Problems · NHTSA complaints

2008 Mercury Sable problems

Owners filed 61 complaints about the 2008 Mercury Sable with NHTSA between Feb 2008 and Nov 2025. The most-cited component is steering (16).

Complaints
61
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Steering16
  2. Power train11
  3. Electrical system11
  4. Vehicle speed control10
  5. Engine5
  6. Air bags4
  7. Seats4
  8. Suspension3
  9. Service brakes, hydraulic3
  10. Structure2
  11. Service brakes2
  12. Fuel/propulsion system2
  13. Fuel system, gasoline1
  14. Parking brake1

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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20084
20093
20107
20117
20128
20135
20149
20156
20162
20170
20182
20190
20200
20214
20221
20231
20240
20252

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Steering

16 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO HENNESSY FORD LINCOLN ATLANTA (LOCATED AT 5675 PEACHTREE INDUSTRIAL BLVD, ATLANTA, GA 30341, (770) 624-0200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 14, 2018SteeringODI 11151501

Power train

11 reports
“On April 12 I exited my drive onto the 55 mph highway in front of my house when suddenly the car began to shudder. I jammed the gas to get up to speed to prevent oncoming cars from hitting me which made the problem much worse. It was violently shuddering and wouldn’t accelerate. I took my foot off the gas which stopped the shaking. I gassed it slowly and I could accelerate to speed much slower than I would have liked. It wasn’t smooth. One half mile later it suddenly and violently began again. Taking my foot off the gas it smoothed out and I could accelerate again. I changed plans and went to the service garage to see what the problem was. It seems the problem is a known issue that hasn’t been addressed. I’m glad there were no cars coming from the opposite direction which could have impacted the drivers side while I was floundering out of my drive. I will enclose the garages assessment.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 17, 2023Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11517410

Electrical system

11 reports1 crash1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ENGINE, THROTTLE, WRENCH, AND AIR BAG INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN REVERSE, AND THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 23, 2016Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 10898075

Vehicle speed control

10 reports4 crashes
“WHILE ON CRUISE CONTROL ON A 6 LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FROM 72 TO 85+ MPH. BRAKES DID NOT DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL AND COULD NOT SLOW DOWN CAR. I HAD TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF TO REGAIN CONTROL AND WITH FLASHERS ON I MANAGED TO GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND STOP THE CAR. TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR TO ESTABLISH IF CONDITION CLEARED UP, BUT COULD NOT. HAD CAR TOWED TO FORD DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CONDITION THE FOLLOWING MORNING. THEY CHANGED THE MASS AIR SENSOR BUT SAID IT WAS UNRELATED TO THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 22, 2016Vehicle speed controlODI 10850959

Engine

5 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY HESITATE TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 10, 2015Power train, EngineODI 10809460

Air bags

4 reports4 crashes1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Sable. While the contact's son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was involved in a crash. The contact's son was the only occupant in the vehicle during the crash. The contact stated that none of the air bags deployed. The contact stated that there were two impacts to the vehicle during the crash. The first impact was on the front passenger's side of the vehicle, in which the front passenger's side door and rear door were crushed. The contact stated that the second impact was when the vehicle drove through a fence and crashed into a house and the cement porch. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that the vehicle was deemed total loss by her insurance provider and the insurance provider of the other driver who crashed into the vehicle. The paramedics arrived on the scene and performed a medical evaluation on the contact's son. The contact then arrived on the scene and took her son to the emergency room for further medical attention. The contact's son sustained injuries to the left side that struck the driver’s side window, and the front of the head from possibly striking the steering wheel, a…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 24, 2025Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11701277
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.