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1993 Mercury Sable problems

The most common problem on the 1993 Mercury Sable is engine and cooling, typically around 75,000 miles. It has 8.1 times the complaints of a typical Sable model year.

Typical year8.1x the typical complaints
Owner complaints
671
Recalls
6
Service bulletins
101
Worst area
Engine
Fuel economy
20-21mpg
Typical repair
$3,000

The worst 1993 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.

Specific symptoms reported on the 1993 Mercury Sable

Overheating 59Headlights 58Stalling 32Coil spring 30Engine failure 28Wipers 27Transmission failure 14Fire or smoke 13ABS 9Fuel pump 7No deployment 6Jerking 6Won't start 6Adaptive cruise 5Airbag light 5Brake failure 5Grinding brakes 5Hesitation 5Misfire 5Water leak 5

Recalls 6

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

Suspension: front: springs: coil springsReported May 6, 1998 · 281,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the states of new york, michigan, ohio, illinois, wisconsin, pennsylvania, massachusetts, indiana, new jersey, maine, connecticut, new hampshire, rhode island, vermont, minnesota, iowa, missouri, kentucky, maryland, delaware, and west virginia. The front coil springs can fracture as a result of corrosion in combination with small cracks in the springs.
Risk
The front tire could deflate due to a broken front coil spring contacting the tire, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Dealers will install a spring catcher bracket which will prevent a fractured spring from contacting a tire.

Recall number 98V094000 · Recall details

Exterior lighting: headlights: switchReported January 21, 1998 · 506,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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.

Recall number 98V009000 · Recall details

Vehicle speed controlReported February 26, 1997 · 212,700 vehicles affected
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

Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fanReported February 25, 1997 · 75,200 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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.

Recall number 97V019000 · Recall details

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slipReported January 4, 1993 · 212 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Anti-lock brake system controllers designed for rear wheel drive cars may have been installed on these front wheel drive cars..
Risk
This could result in reduced braking ability and possiblevehicle accident.
Remedy
Replace the rear wheel drive ABS controller with a front wheel drive ABS controller.

Recall number 93V023000 · Recall details

See all 6 recalls for the 1993 Mercury Sable

Defect investigations

Front suspension springOpened August 9, 1999, closed February 16, 2000

There is no summary currently available

RQ99017

Windshield wiperOpened August 6, 1999, closed June 12, 2001

ODI has received 50 additional complaiints on MY 1993 Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable vehicles alleging malfunction of the windshield wiper system including; intermittent or complete stoppage of wiper sweeping; inadequate sweep speed; and other general complaints of poor performace.In some cases, the owner alleges havingto leave the roadway or roll down the window and manually restart the sweeping motion of the wiper arms.Other complaints allege that the wiper sweeps too slowly at the maximum speed setting resulting in inadequate vision during heavy precipition.Some complaints allge repeated wiper system malfunctions despirt having their vehicles serviced at Ford dealerships of replacement of the multi-function switch and/or wiper motor.Ford provided its response to an Information Request Letter indicating that the same wiper motor is used on the MY 1987-1993 Taurus and Sable; however, warranty and complaint data show that the MY 1993 is over represented and may warrant particular attention.An Engineering Ananlysis is necessary to determine if a potential safety defect exists.

EA99023

Windshield wiperOpened February 24, 1999, closed August 6, 1999

Alleged that the windshield wipers fail without warning

PE99015

Engine cooling fan firesOpened September 30, 1996, closed April 15, 1997

There is no summary currently available

EA96024

Headlight failureOpened July 31, 1996, closed January 26, 1998

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.

EA96019

Engine cooling fan firesOpened May 2, 1996, closed September 30, 1996

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

Headlights failureOpened March 5, 1996, closed July 31, 1996

There is no summary currently available

PE96018

Alleged defective tie rodsOpened August 8, 1995, closed August 30, 1995

Alleged defective tie rods

DP95004

Broken tie rodsOpened February 16, 1994, closed February 27, 1995

There is no summary currently available

EA94008

Polycast road wheel cracksOpened December 2, 1993, closed June 30, 1994

There is no summary currently available

PE93100

Broken tie rodsOpened June 15, 1993, closed February 16, 1994

There is no summary currently available

PE93058

Technical service bulletins for the 1993 Mercury Sable 101

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 101 bulletins for the 1993 Mercury Sable

1993 Mercury Sable fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
3.0L 6‑cylFWD182721
3.8L 6‑cylFWD172520

What 1993 Mercury Sable owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Dec 28, 2012 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 153,600 miles · NY

While driving down rd gas pedal stuck my daughter road the brake until she could get off road .she called I work the linkage for the gas by hand that freed it up took it to my mechanic he took it for a test drive said its not releasing fast enough he tried a couple things vacuum hoses and some other parts that did not solve the problem he went on line and found there has been problems with the cable and told me to call ford.

