DecodedCars2008 Mercury Sable
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2008 models.
- Class
- Large Cars
- Engines
- 3.5L 6-cyl
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 22 combined · 18 city / 28 hwy
- Length
- –
- Curb weight
- –
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 1 campaign
Pros & cons
What's good
- Excellent fuel economyUp to 22 MPG combined — 21% better than the average 2008 large car (18.2 MPG).
- AWD / 4WD available
- Few owner complaints18 complaints filed with NHTSA versus about 82 for similar models.
Watch out for
No weak spots against similar models in the data.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 12 similar 2008 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2008 Mercury Sable is a large car offered with a 3.5L 6-cyl engine and front-wheel drive and 4-wheel or all-wheel drive.
EPA rates its most efficient version at 22 MPG combined (18 city / 28 highway), 21% better than the 2008 large car average of 18.2 MPG, for an estimated $3,050 a year in fuel.
It has 1 recall campaign on file and owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the unknown or other.
What changed for 2008
- Engine added: 3.5L 6-cyl
- Engine dropped: 3.0L 6-cyl
- All-wheel or four-wheel drive now available
- Best combined MPG up from 20 to 22
Compared with 2005; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2005 Sable →
Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sable FWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 28 / 22 | +21% | $3,050 | 404 |
| Sable AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 24 / 19 | +4% | $3,550 | 468 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2008 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2008 Mercury Sable under the current (2011+) test program.
Similar 2008 large cars
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Mercury Sable (this car) | 22 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2008 Chevrolet Impala | 22 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2008 Dodge Charger | 21 MPG | Not rated | 3 |
| 2008 Chrysler 300 | 18 MPG | Not rated | 3 |
| 2008 Hyundai Sonata | 25 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2008 Toyota Avalon | 22 MPG | Not rated | 5 |
| 2008 Buick Lucerne | 19 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
Recalls (1)
Air Bags › Frontal · Apr 26, 2016
NHTSA campaign 16V247000 · 695 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- 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 Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.
Not every 2008 Mercury Sable is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2008 Mercury Sable buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 1 recall this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Air Bags — 3 owner reports. Confirm the airbag warning light turns off after start-up and any airbag recall was completed.
- Vehicle Speed Control — 3 owner reports. Ask the seller and mechanic specifically about this system.
- Engine — 3 owner reports. Cold-start the engine, listen for knocking, and watch for warning lights or hesitation on acceleration.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 64,241 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2008 Mercury Sable. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other Sable years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Sable | 21 | – | Not rated | 0 | 6 |
| 2005 Sable | 20 | – | Not rated | 0 | 21 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Mercury. How we calculate this →