2008 Mercury Sable

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

69/100

Be careful

AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 61 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Mercury Sable, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Steering	12	20%
Power train	7	11%
Vehicle speed control	6	10%
Electrical system	6	10%
Air bags	3	5%
Seats	3	5%
Power train	2	3%
Unknown or other	2	3%
Service brakes	2	3%
Structure	1	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

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 contac
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

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
NHTSA complaint: Power train

Not sure, but it sounds like the springs. The air condition makes a stumping noise when I turn it on.
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Sable. The contact stated their daughter was driving at 55 mph, when the driver was approaching an intersection at a red light the driver depressed on the brake pedal and the brake pedal w
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

THE PASSENGER HEATED SEATS ARE NOT WORKING AND MAKING SHORT CIRCUIT AFFECTING THE WHILE CAR ELECTRIC SOMETIMES, A LOT OF REVIEWS ONLINE STATING THAT THIS HAPPENS DUE TO OVERLOAD ON THE GROUND WIRE IN THE MODULE PLUG WHIC
NHTSA complaint: Seats

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE DOING BASIC MAINTENANCE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SPRING WAS FRACTURED AND THE REAR SUB FRAME BOLTS F
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

GOT MY CAR INSPECTED ON 12/3/20. WAS TOLD MY CAR HAS A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

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
NHTSA complaint: Steering

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2008 Mercury Sable. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Air bags:frontal 16V247000

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high spe

Risk: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact

The seven scores

Reliability raw	78	good
Longevity est.	77	good
Maintenance	76	good
Depreciation	60	average
Performance	57	average
Efficiency	41	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 38% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 49% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 54% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 57% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 78: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 77: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2008 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 76: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2008 Mercury Sable?

Owners have filed 61 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and steering is the most reported area with 12 of them (20%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2008 Mercury Sable reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 78/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 2008 Mercury Sable last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2008 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2008 Mercury Sable?

AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 69/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.