1993 Mercury Sable engine problems

356 complaints (53% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 75,000.

owner complaints: 356
of this car's complaints: 53%
typical mileage: 75,000
crashes: 0
recalls: 1

Which part fails

Engine
267
Engine: gasoline
63
Cooling system
24
Cooling system: radiator assembly
12
Exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
5
Exhaust system: emission control
5
Exhaust system
3
Engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys
3

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 engine problems in other years

Specific symptoms reported on the 1993 Mercury Sable engine

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Overheating 59 Stalling 32 Engine failure 28 Won't start 6 Misfire 5

Related recalls

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

Related investigations

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

There is no summary currently available

EA96024

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

What 1993 Mercury Sable owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Jun 25, 2005 · Engine · 89,374 miles · CA

Blowen head gasket on 1993 ford sable wagon witn 87,000 miles on engine engine replacement needed

Filed May 12, 2004 · Engine · 75,000 miles · HI

While driving engine blew out.

Filed May 11, 2004 · Engine · 19,724 miles · NY

Consumer stated vehicle's head gasket failed prematurely. Dealer notified. *ph temperature gauge showed vehicle is over heating, which LED to the replacement of the thermostat; however, problem still occur. Also, mechanic noted that head gaskets were blown.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine · 141,762 miles · IN

I have a 3.8l ford engine in my car. It was replaced before I purchased it at 126219 miles with another rebuilt 3.8l. Now I have a blown head or head gasket. I called ford and they say mercury didnt have the problems. My VIN showed no past recalls. Whats up. Its a rebuilt 3.8l. I cant afford to fix it and its only got 15543 miles on it. Cant ford do anything. The motor has been in a little over a yr. The warranty is up the salespeople from instant auto quote. Help.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine, Transmission · 135,000 miles · PA

Ford 3.8l head gasket failure transmission failure

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine, Suspension · 106,000 miles · UT

About 1 month after the mass air flow sensor was replaced and about 6 months after my head gaskets were replaced, my sable started to hesitate when warm. The vehicle has no power. The fuel pump, fuel filter, air filter and throttle position sensor have all been replaced with no effect. The timing has also been found to be right on.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Brakes, Engine · FL

I don't have the information for all the above but could find it if necessary. I am more concerned about the head gasket which needs to be replaced. I was never made aware that there was a problem that could happen at any time. I do not know what to do and, living on a small pension and social security, do not have thge money to repair or replace the vehicle.

Filed Nov 20, 2003 · Engine · 72,600 miles · OH

While driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle began to overheat. The consumer drove the vehicle to a mechanic, who found the head gasket was blown. The manufacturer and the dealer are aware of the problem.

Filed Sep 8, 2003 · Engine · 4,000 miles · CA

Within the first 4000 miles, the engine was replaced because of an oil filter not doing it's job,according to the mechanics at negherbon mercury in oakland. The new engine ran hot. The dealer said it was within the normal range. The brand new engine actually had a cracked head gasket. All the repairs cost me $1800.00 that time. The dealer wouldn't even perform a compression check. Then the car would stall while driving, usually at freeway speeds. Most times it would restart. But this was very scary and dangerous. I brought it to the dealer, they claimed they could not duplicate it. I took it to my neighborhood mechanic who hooked up some machine to the computer. We drove it on a nearby freeway, where of course it stalled. He was able to immediately determine the computer was faulty!!!! The device that basically runs the entire vehicle was shutting off gas flow to the engine. I had my mechanic correct the problem. There was also other defects, such as the steering wheel mounted turn signal stalk was replaced but the replacement did the same thing. Only low wiper speed no high speed, and the variable speed went out. The lightbar in the front of the vehicle all went out. I spoke with other sable owners who said the same thing about the lights. The vehicle spent almost one year at my mechanics. Then within two months of finally getting it back, the torque converter went out. My mechanic said I should replace the transmission at the same time. When he told me it would be $2700.00 I threw in the towel on that car. At that point blue book worth was $3000.00. Why would I want to put in any more money? It is now up on blocks at my father-in-laws. I consider this car a lemon. The dealer was not very helpful at all. In fact they seemed very hostile.

Filed Aug 15, 2003 · Engine · 46,163 miles · MA

Several repairs as well as maintenance done to a 1993 mercury sable.*mr repairs range from head gasket to radiator. *ph

Questions about the 1993 Mercury Sable engine

Does the 1993 Mercury Sable have engine problems?

Owners have filed 356 complaints about the engine of the 1993 Mercury Sable, 53% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.

At what mileage do 1993 Mercury Sable engine problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 75,000 miles.

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).