1998 Mercury Sable Power Train:automatic Transmission Problems

NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · data through 07/12/2026

20Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints

10.5%Of all 190 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How power train:automatic transmission ranks on this vehicle

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL24 · 12.6%

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION20 · 10.5%

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS15 · 7.9%

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP11 · 5.8%

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL7 · 3.7%

Share of the 190 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1998 Mercury Sable overview page.

What owners report

“WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. *NLM”NHTSA complaint 10018076 — filed 05/02/2003

“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…”NHTSA complaint 766370 — filed 08/28/2002

“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…”NHTSA complaint 761020 — filed 04/22/2002

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 1998 Mercury Sable have power train:automatic transmission problems?

Power Train:automatic Transmission is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 1998 Mercury Sable: 20 of 190 complaints on file (10.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 1998 Mercury Sable have in total?

190 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 28 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, 18 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's power train:automatic transmission category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.