RoadVitals

2008 Mercury Sable Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Apr 17, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
15%
of 61 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Mercury Sable submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming powertrain

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 17, 2023

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 worse. It was violently shuddering and wouldn’t accelerate. I took my foot off the gas which stopped the shaking. I gassed it slowly and I could accelerate to speed much slower than I would have liked. It wasn’t smooth. One half mile later it suddenly and violently began again. Taking my foot off the gas it smoothed out and I could accelerate again. I changed plans and went to the service garage to see what the problem was. It seems the problem is a known issue that hasn’t been addressed. I’m glad there were no cars coming from the opposite direction which could have impacted the drivers side while I was floundering out of my drive. I will enclose the garages assessment.

NHTSA ID
11517410
Incident
Apr 12, 2023
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 23, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ENGINE, THROTTLE, WRENCH, AND AIR BAG INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN REVERSE, AND THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ID
10898075
Incident
Jan 25, 2016
Mileage
85,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 10, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY HESITATE TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ID
10809460
Incident
Jun 1, 2015
Mileage
55,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 7, 2013

TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY WOULD STAY IN 5TH GEAR AND NOT SHIFT -- LIMP HOME MODE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED OUTPUT SHAFT SENSOR AND TURBINE SENSOR, AND THIS RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10547160
Incident
Sep 12, 2013
Mileage
37,808 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 20, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE CONTINUOUS VARIABLE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,850.

NHTSA ID
10544546
Incident
Sep 11, 2013
Mileage
52,850 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 19, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE ON AN INCLINE WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL BACKWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING THE POWER STEERING TO ALSO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 81,000. UPDATED 6/4/13 *CN UPDATED 06/11/2013 *JS

NHTSA ID
10489241
Incident
Sep 1, 2012
Mileage
79,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 27, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING HIS VEHICLE IN COLDER WEATHER, IT WOULD JUMP OR LUNGE FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THE MATTER FURTHER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10486216
Incident
Nov 27, 2011
Mileage
40,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Nov 12, 2012

WHILE DRIVING LAST WEEK MY WIFE NOTICED THAT WHEN TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT THE STEERING STIFFENED UP AND HAD TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP AS TO NOT HIT THE VEHICLE TO HER LEFT . I CHECKED THE CAR OUT AND NOTICED IT IS MOSTLY AFFECTED AT LOW SPEED WHILE MAKING TURNS EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT THIS HAD NO WARNING AND COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS.IT IS JUST LUCK THAT A WALKER OR JOGGER WERE NOT ON THE STREETS AT THE TIME .THIS NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION I WILL ATTEMPT AT REPAIR MYSELF AS IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY POSSIBLE RACK AND PINION ALSO TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE AT TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10484005
Incident
Nov 8, 2012
Mileage
60,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 17, 2011

CAR WOULD JERK GOING INTERSTATE SPEED OF 70MPH. FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING INTO NEUTRAL AND BACK IN TO GEAR. DID THIS ABOUT FOUR TIMES AND I MEAN IT IS HARD, WILL SCARE YOU TO DEATH IF YOUR IN THE CAR. AFTER IT DID THIS ABOUT FOUR TIME OVER AN HOUR, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON THE REST OF THE TRIP. THIS IS A USED CAR I JUST BOUGHT, SO IM NOT SURE IF IT WILL CONTINUE TO DO THIS. BUT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ON THE INTERSTATE NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID
10440288
Incident
Dec 16, 2011
Mileage
63,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .