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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.

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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

Interior Lighting complaints

6 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2004
Interior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT BRAKE PROBLEMS. WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR, AND BRAKES FAILED. ALSO, INTERIOR LIGHT STAYED ON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10063220

60,000 miles · Jan 12, 2004
Interior LightingCrashInjury

THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT APPEARS AND WILL NOT GO OFF. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED SINCE IT WAS BROKE. AS A RESULT, IT IMPAIRED THE CONSUMER'S VISION AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CONSUMER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES AND HIS PREGNANT FIANCE' WAS WEN…

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THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT APPEARS AND WILL NOT GO OFF. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED SINCE IT WAS BROKE. AS A RESULT, IT IMPAIRED THE CONSUMER'S VISION AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CONSUMER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES AND HIS PREGNANT FIANCE' WAS WENT INTO EARLY LABOR. *PH

NHTSA ODI #10046249

Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2001
Interior LightingStructure

INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON & WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCK MALFUNCTIONS AT THE SAME TIME

NHTSA ODI #753285

Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2001
Electrical SystemInterior LightingStructure

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DOOR IS COLSED AND SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING INTERIOR LIGHT WILL STAY ON. DEALER HAS REPLACED WIRING HARNESS; HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #885152

Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2001
Interior LightingStructure

DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS EVEN THOUGH ALL DOORS ARE SHUT WHICH CAUSES DOME AND INTERIOR LIGHT TO STAY ON. THIS CAN RESULT IN BATTERY DRAINING. *AK WHEN THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT ILLUMINATES, THE POWER WINDOW AND POWER DOOR LOCKS FAIL. *YH

NHTSA ODI #883906

Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2001
Electrical SystemInterior LightingUnknown Or Other

ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON & THEN GO OFF ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING. DOOR/ DOME & FLOOR LIGHTS WOULD REMAIN ON AT SAME TIME. DO NOT GO OUT. RAN DOWN BATTERY. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI #878220

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.