IllustrationWHILE MAKING A TURN ANOTHER VEHICLE IMPACTED THE RIGHT SIDE OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AT UNKNOWN SPEED. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WAS CUT IN HALF. DRIVER WAS PROJECTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK
1997 Mercury Sable
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 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: 49 of 228 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.
- Power Train. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports5 fire reports9 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
12 reportsFRONT CRASH AT 55 MPH, AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PASSENGER'S AIRBAG EXPLODED AS SOON AS IT DEPLOYED. NO INJURIES, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY, CAUSING SEAT BELTS TO GRAB OR TO BE TOO LOOSE. RETRACTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG HAS EXPERIENCED FALSE DEPLOYMENT ON 2 OCCASIONS, ON ONE OCCASION INJURING THE DRIVER. *SLC
ON TWO OCCASIONS DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. WHEN VEHICLE DROVE OVER A SMALL BUMP. (REFER TO ODI # 864201) *ET
ON TWO OCCASIONS DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AT 40 MPH. FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON AUGUST 20, 1998 WHEN DRIVING OVER A STRIP. SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON JUN 21, 2 000 WHEN VEHICLE DROVE OVER A SMALL BUMP. PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY ON BOTH INSTANCES. DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG CAUSED BRUISES …
Read full complaint
ON TWO OCCASIONS DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AT 40 MPH. FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON AUGUST 20, 1998 WHEN DRIVING OVER A STRIP. SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON JUN 21, 2 000 WHEN VEHICLE DROVE OVER A SMALL BUMP. PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY ON BOTH INSTANCES. DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG CAUSED BRUISES TO DRIVER'S LEFT ARM AND STOMACH. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ONTO THE RAMP OF A HIGHWAY TRAVELING ABOUT 8MPH IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC BARELY TAPPED THE BUMPER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT, AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED BECAYSE A PIECE OF THE DASHBOARD COVER, WHERE THE AIRBAGS ARE HIDDEN, HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND SHATTERED IT.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING 50MPH A TIRE HAD BLOWNOUT, VEHICLE HIT GUARDRAIL TWICE. FRONT END SMASHED. DUAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. DRIVER RECEIVED 6 BROKEN RIBS & SOME BRUSIES. VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. *AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE BROARDSWIPED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK
Official recalls
398V028000 · 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.
97V097000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Jun 9, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AX4S AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES. THE LOW/INTERMEDIATE SERVO COVER CAN SEPARATE FROM THE TRANSAXLE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. IF THIS OCCURS, TRANSMISSION FLUID WILL LEAK CONTACTING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TEMPERATURE MAY BE HOT ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE THESE SERVO COVERS.
96V166000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
Sep 5, 1996
THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET HAS A SHARP EDGE WHICH CAN CAUSE THE PARKING PAWL TO HANG UP AND NOT ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWS THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: UNINTENDED AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET.
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.