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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

Tires complaints

8 reports
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143,000 miles · Jan 2, 2008
SuspensionTires

98 SABLE WAGON. (SPRING PLATE GAVE AND SPRING BLEW OUT TIRE AND DAMAGED FRONT END RODS OR ARMS, SHOCK ACCORDING TO FORD SERVICE ANALYSIS) AND LEFT FRONT END ALMOST SITTING ON THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO FORD ANALYSIS). I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A BLOW OUT SO I HAD AAA COME TO TOW IT TO MY DEALERSHIP. WHEN THE AAA DRIVER SAW THE DAM…

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98 SABLE WAGON. (SPRING PLATE GAVE AND SPRING BLEW OUT TIRE AND DAMAGED FRONT END RODS OR ARMS, SHOCK ACCORDING TO FORD SERVICE ANALYSIS) AND LEFT FRONT END ALMOST SITTING ON THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO FORD ANALYSIS). I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A BLOW OUT SO I HAD AAA COME TO TOW IT TO MY DEALERSHIP. WHEN THE AAA DRIVER SAW THE DAMAGE, HE SAID HE'S SEEN THIS SEVERAL TIMES AND THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL OUT FOR THIS SPECIFIC SITUATION. FORD DEALERSHIP LOOKED UP RECALLS FOR MY CAR AND SAID THERE WAS ONE FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR BUT IT WAS FOR 99 AND NEWER MODELS AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT REPAIRING IT UNDER A RECALL. I CALLED FORD CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND WOULDN'T INVEST THEIR MONEY INTO REPAIRING MY CAR. FORTUNATE FOR ME THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. IF IT WERE ON THE HIGHWAY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHE. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE 98S AND 99S ARE VERY SIMILAR, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY FORD WOULDN'T MAKE THE REPAIRS AT THEIR COST UNDER THE SAFETY RECALL. *CN

NHTSA ODI #10213417

Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2003
SuspensionTires

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH OUTER RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT . CONSUMER CHANGED TIRE, NOTICING REAR SPRING STRUTS BROKE AND CAUSED BLOWOUT OF TIRE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10034522

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2001
Tires

IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WHILE TRAVELING 55-60MPH VEHICLE FELT FUNNY. THEN, HEARD A LOUD BLAST. VEHICLE BEGAN TO COLLAPSE. PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED THREAD OF TIRE COMING OFF FROM INSIDE TO OUTSIDE AT 48000 MILES. CONTACTED AAA , AND RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS REPLACED. SECOND TIME GOING ONTO FREEWAY AT 35MPH, HEARD AN EXPLOSION. W…

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IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WHILE TRAVELING 55-60MPH VEHICLE FELT FUNNY. THEN, HEARD A LOUD BLAST. VEHICLE BEGAN TO COLLAPSE. PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED THREAD OF TIRE COMING OFF FROM INSIDE TO OUTSIDE AT 48000 MILES. CONTACTED AAA , AND RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS REPLACED. SECOND TIME GOING ONTO FREEWAY AT 35MPH, HEARD AN EXPLOSION. WAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS FIRST TIME, ONLY LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS AFFECTED AT 49500 MILES. GENERAL TIRES P205/65R15 ON 1998, MERCURY, SABLE. *AK THE FIRST BLOWOUT CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER AND DOOR (SECOND TIRE DOT A3UR442238), P205/65R15, AM G4S. NLM

NHTSA ODI #894708

Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 2000
TiresInjury

AMERICAN GENERAL CONTINENTAL TIRE'S (P205 65 R15) STEEL BELT FLEW OFF, CONSUMER'S HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE WINDOW. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #557180

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2000
Tires

REAR PASSENGER FIRESTONE TIRE RIPPED AT SIDEWALL A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE (P20565R15). NLM

NHTSA ODI #554272

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 1999
TiresCrash

WHILE TRAVELING AND TURNING OFF FREEWAY AT APPOXIMATELY 5-10 MPH, VEHICLE HYDROPLANED. NO INJURIES REPORTED. SEEKING NHTSA HELP ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #851148

Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 1999
SteeringTires

FRONT STEEL TIRE STEEL SEPARATION FROM CORD, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, STEERING COUPLING WAS LOOSE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #846452

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Power TrainTiresVehicle Speed Control

TIRE WORN OUT (GENERAL P205/65R15). YH

NHTSA ODI #607698

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.