Model Year Problem Record

Mercury Sable 1998 - Problems, Recalls, and Investigations

The complete public record for the 1998 Mercury Sable: what owners reported, which systems drew recalls, and where complaints exist that no recall has ever covered.

190Distinct owner complaintsSource: NHTSA Complaints

2Recall campaignsSource: NHTSA Recalls

0Defect investigationsSource: NHTSA Investigations

38Complaints reporting a crash or fireOwner Reports, Unverified

Complaints by System

Distinct complaints naming each system, most reported first. Select a system for its own page.

Vehicle Speed Control32

Brakes32

Engine20

Fuel and Propulsion System8

Latches, Locks and Linkages1

Did a Recall Cover It?

The join between complaints and recalls for this model year, system by system. A gap does not prove a defect - it means owners reported the problem and no recall campaign covers that system on this model year.

Vehicle Speed Control32 complaints

32 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Brakes32 complaints

32 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Suspension27 complaints

27 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Power Train25 complaints

25 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Engine20 complaints

20 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Electrical System16 complaints

16 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Air Bags14 complaints

14 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Lighting11 complaints

11 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 98V028000.

Visibility10 complaints

10 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Vehicle Structure10 complaints

10 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Seat Belts10 complaints

10 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 98V198000.

Tires9 complaints

9 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Fuel and Propulsion System8 complaints

8 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Unknown Or Other6 complaints

6 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Steering6 complaints

6 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Equipment2 complaints

2 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Seats1 complaints

1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Latches, Locks and Linkages1 complaints

1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Recall Campaigns

Every campaign covering this model year, in our own words. The campaign number is the official reference.

98V028000Reported February 10, 1998 - 571,800 vehicles potentially affected

Lighting. Recall covering the lighting system, reported to NHTSA on February 10, 1998. The campaign covers an estimated 571,800 vehicles across all affected models.

98V198000Reported August 25, 1998 - 7,000 vehicles potentially affected

Seat Belts. Recall covering the seat belts system, reported to NHTSA on August 25, 1998. The campaign covers an estimated 7,000 vehicles across all affected models.

Complaints by Year Received

When this model year's complaints reached NHTSA - whether its problems surfaced early or late in its life.

199813

199935

200022

200125

200227

200319

200418

20058

20066

20075

20082

20092

20101

20112

20122

20151

20161

20181

How to Read These Counts: complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not failure rates. Older and higher-volume vehicles accumulate more reports, and counts are not adjusted for vehicles sold - no per-sales rate or reliability ranking is shown, because the public data does not support one.

Data as of October 30, 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaints, recalls, and investigations files (U.S. Government public domain). DefectRecord is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. For your specific vehicle, use NHTSA's VIN lookup. Report an error.