IllustrationACCELERATOR RELEASING FROM SPEED OF 15 MPH TO 20-25 MPH WHEN EASING OFF GAS PEDAL. *AK
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 →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: 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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
32 reportsWHEN GOING DOWNHILL WITH FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES UNREASONABLY AND EXCESSIVE BRAKING IS REQUIRED. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN CONTROLLOING THE SPEED OF THE CAR ESPECIALLY IN WET OR OTHER SLIPPERY CONDITIONS.
WHILE STOPPING AT AN ENTER SECTION VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. CONSUMER FINALLY STOPPED VEHICLE BY PUTTING FOOT ON BRAKE. *AK
VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD WHEN TRYING TO STOP, THIS HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY. WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT WHEN THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER OR A/C IS OPERATING AND WHEN DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO COME TO A STOP, THERE IS A REACTION IN WHICH COMPRESSOR CAUSES THIS FORWARD ACCELERATION. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND DEALER HAS NOT OFFERED TO REPA…
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VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD WHEN TRYING TO STOP, THIS HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY. WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT WHEN THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER OR A/C IS OPERATING AND WHEN DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO COME TO A STOP, THERE IS A REACTION IN WHICH COMPRESSOR CAUSES THIS FORWARD ACCELERATION. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND DEALER HAS NOT OFFERED TO REPAIR. IT HAS BEEN TO THE GARAGE THE 4TH TIME. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF SEVERAL OCCASIONS, ONE INCIDENT RESULTING IN VEHICLE REAR ENDING OTHER VEHICLE. MJS
STOPPING AT INTERSECTION WITH BRAKES APPLIED, ENGINE BEGAN THROTTLING AND CAUSED RACING AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT. STANDING ON THE BRAKES DID NOT CONTROL THE CAR AND DISENGAGING THE TRANSMISSION INTO "N" LEFT THE ENGINE STILL RACING! *AK
ENGINE ACCELLERATES WHEN YOU COME TO STOP THE CAR; YOU CAN NOT STOP THE CAR AND CAN NOT PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. ALMOST CRASHED 2X AND ALMOST RAN OVER CHILDREN IN CHURCH PARKING LOT. PLEASE HELP
LOCKED TORQUE CONVERTER SEEMS TO DISENGAGE WHEN GOING DOWN HILL. ALSO, SPEED CONTROL CANNOT CONTROL SPEED OF CAR GOING DOWN ANY SLIGHT HILL. SEEMS TO BE NOT LOCKED UP, ETC. CANNOT USE ENGINE COMPRESSION, ETC, TO SLOW VEHICLE. CRUISE CONTROL US IS USELESS ON ANY TYPE OF DOWNGRADE! IS THIS A DESIGN FLAW OR CAN IT BE REPAIRED?…
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LOCKED TORQUE CONVERTER SEEMS TO DISENGAGE WHEN GOING DOWN HILL. ALSO, SPEED CONTROL CANNOT CONTROL SPEED OF CAR GOING DOWN ANY SLIGHT HILL. SEEMS TO BE NOT LOCKED UP, ETC. CANNOT USE ENGINE COMPRESSION, ETC, TO SLOW VEHICLE. CRUISE CONTROL US IS USELESS ON ANY TYPE OF DOWNGRADE! IS THIS A DESIGN FLAW OR CAN IT BE REPAIRED? VEHICLE IS A LEASED CAR THROUGH WHEELS, INC. THANK YOU. *AK
TIRE WORN OUT (GENERAL P205/65R15). YH
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED TO STOP CAR, THE ENGINE ROARS AND CAR ACCELERATES. REQUIRES ADDITITIONAL EFFORT TO STOP CAR AND THE ENGINE RACES UNTIL CAR IS PUT INTO NEUTRAL OR PARK. PROCESSOR FAILED COMPLETELY ON 12/19/98 AND WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW UNIT.
Official recalls
298V198000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.