IllustrationTOP OF THE DOOR HANDLE HAS SLICED THE CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER FINGER,AND RIPPED THE TIP OF THE FINGER ON THE VERY SHARP EDGES TWICE. CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. *AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sable years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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
What owners actually said
190 reportsVEHICLE DESIGN ALLOWS FOR THE PCM TO MAINTAIN THE SAME RPM AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WERE IN 3RD GEAR WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKED, THIS DOES NOT ALLOW FOR DECELERATION WHEN FOOT IS OFF ACCELERATOR CAUSING WEAR OF BRAKING COMPONENTS AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES WHICH ARE UNPREDICTABLE.
THE DASHBOARD AND VENTS REFLECT ONTO THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY DUE TO DESIGN.
COMING TO A STOP ENGINE WILL BEGIN TO RACE, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
REAR LEFT WINDOW EXPLODES AND SATTERS AND FALLS INTO CAR WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH. POLICE REPORT STATES NO EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING CAUSING WINDOW TO BREAK. FORD REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.
WHEN STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH THE VEHICLE IN "DRIVE", THE ENGINE SUDDENLY ROARED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD. DRIVER SHIFTED TO PARK AND THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO IDLE SPEED.
HORN WILL NOT FUNCTION WHEN PUSHED. DEALERS ARE UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. CONSUMER IS VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY. *AK
HEAVY SMELL OF GASOLINE IS FELT WHEN GAS TANK IS ABOVE 3/4 FULL OR MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS ABOVE 20 MPH. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX PROBLEM, BUT SMELL CONTINUES. CLAIM THEY HAVE SEEN IT IN MANY 1998 SABLES.
TRANSMISSION WILL INTERMITTENTLY DROP OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL, LEAVING VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER. WILL REENGAGE WITHIN A FEW SECONDS.
VEHICLE DOES NOT WORK EFFECTIVELY IN SLOWING VEHICLE WHEN ENGAGING SPEED 2 OR SPEED 1.
Official recalls
298V198000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.