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 · Jul 24, 2002
Seat BeltsService Brakes, Hydraulic
PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT OR EXTEND, IT WILL STICK IN EITHER THE RETRACTING POISTION OR EXTENDED POSITION.*AK CONSUMER STATES SEAT BELT FAILURE STILL PERSISTS AND HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE, CONSUMER STATES THE SEATBELTS WILL LOCK UP AND NOT RELEASE, CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINED OF THE…
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PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT OR EXTEND, IT WILL STICK IN EITHER THE RETRACTING POISTION OR EXTENDED POSITION.*AK CONSUMER STATES SEAT BELT FAILURE STILL PERSISTS AND HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE, CONSUMER STATES THE SEATBELTS WILL LOCK UP AND NOT RELEASE, CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINED OF THE BRAKES SQUEAKING, HOWEVER DEALER COULD FIND NO PROBLEM.*JB
NHTSA ODI #8014652
Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2002
Equipment
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #764513
Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2002
Electrical SystemFire
THE FIRE IN MY 1997 MERCURY SABLE STATION WAGON STARTED WHILE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. IT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 11HOURS BEFORE THE FIRE STARTED ABOUT 1:30 AM . THE RIGHT REAR SECTION SHOWED THE MOST DAMAGE BUT THE ENTIRE INTERIOR WAS DESTROYED. THE GAS TANK WAS FULL BUT DID NOT EXPLODE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNKNOWN. THE I…
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THE FIRE IN MY 1997 MERCURY SABLE STATION WAGON STARTED WHILE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. IT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 11HOURS BEFORE THE FIRE STARTED ABOUT 1:30 AM . THE RIGHT REAR SECTION SHOWED THE MOST DAMAGE BUT THE ENTIRE INTERIOR WAS DESTROYED. THE GAS TANK WAS FULL BUT DID NOT EXPLODE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNKNOWN. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THE CAR A TOTAL LOSS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #764027
Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2002
Seat Belts
CONSUMER STATES THE REAR PASSENGER SHOULDER SEAT BELT LOCKED UP, AFTER REMOVING THE BACK OF THE REAR SEAT TO EXAMINE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR, CONSUMER NOTICED A TENSION SPRING, WHICH HAD ENGAGED THE BELT IN A LOCK POSITION. *YD
NHTSA ODI #566148
Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2002
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
SPEEDOMETER WOULD MOMENTARILY OPERATE ERRATICALLY. NEEDLE WOULD JUMP BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES IT OPERATED NORMALLY. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK CONSUMER ADDS ACCELERATOR POSSIBLY CONTRIBUTED TO ERRATIC OPERATION OF THE SPEEDOMETER. *TT
NHTSA ODI #8011810
Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control
CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKING AND VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO ACCELATE UNTIL SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.*AK. CONSUMER STATED WHEN VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT MOVE, THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED ON ANOTHER OCCASION, HOWEVER THE CRUISE CONTROL …
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CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKING AND VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO ACCELATE UNTIL SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.*AK. CONSUMER STATED WHEN VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT MOVE, THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED ON ANOTHER OCCASION, HOWEVER THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED AT THAT TIME, THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR ASSEMBLY, BUT THE PROBLEM REOCCURED.*JB
NHTSA ODI #8011803
Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2002
Equipment
CONSUMER USED JACK TO CHANGE FLAT TIRE ON DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT, WHEN LOWERING VEHICLE TOP PORTION OF JACK COLLAPSED, AND VEHICLE DROPPED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO ROTOR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8011311
Mileage unknown · May 3, 2002
Seat Belts
FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY FASTENED. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORRMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8009101
Mileage unknown · May 1, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSuspension
CONSUMER STATED HAD TO FLUSH RADIATOR OUT AT LEAST FIVE TIMES BECAUSE OF DIRTY WATER, IT IS WRITTEN IN OWNER'S MANUAL THAT THE RADIATOR SHOULD BE FLUSHED 1 TIME EVERY 100,000 MILES.*JB WHILE FLUSHING THE RADIATOR, WATER GOT INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. *YH CONSUMER STATES THAT EV…
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CONSUMER STATED HAD TO FLUSH RADIATOR OUT AT LEAST FIVE TIMES BECAUSE OF DIRTY WATER, IT IS WRITTEN IN OWNER'S MANUAL THAT THE RADIATOR SHOULD BE FLUSHED 1 TIME EVERY 100,000 MILES.*JB WHILE FLUSHING THE RADIATOR, WATER GOT INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. *YH CONSUMER STATES THAT EVER SINCE RECALL 98823 WAS COMPLETED ON VEHICLE, RADIATOR HAS CONSTANTLY NEEDED FLUSHED, NOW CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEEL AREA, DEALER REPLACED RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #8008936
Mileage unknown · May 1, 2002
Electrical System
CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 TO 55 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIED. NO POWER BRAKES OR POWER STEERING. TOOK TO A MECHANIC STATED WIRES IN THE GAS TANK SHORTED OUT AND BLEW A BIG FUSE AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. MECHANIC STATED IF TANK HAD NOT BEEN FULL OF GAS THIS COULD HAVE IGNITED A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHE…
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CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 TO 55 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIED. NO POWER BRAKES OR POWER STEERING. TOOK TO A MECHANIC STATED WIRES IN THE GAS TANK SHORTED OUT AND BLEW A BIG FUSE AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. MECHANIC STATED IF TANK HAD NOT BEEN FULL OF GAS THIS COULD HAVE IGNITED A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB
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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