The 1998 Mercury Sable has 2 safety recalls and 190 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is vehicle speed control (33 complaints).
Recalls2safety recalls
Complaints190filed by owners
Crashes · fires28 · 3reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths18 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
NHTSA recall 98V198000 · Aug 25, 1998 · 7,000 vehicles
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MOUNTING BRACKET AND STUD ASSEMBLY.
Exterior lighting › Headlights
NHTSA recall 98V028000 · Feb 10, 1998 · 571,800 vehicles
Problem: 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."
Risk: 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.
Fix: OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
1998 Mercury Sable 4-DR.
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Sable
20mpg combined
City / highway
17 / 26 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel
Sable
19mpg combined
City / highway
16 / 25 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
Sable Wagon
19mpg combined
City / highway
16 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
Sable Wagon
18mpg combined
City / highway
16 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,700/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Vehicle speed control Cruise control; Linkages
33
7
0
0
71,181 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc
Power train Automatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (prndl)
26
0
0
0
—
Engine and engine cooling Engine; Engine › Gasoline
20
2
0
0
60,000 mi
Electrical system 12v/24v/48v battery; Horn
16
2
2
0
71,500 mi
Air bags Frontal; On-off switch assembly
14
11
0
8
94,500 mi
Visibility Windshield; Power window devices and controls
10
0
0
0
—
Structure Body › Door; Body
10
1
0
3
—
Seat belts Front › Retractor; Front › Buckle assembly
10
1
0
1
—
Tires Tread/belt; Bead
9
1
0
1
—
Fuel system, gasoline Storage › Tank assembly; Fuel injection system
7
1
1
2
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Apr 12, 2018 · 101,000 milesUnknown or other REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKEN ON BOTH SIDES. POOR DESIGN. I WAS TOLD THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS, BUT I DO NOT SEE IT. THIS IS UNSAFE, BECAUSE IT WILL THROW THE CAR AS IT GOES OVER A BUMP. IT CAN ALSO PUSH UP INTO THE TRUNK, IF NOT FIXED. VERY, VERY DANGEROUS.
Feb 25, 2016 · 148,000 milesExterior lighting THE HIGH BEAMS DO NOT FUNCTION, UNLESS THE LEVER (WHICH CHANGES THE BEAM FROM LOW TO HIGH) IS PULLED TOWARDS ME AND HELD CONSTANTLY IN THAT POSITION. WHEN THIS LEVER IS RELEASED THE HIGH BEAMS GO OFF, BUT THERE ARE NO LOW BEAMS. THE DEFECTIVE PART , ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, IS THE "LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE".
Oct 10, 2015 · 179,000 miles · crash · 2 injuriesAir bags TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. DUE TO THE BRAKE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AT AN INTERSECTION WITH AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK AND FACE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,000.
Dec 1, 2012 · 85,500 milesStructure › Body TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD HEAR A RATTLING NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND ASSUMED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND STATED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,500.
Apr 2, 2012 · 93,300 miles · crashVehicle speed control TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR TWO HOURS IN THE PARKING LOT OF A SMALL COMMUNITY PARK. AS THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE TIME TO CHECK THE SPEEDOMETER BEFORE THE TURN WAS COMPLETED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN WHEN ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND BECAUSE THE TURN HAD NOT BEEN COMPLETED THE CONTACT VEERED OFF TO THE LEFT OF THE ROAD AND THEN CROSSED THE ROAD TO THE RIGHT. AS THE CONTACT TRIED TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD, SHE DROVE OVER A TWO-FOOT BOULDER AND SEVERAL SMALLER BOULDERS AND THEN CRASHED INTO A FENCE OF TALL BUSHES AND CAME TO A STOP APPROXIMATELY…
Apr 5, 2011 · 132,000 milesSuspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING IN REVERSE 3 MPH AND IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE FOUND THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING HAD FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000. UPDATED 05/24/11*LJ UPDATED 05/26/11*JB
May 16, 2010 · 7,000 milesSteering TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. IN ADDITION, THE HORN WOULD SOUND INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT FURTHER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A BUILDUP OF CORROSION FOUND ON AN UNKNOWN PIN INSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE CORROSION OF THE STEERING COLUMN COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
Aug 31, 2009Electrical system MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK MY CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP TO RETRIEVE STORED ENGINE CONTROL CODES PO443 AND PO455. I REPLACED THE PART AND THERE IS STILL THE SAME CODE PO443 AND PO455. I KEEP MY OLD PART. *TR
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.