1990 Mercury Sable body problems

23 complaints (14% of all complaints for this car). 1 crash reported.

owner complaints: 23
of this car's complaints: 14%
crashes: 1
recalls: 1

Which part fails

Frame and members
20
Body
2
Body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments
1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k

25k-50k

50k-75k

75k-100k

100k-125k

125k-150k

150k-175k

175k-200k

200k+

Mercury Sable body problems in other years

Related recalls

Structure: frame and membersReported December 16, 1998 · 2,697,000 vehicles affected

What is wrong: 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.
Risk: 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.

Recall number 98V323000 · Recall details

Related investigations

Sub-frm/unibody absor.failOpened November 30, 1992, closed June 30, 1993

There is no summary currently available

EA92040

Storage compar suffocationOpened October 28, 1991, closed May 21, 1992

===

EA91042

Storage compar suffocationOpened August 1, 1991, closed October 28, 1991

There is no summary currently available

PE91108

What 1990 Mercury Sable owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Jul 21, 2008 · Body · CA

Vehicle -- 1990 mercury sable station wagon, 3.8 engine experienced loss of steering control due to failure of engine/transmission lower subframe mount failing. Subsequent motion also breached both rear brake lines with major loss of braking power. With significant effort, I was able to maintain control of the vehicle.

Filed Sep 17, 2001 · Body · MD · crash

Vehicle was at an intersection at a light and was about to move when another vehicle hit consumer's vehicle. When consumer lifted foot from brakes vehicle started to drift into another lane. Started to turn vehicle left and right, but steering wouldn't turn. Mechanic stated that a subframe broke dealership was aware of problem.

Filed Apr 9, 2001 · Body · MA

Front subframe bolts broke due to corrision . Recall was issued but only for rear.*ak the bolt was replaced and the consumer was asking the manufacturer to pay for repair since the defect was essentially the same as that of the recall.

Filed Aug 8, 2000 · Body · FL

Please help me I am mentally disabled with a family and this is what is happening to me -please help me. The frame on my car broke and fell down while my wife was coming home from work. The dealer verified the recall and got us a loaner but said it would cost 25.00 a day its been 10 days and monday august 7th I was told that my car wasn't fixable because of the excess corrosion and it was fifty fifty that I would have no car and a rental bill please help me im at the point where I just can't stand even thinking about it. We have sat by the phone four nine days and called ourselves after that long they say I may get nothin, no car and a rental bill please help.

Filed Aug 2, 2000 · Body · MI

The dealer was very helpful. However ford customer service/zone rep. Was not even interested in this problem. If I had not taken the trim off to clean, I would have never seen the failure. This striker is needed to keep the door/tailgate closed. Childen can ride in the rear facing seat of this vehicle. If something should happen to cause this tailgate to open suddenly, the failed metal that holds the striker in place woiuld be virtually useless. The tailgate would likely fly open. The structure of this vehicle has not been comprimised, by the way. There has not been an accident to cause this sort of failure. Ford's lack of interest is cerainly alarming for this safety issue.

Filed Jun 14, 2000 · Body · MI

The body structure where the post that holds the tailgate closed failed. The metal is cracked in several places, not permitting the tailgate to be closed properly. The vehicle has not been in a rear end situation where the body structure would be compromised. We were lucky that we realized that the tailgate was not closing completely, and checked out the latch assembly. The post now just bends over when the tailgate is closed. Thank god that we discovered this, as I would not allow someone to ride in the back of this vehicle and its comprimised safety.

Filed May 17, 2000 · Body · NY

Consumer contacted dealer in reference to recall 98v323000 concerning subframe corrosion. Dealer stated that vehicle was not included in the recall, and refused to do recall work. Please provide any further details.

Filed Dec 8, 1999 · Body · NJ

Clear finishing coat of paint is cracking and flaking off. Dealer is not accepting responsibility. *ak

Filed Sep 7, 1999 · Body · MA

Vehicle was traveling at 15 MPH or less when both rear & front subframes disconnected. Dealer notifed and informed consume r that rear subframes would be repaired under manufacturer's recll, but front would be repaired at consumer's expense. Consumer would like to know why can the same recall on the rear no be applied to the front when condition are the same. Can the federal safety agency help in this problem.

Filed Sep 2, 1999 · Body · UT

While traveling 30-40 MPH the subframe dropped onto the axles due to retainer washer rusting out, making it very difficult to steer the vehicle. Recall 98v32300 was listed for the same type of problem. However, this vehicle was not included due to VIN.

Questions about the 1990 Mercury Sable body

Does the 1990 Mercury Sable have body problems?

Owners have filed 23 complaints about the body of the 1990 Mercury Sable, 14% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 1990 Mercury Sable body problems start?

Not enough complaints include the mileage to tell.

Was there a recall on the 1990 Mercury Sable body?

Yes, 1 recall: 98V323000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Mercury Sable have the most body problems?

The Mercury Sable model years with the most body complaints are 1993 (35 complaints), 1992 (29 complaints) and 1996 (29 complaints).