1986 MERCURY SABLE — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 46 complaints · 9 recalls
Most-reported system: STRUCTURE (10 complaints · 21.7%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 0
  • Fires 6
  • Injuries 2
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 1985 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution STRUCTURE appears in 10 of 46 owner complaints (21.7%) in this vehicle snapshot. STRUCTURE: 10 complaints, 21.7% of reports STRUCTURE 10 · 21.7% ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 6 complaints, 13.0% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6 · 13.0% · 4 fire reports POWER TRAIN: 6 complaints, 13.0% of reports POWER TRAIN 6 · 13.0% SEAT BELTS: 6 complaints, 13.0% of reports SEAT BELTS 6 · 13.0% ENGINE: 5 complaints, 10.9% of reports ENGINE 5 · 10.9% · 1 fire reports SERVICE BRAKES: 2 complaints, 4.4% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 2 · 4.4% VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: 2 complaints, 4.4% of reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2 · 4.4% VISIBILITY: 2 complaints, 4.4% of reports VISIBILITY 2 · 4.4% FUEL SYSTEM: 1 complaints, 2.2% of reports FUEL SYSTEM 1 · 2.2% · 1 fire reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 41 complaints, 89.1% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 41 · 89.1% · 6 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
STRUCTURE 10 21.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6 13.0% 0 crashes · 4 fires
POWER TRAIN 6 13.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
SEAT BELTS 6 13.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
ENGINE 5 10.9% 0 crashes · 1 fires
SERVICE BRAKES 2 4.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2 4.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
VISIBILITY 2 4.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
FUEL SYSTEM 1 2.2% 0 crashes · 1 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 41 89.1% 0 crashes · 6 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 1995; the first recall shown was reported in Dec 1985. 1995-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 1995-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 1995-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 1995-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 1996-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 1996-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 1996-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 1996-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 1997-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 1998-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 1998-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 1998-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 1999-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 1999-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2000-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2000-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2000-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2001-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2001-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2001-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2003-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Dec 1985 Apr 2003 Recall campaign 85V172000 ◆ Recall campaign 85V172000 Recall campaign 86V039000 ◆ Recall campaign 86V039000 Recall campaign 87V017000 ◆ Recall campaign 87V017000 Recall campaign 87V139000 ◆ Recall campaign 87V139000 Recall campaign 91V134000 ◆ Recall campaign 91V134000 Recall campaign 92V065000 ◆ Recall campaign 92V065000 Recall campaign 93V106000 ◆ Recall campaign 93V106000 Recall campaign 94E036000 ◆ Recall campaign 94E036000 Recall campaign 98V323000 ◆ Recall campaign 98V323000 Investigation PE87030 ● Investigation PE87030 Investigation PE88014 ● Investigation PE88014 Investigation EA88032 ● Investigation EA88032 Investigation PE89007 ● Investigation PE89007 Investigation PE89006 ● Investigation PE89006 Investigation PE89091 ● Investigation PE89091 Investigation EA89023 ● Investigation EA89023 Investigation PE90019 ● Investigation PE90019 Investigation PE90066 ● Investigation PE90066 Investigation PE90071 ● Investigation PE90071 Investigation EA90042 ● Investigation EA90042 Investigation EA90045 ● Investigation EA90045 Investigation PE91036 ● Investigation PE91036 Investigation PE91108 ● Investigation PE91108 Investigation PE91128 ● Investigation PE91128 Investigation EA91042 ● Investigation EA91042 Investigation PE92056 ● Investigation PE92056 Investigation EA92040 ● Investigation EA92040 Investigation PE93100 ● Investigation PE93100 Investigation RQ97009 ● Investigation RQ97009
  • Campaign 98V323000 was reported 1,098 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1995-Q1 Owner reports 7
1995-Q2 Owner reports 1
1995-Q3 Owner reports 4
1995-Q4 Owner reports 1
1996-Q1 Owner reports 3
1996-Q2 Owner reports 4
1996-Q3 Owner reports 1
1996-Q4 Owner reports 1
1997-Q3 Owner reports 1
1998-Q1 Owner reports 1
1998-Q2 Owner reports 1
1998-Q3 Owner reports 2
1999-Q1 Owner reports 6
1999-Q2 Owner reports 3
2000-Q1 Owner reports 1
2000-Q2 Owner reports 2
2000-Q4 Owner reports 1
2001-Q2 Owner reports 1
2001-Q3 Owner reports 1
2001-Q4 Owner reports 1
2002-Q2 Owner reports 2
2003-Q2 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 85V172000
Recall campaign 1 86V039000
Recall campaign 1 87V017000
Recall campaign 1 87V139000
Recall campaign 1 91V134000
Recall campaign 1 92V065000
Recall campaign 1 93V106000
Recall campaign 1 94E036000
Recall campaign 1 98V323000
Defect investigation 1 PE87030
Defect investigation 1 PE88014
Defect investigation 1 EA88032
Defect investigation 1 PE89007
Defect investigation 1 PE89006
Defect investigation 1 PE89091
Defect investigation 1 EA89023
Defect investigation 1 PE90019
Defect investigation 1 PE90066
Defect investigation 1 PE90071
Defect investigation 1 EA90042
Defect investigation 1 EA90045
Defect investigation 1 PE91036
Defect investigation 1 PE91108
Defect investigation 1 PE91128
Defect investigation 1 EA91042
Defect investigation 1 PE92056
Defect investigation 1 EA92040
Defect investigation 1 PE93100
Defect investigation 1 RQ97009
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (9)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 85V172000

