1999 Mercury Sable: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 302 complaints
302
Total Complaints
68,000mi
Median Mileage
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
Top Issue
33
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

43,000 25th Percentile
68,000 Median Mileage
100,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
36
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
13
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
13
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
11
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
11
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
9
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
8
STEERING
8
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
7
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
7

Severity Assessment

33
Crashes
4
Fires
49
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH DEALER HONORING MFR. RECALL NOTICE # 98S-31 & NHTSA RECALL 98V-288 000 CONCERNING FORD/ TRANSMSSION OIL COOLER LINE . AN INCORRECT TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE WAS INSTALLED, THE LINE CONTACTS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM MODULE SUPPORT BRACKET AND OVERTIME. CAN W..."
"CAR SURGED FORWARD DESPITE THE USE OF BRAKES, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL INCREASE IN SPEED. THIS WAS IMMEDIATLEY FOLLOWED BY A SERIES OF ENGINE STALLS. DEALER UNABLE TO LOCATE A DEFECT. *AK"
"FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT RETRACTORS DO NOT RETRACT IN COLD WEATHER; TEMPERATURES OF MINUS FIVE DEGREES OR LESS. HAS TO BE BROUGHT INSIDE TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY. DEALER CAN'T FIX. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28