Mercury Sable Recalls

The Mercury Sable has 15 recalls spanning the 1986–2008 production run, with the most serious recent issue being a 2008 model year driver airbag that can inflate improperly during a high-speed crash, raising the risk of injury to the driver.

The 2008 model year is the only recent production year with a recall, and the airbag issue covers it entirely. Going back to the late 1990s, the 1999 model has front coil springs that can fracture from road salt corrosion, potentially puncturing a tire and causing loss of control. On 1998 models, a front seat belt buckle attaching stud can develop cracks that reduce its ability to restrain an occupant in a crash. The 1997 model has a compliance issue with headlight aiming instructions that were not clear enough for owners to aim the lights correctly.

The 1996 model year carries two separate powertrain concerns: a park pawl abutment bracket with a sharp edge that can prevent the transmission from fully engaging Park, allowing the vehicle to roll unexpectedly, and a similar issue on vehicles with the AX4S automatic transaxle where the park pawl shaft can be mispositioned and also fail to hold the vehicle in Park. There is also a fuel system issue on 1996 vehicles that were serviced for a stall condition between August and December 1997, where an incorrect replacement fuel tank with an extra vent hole can leak fuel.

Further back, the 1993 model has front coil springs that can fracture from corrosion, particularly on vehicles registered in Ontario, Quebec, and the Atlantic Provinces, with a broken spring potentially deflating a tire without warning. The 1990 model has an autolamp headlight control module with an incorrect transistor that can cause the headlights to shut off while driving. The 1989 model has seat belt buckles that can fail to latch, unlatch unexpectedly, or hold only partially in a crash, along with a compliance issue on certain Canadian-market vehicles where clear front side marker bulbs were used instead of the required amber ones.

The oldest recalls cover 1986 and 1987 production. On 1987 models, the steering column lower shaft can separate from its mounting, causing total loss of steering without warning, and the rear spindle stems can bend or break, also leading to sudden loss of control. The 1986 model has subframe body mounts at the rear corners that can corrode and detach, dropping the subframe and making steering very difficult, and station wagon models from that year have rear window wiper motor conductor strips that can erode from road salt exposure, creating heat buildup within the glass.