Complaints
105
Crashes
4
Fires
7
Injuries
7
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1987 Mercury Sable Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#110 complaints
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Fires:5
#210 complaints
Structure:Frame And Members
#38 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1987 Mercury Sable.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 10 | — | 5 | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 10 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 8 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 5 | — | — | 131,000 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 | — | 1 | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Electrical | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel Pump | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System | 1 | — | — | — |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
5
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Frame And Members
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Door
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
131,000
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Rack And Pinion
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Electrical
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel Pump
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1987 Mercury Sable. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Mercury Sable Years
1987 Mercury Sable — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1987 Mercury Sable reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1987 Mercury Sable has 105 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical System:Ignition:Switch with 10 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1987 Mercury Sable?
Top reported problems: Electrical System:Ignition:Switch (10 complaints); Structure:Frame And Members (10 complaints); Automatic Transmission (8 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1987 Mercury Sable?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 131,000 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1987 Mercury Sable?
NHTSA complaints for the 1987 Mercury Sable include 4 crash-related reports, 7 fire reports, 7 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1987 Mercury Sable have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1987 Mercury Sable as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1987 Mercury Sable?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Mercury Sable reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1987 Mercury Sable
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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