← New search

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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

28 reports
Clear category filter
43,000 miles · Jun 6, 2012
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN BRAKING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD INCREASE ABNORMALLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD SLIGHTLY PULL FORWARD AS IF IT WERE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. AS THE CONTACT WAS APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP, SHE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. T…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN BRAKING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD INCREASE ABNORMALLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD SLIGHTLY PULL FORWARD AS IF IT WERE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. AS THE CONTACT WAS APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP, SHE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE MECHANIC DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL AS A PRECAUTION AND THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

NHTSA ODI #10460825

78,000 miles · Sep 10, 2007
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO AND DESTROYED THE CONTACT'S GARAGE DOOR. HE STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE WAS TO PLACE IT IN PARK. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER A…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO AND DESTROYED THE CONTACT'S GARAGE DOOR. HE STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE WAS TO PLACE IT IN PARK. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND IS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 78,000. UPDATED 12/31/07 *BF UPDATED *JB

NHTSA ODI #10202339

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION.

NHTSA ODI #10094412

43,000 miles · Mar 26, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN THERE WOULD BE A PROBLEM WITH RESUMING DRIVING. THE GAS PEDAL WILL BE DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE. AFTER A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD RESPOND. DEALER HAS EXAMINED THE VEHICLE TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10065006

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control

THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH DID NOT WORK. *JB THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING RECALL #98V028000, 97V097000, 99V12400, AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE NOT VALID. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10009110

64,788 miles · Jul 3, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

I HAVE HAD 5 OCCURRENCES OF ENGINE SURGING WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AND APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE SURGE IS SO STRONG THAT THE BRAKES MUST BE REPEATEDLY PRESSED DOWN HARD TO STOP AND HELD DOWN TO THEIR MAXIMUM CAPABILITY. IN 3 OF THE 5 OCCURRENCES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, REAR END COLLISIONS WERE AVOIDED BY MERE INCHES…

Read full complaint

I HAVE HAD 5 OCCURRENCES OF ENGINE SURGING WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AND APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE SURGE IS SO STRONG THAT THE BRAKES MUST BE REPEATEDLY PRESSED DOWN HARD TO STOP AND HELD DOWN TO THEIR MAXIMUM CAPABILITY. IN 3 OF THE 5 OCCURRENCES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, REAR END COLLISIONS WERE AVOIDED BY MERE INCHES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10025337

Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control

NAR 04/01/2003. THE SPEED SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES WITHIN 6 YEARS. WHEN THE SPEED SENSOR FAILED, IT CAUSED THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE TO GO TO ZERO WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL MOVING. THE GEARS CHANGED RANDOMLY AND THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10015032

Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2002
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT FOOT PRESSING THE THROTTLE. SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T REGISTER SPEED, VEHICLE'S SPEED WAS INCREASING. DEALER WILL BE REPLACING SPEED CONTROL CHIP FOR SIXTH TIME. ALSO, CONSUMER HAS CHECKED TO SEE IF CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT ENGAGE. DEALER HAS DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.…

Read full complaint

VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT FOOT PRESSING THE THROTTLE. SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T REGISTER SPEED, VEHICLE'S SPEED WAS INCREASING. DEALER WILL BE REPLACING SPEED CONTROL CHIP FOR SIXTH TIME. ALSO, CONSUMER HAS CHECKED TO SEE IF CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT ENGAGE. DEALER HAS DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8015583

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2002
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

SPEEDOMETER WOULD MOMENTARILY OPERATE ERRATICALLY. NEEDLE WOULD JUMP BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES IT OPERATED NORMALLY. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK CONSUMER ADDS ACCELERATOR POSSIBLY CONTRIBUTED TO ERRATIC OPERATION OF THE SPEEDOMETER. *TT

NHTSA ODI #8011810

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control

CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKING AND VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO ACCELATE UNTIL SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.*AK. CONSUMER STATED WHEN VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT MOVE, THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED ON ANOTHER OCCASION, HOWEVER THE CRUISE CONTROL …

Read full complaint

CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKING AND VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO ACCELATE UNTIL SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.*AK. CONSUMER STATED WHEN VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT MOVE, THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED ON ANOTHER OCCASION, HOWEVER THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED AT THAT TIME, THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR ASSEMBLY, BUT THE PROBLEM REOCCURED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8011803

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.