALS AND PINS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED AND IS ATTRIBUTED TO USE OF ALUMINUM. REPLACEMENT OF BOTH PARTS NECESSARY TO ALLOW SAFE OPERATION OF VEHICLE. *AK
1994 Mercury Sable
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1994 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: 27 of 387 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 142 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 95 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
16 crash reports9 fire reports13 injury reports
What owners actually said
387 reportsWHILE PULLING OUT OF AN PARKING LOT VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FROM 5 MPH TO 15 MPH WHILE CONSUMER HAD THE BRAKES APPLIED. IT HAD TO BE SNATCHED OUT OF GEAR TO BE STOPPED. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWICE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML
CAR ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY, BRAKES APPLIED, BUT COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE; HAD TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK
HEAD GASKET HAS ALSO CAUSED $800 IN OTHER DAMAGE. PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN ON THIS ENGINE, SEE '95 WINDSTAR ISSUES. *AK
RADIATOR FAILED RESULTING IN LEAKAGE, REPLACEMENT LEAKED DUE TO FAULTY RADIATOR CAP. MJS
I CONTACTED THE FORD COMPANY TO FIND OUT IF THIS WAS A RECALLED ITEM. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY HAD PUT AN EXTENED WARRANTY ON THE HEAD GASKETS WHICH EXPIRED ON 12/31/98. BUT SINCE IT WAS PAST THAT DATEWHEN I CONTACTED THEM THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS. WHILE FINDING OUT THIS IMFORMATION I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD NEV…
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I CONTACTED THE FORD COMPANY TO FIND OUT IF THIS WAS A RECALLED ITEM. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY HAD PUT AN EXTENED WARRANTY ON THE HEAD GASKETS WHICH EXPIRED ON 12/31/98. BUT SINCE IT WAS PAST THAT DATEWHEN I CONTACTED THEM THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS. WHILE FINDING OUT THIS IMFORMATION I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD NEVER SENT ME THE WARRANTY INFORMATION BECAUSE THEY STILL HAD THE PREVIOS OWNERS NAME IN THEIR FILES ( 2 YEARS AFTER WE PURCHASED THE CAR). SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM I HAVE TALKED TO 6 OTHER OWNERS OF THIS SAME CAR ( MAKE MODEL AND YEAR) THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM! AND THOSE ARE ONLY A FEW I KNOW IN THIS SMALL COMMUNITY! *AK
WHEN BUTTON DEPRESS FOR THE ELECTRIC SEAT THE SEAT WILL GO FORWARD AND BACKWARD BUT NOT UP OR DOWN. NLM
RECEIVED LETTER FROM FORD VEHICLE SERVICE AND PROGRAMS DATED JUNE, 1998 ABOUT A PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE TO OWNERS WITH MY MAKE AND MODEL: SERVICE PROGRAM NUMBER 98MO1. THE LETTER STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE COULD CAUSE ENGINE OVERHEATING AND ENGINE FAILURE. THE PROGRAM HAD A FIX AT NO CHARGE TILL DEC. 31, 1998. I H…
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RECEIVED LETTER FROM FORD VEHICLE SERVICE AND PROGRAMS DATED JUNE, 1998 ABOUT A PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE TO OWNERS WITH MY MAKE AND MODEL: SERVICE PROGRAM NUMBER 98MO1. THE LETTER STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE COULD CAUSE ENGINE OVERHEATING AND ENGINE FAILURE. THE PROGRAM HAD A FIX AT NO CHARGE TILL DEC. 31, 1998. I HAD SOME ENGINE OVERHEATING PROBLEMS THAT THE DEALER COULD FIND NO CAUSE FOR BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF THIS PROGRAM AND NOW, FIVE MONTHS AFTER EXPIRATION, AN ENGINE FAILURE AS A RESULT OF THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE OF WHICH FORD SAYS I WILL JUST HAVE TO PAY FOR: $1228! MY COMPLAINT IS THAT IF THIS WAS A DEFAULT FORD ADMITTED AND WAS WILLING TO REPAIR THEN WHAT ABOUT THOSE OF US THAT DIDN'T HAVE PROBLEMS UNTIL AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THEIR PROGRAM? THERE WAS ALSO A 5 YR. OR 60,000 MILES LIMIT ON IT, I AM STILL IN THE 5 YR. BUT DUE TO A HIGHWAY COMMUTE OF 100 MILES PER DAY, I AM OVER THE 60,000 MILE PERIMETER THAT WAS SET FOR THE PROGRAM. WHAT CAN I DO?
SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED, THE VEHICLE WONT GO INTO GEAR/ REV UP, AND WONT GO WHEN SLOWING DOWN, IT WILL LUNGE FORWARD WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER IS WORKING, THERE IS NO PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NO SUMMARY
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.
98V009000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
Jan 21, 1998
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 & remedy
Consequence: 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: 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.
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.
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
4RQ99017 · Front Suspension Spring
Opened Aug 9, 1999 · Closed Feb 16, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
EA96024 · 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.