Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 91 complaints with NHTSA about the 1987 Mercury Sable, and it carries 9 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 15 | 16% |
| Electrical system | 12 | 13% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 9 | 10% |
| Seat belts | 7 | 8% |
| Power train | 7 | 8% |
| Steering | 6 | 7% |
| Seats | 5 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 5 | 5% |
| Tires | 3 | 3% |
| Equipment | 3 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM AS NHTSA 98V323000. SUBFRAME BUSHINGS BROKE LOOSE CAUSE NEAR ACCIDENT AND LOSS OF STEERING. LOCAL FORD MOTOR COMPANY DENIED TO FIX BECAUSE OF VIN NUMBER.
NHTSA complaint: Structure
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION. DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT UNLATCHED, AND DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
DRIVERS SEAT BROKE LOOSE FROM MOUNT. SEAT ROCKS FORWARD AND BACK. DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. DOORS ARE CLOSED. FUEL GAUGE INACCURATE.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED WHILE ON VACATION IN FLORDIA, I WHEN TO A AUTO SHOP AND BROUGHT A PUSH PULL 50 AMP SWITCH AND BY PASSED THE PARTS OF THE SWITCH THAT HAD MELTED. I REPLACED THE PUSH SWITCH A NUMBER OF TIMES, CHEAPE
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
WHILE DRIVING LIGHT FOR DRIVER'S DOOR WILL ILLUMINATE. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL THEN UNLOCK ON ITS OWN. CAUSE OF PROBLEM IS UNKNOWN. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THE ORIGINAL SPARE TIRE, WHICH WAS NEVER USED, WAS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE, WHILE DRIVING THE TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD/BELT SEPARATION, THE TIRE MAKE/MODEL WAS NOT GIVEN BECAUSE THE CONSUMER STATED THAT IT WAS UNREADABLE,
NHTSA complaint: Tires
WHILE GOING 30-35 MPH SMELLED SMOKE. AFTER PULLING OVER CONSUMER NOTICED FRONT LEFT WHEEL HUB BASE COVER MELTED. CONTACTED DEALER. PROBLEM MAY BE LINKED TO BRAKE VACUUM PLATE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL RIM AND TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHILCLE, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS
NHTSA complaint: Wheels
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 1987 Mercury Sable. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
THE ARC WELDS ON THE SWAY BAR BRACKET, WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE STRUT RESERVE TUBE, DID NOT FUSE PROPERLY.
Risk: OVER TIME, A PORTION OF THE BRACKET CAN TEAR AWAY FROM THE STRUT, FALLING INTO AND PUNCTURING THE TIRE OR CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: MONROE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STRUT FREE OF CHARGE.
CHILDREN CAN ACCIDENTALLY LOCK THEMSELVES IN THE FOOTWELL AREA OF THE REAR-FACING THIRD SEAT, OR IN THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT IN STATION WAGONS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN OPTIONAL THIRD SEAT. ONCE THE COMPARTMENT IS CLOSED IT CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE.
Risk: THERE IS A DANGER OF AIR DEPRIVATION, HYPERTHERMIA,AND/OR PANIC RESPONSE TO A CHILD WHO HAS LOCKED HIMSELF OR HERSELF INTO THECOMPARTMENT, WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF ASPHYXIATION.
Fix: REPLACE THE SELF-LATCHING ASSEMBLY CURRENTLY USED IN THE REAR STORAGE COMPARTMENT WITH A LATCH ASSEMBLY THAT CAN ONLY BE CLOSED WITH A KEY.
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, PENNSYLVANI
Risk: IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TAURUS AND SABLES BUILT FROM 10-14-85 THROUGH 8-19-88, AND LINCOLN CONTINENTALS BUILT FROM 11-4-87 THROUGH 9-30-88 (EXCEPT 1989 - 1991 2.5L TAURUS AND 1989 - 1992 SHO). THE AFFECTED CARS WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS
Risk: IF ONE OF THE REAR CORNERS DROPS, ONLY MINOR INDICATIONS OF A MALFUNCTION SUCH AS A CLUNKING NOISE OR SLIGHT CHANGE IN STEERING WHEEL ALIGNMENT ARE NOTICEABLE. HOWEVER, IF BOTH REAR CORNERS OF THE SU
Fix: INSTALL A CORROSION-RESISTANT REINFORCING PLATE AND A NEW BOLT ON BOTH REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS. THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED BY RECALL 98V-323.
| Reliability raw | 89 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 82 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 78 | good |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 54 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 91 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and structure is the most reported area with 15 of them (16%). There are 9 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 89/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 82/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1987 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 72/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.