IllustrationWHEN RIDING OVER PUDDLES THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, AND THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. THE VEHICLE STUTTERS FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN GOES BACK TO NORMAL. DEALER DOESN'T HAVE A SOLUTION FOR PROBLEM. *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 reportsFALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.
CONSUMER HAD EXPERIENCED A BRAKE FAILURE WHILE PARKING VEHICLE IN FRONT OF A BUILDING, VEHICLE CONTINUED ON THROUGH THE BULIDING BEFORE STOPPING. *AK *JB
VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT AT ANY SPEED 35 AND UNDER. SOMETIMES WHEN COMING TO A STOP, VEHICLE JUST DIESOUT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED NOTHING WAS WRONG. ITS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL VIBRATE, WHICH IS CAUSED BY WARPED ROTORS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING INNER TIE ROD BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, RESULTING IN AN COLLISION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED LIMIT AND SUDDENLY STEERING FAILED, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND SKIDDED 360 DEGREES, RESULTING IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION. BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.
DUEL MUFFLERS ARE LEAKING DUE TO RUST.
JUMPED INTO DRIVE FROM REVERSE CAUSING AN ACCIDENT
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PUT IN DRIVE THE VEHICLE TAKES OFF IN REVERSE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *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.