MercurySable1987Overview/mercury/sable/1987/base/

1987 Mercury Sable

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1987 Sable.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1987 Mercury Sable came with a four-speed automatic transmission and returned EPA ratings of 17 city, 26 highway, and 20 combined mpg. Owner-reported reliability data for this model year shows 91 total complaints, with structural issues ranking as the top concern and nine recalls issued. The broader Sable lineage tracked from 1990 through 2009 saw complaint volumes peak at 815 in 1993 and bottom out at just one in 2006, framing the 1987 edition's 91 complaints as a moderate early showing that preceded the nameplate's most troubled and most reliable years alike.

Model year200920082005200420032002200120001987

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy17/26/20 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

ThermostatRT1054

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length191.7 in
Overall width70.9 in
Overall height54.3 in
Wheelbase105.9 in
Curb weight3053 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 26 / 20 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume100 cu ft
Cargo volume19 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.11 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity6.60 oz

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1987 Mercury Sable's records highlight primary complaints in the structure (15), electrical system (12), and engine and engine cooling (9), along with 7 fire and 3 crash complaints. In the context of the wider generation, complaints rose steadily from 209 in 1990 to a peak of 815 in 1993, before fluctuating and eventually declining. The 1987 model precedes this surge in reported issues and the subsequent climb in technical service bulletins, which reached a high of 268 in 1996. Because the data does not specify the root causes for the 1987 complaints, buyers should simply note the concentration of issues within the structural and electrical categories. Given that it avoids the high-complaint volume seen in the early 1990s, this is a good year to buy.

9
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
44
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
22
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
91
Owner complaints
3 involved a crash · 7 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 91 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Structure15
Electrical System12
Engine & Engine Cooling9
Seat Belts7
Power Train7
Steering6
Seats5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 9 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

94E036000Suspension:Front:Shock AbsorberReported 25/11/1994

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.

92V065000WheelsReported 11/05/1992

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… Remedy: REPLACE THE SELF-LATCHING ASSEMBLY CURRENTLY USED IN THE REAR STORAGE COMPARTMENT WITH A LATCH ASSEMBLY THAT CAN ONLY BE CLOSED WITH A KEY.

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Sable. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 1987 Sable have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Sable get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 26 highway / 20 combined mpg.