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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

What owners actually said

228 reports
94,000 miles · Apr 2, 2008
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY SABLE. IN COLD WEATHER, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL SHUT, BUT NOT LATCH UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN 3-4 MILES WITH THE HEATER ON FULL BLAST. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED FOR THE PAST TWO WINTERS. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS THE CONTACT'S RESPONSIBILITY. WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS SHUT, ON…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY SABLE. IN COLD WEATHER, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL SHUT, BUT NOT LATCH UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN 3-4 MILES WITH THE HEATER ON FULL BLAST. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED FOR THE PAST TWO WINTERS. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS THE CONTACT'S RESPONSIBILITY. WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS SHUT, ONE OF THE TRIM PANELS DETACHES FROM THE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL DUE TO DETERIORATION OF THE PLASTIC ATTACHMENTS (CHRISTMAS TREE). HE WAS INFORMED NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE FAILURE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT HARMFUL. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DOES NOT LATCH BECAUSE THE PLASTIC MECHANISM DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE CONTACT HAS TO MANUALLY WORK THE DOOR HANDLE TO REACTIVATE THE LATCH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT AN ISSUE, AND THAT THE DOOR NEEDED TO BE TAKEN APART AND RELUBRICATED AT HIS EXPENSE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. UPDATED 04/21/08 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10223169

181,000 miles · Mar 3, 2008
Suspension

CAR WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE, WHEN IT DID MOVE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. WHEN I REMOVED TIRE, FOUND COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN AND PUNCTURED TIRE. VERY THANKFUL IT HAPPENED IN DRIVEWAY. OTHER MODEL YEARS ARE COVERED BY RECALL, COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING FOR 1997. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10219962

138,707 miles · Jan 24, 2008
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY SABLE. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER TIRES. THE DAY AFTER THE CONTACT PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE FLATTENED. THE TIRE DEALER REPAIRED THE VALVE. THE PURCHASE DATE, POWERTRAIN, AND TIRE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 138,707.

NHTSA ODI #10215898

58,431 miles · Sep 27, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE CURB AND CAME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE PLASTIC STRIPS THAT HOLD THE BRAKE LINE TO THE BOTTOM SECTION OF THE VEHICLE WAS COLLECTING WATER TH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE CURB AND CAME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE PLASTIC STRIPS THAT HOLD THE BRAKE LINE TO THE BOTTOM SECTION OF THE VEHICLE WAS COLLECTING WATER THAT DID NOT EVAPORATE. AS A RESULT, THE TWO BRAKE LINES THAT DELIVERED OIL TO THE REAR BRAKES CORRODED AND ALL THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TWO MAIN LINES FROM THE BRAKE CYLINDER TO THE REAR TIRES. THE LINES WERE FLUSHED FIVE TIMES AFTER THE REPLACEMENT. THE REPAIR COST $567.13. MORE RECENTLY, THE VEHICLE LOST BRAKE POWER AGAIN AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE THROUGH A STOP SIGN AT 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP 150 YARDS LATER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE NOT TIGHTENED PROPERLY AND THE LINES HAD TO REPLACED AGAIN AT THE COST OF $611.45. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NO RECALLS WERE AVAILABLE AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,431. *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10204295

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…

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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

85,000 miles · Mar 13, 2007
Tires

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 1997 MERCURY SABLE AT 20 MPH HE FELT A WOBBLE. THE CONTACT STATED IF THE WOBBLE CAME FROM THE FRONT TIRE IT WOULD CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THE CONTACT THIS WAS DUE TO A BELT SEPARATION IN THE TIRE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TIRE. TIRE TREAD SEPA…

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TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 1997 MERCURY SABLE AT 20 MPH HE FELT A WOBBLE. THE CONTACT STATED IF THE WOBBLE CAME FROM THE FRONT TIRE IT WOULD CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THE CONTACT THIS WAS DUE TO A BELT SEPARATION IN THE TIRE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TIRE. TIRE TREAD SEPARATION OCCURRED THREE TIMES WITH THE FRONT TIRES AND FOUR OCCURRENCES INVOLVED THE REAR TIRES. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTINENTAL AND THE MODEL AMERI-TECH. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAD AN ODOMETER READING OF 86,000 MILES. THE TIRES FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.*AK THE CONSUMER PROVIDED INVOICES FOR ALL THE TIRE REPAIRS AND STATES HE WENT TO DIFFERENT DEALERS BECAUSE HE WAS INFORMED TO DO SO BY GENERAL TIRES. UPDATE 4/24/07 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10184977

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2007
Tires

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE PURCHASED A SET OF FIRESTONE TIRES THAT DID NOT LAST LONGER THAN 10 DAYS. WHEN SHE RETURNED THE TIRES TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T GET AN ALIGNMENT WHEN SHE PURCHASED THE TIRES. *AK UPDATED 01/31/07. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10178098

92,000 miles · Dec 4, 2006
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 40 TO WORK, VEHICLE BEGAN RIDING VERY ROUGH. I COULD FEEL EVERY BUMP IN THE ROAD. GOT TO WORK AND DISCOVERED VEHICLE HAD DROPPED DOWN ALL THE WAY ON THE LEFT REAR AND MOST OF THE WAY ON THE RIGHT REAR. CAUSE WAS BROKEN LEFT REAR COIL SPRING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10175055

84,400 miles · Nov 18, 2006
EquipmentTiresWheels

(LOCATION) STATE: MICHIGAN. CITY: WARREN: ZIP CODE: 48092. LOCATION: ELEVEN MILE ROAD & DEQUINDRE ROAD CROSS SECTION NEAR SEVEN ELEVEN GAS STATION. (DESCRIPTION OF THE INCIDENT): FRONT PASSENGER RIGHT SIDE WHEELS AND TIRES ASSEMBLY BROKE OFF FROM THE INTEGRATED VEHICLE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10173780

96,400 miles · Apr 14, 2006
Suspension

REAR RIGHT COIL SPRING SNAPPED WHILE GOING OVER A SMALL BUMP. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10155363

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.