I hit a small pothole and the steering wheel suddenly moved to a one o'clock position while the wheels were pointing straight ahead. My alignment shop inspected the car and found that the cause was a failure of the passenger side sub-frame mounting bolt anchor. The local dealer said my car is not included in the recall (98s36) I demand an answer as why my car is not included.
The worst 1991 Mercury Sable problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Transmission101
- Engine56
- Steering27
- Body20
- Brakes19
- Electrical16
- Airbags11
- Suspension10
- Acceleration7
- Tires7
- Visibility7
- Fuel system6
- Lights4
- Seat belts4
- Locks2
Specific symptoms reported on the 1991 Mercury Sable
Transmission failure 41Ball joint 9Stalling 8Fire or smoke 6Slipping 6
Recalls 4
Structure: frame and members
- 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
Vehicle speed control
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 97V025000 · Recall details
Wheels
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 92V065000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor
- What is wrong
- Front disc brake rotors of the subject vehicles may experience severe corrosion if operated in areas where calcium chloride and sodium chloride are used extensively.
- Risk
- Severely corroded rotors may fracture or separate nearthe inner edges of the brake discs resulting in reduced braking effectiveness,higher than normal pedal efforts, loud grinding noises, and moderate pulls whenthe brakes are applied. Reduced braking effectiveness may increase minimumstopping distances, possibly resulting in an accident.
- Remedy
- Replace front brake rotors with full cast front brake rotors.
Recall number 91V134000 · Recall details
See all 4 recalls for the 1991 Mercury Sable
Defect investigations
Engine cooling fan fires
There is no summary currently available
EA96024
Engine cooling fan fires
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.
PE96033
Alleged defective tie rods
Alleged defective tie rods
DP95004
Broken tie rods
There is no summary currently available
EA94008
Polycast road wheel cracks
There is no summary currently available
PE93100
Failure of wheel studs
There is no summary currently available
PE93070
Underbody fuel line fails
There is no summary currently available
PE93065
Broken tie rods
There is no summary currently available
PE93058
Sub-frm/unibody absor.fail
There is no summary currently available
EA92040
Storage compar suffocation
===
EA91042
Storage compar suffocation
There is no summary currently available
PE91108
Technical service bulletins for the 1991 Mercury Sable 66
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Transfer service tips for the front wiper motor mount bracket and depressed park output arm
- Some vehicles may exhibit heater core leaks
- Information regarding transmission fluid usage charts
- This information is a supplement to the wiper system service information provided in the workshop manuals
- On some vehicles, engine oil may continue to leak from the engine oil pan gasket area after an engine oil...
- Information on additional parts required when replacing transfer case on vehicles equippped with AX4S...
- Information regarding the new transmission cooler flusher- service tip
- Subject on a wire harness terminal repair kit available for repairing electrical wiring harnesses
- Information on identifying non-approved / alternate refrigerants which could cause safety, and performance...
- Service tip information on revised oil pan gasket replacement procedure
1991 Mercury Sable fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6‑cyl | FWD | 18 | 26 | 21 |
| 3.8L 6‑cyl | FWD | 16 | 23-26 | 18-19 |
What 1991 Mercury Sable owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 55 MPH on normal road conditions, there was a noticeable delay to disengaged the speed control. The brake pedal had to be pumped several times until the driver regained control over the vehicle's speed. The contact received a recall letter # 97v025000 but misplaced it. The manufacturer was contacted who refused to produce a new letter because the recall was too old. The contact expressed concern because the speed control malfunctioning entailed a serious safety risk.
While driving at night the vehicle's headlights failed without warning. The dealer states the head lamp sensor switch burned. A recall was issued, however the VIN number is outside of the remedy scope.
Other than the rest of my problems with the above my newest complaint is that I just found out that due to the fact ford installed an aluminim piston where there should have been a steel one which is the only one available now since you discovered your problems. My car is in the shop right now and I'm being told it will cost between $1200.00 - $1500.00 to fix due to ford's poor design. This is not my first sable wagon. The first one had all kinds of A/C problems and I'm getting tired of paying for your mistakes. My A/C is out now, I replace brake pads all the time.
Northport ford in commack, ny failed to properly perform safety recall 98s36 for the subframe on my 1991 mercury sable. The subframe subsequently broke free causing damage to my motor mounts, transmission and steering components. The vehicle was towed to the closest ford dealer in patchogue ny. Ford agreed to reinstate the recall for the dealer to repair my vehicle. The dealer called ford with the price of the subsequent damage and ford withdrew the offer to repair. They wanted to buy the vehicle back at a price they decided on. I am on disability with a work related accident. I can not afford to be without my vehicle. I can not afford to buy another vehicle at the buyout price ford wants to give me. I feel that this accured due to a safety recall that was not performed properly and ford should deal with that dealership and fix my vehicle at no charge.
Consumer states that the vehicle bushings are made of a viber material that wears out, causing the vehicle to steer improperly.
The steering wheel locked up when the consumer made left turns.
The left rear sub-frame mount broke. The right rear sub-frame mount looked like it was about to break.
The consumer vehicle experienced symptoms of the federal safety agency recall # 98-v-323-000 which was related to the rear lower subframe mount plate nut. The consumer vehicle was not included in the recall due to VIN.
Plnhts#6954-94-e-036-000: sway bar bracket where it attaches to the strut reserve tube did not fuse property. Consumer states has the same problem (making some noise). Dealer has been notifed. Please provide further information. Ts
Compare the 1991 Mercury Sable
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Questions about the 1991 Mercury Sable
Is the 1991 Mercury Sable reliable?
Owners have filed 221 complaints about the 1991 Mercury Sable, 2.7 times a typical Sable model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1991 Mercury Sable?
Transmission and drivetrain, with 101 complaints. Next is engine (56).
How many recalls does the 1991 Mercury Sable have?
4 recalls, covering structure, vehicle speed control and wheels.
What year does the Mercury Sable have bad transmission?
The Mercury Sable model years with the most transmission complaints are 1991 (101 complaints), 1994 (95 complaints) and 1995 (93 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1991 Mercury Sable get?
Official estimates for the 1991 Mercury Sable range from 18 to 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.0L 6-cyl, FWD) gets 18 city and 26 highway.
VIN decoder
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