1992 Mercury Sable Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1992 Mercury Sable has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,638,900 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 517 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

STRUCTURE 98V323000 1998-12-16 2,697,000 affected
Defect

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,…

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.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 97V025000 1997-02-26 212,700 affected
Defect

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,…

Consequence

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.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 97V019000 1997-02-25 75,200 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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.

WHEELS 92V065000 1992-05-11 654,000 affected
Defect

CHILDREN CAN ACCIDENTALLY LOCK THEMSELVES IN THE FOOTWELL AREA OF THE REAR-FACING THIRD SEAT, OR IN THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT IN STATION WAGONS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN OPTIONAL THIRD SEAT. ONCE THE COMPARTMENT IS CLOSED IT CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE.

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.

Complaints by component

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
112
2fires4deaths
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
50
2fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
29
1fires
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
23
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
19
3crashes2injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
11
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
10
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
9
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
8
Total complaints517

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“The tire valve on my right rear tire failed while the car was garaged. This was the second valve failure in a pair of tires installed on 04/27/2007. The first valve failed (on the other tire in the pair) on 04/26/2009 while the car was also parked, but about 30 miles from home (see odi number…”

TIRES · reported 2010-06-15

“While at a destination about 30 miles from home, my left-front tire valve failed just as I was about to enter the parked car to head home. The air whooshed loudly out of the tire as I watched it deflate before my eyes. I called aaa for assistance in changing the tire and took the flat tire to my…”

TIRES · reported 2009-04-26

“Tl*the contact owns a 1992 mercury sable. While driving approximately 30 mph, the contact heard a loud thumping noise. Approximately thirty seconds later, the vehicle shut off. He pushed the vehicle to the side of the road and noticed that the front frame failed. Two days later, the vehicle was…”

SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR · reported 2007-09-24

“Dt*: the contact stated while driving at low speeds down a hill and trying to stop the vehicle stalled. All the lights on the dashboard illuminated prior to the vehicle stalling. The brakes did not work when this occurred. The parking brake must be used to stop the vehicle. An independent repair…”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE · reported 2005-11-10

“Dt: the contact stated while driving at night the consumer struck a deer and experienced difficulty stopping with the brakes. There was damage to the front hood and headlights. No police report was taken. He drove the vehicle home. Upon inspection there was corrosion on brake lines. He suspected…”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · reported 2005-11-09

“The consumer's general tires developed separation between the tread and the core. *ts *sc”

TIRES:TREAD/BELT · reported 2005-11-01

“The vehicle had been in a frontal crash at 35-40 mph and none of the air bags deployed. No injuries were reported and the dealer was notified. *jb”

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · reported 2004-11-17

“While driving 30 mph rear sub frame mount bushing separated from the vehicle. Recall 98v323000 for the sub frame mount bolts was issued. Dealer refused to repair the vehicle because it was not included in the recall due to vin. *ak”

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS · reported 2004-10-27

Defect investigations

Investigation DP95004 Opened 1995-08-08 · closed 1995-08-30

ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIE RODS

ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIE RODS

Investigation EA92040 Opened 1992-11-30 · closed 1993-06-30

SUB-FRM/UNIBODY ABSOR.FAIL

There is no summary currently available

Investigation EA92040 Opened 1992-11-30 · closed 1993-06-30

SUB-FRM/UNIBODY ABSOR.FAIL

There is no summary currently available

Investigation EA93022 Opened 1993-07-30 · closed 1994-08-31

IDLE AIR SPD CTRL VLV MALF

There is no summary currently available

Investigation EA94008 Opened 1994-02-16 · closed 1995-02-27

BROKEN TIE RODS

There is no summary currently available

Investigation EA96019 Opened 1996-07-31 · closed 1998-01-26

HEADLIGHT FAILURE

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…

Investigation EA96024 Opened 1996-09-30 · closed 1997-04-15

ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRES

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE93010 Opened 1993-03-02 · closed 1993-07-30

IDLE AIR SPD CTRL VLV MALF

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE93058 Opened 1993-06-15 · closed 1994-02-16

BROKEN TIE RODS

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE93065 Opened 1993-07-15 · closed 1993-11-30

UNDERBODY FUEL LINE FAILS

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE93100 Opened 1993-12-02 · closed 1994-06-30

POLYCAST ROAD WHEEL CRACKS

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE96033 Opened 1996-05-02 · closed 1996-09-30

ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRES

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…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1992 Mercury Sable as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.