The 1997 Mercury Sable has 51 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 16% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.
51
Transmission complaints
16%
Share of year
1
Crash-involved
2
Related recalls
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AX4S AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES. 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.
Consequence
THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TEMPERATURE MAY BE HOT ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE THESE SERVO COVERS.
Defect
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.
Consequence
UNINTENDED AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET.
“WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE CUT OFF. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, AND GOT OUT OF VEHICLE. THIS WAS WHEN DRIVER AND FAMILY NOTICED VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. VEHCLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. CV BOOT EXPLODED AND THREW…”
NHTSA has 51 complaints about the 1997 Mercury Sable transmission — 16% of all complaints filed for that model year.
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the transmission: 96V166000, 97V097000.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.