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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

What owners actually said

190 reports
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,…

Read full complaint

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 · Feb 28, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #551117

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 · Nov 22, 1999
Fuel System, GasolineFire

WHILE PARKING VEHICLE A LOUD POPPING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HOOD WAS RAISED AND A FIRE BROKE OUT AGAINST FIRE WALL IN CENTER AREA OF VEHCLE. BELIEVED FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FUEL LEAKAGE FROM INJECTOR RAIL. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #849904

Mileage unknown · Nov 11, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE SYMPTOM IS THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON. IT CONSUMES MUCH MORE GAS THAN BEFORE DURING IDLING AND THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE TENDS TO BE HIGH.

NHTSA ODI #714622

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN GOING DOWNHILL WITH FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES UNREASONABLY AND EXCESSIVE BRAKING IS REQUIRED. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN CONTROLLOING THE SPEED OF THE CAR ESPECIALLY IN WET OR OTHER SLIPPERY CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ODI #713789

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 · Oct 6, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE STOPPING AT AN ENTER SECTION VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. CONSUMER FINALLY STOPPED VEHICLE BY PUTTING FOOT ON BRAKE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850146

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER EMITTED ODORS THAT MADE THE DRIVER SICK . THIS COULD CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSS CONTROL. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE THREE TIMES ,AND NO ONE COULD FIND THE CAUSE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #849085

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline

ELECTRONIC SENSOR ASSEMBLY. F6DZ-964444-EA. FUEL GAUGE ASSEMBLY. F7DZ-93055-AA. PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE.

NHTSA ODI #609786

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.