IllustrationRECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 99V103000. CONTACTED DEALER & TOOK VEHICLE IN ON DATE GIVEN. WAS CHARGED FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS BY MECHANIC. *AK
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
What owners actually said
228 reportsWHILE TRAVELING 50MPH A TIRE HAD BLOWNOUT, VEHICLE HIT GUARDRAIL TWICE. FRONT END SMASHED. DUAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. DRIVER RECEIVED 6 BROKEN RIBS & SOME BRUSIES. VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING AT SL0W SPEEDS / COMING TO A STOP. *YC
TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE INTO GEARS EASILY AND IS DELAYED ON OCCASIONS, UNABLE TO RECTIFY PROBLEM AFTER SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS. MJS
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES , BUT PROBLEM REOCCURS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
TAIL LIGHT BULBS FAILED.*ET
HAD STEERING RACK & PINION REPLACED 1 YEAR AGO. CURRENTLY, RACK & PINION NEEDS REPLACING AGAIN FOR SAME PROBLEM. WAS MAKING NOISES WHEN EVER TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. WOULD BE HARD TO RETURN IT BACK TO ORIGINAL POSITION. *AK
EVERY TIME VEHICLE HITS A PUDDLE AFTER IT HAS RAINS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT. THE ENGINE WOULD STILL BE RUNNING. DOES NOT HAVE TO RESTART VEHICLE. WOULD HAVE NO BRAKES OR POWER STEERING. LOST CONTROL. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER.
THE METAL PART OF THE SEATBELT WILL NOT LOCK INTO THE CORRESPONDING LOCK
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.