Filed Apr 11, 2012 · Lights · 50,000 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 1993 mercury sable. The contact stated that the headlights stopped illuminating and could cause a crash. The dealer and manufacturer were notified, but stated that the vehicle was not included in the recall associated with the federal safety agency campaign id number 98v009000 (exterior lighting:headlights:switch). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unavailable and the current mileage was 50,000. Updated 05/08/12

Filed Jan 2, 2012 · Body · MN

I believe this car was included in a recall for faulty bolts holding the engine frame(rear bolts. I purchased the car in october of 2006. In december of 2011 I took it to a ford dealer for a steering problem and they told me they would have to replace the rear bolts and it cost me almost $400 dollars. Just recently I discovered this car had been included in the, I believe 1998 recall notice for replacing the rear bolts because of the danger of them rusting out. My question is: is there the possibility that I can still be covered under any ford/mercury terms, something like a ford motors goodwill program. One bolt was completely rusted and broken and the other just rusted but not yet broken. Should the ford/mercury dealer I brought the car to have known that this was a recalled vehicle and discussed this with me. Mileage at that time was 79,524.

Filed Mar 23, 2009 · Fuel system · 123,000 miles · NV

I don't understand what it is the car shuts off at random I've replaced the brain no luck oh well the problem is the car shuts off at random sitting driving 1-100 miles an hour oh yeah I got pulled over for doing 85 car shut off at that speed but that's not all shuts off cold warm 1 min 10 min doesn't matter when ever it feels the need it does it im so afraid of the car I want to give it back to ford so it can kill them I will no longer even touch this vehicle I want some one to take it away its been sitting for almost 6 months I have no idea the particular date but like I said im afraid of the vehicle...

Filed Jan 19, 2008 · Transmission · 181,978 miles · MD

In early january 2008, my mercury sable 3.0 wagon, began to have transmission (ax4s) problems of eradict upshifting and downshifting when accelerating from a stop and climbing a hill. In addition when I checked the fluid level when the motor is hot it appears low in atf fluid, but when the motor has cooled the transmission fluid stick indicates the transmission full at the right level. I have become aware that the ax4s has a history of "inadequate internal lubrication of critical parts and a weak forward clutch piston that cracks and leaks pressure" that leads to complete failure of the transmission. My car is no longer operational due to transmission failure. The estimated cost on average from transmission repair shops in my area is 2200.00. I would like to keep the car and realize now that this particular transmission has numerous complaints of failure and ford is aware of the factory defects built into the transmission. I would like ford to repair my transmission at there expense since they have been aware of these problem for years yet continued to manufacture and install this transmission into there vehicles being sold to the public.

Filed Oct 24, 2006 · Body · 119,000 miles · MN

Dt*: the contact stated after bringing the vehicle to a halt at a stop sign, acceleration was attempted, and the bolts that held the motor frame fell off. The vehicle had to be towed back to the residence. The manufacturer was notified and determined that the vehicle's VIN# did not fit under any recall. The vehicle was not examined or repaired.

Filed May 1, 2006 · Body · 131,720 miles · PA

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 5 MPH as the contact was turning left onto the highway; the contact heard a loud popping sound and the steering became very difficult. There is an the federal safety agency recall, # 98v323000, regarding the structure: frame and members. The VIN was not included in the recall.

Filed Mar 8, 2006 · Tires · 86,921 miles · GA

Dt*: the contact stated while driving speeds over 50 MPH, the vehicle vibrated. The driver side front tire had visible wires and the tire dealership determined there was a knot in the tire. The tire was replaced. Three thousand miles later, the tread on both front tires was completely worn and the tires were replaced. The tread has worn on the front tires again, and the tires have not been replaced. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop, which determined there was no problem with the vehicle to cause the abnormal wear of the front tires.

Filed Nov 30, 2005 · VA

Consumer complaint concerning the 1993 mercury sable paint changin colors.

Filed Aug 22, 2005 · Lights · 100,000 miles · NJ

Dt: last summer while driving down the road at night the lights started flashing on and off. This happened every time the car was driven at night. The problem became worse with time. The headlights would flash on and off when they were on dim or bright. The problem was reported to ford, and there was recall 98v009000. However, this vehicle was not included. The consumer has not taken the car for diagnosis. There have been no other major problems with the vehicle.

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Other model years

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Questions about the 1993 Mercury Sable

Is the 1993 Mercury Sable reliable?

Owners have filed 671 complaints about the 1993 Mercury Sable, 8.1 times a typical Sable model year.

What is the most common problem with the 1993 Mercury Sable?

Engine and cooling, with 356 complaints, typically around 75,000 miles. Next is lights (62).

How many recalls does the 1993 Mercury Sable have?

6 recalls, covering structure, suspension and exterior lighting.

Was there a recall on the 1993 Mercury Sable engine?

Yes, 1 recall: 97V019000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Mercury Sable have bad engine?

The Mercury Sable model years with the most engine complaints are 1993 (356 complaints), 1992 (151 complaints) and 1994 (144 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 1993 Mercury Sable get?

Official estimates for the 1993 Mercury Sable range from 20 to 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.0L 6-cyl, FWD) gets 18 city and 27 highway.

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