1998 Mercury Sable problems
Owners have filed 243 complaints about the 1998 Mercury Sable with NHTSA. Vehicle speed control accounts for 13.6% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of service brakes, hydraulic at 12.8%.
Complaints243
Crashes35
Fires3
Injuries24
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Vehicle speed control 13.6% · 33
Service brakes, hydraulic 12.8% · 31
Suspension 11.1% · 27
Power train 10.7% · 26
Engine and engine cooling 8.2% · 20
Electrical system 6.6% · 16
Air bags 5.8% · 14
Seat belts 4.1% · 10
Severity
Of those complaints, 35 describe a crash, 3 describe a fire and 24 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 15 model years of the Mercury Sable in this data, 1998 draws comparatively few complaints; 1993 is the outlier year.
Filings have fallen off, 4 in the last three years against 6 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 91,000 miles.
In owners' own words
Locked torque converter seems to disengage when going down hill. Also, speed control cannot control speed of car going down any slight hill. Seems to be not locked up, etc. Cannot use engine compression, etc, to slow vehicle. Cruise control us is useless on any type of downgrade! Is this a design flaw or can it be repaired? Vehicle is a leased car through wheels, inc. Thank you. Vehicle speed control
Vehicle surges forward when trying to stop, this happens occasionally. Was told by ford that when the windshield defroster or a/c is operating and when driver attempts to come to a stop, there is a reaction in which compressor causes this forward acceleration. Consumer contacted manufacturer, and dealer has not offered to repair. It has been to the garage the 4th time. Vehicle speed control
Consumer states that the vehicle would accelerate while in park and would lurch forward when shifted into drive. The dealer has not been able to correct or duplicate the problem. Nlm dealer reprogram the engine processor, however the problem still exist. Consumer also states the seat belt does not engage properly and consumer does not realize it, until leaning foward. Vehicle speed control
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…