Complaints
243
Crashes
35
Fires
3
Injuries
24
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1998 Mercury Sable Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#124 complaints
Unintended Acceleration
Avg mileage:69,228 mi
Crash-related:7
#220 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Avg mileage:106,500 mi
#315 complaints
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs
Avg mileage:99,002 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Mercury Sable.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unintended Acceleration | 24 | 7 | — | 69,228 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 20 | — | — | 106,500 mi | |
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs | 15 | — | — | 99,002 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 11 | 5 | — | 94,950 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 7 | 6 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 6 | 5 | — | 114,250 mi | |
| Interior Lighting | 6 | 1 | — | 60,000 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 5 | — | 1 | 54,000 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 | 2 | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear:Springs:Coil Springs | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Horn | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 2 | — | 1 | — |
Unintended Acceleration
24
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
—
Avg Miles
69,228
Automatic Transmission
20
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
106,500
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
99,002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
11
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
—
Avg Miles
94,950
Air Bags:Frontal
7
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
6
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
—
Avg Miles
114,250
Interior Lighting
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
60,000
Electrical Faults
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
54,000
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
4
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Door
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Rear:Springs:Coil Springs
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Horn
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Mercury Sable. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Mercury Sable Years
1998 Mercury Sable — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Mercury Sable reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 1998 Mercury Sable has 243 NHTSA complaints, 35 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Unintended Acceleration with 24 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Mercury Sable?
Top reported problems: Unintended Acceleration (24 complaints, avg 69,228 mi); Automatic Transmission (20 complaints, avg 106,500 mi); Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs (15 complaints, avg 99,002 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1998 Mercury Sable?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 87,775 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Mercury Sable?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Mercury Sable include 35 crash-related reports, 3 fire reports, 24 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1998 Mercury Sable have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1998 Mercury Sable as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1998 Mercury Sable?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Mercury Sable reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1998 Mercury Sable
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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