1989 Mercury Sable Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe seat belt buckles that will not latch or release on their own, and electrical faults around the ignition switch, wiring and steering column, some of which led to smoke or fire. A second cluster of complaints concerns the rear subframe mounts, where corrosion-related failure let the engine and transmission drop and affected steering, and many owners say dealers told them parts were unavailable or that the recall did not apply to their vehicle.

1. 1
   Seat belts

   Seat belts will not latch or come unbuckled

   • 42 complaints (18%)
   • typically at 8.3 yrs old
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2003

   Owners describe front and rear belts that either will not click into the buckle or latch and then release on their own while driving. Some note the release button fails to spring back, so the buckle cannot be used again. Others say belts do not retract and hang out of the door, and several mention the belts releasing during a collision. A number of owners refer to the buckle recall and report the dealer had no parts or told them the warranty had expired. Filed mostly in the late 1990s and early 2000s on vehicles of this age; the sample does not include mileage for these complaints.

   Recall 92V113000

   What to check: Try latching and releasing every seat belt several times and pull firmly on each latched belt; check that the buckles spring back and the belts retract. Ask whether the buckle recall 92V113000 was applied to this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was a belted front passenger ejected from belt through windsheild sustaining severe head/neck/arm and back injuries.also, had seatbelt failure with injury as well.we were struck on the right side with the left front quarter pannel of illegal left hand, turner ran off road .these guys knew this car had a safety failure and chose to sell us this car with the original seatbelts, and no contact of any kind to avoid incident.pretty rotten if you ask me.”

   NHTSA complaint #717014, filed 2000-01

   “When vehicle wasi nvolved in a front end crash, traveling about 35 MPH, driver's side and passenger side seat belts failed to restrain occupants. Both seat belts came unbuckled upon impact. Vehicle was totalled. Please provide any further information.”

   NHTSA complaint #850707, filed 1999-10
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Ignition switch and wiring smoke or fire

   • 46 complaints (19%)
   • typically at 7.9 yrs old
   • 31 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2004

   Complaints describe smoke or flames from the steering column or under the hood, often while the car is parked, with harness wiring and the ignition switch found melted afterward. Several owners report the starter continuing to crank with the key out, or the car trying to start itself, until the battery was disconnected. Some say the ignition switch or relay was replaced and the problem returned. Reports in the sample come from the late 1990s and early 2000s on older, high-mileage cars; the sample gives no mileage figures for these complaints.

   What to check: Inspect the wiring and connectors at the ignition switch and steering column for melted or discolored plastic, and ask whether the ignition switch or starter relay has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This is a second identical incident during the last 2 years. When starting the car the starter relay got stuck and continued to crank the engine even after taking the key out of ignition. I stopped it by diconnecting the battery, but meanwhile the battery started boiling and leaking. The incident occured 4-5 times during 3 days. I replaced the starter relay and the battery. After this, the incident occured only one more time, about 5 days after the starter relay was replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #729630, filed 2000-08

   “The vehicle was parked, and the driver noticed that the vehicle was smoking. Driver called the fire department, and the steering column was on fire. The fire department opened the hood, and the wire was melted in the harness in the steering wheel. Everything was melted, and the vehicle did not start up with the key in. It was an electrical shortage in the vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #823538, filed 1998-05
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Rear subframe mounts fail and engine drops

   • 20 complaints (8%)
   • median 147,230 mi at 18.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2007

   Owners describe rear subframe mount plates pulling through or breaking, sometimes with corrosion of the mounting area, after which the engine and transmission drop and steering becomes difficult or locks up. Several complaints say the mount failure let a power steering hose break and fluid reach the hot engine. Some owners report the recall repair was refused or that the dealer had no parts in stock. Reported across the 1990s and into 2007, including cars above 100,000 miles, with several owners tying it to road-salt corrosion.

   Recall 98V323000

   What to check: Have the rear subframe mounting points inspected for rust and cracking, especially on a car from a salt-belt state, and ask whether recall 98V323000 was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The left front disc rotors outer ring came apart from its center hub. I have replaced both front disc rotors myself. At an aaa inspection it was discovered that the left front motor mounts had failed also. I had the car checked because of a jerking feeling upon accelerating. The mounts had been replaced under a recall on 5/21/92. But the replacement mounts have failed again. I contacted ford customer service about the mounts and they agreed to replace them. So I made an appointment at my local dealer. After showing up. Incomplete summary.”

   NHTSA complaint #702861, filed 1999-02

   “Corrosion-related deterioration in 1989 Mercury Sable resulted in detachment of sub-frame rear plate nut and bolt pulling through. Symptoms as described in recalls 93v106002 and 98v-323/98s36. Advised by ford dealer that these recalls do not apply to my VIN and are limited to eastern us states. However 98v-323 states that vehicles with these symptoms are to be repaired free by dealers. No accident/injury has occurred and the vehicle is scheduled for repair on monday april 29 2007. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10189167, filed 2007-04, 147,230 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Overheating and engine head failure

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the engine overheating while driving or at a stop, in some cases followed by head gasket or cylinder head failure and engine replacement. One owner reports a hot engine with a leaking power steering line that led to a fire, and another describes stalling when coming to a stop. Reports in the sample come from the late 1990s and early 2000s; one owner linked the overheating to very hot weather.

   What to check: Check coolant level and condition, look for coolant residue or oil in the coolant, and ask whether the cooling system or head gasket has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While stopped at a light, the vehicle overheated and the head blew. . Consumer stated the engine had to be replaced, the mechanic stated that the head appeared to have abnormalities, suggesting poor manufacturing.”

   NHTSA complaint #8004748, filed 2002-02

   “While driving the vehicle was suddenly engulfed in flames. The fire department determined that the cause of the fire was the engine. Vehicle was totaled. Manufacturer has not been notified.”

   NHTSA complaint #823352, filed 1998-05
5. 5
   Vehicle speed control

   Speed control surge and stalling

   • 22 complaints (9%)
   • typically at 7.9 yrs old
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2001

   Owners report sudden unintended acceleration, such as the car lurching forward after the brake is released without touching the accelerator, in one case climbing a hill. Other complaints in this group describe the engine cutting out or stalling without warning, which also removes power steering and brake assist. Reports in the sample are from the mid-1990s to early 2000s, with no mileage figures given.

   What to check: Test the throttle and speed control response at a standstill and a low speed, and ask whether the throttle body, idle control or speed control cable has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When driving at any speed and without prior warning vehicle cut off, causing loss of all power steering/brakes, making it very difficult to operate control vehicle. Consumer has contacted dealer, dealer unable to determine cause. Please provide any further details.”

   NHTSA complaint #879172, filed 2001-01

   “Apply brakes, take foot off brake, without touching gas pedal, engine accelerated; vehicle lurched forward up a steep hill; applied brakes again/cut off engine.”

   NHTSA complaint #977088, filed 1995-12

Buying note. On a car this old, the items worth checking before purchase are the seat belt buckles, the rear subframe mounts and the ignition wiring, since owners report the most trouble there. Ask for records showing whether recalls 92V113000 and 98V323000 were completed, and have the underside and steering column wiring inspected by a mechanic.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.