1997 Mercury Sable: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 1997 Mercury Sable: 3 recalls, 228 owner complaints and up to 21 mpg combined.
Recalls
3 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #96V166000 · 1996 · 40,000 vehicles
What's wrong: The park pawl abutment bracket has a sharp edge which can cause the parking pawl to hang up and not engage the park gear. This would allow the vehicle to move even though the gear shift indicator shows that the vehicle is in park.
Why it matters: Unintended and unexpected vehicle movement can result in personal injury and property damage.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the park pawl abutment bracket.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #97V097000 · 1997 · 100,000 vehicles
What's wrong: The low/intermediate servo cover can separate from the transaxle while the vehicle is being driven. If this occurs, transmission fluid will leak contacting the catalytic converter.
Why it matters: The catalytic converter temperature May be hot enough to ignite the transmission fluid and cause a vehicle fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the transmission and replace these servo covers.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #98V028000 · 1998 · 571,800 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: If the headlamp assemblies are replaced, customers May be confused by the aiming instructions provided in the owner guides causing the headlamps to be improperly aimed.
The fix: Owner guides containing revised aiming instructions will be mailed to owners of these vehicles.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 5 mention a fire, 11 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (43): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (12), leaks (6).
- Engine & cooling (42): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (10), noise or vibration (6).
- Speed control / throttle (28): the most common themes are sudden acceleration (8).
- Visibility (wipers, glass) (22): the most common themes are leaks (3), electrical failure (3).
The 1997 Mercury Sable has 228 owner complaints, ranking #10 of 19 Sable model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 258). Complaints peaked in 1999 (39 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 78,000 miles. Neighboring years: 1996 (304 complaints, 5 recalls), 1998 (190 complaints, 2 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 26 | 21 | Regular |
| 3.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 26 | 20 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 1997 Mercury Sable.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
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FAQ
Does the 1997 Mercury Sable have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 vehicle recalls for the 1997 Mercury Sable. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 1997 Mercury Sable problems?
Owners have filed 228 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (43), engine & cooling (42), speed control / throttle (28).
What gas mileage does the 1997 Mercury Sable get?
EPA ratings run up to 21 mpg combined (3.0 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 1997 Mercury Sable repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.