1996-1999 Mercury Sable: Full Review
Updated: 11/23/08
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Learn about the year-to-year changes and reliability for the 1996-1999 Mercury Sable and our price chart details a range of prices based on vehicle mileage and condition.
Pros
- Optional antilock brakes
- Steering/handling
- Acceleration (LS)
- Passenger and cargo room
Cons
- Rear visibility
- Automatic-transmission performance (GS)
Vehicle Highlights
Fully redesigned like its Ford Taurus sibling, Mercury's midsize sedan and wagon featured more-rounded contours, greater interior space, plus a new V6 engine with dual-overhead camshafts. Wheelbase grew by 2.5 inches (to 108.5), and the car measured nearly 6 inches longer. Sedans may have seating for five or six. Station wagons came with similar seating choices, holding five to eight--the latter when a 2-place, rear-facing third seat is installed. GS Sables held a 145-horsepower, 3.0-liter overhead-valve V6 engine. The LS carried a 200-horsepower, dual-overhead-cam 3.0 V6. Both engines drove a 4-speed automatic. Dual airbags were standard; antilock brakes optional on all models.
Expert Ratings Summary (view detailed report)
| Category | Mercury Sable LS Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 4 | |
| Fuel Economy | 5 | |
| Ride Quality | 5 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 4 | |
| Quietness | 5 | |
| Controls/Materials | 5 | |
| Interior Room | 5 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 4 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 4 | |
| Value within Class | 5 | |
| Total Score: | 46 |
Learn about the year-to-year changes of the 1996-1999 Mercury Sable. Get full details of the styling and performance changes throughout the history of the 1996-1999 Mercury Sable.
Year to Year Changes
1997 Mercury Sable:
Only a handful of minor changes marked the 1997 models, led by newly standard front-door map pockets for the GS and LS Sables.
1998 Mercury Sable:
Changes are limited to a new grille and a revised axle ratio for designed to yield better acceleration.
1999 Mercury Sable:
Sable saw price cuts of $1000 to $2000 in '99, but that had little effect on used car prices. Revisions to the suspension, instrument graphics, and interior door panels rounded out the changes. Sables were redesigned for 2000.
Our road test for the 1996-1999 Mercury Sable includes a full evaluation from the inside out. We've evaluated every aspect of the 1996-1999 Mercury Sable and highlighted the vehicle's performance with pros and cons. Use our comprehensive road test ratings to decide if this generation 1996-1999 Mercury Sable is right for you.
Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation
Interiors are roomier than before, and construction feels more solid. Performance also has improved, due to the new engine that's installed in LS Sables. Quieter and smoother than the overhead-valve V6 in a Sable G or GS, that dual-cam V6 provides more-spirited acceleration and stronger passing power. Its electronically controlled transmission is smooth and responsive. Acceleration is adequate with the base engine, but its automatic vibrates when changing gears and is slower to downshift for passing. Road and wind noise are better than in previous Sables. The firm suspension on all models feels stable at highway speeds, but a little too stiff on bumpy roads. Steering is lighter than before, but more precise, and a Sable can corner almost as well as some sports cars. All models use the same tires, and suspension differences are slight. Front seats offer generous space. Rear leg room has grown considerably, and tall people can easily fit in the outboard positions. Although the flip-open armrest that comes with the front bench seat is useful, when it's open you cannot plug a cellular phone or other device into the cigarette lighter. Sedans have a roomy trunk with a wide, flat floor that reaches well-forward. Visibility is generally good, but it's difficult to see the sedan's trunk and the wagon's rear windows are narrow.
Value for the Money
Showing significant gains in passenger accommodations and performance, the latest Sable is worth a test-drive.
Showing significant gains in passenger accommodations and performance, the latest Sable is worth a test-drive.
Expert Ratings Summary
| Category | Mercury Sable LS Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 4 | |
| Fuel Economy | 5 | |
| Ride Quality | 5 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 4 | |
| Quietness | 5 | |
| Controls/Materials | 5 | |
| Interior Room | 5 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 4 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 4 | |
| Value within Class | 5 | |
| Total Score: | 46 |
Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer
Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering
and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room,
Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle
rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the
ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.
Our reliability study for this generation Mercury Sable includes details on average repair costs, manufacturer recalls, and everything you need to know to gauge the long-term reliability of this generation Mercury Sable .
Trouble Spots
Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search
for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested
solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer,
however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.
Air conditioner:
The air-conditioning lines tend to leak at the spring-lock couplings and larger O-rings are available as a service replacement. (1996-97)
Automatic transmission:
AX4S automatic transmissions may shift harshly from first to second gear. (1996-97)
Dashboard lights:
The check-engine light comes on for a variety of reasons including bad gasoline, a wobbling accessory drive pulley, or bad spark plug. (1996)
Heater core:
Installing a restrictor in the heater inlet hose may repair heater cores leaks. (1996-99)
Steering problems:
The power steering gets harder to turn when decelerating from about 50 miles per hour or when shifting from reverse to drive requiring replacement of the control module and/or transmission-range sensors. (1996)
Suspension noise:
Clunking from the front end may be due to premature wear of the sway-bar links. (1995-97)
Tire wear:
Inner edge of rear tires wear excessively from camber problems corrected with a revised rear-suspension adjuster kit. (1996-97)
Water leak:
Water leaks onto the front floor because of poor sealing of the cabin air-filter cowl inlet. (1996-98)
Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs
This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The
dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the
typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement
costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership
to be slightly higher.
