IllustrationINTERIOR LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OUT EVEN AFTER IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. PROBLEM REPAIRED BY ITSELF AFTER A WHILE WHICH, IN TURN, HAS PRODUCED ANOTHER PROBLEM; DELAY FEATURE DOES NOT WORK FOR THE INTERIOR LIGHTS. PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *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 reportsTHE TRUNK LIGHT BURNED A SHOPPING BAG AND STARTED TO SMOKE WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE BROARDSWIPED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK
WHILE WAITING ATA STOP SIGN TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF GEAR. *AK
WHEN VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP, ITJUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND ACCELERATED. ALSO, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE THAT CAME FROM TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOUR TIMES. *AK
WHEN DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS AND MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM A STOPPED POSITION, POWER STEERING IS LOST AND ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. ALSO, DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE. THIS LOSS OF POWER AND STEERING WHILE ENTERING TRAFFIC IS ALARMING! IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE BELT IS SLIPPLING DUE TO THE MOISTURE BEING SPRAYED UP F…
Read full complaint
WHEN DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS AND MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM A STOPPED POSITION, POWER STEERING IS LOST AND ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. ALSO, DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE. THIS LOSS OF POWER AND STEERING WHILE ENTERING TRAFFIC IS ALARMING! IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE BELT IS SLIPPLING DUE TO THE MOISTURE BEING SPRAYED UP FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. I HAVE INSPECTED THE BELT AND IT IS IN FINE CONDITION. THERE IS NO MANUAL ADJUSTMENT FOR THE BELT TENSIONER (SPRING LOADED). THIS PROBLEM STARTED AT 24,000 MILES. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND HAVE SEEN ANOTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINT. I BELIVE THAT THIS PROBLEM MUST BE REVIEWED BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES STEERING WHILE ENTERING TRAFFIC AND IS KILLED! I REALIZE THAT REPLACING THE BELT MAY MAKE THE PROBLEM GO AWAY, HOWEVER, THIS IS AN OBVIOU. *AK
CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT HIGH SPEED WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD. CONSUMER TURNED OFF VEHICLE. *AK
ENGINE THROTTLE STICKS AT 1200 TO 2500 RPM WHILE DRIVING. *AK
RACK & PINION STEERING FAILED -- ONLY 4K MILES OVER WARRANTY -- NO FINANCIAL REMEDY FROM FORD FOR THIS SERIOUS SAFETY FAILURE. CUSTOMER SERVICE AT FORD CLAIMS NO ABILITY TO HELP.*AK
AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS RECIRCULATING OUTSIDE AIR EXCEPT WHEN ON MAXIMUM SETTING. NLM
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.