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1998 Mercury Sable

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Mercury Sable do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 201.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 45 of 190 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.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

28 crash reports3 fire reports15 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

14 reports
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179,000 miles · Oct 13, 2015
Air BagsService BrakesCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. DUE TO THE BRAKE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AT AN INTERSECTION WITH AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK AND FACE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. DUE TO THE BRAKE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AT AN INTERSECTION WITH AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK AND FACE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,000.

NHTSA ODI #10781703

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2005
Air BagsCrash

DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO ROAD CONDITIONS, CAUSING THE FRONT RIGHT CORNER TO HIT A WALL ON THE RAMP. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10117659

89,000 miles · Aug 5, 2004
Air BagsElectrical SystemPower Train

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OVERDRIVE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THIS CAUSED THE SPEEDOMETER TO DROP TO ZERO, AND THE SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. ALSO, HORN BECAME INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10087325

97,000 miles · Jan 27, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE BROADSIDE. MY CAR'S FRONT END WAS TOTALED, ALONG WITH THE FRAME CRACKING. WHAT DID NOT HAPPEN WAS THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOST. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10055009

92,000 miles · Nov 12, 2003
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

THE AIRBAGS AND SHOULDER HARNESS BOTH FAILED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AT HIGHWAY SPEED RESULTING IN INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10046792

Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 2002
Air Bags

CONSUMER STATES AIR BAGS DEPLOYED W/O WARNING WHILE PARKING VEHICLE. DRIVER'S BAG DID NOT DEPLOY COMPLETELY. MR

NHTSA ODI #8021175

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ACCIDENT OCCURRED, AND DRIVER WAS INJURED. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8003441

Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED, HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER SIDE. DRIVER WAS INJURED. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #8002896

Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2001
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingCrash

MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO INVESTIGATE AIR BAG DEFECT, ALONG WITH THE OTHER PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, I AM CONCERN ABOUT DRIVING AROUND IN A VEHICLE I THOUGHT WAS SAFE. ME AND MY CHILDREN COULD HAVE LOST OUR LIVES TO THAT 18 WHEEL TRUCK. THE TRUCK STRUCK BOTH THE FRON AND REAR OF MY 1998 SABLE AND THE BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FORD CONSUM…

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MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO INVESTIGATE AIR BAG DEFECT, ALONG WITH THE OTHER PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, I AM CONCERN ABOUT DRIVING AROUND IN A VEHICLE I THOUGHT WAS SAFE. ME AND MY CHILDREN COULD HAVE LOST OUR LIVES TO THAT 18 WHEEL TRUCK. THE TRUCK STRUCK BOTH THE FRON AND REAR OF MY 1998 SABLE AND THE BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FORD CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT STATED TO ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER ON A CALL BACK AND THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY EXPIRED. I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MY CAR AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. I HAD THIS CAR TESTED WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED IT. IT HAD SOME ELECTRICAL AND ENGINE PROBLEMS OF WHICH I HELD ON TO THE INVOICES . I FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DEFECT. IT UNDETERMINE IF THE CAR WAS DEFECTIVE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. BUT I CAN SAY IT HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WHICH MAY HAVE AFFECTED THE AIR BAG SENSORS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #750576

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2001
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. PEDAL WENTDOWN TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. WAS TRAVELING 40MPH. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK BLOWN 5 AMP FUSE (RADIO,RCC,IPC CIRCUTE) WERE FOUND AFTER THE ACCIDENT. *YH

NHTSA ODI #880284

Official recalls

2

98V198000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Aug 25, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL SEAT TRACKS. THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ATTACHING STUD MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED. THIS HEAT TREATMENT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN CRACKS DEVELOPING IN THE STUD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE STUD IS CRACKED, IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MOUNTING BRACKET AND STUD ASSEMBLY.

98V028000 · 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.

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.