IllustrationWINDSHIELD--LINES IN GLASS. DASHBOARD--COVERING IS BUBBLED.
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
What owners actually said
190 reportsFRONT STEEL TIRE STEEL SEPARATION FROM CORD, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, STEERING COUPLING WAS LOOSE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *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
HAVE HAD THE CAR BACK (3) TIME'S FOR THE SAME FAILURE. DEALER CAN NOT FIX OR FIND PROBLEM
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH EXTERIOR MIRROR POPPED OUT AND HIT THE WINDOW, AND THEN POPPED OUT INTO THE STREET. *AK
CONSUMER REQUEST THAT DEALER INSTALL A ON/OFF SWITCH FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. DEARLER WILL NOT CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION. *YC
POWER STEERING CONTINUALLY MAKES NOISE WHILE TURNING, REPAIR KIT INSTALLED HOWEVER SYSTEM CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE NOISE. MJS
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF SEVERAL OCCASIONS, ONE INCIDENT RESULTING IN VEHICLE REAR ENDING OTHER VEHICLE. MJS
TRUNK LID CONTINUALLY CLOSES UNEXPECTEDLY DUE TO INADEQUATE TORQUE BARS THAT DO NOT ADEQUATELY SUPPORT LID. MJS
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
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.