Complaints
189
Crashes
5
Fires
34
Injuries
2
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1988 Mercury Sable Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#120 complaints
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Fires:2
#217 complaints
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Avg mileage:144,000 mi
Fires:1
#313 complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Fires:8
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1988 Mercury Sable.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 20 | — | 2 | — | |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 17 | — | 1 | 144,000 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 13 | — | 8 | — | |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS | 9 | — | 4 | — | |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 8 | — | — | — | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 6 | — | 4 | — | |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 6 | — | — | — | |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 6 | — | — | — | |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 6 | — | — | — | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 4 | — | 3 | — | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 4 | — | — | — | |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT | 4 | — | — | — | |
| SEATS | 4 | — | — | — | |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 4 | 2 | — | — | |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP | 4 | — | 3 | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 3 | — | — | 144,000 mi | |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | 3 | — | — | — | |
| SUSPENSION | 3 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 2 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 2 | — | 2 | — | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | 2 | — | — | — | |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 2 | — | — | — | |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH | 2 | — | — | — | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 2 | — | — | — | |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 2 | — | — | — | |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 2 | — | — | — | |
| STEERING:LINKAGES | 2 | — | — | — |
Other Mercury Sable Years
Wider context: See the full Mercury Sable reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
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