VehicleVerdict

1991 Mercury Sable engine problems

The 1991 Mercury Sable has 66 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 19% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

66

Engine complaints

19%

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

“WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10MPH WHEN A BURNING ODOR WAS NOTICED. STOPPED THE VEHICLE & LIFTED THE HOOD. FLAMES SHOT OUT FROM NEAR THE ENGINE AREA WHERE FAN WAS LOCATED. THE PLASTIC COVERING FAN AND RADIATOR WAS BURNING, WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. *AK”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · January 2, 1999 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1991 Mercury Sable have?

NHTSA has 66 complaints about the 1991 Mercury Sable engine — 19% 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.