IllustrationCONSUMER EXHAUST SYSTEM FAULTY CAUSING FUMES TO ENTER THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING CONSUMER TO BECOME ILL (HEADACHE, FATIQUE ECT). NLM
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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
42 reportsWHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. ALSO TACHOMETER NEEDLE REGISTERING TOO HIGH, SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND OIL SMELL. *AK
WHILE DRIVING HEAVY EXHAUST FUMES ENTERED INTO THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED THE OCCUPANT TO FEEL SICK AND ALMOST PASSED OUT, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. EARIER REPLACED THE CATALITIC CONVERTER WHICH WAS CRACKED AND CAUSED THE FUMES TO ENTER INTO THE VEHICLE. *AK
EVERY TIME VEHICLE HITS A PUDDLE AFTER IT HAS RAINS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT. THE ENGINE WOULD STILL BE RUNNING. DOES NOT HAVE TO RESTART VEHICLE. WOULD HAVE NO BRAKES OR POWER STEERING. LOST CONTROL. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER.
WHEN DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS AND MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM A STOPPED POSITION, POWER STEERING IS LOST AND ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. ALSO, DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE. THIS LOSS OF POWER AND STEERING WHILE ENTERING TRAFFIC IS ALARMING! IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE BELT IS SLIPPLING DUE TO THE MOISTURE BEING SPRAYED UP F…
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WHEN DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS AND MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM A STOPPED POSITION, POWER STEERING IS LOST AND ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. ALSO, DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE. THIS LOSS OF POWER AND STEERING WHILE ENTERING TRAFFIC IS ALARMING! IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE BELT IS SLIPPLING DUE TO THE MOISTURE BEING SPRAYED UP FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. I HAVE INSPECTED THE BELT AND IT IS IN FINE CONDITION. THERE IS NO MANUAL ADJUSTMENT FOR THE BELT TENSIONER (SPRING LOADED). THIS PROBLEM STARTED AT 24,000 MILES. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND HAVE SEEN ANOTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINT. I BELIVE THAT THIS PROBLEM MUST BE REVIEWED BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES STEERING WHILE ENTERING TRAFFIC AND IS KILLED! I REALIZE THAT REPLACING THE BELT MAY MAKE THE PROBLEM GO AWAY, HOWEVER, THIS IS AN OBVIOU. *AK
THE REAR WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY SHATERRED WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY! THERE WAS NOTHING THAT HIT THE CAR. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM AS THE CAR WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY (MILEAGE). THE SECOND PROBLEM REGARDING THE RADIATOR CLAMP OCCURRED WITHIN 12 HOURS OF MY PURCHASING THE CAR. SUDDENLY FUMES CAME OUT OF T…
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THE REAR WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY SHATERRED WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY! THERE WAS NOTHING THAT HIT THE CAR. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM AS THE CAR WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY (MILEAGE). THE SECOND PROBLEM REGARDING THE RADIATOR CLAMP OCCURRED WITHIN 12 HOURS OF MY PURCHASING THE CAR. SUDDENLY FUMES CAME OUT OF THE ENGINE WITH THE 'LOW COOLENT' SIGN. HAD TO TOE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO FIXED IT BY PUTTING A NEW CLAMP ON THE HOSE. THE THIRD COMPLAINT WAS NOTICED WITHIN 2-3 MONTHS OF BUYING THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP FIXED THE PROBLEM BY CHANGING THE MALFUNCTIONING SWITCH. NEVER RECEIVED ANY APOLOGIES FROM THE COMPANY FOR THE MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS MORE TO COME....
THE HEATER CORE WENT OUT 2 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE IN NOVEMBER. IT WENT OUT AGAIN IN MAY. AND AGAIN IN OCTOBER. AND IT IS LEAKING AGAIN TODAY 12-15-98.
WHEN RIDING OVER PUDDLES THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, AND THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. THE VEHICLE STUTTERS FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN GOES BACK TO NORMAL. DEALER DOESN'T HAVE A SOLUTION FOR PROBLEM. *AK
VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT AT ANY SPEED 35 AND UNDER. SOMETIMES WHEN COMING TO A STOP, VEHICLE JUST DIESOUT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED NOTHING WAS WRONG. ITS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK
DUEL MUFFLERS ARE LEAKING DUE TO RUST.
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.