| Item Name | Repair Cost |
| A/C Compressor | $440 |
| Alternator | $350 |
| Automatic Transmission or Transaxle | $1,115 |
| Brakes | $280 |
| Constant Velocity Joints | $605 |
| Exhaust System | $415 |
| Radiator | $585 |
| Shocks and/or Struts | $600 |
| Timing Chain or Belt | $350 |
Our price chart for this generation Mercury Sable details a range of prices in
year-by-year listings based on vehicle mileage and condition.
| Prices | Good | Average | Poor |
|
|
|||
| 1999 | |||
| Sable sedan | $2,700-3,300 | $2,000-2,500 | $600-700 |
| Sable wagon | $3,100-3,600 | $2,400-2,800 | $700-900 |
| 1998 | |||
| Sable sedan | $2,400-3,000 | $1,700-2,200 | $500-600 |
| Sable wagon | $2,700-3,200 | $2,000-2,400 | $600-700 |
| 1997 | |||
| Sable sedan | $2,100-2,600 | $1,500-1,800 | $400-500 |
| Sable wagon | $2,300-2,700 | $1,700-1,900 | $400-500 |
| 1996 | |||
| Sable sedan | $1,800-2,300 | $1,200-1,600 | $300 |
| Sable wagon | $2,000-2,400 | $1,400-1,700 | $300-400 |
|
|
|||
This chart details a range of prices in year-by-year listings for vehicles in three condition levels:
Good: a clean low-mileage, solid-running vehicle that needs little or no repair.
Average: a car with normal miles on the odometer, perhaps a few scrapes or dings;
engine might need a minor repair or two, but runs acceptably well.
Poor: might have potentially dangerous problems with the engine and/or body, or
abnormally high mileage; definitely in need of mechanical attention. Valuations
reflect wholesale prices paid by dealers at auction, and retail prices on used-car
lots. Each range covers all trim levels and engine types for a vehicle with a typical
amount of equipment--usually an automatic transmission, air conditioning, stereo,
etc. Fully loaded vehicles may cost more. Average mileage is 12,000 miles per year. Keep
in mind that these are guidelines only. Actual selling prices vary- especially from
region to region.
Specs for this generation Mercury Sable include everything from fuel mileage to seating capacity to options availability.
Vehicle Dimensions
| Specification | 4-door sedan | 4-door wagon |
| Wheelbase, in. | 108.5 | 108.5 |
| Overall Length, in. | 199.7 | 199.1 |
| Overall Width, in. | 73.0 | 73.0 |
| Overall Height, in. | 55.4 | 57.6 |
| Curb Weight, lbs. | 3388 | 3536 |
| Cargo Volume, cu. ft. | 16.0 | 81.3 |
| Standard Payload, lbs. | -- | -- |
| Fuel Capacity, gals. | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Seating Capacity | 61 | 8 |
| Front Head Room, in. | 39.4 | 39.3 |
| Max. Front Leg Room, in. | 42.6 | 42.6 |
| Rear Head Room, in. | 36.6 | 48.9 |
| Max. Rear Leg Room, in. | 38.9 | 48.5 |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
||
Powertrain Options and Availability
All Sables use a 4-speed automatic transmission, driven by either of two engines. A 145-horsepower, overhead-valve, 3.0-liter V6 has been standard in G and GS Sables. For the more-expensive LS sedan or station wagon, the standard engine is a dual-overhead-cam 3.0-liter V6, making 200 horsepower.
| Engines | cu. in |
Horse- power | Torque | Transmission: |
Consumer Guide Observed |
| ohv V6 | 3.0 / 182 | 145 | 170 | 4-speed automatic: 20/29 | 4-speed automatic: 15.7 |
| dohc V6 | 3.0 / 181 | 200 | 200 | 4-speed automatic: 20/29 | 4-speed automatic: 18.9 |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
|||||
Built In: USA
Drive Wheels: transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive
Detailed safety information for this generation Mercury Sable include detailed crash test scores from the NHTSA.
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
| Test | 1999 Sable |
|---|---|
| Front Impact, Driver | -- |
| Front Impact, Passenger | -- |
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Sideimpact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.
Learn about official auto recalls, reliability issues, and vehicle problems for the 1996-1999 Mercury Sable directly from the NHTSA and manufacturers.
NHTSA Recall History
1996:
Brake-fluid indicator can malfunction.
1996:
Small number of cars were inadvertently equipped with 18-gallon fuel tank rather than 16-gallon as specified; displacement of tank's shipping plug could result in leakage.
1996-97 w/automatic transaxle:
"Park" pawl shaft was improperly positioned during assembly; could result in park pawl occasionally not engaging when selector lever is placed in "Park" position, allowing vehicle to roll if parking brake has not been applied.
1996-97:
"Park" pawl-abutment bracket has sharp edge which can cause pawl to hang up and not engage gear; vehicle can move even though indicator shows "Park."
1997:
Servo cover can separate, causing transmission fluid to leak and contact catalytic converter; could result in fire.
1997-98:
Headlamp-aiming instructions in owner's manuals are not sufficiently clear.
1998-99:
Front seatbelt-buckle attaching stud may have been improperly heat treated, resulting in cracks.
1999 w/California Emissions:
Incorrect transmission-oil cooler line was installed, which contacts ABS module bracket and, over time, can wear and develop a leak.
1999:
Retainer clip can disengage from accelerator cable and fall into pedal-arm pivot area; engine may not fully return to idle, and insulator could interfere with cable.
1999:
Seatbelt retractor may have incorrectly formed pin shaft that could, in some circumstances, prevent seatbelt webbing from being extracted.
1999-01:
Front coil springs on certain cars sold in specified states could fracture, due to corrosion associated with road salt used in winter.
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