Mercury

Sable

Midsize Cars · model years 1986 to 2009

Includes Sable, Sable AWD, Sable FWD and 1 more as listed by the EPA.

See all 87 Sable trims

The verdict

Best year: 2009. complaints: 20, below this model's typical 122; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 4.

Worst year: 1993. complaints: 674, about 2.8x this model's typical 243; recalls: 6, about 1.5x this model's typical 4.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Mercury Sable
Year	Trims	MPG	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Top complaints
1986	3Gas	20	$3,350	no data	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1986
1987	2Gas	20	$3,350	no data	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1987
1988	3Gas	21	$3,200	no data	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1988
1989	4Gas	20.5	$3,275	no data	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1989
1990	4Gas	20.5	$3,025	5	166	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 14%, STEERING 12%, STRUCTURE 11%
complaints: 166, below this model's typical 243 recalls: 5, above this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 complaints reporting a fire: 18 Score: 56 of 100, where higher is better.
1991	4Gas	20	$3,125	4	221	POWER TRAIN 33%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 18%, STEERING 9%
complaints: 221, below this model's typical 243 recalls: 4, in line with this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 complaints reporting a fire: 9 Score: 58 of 100, where higher is better.
1992	4Gas	20	$3,125	4	364	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 33%, POWER TRAIN 14%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 9%
complaints: 364, about 1.5x this model's typical 243 recalls: 4, in line with this model's typical 4 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 7 complaints reporting a fire: 6 Score: 13 of 100, where higher is better.
1993	4Gas	20.5	$3,025	6	674	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 42%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 7%, SUSPENSION 6%
complaints: 674, about 2.8x this model's typical 243 recalls: 6, about 1.5x this model's typical 4 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 16 complaints reporting a fire: 7 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
1994	4Gas	20.5	$3,025	4	387	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 29%, POWER TRAIN 19%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6%
complaints: 387, about 1.6x this model's typical 243 recalls: 4, in line with this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 19 complaints reporting a fire: 9 Score: 37 of 100, where higher is better.
1995	4Gas	20.5	$3,025	5	350	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 30%, POWER TRAIN 21%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 7%
complaints: 350, above this model's typical 243 recalls: 5, above this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 10 complaints reporting a fire: 14 Score: 36 of 100, where higher is better.
1996	3Gas	21	$2,950	5	304	POWER TRAIN 19%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 16%, STEERING 10%
complaints: 304, about 1.7x this model's typical 182 recalls: 5, above this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 119 complaints reporting a fire: 10 Score: 29 of 100, where higher is better.
1997	4Gas	20	$3,100	3	228	POWER TRAIN 14%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 14%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 9%
complaints: 228, below this model's typical 243 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 11 complaints reporting a fire: 5 Score: 59 of 100, where higher is better.
1998	4Gas	19	$3,300	2	190	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 14%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 12%, POWER TRAIN 11%
complaints: 190, below this model's typical 243 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 18 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 63 of 100, where higher is better.
1999	4Gas	19.5	$3,200	5	258	SUSPENSION 17%, STEERING 11%, POWER TRAIN 10%
complaints: 258, above this model's typical 243 recalls: 5, above this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 24 complaints reporting a fire: 4 Score: 48 of 100, where higher is better.
2000	4Gas	20	$3,100	7	464	SUSPENSION 28%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 13%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 11%
complaints: 464, about 1.9x this model's typical 243 recalls: 7, about 1.8x this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 20 complaints reporting a fire: 8 Score: 13 of 100, where higher is better.
2001	4Gas	19	$3,300	8	430	SUSPENSION 41%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 12%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 7%
complaints: 430, about 1.8x this model's typical 243 recalls: 8, about 2x this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 30 complaints reporting a fire: 7 Score: 12 of 100, where higher is better.
2002	6Gas	20	$3,100	3	440	SUSPENSION 47%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 11%, VISIBILITY 5%
complaints: 440, above this model's typical 365 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 4 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 22 complaints reporting a fire: 5 Score: 37 of 100, where higher is better.
2003	6Gas	19.5	$3,200	3	201	SUSPENSION 20%, POWER TRAIN 12%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 12%
complaints: 201, below this model's typical 365 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 67 of 100, where higher is better.
2004	6Gas	20	$3,100	1	52	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 21%, POWER TRAIN 16%, SERVICE BRAKES 12%
complaints: 52, below this model's typical 365 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 Score: 88 of 100, where higher is better.
2005	6Gas	19.5	$3,200	0	83	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 34%, POWER TRAIN 23%, SERVICE BRAKES 6%
complaints: 83, below this model's typical 365 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 Score: 89 of 100, where higher is better.
2008	2Gas	20.5	$3,075	1	61	STEERING 20%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14%, POWER TRAIN 14%
complaints: 61, below this model's typical 122 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 79 of 100, where higher is better.
2009	2Gas	20	$3,125	0	20	ENGINE 20%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 20%, POWER TRAIN 12%
complaints: 20, below this model's typical 122 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 Score: 90 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median1986: 20 to 2009: 20

Owner complaints1990: 166 to 2009: 20

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Mercury Sable to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.