Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2008 Mercury Sable, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Steering16
- Electrical system11
- Power train11
- Vehicle speed control10
- Engine5
- Air bags4
- Unknown or other4
- Seats4
- Suspension3
- Service brakes, hydraulic3
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 19 2008 Sable vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 11 people died inside them, and 3 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2008 Mercury Sable failed the safety check 4.46% of the time — 80% more often than the average 2008 passenger car (2.48%). Median odometer at inspection: 105,844 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls
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 speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mercury told its dealers about the 2008 Mercury Sable: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10177863 | This article supersedes TSB 19-2026 to update the vehicle model years affected. Some 2000 and newer Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. |
| 10163573 | Some 2009-2017 Expedition/Navigator, 2009-2014 F-150/Mustang, 2008-2009 Sable, 2008-2019 Taurus/Flex/MKT, 2013-2019 Police Interceptor Sedan/Utility, and 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles may exhibit inoperative or intermittent HVAC blower motor function at various fan speed settings. This may be due to a poor electrical connection at the blower motor speed control. If the blower motor speed control is determined to be the causal part, replacement of the electrical connector pigtail harness (14S411) to the blower motor speed control is also recommended to avoid repeat repairs. Use pigtail harness se |
| 10156877 | Some 2009-2017 Expedition/Navigator, 2009-2014 F-150/Mustang, 2008-2009 Sable, 2008-2019 Taurus/Flex/MKT, 2013-2019 Police Interceptor Sedan/Utility, and 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles may exhibit inoperative or intermittent HVAC blower motor function at various fan speed settings. This may be due to a poor electrical connection at the blower motor speed control. If the blower motor speed control is determined to be the causal part, replacement of the electrical connector pigtail harness (14S411) to the blower motor speed control is also recommended to avoid repeat repairs. Refer to Wiring Diagra |
| 10155565 | Some 2009-2017 Expedition/Navigator, 2009-2014 F-150/Mustang, 2008-2009 Sable, 2008-2019 Taurus/Flex/MKT, 2013-2019 Police Interceptor Sedan/Utility, and 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles may exhibit inoperative or intermittent HVAC blower motor function at various fan speed settings. This may be due to a poor electrical connection at the blower motor speed control. If the blower motor speed control is determined to be the causal part, replacement of the electrical connector pigtail harness (14S411) to the blower motor speed control is also recommended to avoid repeat repairs. Refer to Wiring Diagra |
| 10140323 | The Accessory (Wireless) Keyless Entry Keypad can only be used with vehicles that are factory built with Remote Keyless Entry (RKE). The master code for the Accessory (Wireless) Keyless Entry Keypad can be retrieved from FMCDealer - Parts and Service - Parts Product Line Information - Keys/Entry Devices - Aftermarket Keyless Entry Keypad Code Access. Access to this site is granted through Dealer Program Enrollment System (DPES) and Dealer Principal, General Manager or Parts and Service Director can authorize users. Once authorized the retrieval process for master code can be obtained. The mast |
| 10138524 | The Accessory (Wireless) Keyless Entry Keypad can only be used with vehicles that are factory built with Remote Keyless Entry (RKE). The master code for the Accessory (Wireless) Keyless Entry Keypad can be retrieved from FMCDealer - Parts and Service - Parts Product Line Information - Keys/Entry Devices - Aftermarket Keyless Entry Keypad Code Access. Access to this site is granted through Dealer Program Enrollment System (DPES) and Dealer Principal, General Manager or Parts and Service Director can authorize users. Once authorized the retrieval process for master code can be obtained. The mast |
| 10109070 | The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to diagnose possible ETB concerns. The IDS has a limited refresh rate when reading these PIDs and cannot display quickly enough to validate a concern. The PCM automatically monitors these inputs more accurately and will set diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) when appropriate. Using these PIDs for diagnostics will lead to inaccurate results and improper ETB replacements. If a concern is intermittent and no DTCs are present, refer |
| 10052190 | FORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY: SOME VEHICLES, WITH DIAGNOSTIC CODES (DTCS) P0351, P0352, P0353, P0354, P0355, MAY EXPERIENCE A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP IN THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) AND ONE OR MORE COIL ON PLUG(S) DAMAGE. MODELS 2006-08 MILAN, FUSION, 2008 SABLE, TAURUS, 2007-08 MKZ, MKX, EDGE, 2006 ZEPHYR. *PE |
| 10039155 | FORD: THERE MAY BE A ROUGH IDLE OR MISSES WHILE THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS ON. THERE ARE MUTLIPLE POSSIBLE TROUBLE CODES STORED. *RM |
| 10032244 | FORD/MERCURY/LINCOLN: SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 6F50 TRANSAXLE , WITH ANY OUTPUT SHAFT SPEED (OSS) SENSOR OR TURBINE SHAFT SPEED (TSS) SENSOR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE(S) (DTCS) P0715, P0717, P0720, P0721, P0722 AND/OR HARSH ENGAGEMENTS, NO UPSHIFT, FIFTH GEAR ONLY, COULD HAVE AN INTERMITTEN SHORT IN THE OSS OR TSS SENSOR. *PE |
| 10032237 | FORD/MERCURY: VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NON-METALLIC RUBBERY GRUNT FROM THE FRONT END AT LOW SPEEDS, MOST NOTICEABLY WHILE TURNING INTO/OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. ENGINEERING IS AWARE OF THIS CONCERN AND IS INVESTIGATING. *PE |
| 10032234 | FORD: SOME MULTIPLES VEHICLES REPLACEMENTS MAY REQUIRE REVISED AS BUILT DATA. THE NEW LEVEL SJB SERVICE PART INTRODUCED BETWEEN 10/07 AND 02/08 WILL REQUIRE ENTRY OF AS BUILT DATA. *PE |
| 10023436 | 6F50 TRANSAXLE EQUIPPED VEHICLES WHEN STOPPED ON A HILL IN DRIVE OR REVERSE WITHOUT SERVICE BRAKE APPLIED MAY ROLL (WON'T HOLD). *NJ |
| 10021280 | 6F50 TRANSAXLES BUILT PRIOR TO 1/1/07 - DTC P0715, P0717, P0718, P0720, AND/OR HARSH ENGAGEMENT, NO UPSHIFT, FIFTH GEAR ONLY. *KB UPDATED 2/6/08. *NJ |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
TIRE VALVE CRACKING
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation