1998 Mercury Sable problems and complaints

Owners have filed 206 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Mercury Sable. The most-reported areas: Vehicle Speed Control (34), Service Brakes (30), Hydraulic (29).

Key takeaways

  • 206 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
  • 28 involve a crash, 3 a fire, 19 reported injuries.
  • Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
Complaints by component
ComponentComplaintsShare
Vehicle Speed Control3417%
Service Brakes3015%
Hydraulic2914%
Power Train2613%
Suspension2311%
Engine And Engine Cooling2010%
Electrical System199%
Air Bags147%
Structure105%
Visibility105%
Seat Belts105%
Fuel System94%

One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

NHTSA 5-Star crash ratings
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
1998 Mercury Sable 4-DR.Not ratedNot ratedNot ratedNot rated

Latest complaints, as filed

Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.

Unknown Or Other - filed 2018-04-12

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.

Exterior Lighting - filed 2016-06-20

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".

Air Bags,service Brakes - filed 2015-10-13

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....

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More for the 1998 Mercury Sable

Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.