IllustrationSLAMMED ON BRAKES AT 70MPH AND PEDAL WAS HARD TO MASH, AND ANTI-LOCK DIDN'T KICK IN. HAD SENSOR REPLACED 5 TIMES BUT STILL FAILED. HAD TO SWERVE OFF OF HIGHWAY TO AVOID ACCIDENT.
1988 Merkur Scorpio
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Scorpio years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
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: 0 of 8 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
2 reportsUNIVERSAL JOINT FAILURE.
Official recalls
188V084000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift
May 20, 1988
TRANSMISSION LINKAGE WAS ADJUSTED IMPROPERLY DURING PRODUCTION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS, THERE IS A POTENTIAL THAT THETRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL MAY NOT FULLY ENGAGE THE PARKING GEAR WHEN THETRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN PARK.
Remedy: INSPECT ALL VEHICLES AND ADJUST TRANSMISSION LINKAGE PROPERLY.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.