1988 Buick Regal vs 1988 Mercury Sable
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1988 Buick Regal | 1988 Mercury Sable |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 123 | 126 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 1 | 51 |
| Investigations | 8 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 10 | 4 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 27 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21 | 19–21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Buick Regal | Mercury Sable |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 67 | 4 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 9 | 29 |
| Power Train | 10 | 22 |
| Structure | 17 | 14 |
| Electrical System | 5 | 26 |
| Steering | 2 | 23 |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 8 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 | 6 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 35 | 7 |
| Brake problems | 5 | 0 |
| Stalling | 0 | 8 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 5 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 5 |
1988 Buick Regal
1988 Mercury Sable
Compare all Buick Regal vs Mercury Sable years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.