Most common 1998 Mercury Sable problems
Share of the 190 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercury Sable complaints by model year
Best Sable years: 2009, 2004, 2008. Years to avoid: 2000, 2001, 2002, 1995, 1996. Compare all years →
1998 Mercury Sable recalls (2)
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat belt buckle mounting bracket and stud assembly.
Exterior lighting › Headlights
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."
Remedy: Owner guides containing revised aiming instructions will be mailed to owners of these vehicles.
What 1998 Mercury Sable owners say
Speed control & acceleration all 32 →
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Mercury Sable. The contact had been parked for two hours in the parking lot of a small community park. As the contact was driving approximately 5-10 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated at a high speed. The contact did not have time to check the speedometer before the turn was completed. The vehicle failed to slow down when engaging the brake pedal and because the turn had not been completed the contact veered off to the left of the road and then crossed the road to the right. As the contact tried to get back on the road, she drove over a two-foot boulder and several smaller boulders and then crashed into a fence of tall bushes and came to a stop approximately ten feet past the boulders that had been dragged in the middle of the driveway. The air bags deployed as the vehicle came to a stop. This all took place in a matter of seconds. …
Dt*: the contact stated while driving in stop and go traffic, the vehicle lurched forward without prior warning. Although brake pressure remained constant, the vehicle continued forward motion. The vehicle gently tapped another vehicle on the rear bumper. The driver turned off the key in the ignition and the vehicle stopped. There was damage to the Sable's bumper, grill and headlights. No physical injuries were sustained. The police were on the scene and a report was taken. The vehicle was seen by a dealer. A diagnostic test was performed, but the test did not detect any failure codes. Upon further inspection by the service department, the throttle plate and air motor were carbonated and it was suspected that this possibly caused the throttle to stick causing the sudden acceleration. Updated 2/13/2006 -
Brakes all 29 →
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.
In 1998 I purchased a new Mercury Sable. Stopping distance has been inadequate since new. Returned to dealer 3 times, checked and stated everything was fine. In panic stops it feels as if only the rear wheels are braking. Now, after 95,000 miles I have changed the rear brake pads 3 times and rear rotors once, but the original front pads are still on the car - just now needing replacement. Front rotors excellent - no outer ridge. Obviously, front brakes are not working effectively - normally front brakes provide about 60% of braking power. On November 19 2004 I rear-ended another car in a chain-reaction panic stop. Body damage is now repaired, but I hesitate to put it back in service without determining and repairing the brake problem that has existed since the car was new. I wrote Ford about the problem years ago but received no answer. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 25 →
I drove the car to do errands and it was not having any problems. I parked the car at the mall and came back to drive home and the transmission failed. The gears would not engage. I was forced to have it towed home. It showed no signs of having a problem, and the transmission fluid was intact with no signs of a problem. This appeared to be a costly repair, so I chose not to fix it at this time.
While driving at any speed overdrive light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. This caused the speedometer to drop to zero, and the SRS light illuminated on the dashboard. Also, horn became inoperative. Vehicle was taken tot he dealer for inspection.
1998 Mercury Sable engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 26 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Mercury Sable a good car?
Based on 190 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Sable rates average: 21% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Sable at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Mercury Sable?
The speed control & acceleration — 32 complaints, 17% of all complaints for this model year, most often about cruise control. Next are the brakes (29) and transmission & drivetrain (25).
How many recalls does the 1998 Mercury Sable have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1998 Mercury Sable, the most recent from August 25, 1998 (anchorage). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercury Sable?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2009, 2004 and 2008. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000, 2001, 2002, 1995 and 1996. See the full Mercury Sable years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Mercury Sable problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 91,000 miles; 9% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.