Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Mercury Sable owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
98 Sable wagon. (spring plate gave and spring blew out tire and damaged front end rods or arms, shock according to Ford service analysis) and left front end almost sitting on the ground. According to Ford analysis). I thought it was just a blow out so I had aaa come to tow it to my dealership. When the aaa driver saw the damage, he said he's seen this several times and that there was a safety recall out for this specific situation. Ford dealership looked up recalls for my car and said there was one for what happened to my car but it was for 99 and newer models and that there was nothing they could do about repairing it under a recall. I called Ford corporate customer service and they told me that there was nothing they could do and wouldn't invest their money into repairing my car. Fortunate for me the incident occurred while backing out of my driveway. …
I was just pulling out of work when I heard my front drivers side tire exploded. I was still in the parking lot going less than 10 MPH. When I got the tire off I noticed that my spring had broken and was rubbing up against my tire causing my low-speed blowout. Ford has acknowledged that there is a problem with these springs due to rust and corrosion, but have only recalled the 99-01 models. I would like Ford to look into extending the recall as I know I am not the only 98 owner to experience such an issue. I am thankful, though, that this did happen in a parking lot. I was only two minutes away from getting on I-75, and probably could have lost my life.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Mercury Sable. While driving 45 MPH, the driver's side tire suddenly blew out. There was no crash as a result of the failure. An independent mechanic assisted the contact with placing the spare tire on the vehicle and then informed him that the coil spring was the cause of the blow out. The dealer stated that only 1999-2001 sables were included in NHTSA campaign id number 04V332000 (suspension:front:springs:coil springs). He spoke with the manufacturer and they confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The current and failure mileages were approximately 94,100.
While parked front driver's side coil spring failed. As a result, the tire was punctured. One month later, the front passenger side failed. Consumer doesn't know if first failure was occurred while parked or while moving it out of 3ft of snow. Consumer couldn't see it until moved from snow, 2nd failure occurred in the parking lot. Both times it ripped a 12' whole in the tire. Consumer neighbor also has the same model vehicle and the same problem. Consumer had to replace both coil springs and tires.
Tl contact owns 1998 Mercury Sable. Several mechanics stated that the rear suspension and the rear coil springs failed. The dealer stated that the rear coil spring corroded and was related to a manufacturers recall; however, the VIN was not a part of the recall. The vehicle has not been repaired. The current and the failure mileages were 80,000. Updated 10/21/09 the consumer was also informed the front coil springs were defective as well. Updated 10/23/09
Tl contact owns a 1998 Mercury Sable. The contact was driving in reverse 3 MPH and in a residential driveway when the vehicle stopped moving. The engine was still running. While inspecting the vehicle, he found that the front coil spring had fractured and punctured the front driver side tire. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 132,000. Updated 05/24/11 updated 05/26/11
Noise from front during turns. Took car to shop same day and was told the driver front coil spring had fractured and rubbing on tire during turns. This is the second fractured coil spring on this car. Both rear coil springs were replaced 4/20/05 after the passenger side rear spring fractured (reported to NHTSA -odi 10146034). Broken front coil spring replaced 5/4/06. Was told by shop we were lucky the tire didn't blow.
While researching another problem online, I found references to coil spring problems for other Sable model years, so thought I should notify NHTSA my rear coil spring broke also. While parked in my garage, the passenger side rear coil spring on my 1998 Mercury Sable wagon broke. Incident date is estimated, I had to wait for the shop to get the springs. Both rear springs were replaced April 20, 2005 (I have receipt).
While the tow truck driver was backing the consumer car out of the garage noticed a scraping noise. Tow truck driver found that the coil spring broke and punctured the left tire. Dealer was contacted. Dealer informed consumer that the vehicle was not covered under a manufacturer's recall. The consumer stated that the front springs, struts, sway bar needed to be replaced.
Dt*: the contact stated while backing out of the garage a loud bang was heard. When the consumer exited the vehicle the front driver side tire was observed to be flat. The vehicle was towed to the dealership, where it was determined the coil spring fractured causing the flat tire. The coil spring has been replaced. Updated 08/14/06.
Suspension complaints in other Sable years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 1998 Mercury Sable?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the suspension of the 1998 Mercury Sable, 12% of the model year's 190 complaints. The component named most often is front › springs › coil springs (15 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Mercury Sable suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension recall for the 1998 Mercury Sable, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1998 Mercury Sable suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 92,000 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.