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: 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
What owners actually said
228 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2000
Visibility
THE FAILURE OF THE WINDOW MOTOR WAS NOT TO DO WITH A FUSE OR WINDOW IN LOCKED POSITION AND REMEDIED ITSELF A FEW DAYS AFTER PROBLEM. NO MECHANICAL REPLACEMENT WAS NEEDED AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER WINDOW. THE DRIVER WINDOW IS NOT FUNCTIONING AND IN THE DOWN POSITION. AFTER EXHAUSTING ALL OTHER…
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THE FAILURE OF THE WINDOW MOTOR WAS NOT TO DO WITH A FUSE OR WINDOW IN LOCKED POSITION AND REMEDIED ITSELF A FEW DAYS AFTER PROBLEM. NO MECHANICAL REPLACEMENT WAS NEEDED AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER WINDOW. THE DRIVER WINDOW IS NOT FUNCTIONING AND IN THE DOWN POSITION. AFTER EXHAUSTING ALL OTHER OPTIONS THE DIAGNOSIS IS THE MOTOR AS BEING THE CULPRIT.
NHTSA ODI #726384
Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainFire
WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE CUT OFF. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, AND GOT OUT OF VEHICLE. THIS WAS WHEN DRIVER AND FAMILY NOTICED VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. VEHCLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. CV BOOT EXPLODED AND THREW GREASE ONTO THE CATALYTI…
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WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE CUT OFF. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, AND GOT OUT OF VEHICLE. THIS WAS WHEN DRIVER AND FAMILY NOTICED VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. VEHCLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. CV BOOT EXPLODED AND THREW GREASE ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH STARTED THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #866160
Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control
VEHICLE IDLE SPEED DOES NOT RETURN TO NORMAL. ENGINE IS RACING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. VEHICLE DOES NOT SLOW DOWN WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED, VEHICLE CONTINUES TO RUN AT 30 PLUS MILE PER HOUR WITHOUT PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, REQUIRING CONSTANT APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM GETTING …
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VEHICLE IDLE SPEED DOES NOT RETURN TO NORMAL. ENGINE IS RACING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. VEHICLE DOES NOT SLOW DOWN WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED, VEHICLE CONTINUES TO RUN AT 30 PLUS MILE PER HOUR WITHOUT PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, REQUIRING CONSTANT APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM GETTING OUT OF CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN VARIOUS WEATHER, HAS HAPPENED AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN AS MUCH AS 100 MILES ON FREEWAYS AND AFTER DRIVING AS LITTLE AS 5 MILES IN THE CITY. PROBLEM WAS OCCURING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN INTO THE CREST LINCOLN MERCURY DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, DEALER STATED THAT DIAGNOSTICS INDICATED THERE IS NO PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #725624
Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2000
Seat Belts
ON MY 1997 MERCURY SABLE THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT CONSTANTLY JAMS AND TAKES FOREVER TO DISENGAGE. I AM GUESSING THE JAM IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF THE PLASTIC OF THE CAR. WHERE THE SEAT BELT LOCKS THE BELT IN PLACE NEAR THE DOOR. ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CALL ME. *AK
NHTSA ODI #724638
Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2000
Air BagsInjury
ON TWO OCCASIONS DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AT 40 MPH. FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON AUGUST 20, 1998 WHEN DRIVING OVER A STRIP. SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON JUN 21, 2 000 WHEN VEHICLE DROVE OVER A SMALL BUMP. PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY ON BOTH INSTANCES. DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG CAUSED BRUISES …
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ON TWO OCCASIONS DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AT 40 MPH. FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON AUGUST 20, 1998 WHEN DRIVING OVER A STRIP. SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON JUN 21, 2 000 WHEN VEHICLE DROVE OVER A SMALL BUMP. PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY ON BOTH INSTANCES. DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG CAUSED BRUISES TO DRIVER'S LEFT ARM AND STOMACH. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #864201
Mileage unknown · Jun 6, 2000
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline
FUEL PUMP WIRE WITHIN FUEL TANK WHICH WAS RUBBING ON THE OUTGOING METAL SUPPLY LINE SHORTED OUT, CAUSING A FUSE TO BLOW OUT. ALSO, COULD LEAD TO A POSSIBLE FUEL TANK FIRE/EXPLOSION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #863106
Mileage unknown · May 23, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
WHILE TRAVELING A HOT OIL SMELL WAS COMING FROM VEHICLE. ALSO, TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING, CONTACTING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #862343
Mileage unknown · May 12, 2000
EquipmentService Brakes, HydraulicSteering
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #722586
Mileage unknown · May 11, 2000
Power Train
VEHICLE EXHIBITS AN INTERMITTENT NEUTRAL CONDITION AFTER DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP (I FOUND SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 983112 ON NSTHA WEB SITE) ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHEN BRAKE WAS RELEASED VEHICLE ROLLED ONTO BUSY HIGHWAY AND I HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP ALMOST STRUCK BY SEMI. MERCURY DEALER DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM. I C…
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VEHICLE EXHIBITS AN INTERMITTENT NEUTRAL CONDITION AFTER DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP (I FOUND SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 983112 ON NSTHA WEB SITE) ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHEN BRAKE WAS RELEASED VEHICLE ROLLED ONTO BUSY HIGHWAY AND I HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP ALMOST STRUCK BY SEMI. MERCURY DEALER DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM. I CAN NEVER TELL WHEN THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #722526
Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 2000
Seat Belts
THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT SEATS THREE--THERE ARE TWO SEATBELTS WITH SHOULDER RESTRAINTS ON EACH SIDE AND A LAP RESTRAINT IN THE MIDDLE. THE BUCKLE ON THE LAP RESTRAINT CAME OFF WHEN A 7-YEAR OLD GIRL WAS ATTEMPTING TO BUCKLE UP. THE OTHER TWO SEATBELTS WILL NOT RETRACT-THEY ARE USELESS. *AK
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.
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.
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.
1997 Mercury Sable Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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