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1998 Mercury Sable

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Mercury Sable do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 201.

About this comparison →
190Owner complaints

Model-year median: 201

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
350
1995304
1996228
1997190
1998258
1999464
2000430
2001
Compare all Sable years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Vehicle Speed Control
32Service Brakes, Hydraulic
28Power Train
25Suspension
22Engine And Engine Cooling
19
All reported categories
Electrical System
16Air Bags
14Structure
10Visibility
10Seat Belts
9Tires
8Fuel System, Gasoline
6Interior Lighting
6Steering
6Unknown Or Other
6Exterior Lighting
5Equipment
2Fuel System, Other
2Latches/locks/linkages
1Seats
1Service Brakes
1

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: 45 of 190 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.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

28 crash reports3 fire reports15 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

14 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2000
Air BagsStructureCrashInjury

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING OVER 50 MPH ON HIGHWAY, AND IN BETWEEN TWO 18 WHEELERS.THE 18 WHEELER ON RIGHT HAND SIDE HIT VEHICLE ON SIDE. THEN, PUSHED VEHICLE INTO ANOTHER 18 WHEELER ON LEFT SIDE. THEN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT A PICKUP TRUCK WITH FRONT END. UPON HITTING MEDIAN, BUMPER BROKE IN HALF. ALSO, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY,…

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CONSUMER WAS DRIVING OVER 50 MPH ON HIGHWAY, AND IN BETWEEN TWO 18 WHEELERS.THE 18 WHEELER ON RIGHT HAND SIDE HIT VEHICLE ON SIDE. THEN, PUSHED VEHICLE INTO ANOTHER 18 WHEELER ON LEFT SIDE. THEN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT A PICKUP TRUCK WITH FRONT END. UPON HITTING MEDIAN, BUMPER BROKE IN HALF. ALSO, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY,CAUSING INJURIES *AK

NHTSA ODI #858570

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 1999
Air BagsCrash

WHILE DRIVNG AT 35 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, AND THE CONSUMER REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850067

Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 1999
Air Bags

CONSUMER REQUEST THAT DEALER INSTALL A ON/OFF SWITCH FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. DEARLER WILL NOT CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION. *YC

NHTSA ODI #546540

Mileage unknown · Dec 16, 1998
Air BagsCrash

WHILE DRIVING BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT WHICH CAUSED DRIVER TO FORM A VIOLENT MANEUVER IN THE ROAD, CRASHING INTO THE VEHICLE AHEAD. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BEFORE THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, DRIVER NOTICED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD FLICKER WHENEVER GOING OVER ANY KIND OF BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS RENTED …

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WHILE DRIVING BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT WHICH CAUSED DRIVER TO FORM A VIOLENT MANEUVER IN THE ROAD, CRASHING INTO THE VEHICLE AHEAD. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BEFORE THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, DRIVER NOTICED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD FLICKER WHENEVER GOING OVER ANY KIND OF BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS RENTED FROM HERTZ RENTAL CAR COMPANY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #832358

Official recalls

2

98V198000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Aug 25, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL SEAT TRACKS. THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ATTACHING STUD MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED. THIS HEAT TREATMENT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN CRACKS DEVELOPING IN THE STUD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE STUD IS CRACKED, IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MOUNTING BRACKET AND STUD ASSEMBLY.

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.

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.