1998 MERCURY SABLE — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
243
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
25
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1998 MERCURY SABLE
The 1998 MERCURY SABLE has received a total of 243 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS. 25 technical service bulletins have been issued by Ford Motor Company for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Vehicle Speed Control (24 complaints), Power Trainautomatic Transmission (20 complaints), and Suspensionfrontspringscoil Springs (15 complaints).
Recalls for the 1998 MERCURY SABLE
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 1998 MERCURY SABLE, potentially affecting up to 578,800 vehicles.
Recall 98V198000 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
| 7,000 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MOUNTING BRACKET AND STUD ASSEMBLY.
View full details →Recall 98V028000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
| 571,800 vehicles affected
Defect: 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: 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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1998 MERCURY SABLE
243 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 MERCURY SABLE. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
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.
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".
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.
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.
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.
Safety Rating for the 1998 MERCURY SABLE
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1998 MERCURY SABLE in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1998 MERCURY SABLE
Ford Motor Company has issued 25 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1998 MERCURY SABLE. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
985084 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE REDUCED DECELERATION FEEL AND LESS ENGINE RPM REDUCTION AT CLOSED THROTTLE WITH THE VEHCLE MOVING; SPEED CONTROL NOT RESPONDING QUICKLY WHEN SWITCHED TO OFF OR DECEL MAY ALSO BE NOTED. *TT
14220 — POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AX4N TRANSAXLE MAY EXHIBIT A SHUDDER DURING A 3-4 SHIFT. *TT
7855 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT INTERMITTENT INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL (ICP) ILLUMINATION.
6579 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
INFORMATION DIAGNOSING VEHICLES THAT MAY EXHIBIT A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1309 STORED IN MEMORY. *TT
6646 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
SOME VEHICLES WITH 3.0L 4-VALVE ENGINES BUILT BETWEEN 12/17/97 AND 6/30/99 MAY EXHIBIT A HARD START / LONG CRANK OR A ROUGH IDLE AFTER A COLD START. *TT
99126 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH SPARK KNOCK; ROLLING IDLE; AND / OR MISFIRE CODES STORED IN MEMORY. *TT
6478 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
INFORMATION ON THE AVAILABILITY OF FORD QUALITY RENEWAL 2.5L AND 3.0L 4V ENGINES. *TT
9985 — POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
SERVICE TIP INFORMATION REGARDING THE REDESIGNED AX4N PUMP GASKET. *TT
12515 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0135 OR P0155 CAUSED BY THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE CALIBRATION (PCM). *TT
12603 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
VEHICLE MAY EXHIBIT A DIAHNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0135 OR P0155 CAUSED BY THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) CALIBRATION. *TT
Showing 10 of 25 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1998 MERCURY SABLE
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the MERCURY SABLE
- 1993 MERCURY SABLE — 981 complaints
- 1994 MERCURY SABLE — 534 complaints
- 1995 MERCURY SABLE — 485 complaints
- 1996 MERCURY SABLE — 391 complaints
- 1997 MERCURY SABLE — 326 complaints
- 1998 MERCURY SABLE (current)
- 1999 MERCURY SABLE — 302 complaints
- 2000 MERCURY SABLE — 578 complaints
- 2001 MERCURY SABLE — 528 complaints
- 2002 MERCURY SABLE — 541 complaints
- 2003 MERCURY SABLE — 251 complaints
Other MERCURY Models
- MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS — 4,949 total complaints
- MERCURY MILAN — 3,211 total complaints
- MERCURY COUGAR — 2,646 total complaints
- MERCURY MOUNTAINEER — 2,646 total complaints
- MERCURY VILLAGER — 2,205 total complaints
- MERCURY MARINER — 1,716 total complaints
- MERCURY MYSTIQUE — 1,510 total complaints
- MERCURY TRACER — 754 total complaints