CarBrief

NHTSA has 61 owner complaints on file for the 2008 Sable, and steering is the largest group[1][2]. There is one recall, for the driver air bag[3].

61owner complaints[1]
1recalls[4]
19–22MPG combined (EPA)[5]

Reported problems

NHTSA lists 61 owner complaints for the 2008 Sable[1]. Eight mention a crash, 3 a fire and 2 injuries[1]. None report a death[1]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name more than one part.

Here are the component groups with the most complaints:

Component group Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles at failure
Steering[2] 16 0 0 49,210
Power train[6] 11 0 0 53,925
Electrical system[7] 11 1 1 44,500
Speed control[8] 10 4 0 40,490
Engine[9] 6 0 1 50,420
Brakes[10] 6 1 0 25,700
Air bags[11] 4 4 0 not given
Seats[12] 4 0 1 not given

Steering. In a sample of 12 steering complaints we read[2], 11 describe steering that gets stiff or hard to turn, or power assist that is lost. Several describe it happening at low speed, such as when parking[2].

Power train. In a sample of 11 power train complaints[6], 5 describe odd shifting, such as jerking, not shifting or limp mode[6]. Three describe the car rolling back on a hill while in drive[6].

Speed control. In a sample of 9 speed control complaints[8], all 9 describe sudden or unintended acceleration, and some describe a stuck pedal[8]. Four of the 10 complaints in this group mention a crash[8].

Electrical. In a sample of 11 electrical complaints[7], 4 describe trouble with the instrument cluster or information display[7]. The group also has 1 crash and 1 fire[7].

The air bag group is small at 4 complaints, but all 4 mention a crash and 2 mention injuries[11]. The brake group is also small, with a median failure mileage of 25,700[10]. Small groups say little about how often a problem happens.

Recalls

NHTSA lists one recall for this car[3].

Fuel economy

The EPA lists two versions of the 2008 Sable, both with a 3.5L 6-cylinder engine, an automatic 6-speed and regular fuel[13][5].

Version City / Highway / Combined MPG Annual fuel cost
Front-wheel drive[5] 18 / 28 / 22 $3,050
All-wheel drive[13] 17 / 24 / 19 $3,550

The all-wheel drive version is rated 3 MPG lower combined[13][5]. The EPA fuel cost uses current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new.

Safety ratings

NHTSA gives the 4-door Sable (front or all-wheel drive) a rollover rating of 4 stars, with a rollover risk of 11.3%[14]. Our data has no other star ratings for this car.

How 2008 compares with other years

1995: 350 complaints, 5 recalls19951996: 304 complaints, 5 recalls19961997: 228 complaints, 3 recalls19971998: 190 complaints, 2 recalls19981999: 258 complaints, 5 recalls19992000: 464 complaints, 7 recalls20002001: 430 complaints, 8 recalls20012002: 440 complaints, 3 recalls20022003: 201 complaints, 3 recalls20032004: 52 complaints, 1 recalls20042005: 83 complaints, 0 recalls20052008: 61 complaints, 1 recalls6120082009: 20 complaints, 0 recalls2009
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Sable model year. The 2008 is highlighted[4].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
19953505
19963045
19972283
19981902
19992585
20004647
20014308
20024403
20032013
2004521
2005830
2008611
2009200

NHTSA lists 61 complaints and 1 recall for 2008[4]. Compared with other Sable years in the data:

The data has no 2006 or 2007 entries. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so use them only to compare Sable years.

Should you buy a used 2008 Sable?

The 2008 Sable has 61 complaints on file, fewer than 10 of the 12 other Sable years in the data[1][4]. Steering and transmission behavior are the areas to test carefully, since owners in the samples we read describe stiff steering and odd shifting[2][6]. Check whether the air bag recall 16V247 has been handled, and ask a Ford dealer about it[3]. If fuel cost matters, the front-wheel drive version is rated 22 MPG combined against 19 for all-wheel drive[13][5].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Mercury Sable?
Steering has the largest complaint group at 16 of 61 complaints, followed by power train and electrical system at 11 each[1][2][6][7].
Is there a recall on the 2008 Mercury Sable?
Yes. Recall 16V247 covers the driver frontal air bag, which may inflate improperly in a high speed crash[3].
How many MPG does a 2008 Mercury Sable get?
The EPA rates the front-wheel drive version at 22 MPG combined and the all-wheel drive version at 19[13][5].
Is the 2008 Mercury Sable a better year than others?
It has fewer complaints than 2005 and 1995 to 2003, but more than 2004 and 2009[4].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 61 owner complaints on file for the 2008 Mercury Sable (8 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 2 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. 16 complaints name the steering component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 49,210). NHTSA vehicle records
  3. Recall 16V247, filed April 26, 2016: Air Bags › Frontal. NHTSA recall database
  4. Owner complaints and recalls for every Mercury Sable model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  5. EPA rating for Sable FWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 28 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  6. 11 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 53,925). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 11 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 44,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 10 complaints name the speed control component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 40,490). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 6 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 50,420). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 6 complaints name the brakes component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 25,700). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 4 complaints name the air bags component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 4 complaints name the seats component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. EPA rating for Sable AWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 24 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  14. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD/AWD: rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 11.3%. NHTSA vehicle records

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.