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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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

19 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM, THE FIRST OCCURRED AT 62,000 MILES, AND I FEEL FORD IS DRAGGING THEIR FEET IN A SIMILAR FASHION TO THE 3.8 LITRE MOTOR INCIDENT. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #760187

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL SHAKE WHILE APPLYING BRAKES. ALSO, MOTOR MOUNTS WERE DEFECTIVE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8005865

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE OVERHEATED. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON. CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC. MECHANIC CHANGED THERMOSTAT. NEXT DAY WATER WAS ALL OVER THE GROUND. PROBLEM WAS STILL OCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #899141

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 · Jan 26, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #559208

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #551117

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER EMITTED ODORS THAT MADE THE DRIVER SICK . THIS COULD CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSS CONTROL. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE THREE TIMES ,AND NO ONE COULD FIND THE CAUSE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #849085

Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED IT. ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELSE THAT IS WRONG WITH IT, THERE IS A ODOR ENTERING THE VEHICLE, MAINLY ON THE PASSENGER'S FRONT WHEN AT A STOP. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO ALL THE LOCAL DEALERS AND THEY EITHER TELL US THEY CAN SMELL IT AND JUST SPRAY AIR FRESHNER INTO THE VE…

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I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED IT. ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELSE THAT IS WRONG WITH IT, THERE IS A ODOR ENTERING THE VEHICLE, MAINLY ON THE PASSENGER'S FRONT WHEN AT A STOP. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO ALL THE LOCAL DEALERS AND THEY EITHER TELL US THEY CAN SMELL IT AND JUST SPRAY AIR FRESHNER INTO THE VENTS. OTHERS SAY THEY CAN'T SMELL ANYTHING AND THEREFORE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE RECENTLY TOOK THE CAR TO A PRIVATE GARAGE AND THEY FOUND EVIDENCE OF FLUID LEAKING OR SPRAYING ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. IT IS FELT THAT THE FLUID IS COMING FROM THE HYDRAULIC ENGINE MOUNT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE ODOR CAUSES A BURNING SENSATION IN THE THROAT AND LUNGS AND FOLLOWED BY HEADACHES. IN ONE CASE, IT CAUSED SEVERE BREATHING PROBLEMS. THIS PERSON ALREADY HAS LUNG RELATED PROBLEMS BUT THIS ODOR CAUSED A SEVERE AND VIOLENT REACTION. YOU HAVE NOTHING LISTING WHAT IS USED IN THE NEW ENGINE MOUNTS THEREFORE MAKING IT APPEAR THAT THIS COULD BE A TOXIC SUBSTANCE WHEN BROUGHT INTO CONTACT WITH A HOT MANIFOLD. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO. *AK

NHTSA ODI #707364

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHEN STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH THE VEHICLE IN "DRIVE", THE ENGINE SUDDENLY ROARED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD. DRIVER SHIFTED TO PARK AND THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO IDLE SPEED.

NHTSA ODI #541645

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.