1994 Mercury Sable: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 387 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine and engine cooling (31% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Dec 1998
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 387 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Tl* the contact owns a 1994 mercury sable. While driving various speeds or idling, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle was able to restart after several attempts. The failure occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 96,000.”Owner report · Engine · Jul 2016
“Manufacturer will not honor recall: severe corrosion of the rear lower retaining plates for the subframe assembly supporting the engine and transmission. Risk is detachment of body mounts at the rear corners of the subframe. Existing recall 98v-323 addressed this problem in certain vehicles. My vehicle was of the year, make, and model covered by the recall, and has this problem, but ford is claiming that my VIN# does not make me eligible for the recall. *tr”Owner report · Structure · Apr 2011
“Tl*the contact owns a 1994 mercury sable. The contact drove over a pothole and the front strut broke on both sides. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic who stated that there was a related recall 94e036000 (suspension: front: shock absorber). The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was repaired. The current and failure mileages were 139,500. Updated 07/08/11*lj the vehicle was towed to a repair shop where the front strut had broken in half. The remaining struts contained stress cracks. Updated 07/20/11”Owner report · Suspension · Jan 2011
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl*the contact owns a 1994 mercury sable. The contact stated that her headlights would fail intermittently and then illuminate again. She noticed that the failure occurred in brief intervals and she smelled a burning odor. The dealer installed a new headlight switch and, consequently, the dashboard switch melted. The dealer stated that nothing could be done. Ford stated that her VIN was excluded from NHTSA campaign id number 98v009000 (exterior lighting:headlights:switch). The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Jan 2008
“Tl* - the contact has a 1994 mercury sable. The contact stated that he purchased a vehicle on the afternoon of 03/16/2007, and the following morning 03/17/2007 the vehicle would not work, and transmission fluid was pouring out of the vehicle. The contact stated that he could pour it in the top and watch it come out of the bottom. The contact was told by the dealer that they would come and get the vehicle repair it and charge him for it. The current and failure mileage were both 131,368 miles.”Owner report · Power Train · Mar 2007
“Dt*: the contact stated while driving at various speeds the engine stalls without warning. This occurs more often in warmer weather. The vehicle restarts only after cooling off for at least 30 minutes. It has been inspected on several occasions; however the problem could not be duplicated. After researching the problems with this vehicle the contact believes the pfi ignition module is over heating, causing the stalling.”Owner report · Electrical System · May 2006
“Contact stated: when shifting from reverse to drive engine makes a loud noise. Also, the front suspension springs broke while driving.*ak”Owner report · Power Train · Mar 2005
“My headlight switch went out and I replaced it. I was wondering if I could get compansation for buying it myself, as it appears to be a recall. Also there seems to be a problem with my home computer and I am not able to view any detailed information about my vehicle. If someone could e-mail me, I would greatly appreciate the information that I need to know about my car, or anything that I qualify for. I don't know any of my vehicles past history, so it would also be appreciated if I could recieve it.”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Feb 2005
“Multi function switch is defective. When using the right turn signal it makes the windshield wipers turn off, and the windshield wiper fluid will not come out. *ak”Owner report · Visibility · Aug 2004
“I have a 1994' sable in which the front left coil spring is just about to break due to fractures in metal. My 93' sable in which have sold, had same problem.when it broke I was turning at the time.luckly I did not wreck but had no control of car since the spring ruptured my tire,and frame of car was scraping the blacktop. *ak”Owner report · Suspension · Mar 2004
When filing, owners marked a crash in 16 of these complaints and injuries in 19 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 campaigns
THE ARC WELDS ON THE SWAY BAR BRACKET, WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE STRUT RESERVE TUBE, DID NOT FUSE PROPERLY.
Remedy: MONROE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STRUT FREE OF CHARGE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS CAN FLASH INTERMITTENTLY AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING. THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS CAN GO OUT FOR BRIEF INTERVALS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH THAT INCORPORATES A CRICUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR AND WIRING, IF NEEDED.
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 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.0L ENGINES AND 1992-1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL VEHICLES WITH 3.8L ENGINES. DURING HIGH WINDS, HEAVY, BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW, AND LOW TEMPERATURES, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN CAN BECOME BLOCKED OR FROZEN WITH SNOW. THE FAN MOTOR MAY NOT ROTATE AND COULD OVERHEAT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ELECTRICAL JUMPER HARNESS CONTAINING AN AUTOMATIC RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PROTECT THE FAN MOTOR LOW SPEED CIRCUITRY FROM OVERHEATING.
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, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. WATER CAN ACCUMULATE WITHIN THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT. IF ENOUGH WATER ACCUMULATES, IT COULD FREEZE WITHIN A LOW AREA OF THE CABLE ROUTING WHEN EXPOSED TO A LONG TERM COLD SOAK AT TEMPERATURES AT LEAST SEVERAL DEGREES BELOW FREEZING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.
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, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGNIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT CAN EXPERIENCE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IF SUBJECTED TO LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN FRACTURE AND LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWS THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.
How other years compare
Check your exact Sable by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1994 Mercury Sable reliable?
NHTSA has 387 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 1994 Mercury Sable. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling (31% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1994 Mercury Sable problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 96,000 miles or less.
Does the 1994 Mercury Sable have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning suspension:front:shock absorber. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.