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
What owners actually said
228 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2000
Structure
AUTOMATIC LOCK ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DOES NOT STAY LOCKED. CONSUMER ENTERS THE AUTOMOBILE AND LOCKS ALL FOUR DOORS. ONCE THE ENGINE STARTS, DRIVER'S SIDE LOCK POPS OPEN. THIS OCCURS ABOUT 70% OF THE TIME WHEN CONSUMER STARTS THE AUTOMOBILE. ALSO, AREA DEALER HAVE BEEN RECEIVING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM W…
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AUTOMATIC LOCK ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DOES NOT STAY LOCKED. CONSUMER ENTERS THE AUTOMOBILE AND LOCKS ALL FOUR DOORS. ONCE THE ENGINE STARTS, DRIVER'S SIDE LOCK POPS OPEN. THIS OCCURS ABOUT 70% OF THE TIME WHEN CONSUMER STARTS THE AUTOMOBILE. ALSO, AREA DEALER HAVE BEEN RECEIVING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME AUTOMOBILE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #860941
Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2000
Structure
AUTOMATIC POWER LOCKS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY UNLOCK WHILE DRIVING. APPOINTMENT BEING MADE AT THE DEALER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #860243
Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 2000
Steering
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AT 13,000 MILES DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CORE. DEALERR REPLACED IT ANOTHER PUMP WHICH ALSO BECAME DEFECTIVE WITHIN 2 DAYS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #859474
Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2000
Visibility
WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH WASN'T WORKING PROPERLY. FUSE WAS CHECKED. AFTER CHECKING FUSE BOX EVERYTHING SEEMED TO WORK FINE. SUBSEQUENTLY, SAMETHING HAPPENED AGAIN. CONSUMER WAS CONTACTING DEALER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #858740
Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment
A LOOSE GROUND WIRE WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO IDLE ROUGH. *MJS
NHTSA ODI #783774
Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingSteering
UPON DRIVING DURING RAIN OR DAMP WEATHER STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, THE BATTERY LIGHT FLASHES AND THE FAN BELT MAKES NOISE. YH
NHTSA ODI #551260
Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 2000
Interior LightingPower TrainSuspension
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD DURING DECELERATION/ACCELERATION, PARTICULARY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. TURNING TO THE RIGHT RESULTS IN GROWLING NOISE FROM UNDER HOOD. INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON AS DOES DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND WARNING CHIME FOR LEAVING KEYS IN IGNITION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #718956
Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2000
Air Bags
WHILE DRIVING ONTO THE RAMP OF A HIGHWAY TRAVELING ABOUT 8MPH IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC BARELY TAPPED THE BUMPER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT, AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED BECAYSE A PIECE OF THE DASHBOARD COVER, WHERE THE AIRBAGS ARE HIDDEN, HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND SHATTERED IT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #857033
Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingInjury
CONSUMER EXHAUST SYSTEM FAULTY CAUSING FUMES TO ENTER THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING CONSUMER TO BECOME ILL (HEADACHE, FATIQUE ECT). NLM
NHTSA ODI #549677
Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2000
Power Train
TRANSMISSION CASE HAD 6" CRACK , DIFFERENTIAL JOINT DISINTERGRATED, AND FLUID LEAKED ON TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE.
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.
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.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1997 Mercury Sable Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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