RecallRepo

1989 Mercury Sable Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1989 Mercury Sable has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 4,541,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 300 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the seat belts. 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.

SEAT BELTS 92V113000 1992-08-17 565,000 affected
Defect

THE RIGID MOUNTED SAFETY BELT BUCKLES ARE DEFECTIVE IN THREE WAYS. FIRST, A FASTENED SAFETY BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT UNLATCH WHEN THE RELEASE BUTTON IS DEPRESSED. THIS RESULTS FROM INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE BUCKLE EJECTOR FINGER AND THE BUCKLE TONGUE WINDOW. THE SECOND DEFECT IS THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MAY NOT LATCH. THE…

Consequence

AN INSUFFICIENTLY LATCHED OR UNLATCHED SAFETY BELTINCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY TO SEAT OCCUPANTS IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT. IF THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT UNLATCH, IT WILL NOT ALLOW THEOCCUPANT TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

Remedy

FORD WILL REPLACE THE RIGID MOUNTED SAFETY BELT BUCKLES WITH END RELEASE SAFETY BELT BUCKLES DESIGNED TO PREVENT LATCH PROBLEMS.

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.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 91V134000 1991-08-06 325,000 affected
Defect

FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SEVERE CORROSION IF OPERATED IN AREAS WHERE CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND SODIUM CHLORIDE ARE USED EXTENSIVELY.

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…

Remedy

REPLACE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH FULL CAST FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.

SEATS 91V036000 1991-03-04 278,000 affected
Defect

THE POWER SEAT SWITCH WIRING IS ROUTED OVER RATHER THAN UNDER THE FRONT SEAT SUPPORT BRACE, ALLOWING DAMAGE BY SEAT CUSHION SPRING ENDS WHEN SEAT IS OCCUPIED.

Consequence

POWER SEAT SWITCH WIRING INSULATION MAY BECOME ABRADED,OR PUNCTURED, AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD OCCUR THAT COULD RESULT IN A FIREIN THE SEAT CUSHION MATERIAL.

Remedy

REVISE ROUTING OF POWER SEAT WIRING TO PREVENT DAMAGE FROM SEAT CUSHION SPRING CONTACT.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 88V190000 1988-12-12 22,000 affected
Defect

FRONT SIDE MARKER LAMPS WERE UNINTENTIONALLY EQUIPPED WITH CLEAR BULBS, INSTEAD OF AMBER COLORED BULBS AS SPECIFIED IN FMVSS 108.

Consequence

VEHICLES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH STANDARD.

Remedy

REPLACE CLEAR BULBS WITH AMBER COLORED BULBS.

Complaints by component

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
37
1crashes2injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
26
17fires
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
24
1crashes1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
21
9fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
19
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
15
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
12
6fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
12
5crashes2injuries
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
10
7fires1injuries1deaths
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
9
9fires
Total complaints300

What owners report

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

“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.…”

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS · reported 2007-04-26

“This morning (7-8-04) I was pulled over for the first time ever and the officer said I was doing 75 in a 55 when my speedometer read 65. I asked the gentleman if there was someway he could forget the ticket since it was my first time ever and he said no. He did not explain to me everything on the…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL · reported 2004-04-08

“While making a left hand u-turn at 30 mph steering wheel locked up. This caused consumer to hit a curve. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak vehicle also jumped up into a curve and dented the left fender by a tree. *la”

STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE · reported 2004-03-12

“We parked in the driveway, gathered our things and went in to the house. The next morning I went to brush the snow off of the car and noticed the windshield was broken, I opened the driver door and discovered the whole dashboard was melted like a candle, we had just filled up the tank the previous…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH · reported 2004-01-02

“While driving at highway speed the vehicle jump into overdrive without warning. Please feel free to add any addtional information. Ts”

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) · reported 2002-10-30

“While driving, the right front tire fell off, causing damage to the vehicle, all 5 lug bolts were broken off, ohio traffic crash report. *slc”

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS · reported 2002-07-04

“Consumer states brake work had recently been completed on vehicle. *slc”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS · reported 2002-07-04

“Driver's side seatbelt retractor willclick in, but willnot stay open. Dealership is aware of problem.*ak”

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR · reported 2002-04-01

Defect investigations

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

ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIE RODS

ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIE RODS

Investigation EA90042 Opened 1990-08-31 · closed 1991-12-31

THROTTLE STICKING

There is no summary currently available

Investigation EA90045 Opened 1990-09-28 · closed 1991-09-12

BRAKE DISC HUB SEPARATIONS

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Investigation EA90045 Opened 1990-09-28 · closed 1991-09-12

BRAKE DISC HUB SEPARATIONS

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Investigation EA91042 Opened 1991-10-28 · closed 1992-05-21

STORAGE COMPAR SUFFOCATION

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

BROKEN TIE RODS

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE90066 Opened 1990-03-27 · closed 1990-08-31

THROTTLE STICKING

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE90071 Opened 1990-04-02 · closed 1990-06-28

BRAKE DISC HUB FAILURE

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE91108 Opened 1991-08-01 · closed 1991-10-28

STORAGE COMPAR SUFFOCATION

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE91128 Opened 1991-09-17 · closed 1992-01-27

FIRES IN IGNITION SWITCH

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE92014 Opened 1992-02-04 · closed 1992-06-25

ENGINE MOUNT FAILURE

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE92044 Opened 1992-04-27 · closed 1992-08-31

POWER STEERING LEAKS/FIRES

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE92056 Opened 1992-07-01 · closed 1992-11-30

SUB-FRM/UNIBODY ABSOR.FAIL

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

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 1989 Mercury Sable as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.