1990 Mercury Sable Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 23about this part
- Share
- 14%of 166 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 23 complaints about the body and structure of the 1990 Mercury Sable, 14% of the 166 complaints for this model year. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #726964, filed 2000-08“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #726423, filed 2000-08“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.”
NHTSA complaint #724015, filed 2000-06“The sub-frame locks, bolts, and washers had to be replaced when the sub-frame dropped. The steering became extremely difficult. I had the car towed to the dealer and repaired at the cost of $271.96. When I received recall 98s36 I took it and the orginal receipt to the dealer. I was told that the sub-frame fasteners which were replaced in october of 1998 were from the front corners of the sub-frame. The parts they replaced were one subframe mount kit (fmc e6pz 5a364 a) and two nut-m12 x 1.75 plates (fmc n804482 s100 ). Are these the part numbers involved in the recall? …”
NHTSA complaint #703819, filed 1999-02“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10235195, filed 2008-07Related recalls
- 98V323000Dec 16, 1998Vehicle description: passenger vehicles originally sold or currently registered in connecticut, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, iowa…Covers: Mercury Sable 1986–1995, Ford Taurus 1986–1995, Lincoln Continental 1988–1994
Body and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 | 5% |
| 2008 | 2 | 3% |
| 2005 | 3 | 4% |
| 2004 | 1 | 2% |
| 2003 | 20 | 10% |
| 2002 | 13 | 3% |
| 2001 | 11 | 3% |
| 2000 | 8 | 2% |
| 1999 | 10 | 4% |
| 1998 | 10 | 5% |
| 1997 | 8 | 4% |
| 1996 | 29 | 10% |
| 1995 | 25 | 7% |
| 1994 | 20 | 5% |
| 1993 | 34 | 5% |
| 1992 | 29 | 8% |
| 1991 | 20 | 9% |
| 1990 | 23 | 14% |
| 1989 | 23 | 10% |
| 1988 | 14 | 11% |
| 1987 | 17 | 22% |
| 1986 | 11 | 24% |
Other parts of the 1990 Mercury Sable
30 complaintsSteering
24 complaintsElectrical system
21 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
17 complaintsAir bags
14 complaintsSeat belts
12 complaintsVehicle speed control
12 complaintsSuspension
11 complaintsBrakes
10 complaintsExterior lighting
8 complaintsFuel system
6 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
6 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1990 Mercury Sable
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology