IllustrationPCM HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED. NLM
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 →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: 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 reportsTHE REAR WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY SHATERRED WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY! THERE WAS NOTHING THAT HIT THE CAR. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM AS THE CAR WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY (MILEAGE). THE SECOND PROBLEM REGARDING THE RADIATOR CLAMP OCCURRED WITHIN 12 HOURS OF MY PURCHASING THE CAR. SUDDENLY FUMES CAME OUT OF T…
Read full complaint
THE REAR WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY SHATERRED WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY! THERE WAS NOTHING THAT HIT THE CAR. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM AS THE CAR WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY (MILEAGE). THE SECOND PROBLEM REGARDING THE RADIATOR CLAMP OCCURRED WITHIN 12 HOURS OF MY PURCHASING THE CAR. SUDDENLY FUMES CAME OUT OF THE ENGINE WITH THE 'LOW COOLENT' SIGN. HAD TO TOE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO FIXED IT BY PUTTING A NEW CLAMP ON THE HOSE. THE THIRD COMPLAINT WAS NOTICED WITHIN 2-3 MONTHS OF BUYING THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP FIXED THE PROBLEM BY CHANGING THE MALFUNCTIONING SWITCH. NEVER RECEIVED ANY APOLOGIES FROM THE COMPANY FOR THE MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS MORE TO COME....
CONSUMER WAS WARMING VEHICLE UP AND GOT OUT, WENT INSIDE AND THE HOUSE AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND THEY NOTICED THAT FIRE STARTED FROM THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF VENT AND IGINITION. VEHICLE BURNED DOWN COMPLETELY. *AK *ML
THE METAL MALE BUCKLE CAME APART IN TWO PIECES. NO WARNING OR EVIDENCE OF BREAKAGE, NOT THE RECEPTICLE. SCHEDULED FOR DEALER INSPECTION . PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH HEATER CORE. THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED HEATER CORE THREE TIMES. THE HEATER CORE LEAKS WATER IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK
THE HEATER CORE WENT OUT 2 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE IN NOVEMBER. IT WENT OUT AGAIN IN MAY. AND AGAIN IN OCTOBER. AND IT IS LEAKING AGAIN TODAY 12-15-98.
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES WHILE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE OR SLOWING DOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
AT 55,000 MILES THE HEATER CORE HAS PREMATURELY MALFUNCTIONED AND IS LEAKING. WAS REPLACED AND THE REPLACEMENT ALSO LEAKS. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *ML
WHEN DRIVING AND PUTTING ON THE HEATER OR DEFROSTER, THERE IS HOT HEAT BLOWING OUT AND FOGS UP THE WINDSHIELD, MAKING IT VERY HARD TO SEE. ALSO, WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNALS, THEY DON'T WORK. *AK
CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING. VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, AND THE DEALER FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM CORRECTLY. IN TURN, THE DEALER CREATED ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS, SUCH AS RUST ON THE OVERFLOW TANK. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Official recalls
398V028000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.