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1997 Mercury Sable

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 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: 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

Unknown Or Other complaints

5 reports
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80,000 miles · Oct 20, 2016
Unknown Or Other

YES I HAVE A USED CAR AND THE DASH FROM THE HEAT HAS ROSE OFF OR HAS BUCKELED UP AND I HAVE CONTACTED THE COMPANY WELL APPARENTLY IT IS OBSOLETE AND IT IS HARD TO COME BY SO I CANT DRIVE WITHOUT A DASH AND I CANT GET ONE EITHER

NHTSA ODI #10917688

Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 2001
Seat BeltsUnknown Or Other

THE SEAT BELT ALWAYS LOCKS UP ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT. IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE BELT ALWAYS JAMS AND MERCURY DEALERSHIP WON'T DO A THING SINCE ITS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY UNLESS YOU GOT $200.00. I HEARD FORD HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THEIR OTHER FORD/MERCURY PRODUCTS, WHICH MY CAR ISN'T UNDER RECALL. ON THE ENGINE LI…

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THE SEAT BELT ALWAYS LOCKS UP ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT. IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE BELT ALWAYS JAMS AND MERCURY DEALERSHIP WON'T DO A THING SINCE ITS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY UNLESS YOU GOT $200.00. I HEARD FORD HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THEIR OTHER FORD/MERCURY PRODUCTS, WHICH MY CAR ISN'T UNDER RECALL. ON THE ENGINE LIGHT MATTER. IF YOU FORGET TO PUT ON THE GAS CAP OR RADITIOR CAP ON OR SOMETHING VERY MINOR. THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON. I NOTICED THIS WILL HAPPEN ALSO WITH MY DAD'S TAURUS ALSO. I HAVE HEARD THIS HAPPENS TO ALL 1995 OR NEWER CARS. THING IS MOST PEOPLE SEE THE ENGINE LIGHT ON AND GO RIGHT TO THE MECHANIC WHICH CAN BE COSTLY IN REPAIRS IF REALLY THE REPAIR IS NOT NECESSARY BECAUSE ITS SOMETHING MINOR LIKE A GAS CAP NOT TIGHTENED. MAYBE THE AUTO COMPANY'S FOUND A NEW WAY TO RIP US OFF? WHAT DO U THINK? *AK

NHTSA ODI #754891

Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

HAD CAR IN GARAGE SEVERAL TIMES OVER 1 1/2 YEAR FOR ENGINE LIGHT, ALWAYS CODE PO3O3-MISFIRE CYLINDER 3, DEALER ALWAYS FOUND SOMETHING WRONG SO IT SEEMED, LIGHT CONTINED TO COME ON. FINALLY, AT 81,000 DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES, LOSE ALL POWER, PULL OVER, COOLANT BLOWN ALL OVER ENGINE, CAR TOWED TO DEALER, FIND IT IS…

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HAD CAR IN GARAGE SEVERAL TIMES OVER 1 1/2 YEAR FOR ENGINE LIGHT, ALWAYS CODE PO3O3-MISFIRE CYLINDER 3, DEALER ALWAYS FOUND SOMETHING WRONG SO IT SEEMED, LIGHT CONTINED TO COME ON. FINALLY, AT 81,000 DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES, LOSE ALL POWER, PULL OVER, COOLANT BLOWN ALL OVER ENGINE, CAR TOWED TO DEALER, FIND IT IS BLOWN HEAD GASKET, ENGINE DAMAGE, NEED NEW ENGINE. TOLD VEHICLE OVERHEATED SEVERAL TIMES, NEVER ONCE DID IT OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING IT. FIND NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THESE CARS AND HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS, ASKE QUESTIONS OF DEALER AND FORD MOTOR CO. NEVER A STRAIGHT ANSWER, JUST "NOT YOUR CAR" AND "IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY, WE CAN'T HELP YOU" NOW OWNER MUST PAY 3200 + TO REPLACE ENGINE AND ADD COOLANT BYPASS SYSTEM TO NEW ENGINE BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE COOLANT SYSTEM. FORD MOTOR CO. TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY AT ALL. READ NUMEROUS REPORTS OF BLOWN HEADS, BLOWN ENGINES, COOLANT PROBLEMS. NEED ANWERS, PLEASE!!!! NO ONE IS COOPERATING AT ALL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #747649

Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 2001
Unknown Or Other

PAINT HAS PEELED AND NOW THE METAL IS RUSTING AROUND ALL EDGES OF THE HOOD. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #746757

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Unknown Or Other

LOW COOLANT INDICATOR LIGHT FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ODI #606298

Official recalls

3

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.

97V097000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Jun 9, 1997

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.

96V166000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

Sep 5, 1996

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.