VehicleVerdict

1990 Mercury Sable engine problems

The 1990 Mercury Sable has 30 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 14% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

30

Engine complaints

14%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Sable engine complaints by model year427 complaints1984: 1 complaints1986: 7 complaints1987: 11 complaints1988: 34 complaints1989: 56 complaints1990: 30 complaints1991: 66 complaints1992: 183 complaints1993: 427 complaints1994: 162 complaints1995: 155 complaints1996: 69 complaints1997: 46 complaints1998: 20 complaints1999: 23 complaints2000: 31 complaints2001: 27 complaints2002: 24 complaints2003: 27 complaints2004: 5 complaints2005: 8 complaints2008: 6 complaints2009: 5 complaints
Sable engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR STARTED SMOKING. WHEN DRIVER PULLED TO POP UP THE HOOD, 10 FEET FLAMES SHOT FROM UNDER THE ROOF OF THE CAR.THE DEALER HAS YET TO BE NOTIFIED. *AK”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · July 4, 1999 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1990 Mercury Sable have?

NHTSA has 30 complaints about the 1990 Mercury Sable engine — 14% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.