IllustrationWHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, AND FUEL PUMP WAS THE CAUSE AS STATED BY SERVICE TECHNICIAN.*AK CONSUMER RECOMMENDED THAT THE WIRING INSIDE THE TANK BE ENCLOSED INTO A PROTECTIVE COVERING OVER ALL WIRES. *PH
1997 Mercury Sable
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Mercury Sable do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 201.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sable years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 49 of 228 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports5 fire reports9 injury reports
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
9 reportsWHEN STEPPING ON GAS PEDAL RPMS GO UP BUT ENGINE DOESN'T RESPOND. THIS HAPPENS IN THE MORNING AND ACTS INTERMITTENTLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER FUEL PUMP NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK
ON MAY 26, 2001 THE 1997 MERCURY SABLE ENGINE COMPLETELY STOPPED AT 45 MILES PER HOUR ON A COUNTRY ROAD. IT WAS TOWED TO TOM'S AUTO SERVICE IN NEW CARLISLE, INDIANA WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A CORRODED WIRE TO THE FUEL PUMP WAS THE PROBLEM. THEN ON JULY 12, 2001 THE MERCURY SABLE DID THE SAME THING AND WAS AGAIN TOWED TO TO…
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ON MAY 26, 2001 THE 1997 MERCURY SABLE ENGINE COMPLETELY STOPPED AT 45 MILES PER HOUR ON A COUNTRY ROAD. IT WAS TOWED TO TOM'S AUTO SERVICE IN NEW CARLISLE, INDIANA WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A CORRODED WIRE TO THE FUEL PUMP WAS THE PROBLEM. THEN ON JULY 12, 2001 THE MERCURY SABLE DID THE SAME THING AND WAS AGAIN TOWED TO TOM'S IN NEW CARLISLE, INDIANA WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A CORRODED WIRE INSIDE OF THE GAS TANK WAS THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC INFORMED US THAT HAD THE FUSE NOT BLOWN FIRST, THE GAS TANK WOULD HAVE EXPLODED. HE THEN STATED THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES BEFORE ON OTHER FORD VEHICLES AND THAT IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. WE WANT FORD TO REIMBURSE US FOR THE REPAIRS AND TOWING CHARGES AND TO INFORM OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS THAT THERE IS A POTENTIAL DANGER IF THE WIRES ARE NOT IMMEDIATELY REPLACED. WE NEVER HAD AN PRIOR INDICTATION FROM THE VEHICLE THAT THERE WAS ANY SORT OF PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT SPIT OR SPUTTER OR SLOWLY LOSE POWER, IT JUST COMPLETELY STOPS AND MUST BE COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT START, DEALER FOUND CHAFFED WIRES TO THE FUEL PUMP WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE, HOWEVER WHEN CONSUMER PICKED UP VEHICLE IT STALLED AGAIN JUST 3 MILES FROM DEALERSHIP, FORD STATED THEY WOULD REIMBURSE 50% OF CONSUMER'S COST, HOWEVER CONSUMER FEELS THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART AND IS REQUESTING FULL R…
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VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT START, DEALER FOUND CHAFFED WIRES TO THE FUEL PUMP WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE, HOWEVER WHEN CONSUMER PICKED UP VEHICLE IT STALLED AGAIN JUST 3 MILES FROM DEALERSHIP, FORD STATED THEY WOULD REIMBURSE 50% OF CONSUMER'S COST, HOWEVER CONSUMER FEELS THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART AND IS REQUESTING FULL REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC
STARTED CAR, PROCEEDED TO LEAVE PARKING LOT AND SABLE STALLED. UNABLE TO RESTART. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. FIRST ATTEMPT AT REPAIR REPLACED FUSE TO FUEL PUMP. LEFT DEALERSHIP AND VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN, 3 MILES AWAY FROM DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO SAME DEALERSHIP. INVOICE 177076 READS "P…
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STARTED CAR, PROCEEDED TO LEAVE PARKING LOT AND SABLE STALLED. UNABLE TO RESTART. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. FIRST ATTEMPT AT REPAIR REPLACED FUSE TO FUEL PUMP. LEFT DEALERSHIP AND VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN, 3 MILES AWAY FROM DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO SAME DEALERSHIP. INVOICE 177076 READS "PREVIOUS REPAIR AS STATED ON RO-FUSE BLOWN. FOUND UND FAULTY SENDER AND PUMP TO FUEL TANK. PERFORMED MED EXTENSIVE TESTS TO REVEAL PROBLEM. REMOVED FUEL TANK FROM VEHICLE AND TESTED SENDER UNIT AND PUMP ASSEMBLY. FOUND CHAFFED WIRES INSIDE FUEL CELL WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. REPAIR PARTS AND REASSEMBLED TANK TO VEHICLE. RETESTED AND PARTS SEEM TO BE WORKING AS DESIGNED."
VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC DUE TO 2 WIRES IN FUEL PUMP THAT GOT CAUGHT UNDERNEATH A CLAMP, CAUSING WIRES TO FRAY AND SHORT CIRCUIT AND BLOW FUSE, RESULTING IN POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD.*AK
FUEL PUMP WIRE WITHIN FUEL TANK WHICH WAS RUBBING ON THE OUTGOING METAL SUPPLY LINE SHORTED OUT, CAUSING A FUSE TO BLOW OUT. ALSO, COULD LEAD TO A POSSIBLE FUEL TANK FIRE/EXPLOSION. *AK
WIRING WITHIN THE GAS TANK HAS NO COVERING CAUSING THE HOSE CLAMP TO RUB AGAINST AN ELECTICAL WIRING, RESULTING IN A FIRE HAZARD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS PLACED A COVERING OVER THE WIRING. *AK *ML
WHEN THE VEHICLE GETS DOWN TO A HALF A TANK OF GAS GAS GUAGE INDICATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS ON EMPTY. ALSO THE FUEL GAUGE COMES ON. DEALER CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK
Official recalls
398V028000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights
Feb 10, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TEXT AND/OR GRAPHICS FOR THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONFUSED BY THE AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS TO BE IMPROPERLY AIMED.
Remedy: OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.
97V097000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Jun 9, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AX4S AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES. THE LOW/INTERMEDIATE SERVO COVER CAN SEPARATE FROM THE TRANSAXLE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. IF THIS OCCURS, TRANSMISSION FLUID WILL LEAK CONTACTING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TEMPERATURE MAY BE HOT ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE THESE SERVO COVERS.
96V166000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
Sep 5, 1996
THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET HAS A SHARP EDGE WHICH CAN CAUSE THE PARKING PAWL TO HANG UP AND NOT ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWS THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: UNINTENDED AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.