1990 Mercury Sable problems
The 1990 Mercury Sable has 220 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (13%) concerns engine. Next are steering (11%) and body & structure (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 220 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 13% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 20 and 19
- Injuries and deaths
- 16 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What the data shows
Safety-related details: 20 complaints mention a crash; 19 complaints mention a fire; 16 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 83% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1990 ranks 14th most-complained-about out of 18 model years of the Mercury Sable with enough data (66 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 5 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Airbag did not deploy during frontend collision. Shoulder/harness seat belt failed to retract. Please describe details. Tt
During rain storm, hit steel pole at approx. 10MPH, airbag deployed, bu, didn't inflate, instead vehicle interior filled with black smelly chemical smoke, caused head/facial injuries/cuts, and bruises; also, burns through two layers of clothing.
While driving 20 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated without the pedal being applied. The brake pedal was immediately applied in an attempt to stop the acceleration, but failed to do so. The vehicle had to be turned off and the keys removed from the ignition before the vehicle started decelerating. When the vehicle was started and changed from park to drive the vehicle went off without applying the accelerator pedal. The engine made a loud noise. When the consumer released the brake pedal the vehicle went faster.
Dt*: the contact stated upon entering a highway at 40 MPH, the passenger front rim fractured causing the partial rim and tire to separate from the vehicle. It was maneuvered off the road and later towed to the contact's residence. The dealer was alerted.