1998 Mercury Sable Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 25about this part
- Share
- 13%of 190 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 106,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 25 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1998 Mercury Sable, 13% of the 190 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 106,500 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10190031, filed 2007-05, 124,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10087325, filed 2004-08, 89,000 miles“I've noticed since purchasing the vehicle, that it sometimes hesitates when you step on the gas from a dead start and you must maintain your foot on the pedal until it shifts or it would jerk. I've never driven a vehicle that performed this way and not knowing much about cars, didn't know there was a problem. Now it's stuck in gear at 60mph. It has also droped into neutral for no apparent reason but once I shifted it into reverse and then drive, the gear kicked in.”
NHTSA complaint #766370, filed 2002-08“After turning a corner transmission hesitates if I try to accelerate quickly. I think it is hunting because it will drop down to 1st gear and accelerate rapidly. It does hesitate long enough to be dangerous.”
NHTSA complaint #761020, filed 2002-04“The car lost drive power, and appeared to go into neutral. The transmission shop later found that a shaft, from the torque converter to the pump, had snapped. The shaft is a fairly substantial piece of metal. The shop repaired the transmission but could not make a guess as to the reason for the metal failure. I have the shaft that snapped and can provide digital images. There is no obvious reason to me why it would have snapped wether it is design or metallurgy. I can provide digital images of the component breakage. …”
NHTSA complaint #735915, filed 2000-11Related service bulletins
- 10014086Dec 13, 2004General (pcm) power train control module programming procedures.
- 10013369Nov 1, 2004General power train control module (pcm) programming procedures.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 3 | 15% |
| 2008 | 11 | 18% |
| 2005 | 26 | 31% |
| 2004 | 12 | 23% |
| 2003 | 30 | 15% |
| 2002 | 23 | 5% |
| 2001 | 22 | 5% |
| 2000 | 31 | 7% |
| 1999 | 28 | 11% |
| 1998 | 25 | 13% |
| 1997 | 43 | 19% |
| 1996 | 69 | 23% |
| 1995 | 93 | 27% |
| 1994 | 95 | 25% |
| 1993 | 48 | 7% |
| 1992 | 61 | 17% |
| 1991 | 101 | 46% |
| 1990 | 17 | 10% |
| 1989 | 19 | 8% |
| 1988 | 22 | 17% |
| 1987 | 9 | 12% |
| 1986 | 8 | 17% |
Other parts of the 1998 Mercury Sable
32 complaintsBrakes
29 complaintsSuspension
22 complaintsEngine cooling
19 complaintsElectrical system
16 complaintsAir bags
14 complaintsBody and structure
10 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
10 complaintsSeat belts
9 complaintsFuel system
8 complaintsTires
8 complaintsInterior lighting
6 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Mercury Sable
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology