IllustrationTHE 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
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 reportsTHE AIRBAGS AND SHOULDER HARNESS BOTH FAILED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AT HIGHWAY SPEED RESULTING IN INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. *LA
WHILE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED THEN RESTARTED BY ITSELF. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE SWITCH AND A LOOSE WIRE. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED ON IT'S OWN AND WAS SOMETIMES HARD TO START. (HARD TO START, HOT OR COLD) …
Read full complaint
WHILE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED THEN RESTARTED BY ITSELF. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE SWITCH AND A LOOSE WIRE. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED ON IT'S OWN AND WAS SOMETIMES HARD TO START. (HARD TO START, HOT OR COLD) WHEN THE VEHICLE DIED AT LOW SPEEDS, IT DID NOT RESTART AND WAS HARD TO START IMMEDIATELY AFTER BUT WOULD START WITHIN 2-3 MINUTES. *SCC *JB
WHILE WAITING AT A STOP VEHICLE SHOOK/VIBRATED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER,AND VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. *AK
I HAVE HAD A OIL LEAK SEVERAL TIMES REPLACED OIL PAN AND GASKET 4 TIME,S STILL HAVE PROBLEM, HEADLIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, AND ARE NOW COMPLETELY OUT.*AK
TURN SIGNALS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. *AK
THE RADIATOR COOLANT SYSTEM HOSE COME OFF, AND LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID. THIS RESULTED IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE SERVICE SHOP INDICATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE HOSE COMING OFF COULD BE CAUSED BY PRESSURE BUILD UP. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS.
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH OUTER RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT . CONSUMER CHANGED TIRE, NOTICING REAR SPRING STRUTS BROKE AND CAUSED BLOWOUT OF TIRE. *AK
REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT IS STUCK, IT ALWAYS GETS STUCK, AND NOW IT CAN'T BE USED AT ALL. *AK
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
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.