1997 Mercury Sable problems
The 1997 Mercury Sable has 326 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (13%) concerns transmission. Next are engine (11%) and cruise control (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 326 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Transmission 13% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 14 and 7
- Injuries and deaths
- 13 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 72,000 miles 77 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 7 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 2 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 14 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 20 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 17 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 9 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 2 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 2 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 77 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 72,000 miles. For transmission specifically, the median reported mileage is about 81,000 miles (10 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 14 complaints mention a crash; 7 complaints mention a fire; 13 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1997 ranks 10th most-complained-about out of 18 model years of the Mercury Sable with enough data (182 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While driving at 25 MPH another vehicle broardswiped consumer's vehicle. Upon impact, driver's side and passenger's side air bags didn't deploy.
Vehicle was involved in a frontal collision, and the airbags did not deploy, resulting in minor injuries. The dealer has been notified.
While traveling 50MPH a tire had blownout, vehicle hit guardrail twice. Front end smashed. Dual air bags failed to deploy upon impact. Driver received 6 broken ribs & some brusies. Vehicle towed to repair shop.
Driver's side and passenger's side right rear tires tread separated from the tires on the same day while on a vacation trip. General tires, size 205/65r15, DOT# unknown. The gas station attendant check the passenger side front tire and it only had 17 lbs of pressure. He tested and found multiple defects (separation and leaks) in all four tires.
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 mercury sable. In cold weather, the driver's side door will shut, but not latch until the vehicle is driven 3-4 miles with the heater on full blast. The failure has occurred for the past two winters. The dealer stated that it was the contact's responsibility. When the driver's side door is shut, one of the trim panels detaches from the interior door panel due to deterioration of the plastic attachments (christmas tree).