YearToAvoid

2008 Mercury Sable Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 4 Sable years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2008 Mercury Sable has 61 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 100 out of 100 — the highest of 4 Sable model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is steering (16 complaints, 26% of the total). Complaints report 8 crashes, 3 fires, and 2 injuries.

Complaints
61
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
8 / 3
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20.5
17.5 city / 26 hwy

Top 2008 Mercury Sable problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Steering16 (26%)
  2. Engine14 (23%)
  3. Electrical System11 (18%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain11 (18%)
  5. Brakes6 (10%)
  6. Structure & Body6 (10%)
  7. Airbags4 (7%)
  8. Other4 (7%)
  9. Fuel System3 (5%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (5%)
2008 Mercury Sable complaints: complaints filed per month5Feb 2008Nov 2009Jun 2011Jan 2012May 2013Jul 2014Dec 2015Aug 2021
78 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2008 to Nov 2025; peak May 2013 (5).

2008 Mercury Sable recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 16V247000Apr 26, 2016Airbags695 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal

    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."

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

    Remedy: 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 Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.

2008 Mercury Sable fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17.5 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
20.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,175
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2008 compared with other Sable years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002005200620082009
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Caution6783019.5
2006No verdict010—
2008Avoid10061120.5
2009Good3320020

All Mercury Sable years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Mercury Sable a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Mercury Sable ranks worst among Sable model years (Complaint Index 100/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 61 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Mercury Sable?
The most reported problem areas are steering (16 complaints), engine (14 complaints), and electrical system (11 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 48,000 miles.
Does the 2008 Mercury Sable have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2008 Mercury Sable, most recently reported 2016, covering airbags.
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Mercury Sable?
EPA rates the 2008 Mercury Sable at 20.5 MPG combined (17.5 city / 26 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,175. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.