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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 →

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

Power Train complaints

25 reports
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124,000 miles · May 7, 2007
Power Train

I DROVE THE CAR TO DO ERRANDS AND IT WAS NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEMS. I PARKED THE CAR AT THE MALL AND CAME BACK TO DRIVE HOME AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE GEARS WOULD NOT ENGAGE. I WAS FORCED TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME. IT SHOWED NO SIGNS OF HAVING A PROBLEM, AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS INTACT WITH NO SIGNS OF A PROBLEM. TH…

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I DROVE THE CAR TO DO ERRANDS AND IT WAS NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEMS. I PARKED THE CAR AT THE MALL AND CAME BACK TO DRIVE HOME AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE GEARS WOULD NOT ENGAGE. I WAS FORCED TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME. IT SHOWED NO SIGNS OF HAVING A PROBLEM, AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS INTACT WITH NO SIGNS OF A PROBLEM. THIS APPEARED TO BE A COSTLY REPAIR, SO I CHOSE NOT TO FIX IT AT THIS TIME.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10190031

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2004
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

CONSUMER PRESSED DOWN ON ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. INTERNAL FAILURE. HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10091730

89,000 miles · Aug 5, 2004
Air BagsElectrical SystemPower Train

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OVERDRIVE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THIS CAUSED THE SPEEDOMETER TO DROP TO ZERO, AND THE SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. ALSO, HORN BECAME INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10087325

Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 2003
Power Train

THE DRIVER PRESSED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATED PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE DEALER FOUND INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10048512

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2003
Power Train

WHILE WAITING AT A STOP VEHICLE SHOOK/VIBRATED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER,AND VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10044614

Mileage unknown · May 2, 2003
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10018076

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2003
Power Train

THE TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH DID NOT ENGAGE AT TIMES, WHICH CAUSED A HARD SHIFT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10011533

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2002
Power Train

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #767081

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2002
Power Train

I'VE NOTICED SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THAT IT SOMETIMES HESITATES WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS FROM A DEAD START AND YOU MUST MAINTAIN YOUR FOOT ON THE PEDAL UNTIL IT SHIFTS OR IT WOULD JERK. I'VE NEVER DRIVEN A VEHICLE THAT PERFORMED THIS WAY AND NOT KNOWING MUCH ABOUT CARS, DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A PROBLEM. NOW IT'S STUCK IN…

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I'VE NOTICED SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THAT IT SOMETIMES HESITATES WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS FROM A DEAD START AND YOU MUST MAINTAIN YOUR FOOT ON THE PEDAL UNTIL IT SHIFTS OR IT WOULD JERK. I'VE NEVER DRIVEN A VEHICLE THAT PERFORMED THIS WAY AND NOT KNOWING MUCH ABOUT CARS, DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A PROBLEM. NOW IT'S STUCK IN GEAR AT 60MPH. IT HAS ALSO DROPED INTO NEUTRAL FOR NO APPARENT REASON BUT ONCE I SHIFTED IT INTO REVERSE AND THEN DRIVE, THE GEAR KICKED IN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #766370

Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 2002
Power Train

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #763692

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.