Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 Mercury Sable problems
Owners filed 267 complaints about the 1999 Mercury Sable with NHTSA between Dec 1998 and Dec 2020. The most-cited component is suspension (48).
Complaints
267
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
25
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
29
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Suspension48
- Steering33
- Power train27
- Service brakes, hydraulic27
- Visibility24
- Seat belts22
- Engine and engine cooling22
- Air bags19
- Vehicle speed control17
- Structure11
- Fuel system, gasoline8
- Electrical system7
- Equipment6
- Exterior lighting6
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
21
26
30
36
27
46
33
13
7
4
6
1
5
2
1
1
1
2
1
0
2
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 21 |
| 2000 | 26 |
| 2001 | 30 |
| 2002 | 36 |
| 2003 | 27 |
| 2004 | 46 |
| 2005 | 33 |
| 2006 | 13 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Suspension
48 reports1 crash1 related recall
“VEHICLE SPRING FRACTURED BREAKING THE BOTTOM PART OFF THE COIL SPRING ON THE FRONT LEFT DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR.THE LEFT FRONT IS NOW LOWER AND TIRES SHOW WEAR. I HAVE STOPPED DRIVING AS A RESULT. *TR”
Steering
33 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY SABLE WAGON. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Power train
27 reports3 crashes1 related recall
“I BOUGHT A USED 1999 MERCURY SABLE GS WITH THE U TYPE 3.0L V6 ENGINE 2 MONTHS AGO. JUST RECENTLY I NOTICED THE CAR WANTING TO LUNGE FORWARD WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKE AT STOPS. THEN A FEW DAYS LATER WHENEVER I START THE CAR IT LUNGES FORWARD. NOTHING DRAMATIC BUT DEFINITELY NOTICEABLE. I STARTED LOOKING ONLINE TO SEE ABOUT A RECALL AND 1 WAS PRESENT A LONG TIME AGO. IS IT TO LATE TO GET MY CAR CHECKED OR HOW TO SEE IF IT WAS EVER SERVICED OR CALLED FOR THE RECALL.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
27 reports3 crashes
“COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND CAR WOULD NOT STOP. I USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO SAFELY STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO AND A REPAIR CENTER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR”
Visibility
24 reports
“I HAVE A 1999 MERCURY SABLE. IN JANUARY 11, 2008, I HAVE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP. ON JULY 15, 2008, THE PUMP STOPPED AGAIN. I HAVE NOTICED THAT SOME OF THE 2000 MERCURY SABLES ARE ON RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. MIGHT THE 1999 MERCURY SABLE BE LOOKED AT IN THIS LIGHT TO ASCERTAIN IF THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM? *TR”
Seat belts
22 reports2 crashes2 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT OR PROPERLY SECURE THE PASSENGER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V250000 SEAT BELTS: FRONT: ANCHORAGE); THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.