    Report date
    Component:
    STEERING
    Consequence:
    IF THE CAR IS LEFT UNATTENDED WITH THE KEY REMOVED AND THE IGNITION SWITCH NOT IN LOCK POSITION, THE CAR CAN BE EASILY STOLEN. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT STOLEN CARS ARE FREQUENTLY INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS.
    Remedy:
    IGNITION LOCK SWITCH CYLINDER WILL BE REPLACED.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 86V039000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    Not available in the source record
    Remedy:
    REPLACE THE QUARTER WINDOWS CONTAINING DATE CODE 5 AF.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 87V017000

    Report date
    Component:
    VISIBILITY
    Consequence:
    GLASS COULD FRACTURE WHILE STATION WAGON IS BEING DRIVENOR PARKED, CREATING A RISK OF INJURY TO OCCUPANTS OR SUDDEN DISTRACTION TO THEDRIVER.
    Remedy:
    APPLY SEALANT TO CONDUCTOR STRIPS AND PROTECTIVE TAPE TO LOWER BACKLITES.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 87V139000

    Report date
    Component:
    FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
    Consequence:
    COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
    Remedy:
    INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 91V134000

    Report date
    Component:
    SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 92V065000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 93V106000

    Report date
    Component:
    STRUCTURE
    Consequence:
    IF ONE OF THE REAR CORNERS DROPS, ONLY MINOR INDICATIONS OF A MALFUNCTION SUCH AS A CLUNKING NOISE OR SLIGHT CHANGE IN STEERING WHEEL ALIGNMENT ARE NOTICEABLE. HOWEVER, IF BOTH REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME DROP, STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT, WHICH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT VEHICLE CONTROL AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
    Remedy:
    INSTALL A CORROSION-RESISTANT REINFORCING PLATE AND A NEW BOLT ON BOTH REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS. THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED BY RECALL 98V-323.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 94E036000

    Report date
    Component:
    SUSPENSION
    Consequence:
    OVER TIME, A PORTION OF THE BRACKET CAN TEAR AWAY FROM THE STRUT, FALLING INTO AND PUNCTURING THE TIRE OR CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
    Remedy:
    MONROE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STRUT FREE OF CHARGE.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  9. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 98V323000

    Report date
    Component:
    STRUCTURE
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 46 complaints · page 1 of 2

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources