There are 16 owner-reported steering complaints for the 2008 Mercury Sablein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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 AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO HENNESSY FORD LINCOLN ATLANTA (LOCATED AT 5675 PEACHTREE INDUSTRIAL BLVD, ATLANTA, GA 30341, (770) 624-0200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
STEERING FROZE UP AND COULD NOT TURN TO LEFT / WAS HARD TO STEER AND THEN WHEN TRYING TO TURN LEFT COULD NOT DO IT, HAD TO MAKE RIGHT HAND TURNS. TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM (2015) THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALLS AND HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR/ COST ,ME $600.00 THERE WERE NO COMPLAINTS ON THE CAR FAX OF TROUBLE. .BOUGHT THE CAR IN NOV 2015 AND HAD TO HAVE STEERING FIXED IN JUNE OF 2016. TODAY I WENT TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS LATELY AND FOUND 51 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS CAR AND A LOT OF THEM WERE FOR STEERING AND POWER TRAIN. DON'T YOU THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. GOING TO LOOK FOR A NEW CAR AND NOT A FORD
LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVING ON OHIO TURNPIKE 07/19/2014. WITH NO POWER STEERING IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION WHILE ENTERING A SERVICE PLAZA. ALSO SUBSEQUENT MANEUVERING ON CITY STREETS WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. SUBSEQUENT REPAIR (07/23/2014) OF LOWER CRADLE, AND INSTALLED NEW (UPDATED) MOTOCRAFT RACK AND PINION UNIT. NEW ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED PER TSB. VEHICLE TOOK 3 DAYS TO REPAIR. COST TO REPAIR VEHICLE WAS OVER $1000. FORD ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (09-5-7) ON MARCH 23, 2009 BUT TO MY KNOWLEDGE HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,650. UPDATED 8/28/14*CN UPDATED 09/12/2014 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, SHE HEARD A POPPING NOISE AS THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT CAN NO LONGER TURN TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
ACCELERATOR STOPPED RESPONDING AND VEHICLE STALLED SHORTLY AFTER. *TR
2008 FORD MERCURY SABLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POWER STEERING FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PUMP FAILED. ALSO, THE REAR BRAKES WERE SEVERELY WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT (VERY HARD) TO TURN. TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD SERVICE AGENT AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE STEERING RACK WAS LOOSE. A NEW RACK WAS INSTALLED AND RETESTED. FORD SERVICE TOLD ME THAT THE CAR WAS HAZARDOUS AND IT HAD TO BE REPAIRED RIGHT THEN AND THERE. ASKED FORD MANUFACTURE TO BE REIMBURSE AND WAS DENIED. REPAIR WAS DONE ON DECEMBER 31, 2012. *TR
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
CAR DEVELOPED A KNOCK IN STEERING. MOST NOTABLE WHEN STOPPED AND TURNING STEERING WHEEL A FEW DEGREES LEFT AND RIGHT. TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO SAID STEERING CORE FAILED. REFUSED WARRANTY COVERAGE. SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY ACCIDENT ABOUT 1500 MILES PREVIOUSLY. THE ACCIDENT WAS A LOW SPEED FENDER BENDER WITHOUT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. FRONT BUMPER CRACKED, BUT HEAD LIGHTS WERE NOT BROKE, GRILL WAS NOT BROKE. INSURANCE COMPANY THAT FIXED ACCIDENT DAMAGE DENIED A CLAIM AGAINST THEM FOR STEERING CORE FAILURE. STATING IT WAS A FAILURE THAT WARRANTY SHOULD COVER (EXTENDED FORD WARRANTY.) I NEED TO FIND OUT IF AN ACCIDENT SUCH AS MINE COULD CAUSE A RACK CORE FAILURE. DEALER CHARGED $900.00 TO REPLACE THE RACK CORE. WOULD NOT GIVE ME THE CORE SAYING IT WAS UNDER PRESSURE AND HAD TO BE RETURNED AS AN EXCHANGE. (THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2009 1 YEAR OLD LEFTOVER). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND MAKING A TURN THE STEERING BECAME HAD BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. AFTER SHUTTING OFF AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO HAVE RESET BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT FRONT TIE RODS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,600.
BEGINNING ABOUT THE FIRST OF MARCH, 2012, I NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH MY STEERING FEELING STIFF, JERKY AND HARD TO TURN. THE FIRST INCIDENT INVOLVED TURNING RIGHT ONTO THE HIGHWAY FROM A SIDE RIDE AND FEELING THE FRONT OF THE CAR JERK SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT. SINCE THEN, I'VE NOTICED THE STEERING REMAINS STIFF. *TR
RECENTLY I WROTE YOU ABOUT MY 2008 SABLE IT HAS ONLY 16,000 MILE ON IT AND I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING STIFFENS UP WHILE DRIVING. I DID SOME INVESTIGATING AND HAD IT DIAGNOSED BY A REPUTABLE PERSON. IT WAS THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND RACKET PINION BAR. I DID NOT GO TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. YOU IN TURNED SENT MY COMPLAINT TO FORD AND THEY WROTE BACK SAYING THEY WERE SORRY AND I SHOULD OF TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP SO THEY CAN DOCUMENT IT. I JUST FELT SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY I WOULD GO TO SOMEONE REPUTABLE BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T SO COSTLY TO HAVE REPAIRED. I JUST WANTED TO PASS SOME INFO TO THE NHTSA ON FOR SAFETY REASONS. MAYBE THE PROBLEM DOCUMENTED [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE WHEEL STIFFENS UP WHILE MAKING A TURN. ALSO WHEN SITTING STILL/STOPPED THE WHEEL COMPLETELY FREEZES UP. THE BALL JOINTS, BEARINGS, AND RACKET PINION WAS CHECKED OUT BY A MECHANIC AND THE CONCLUSION HE CAME TO WAS HE THINKS IT COULD BE THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS FAULTED. THIS STARTED IN THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER AND CURRENTLY IS GETTING WORSE. DUE TO THE CAR ONLY HAVING 16,000 MILES AND HE HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER MERCURY'S WE WERE WONDERING IF THERE IS ANY SORT OF RECALL, AND IF THERE ISN'T IF THIS PROBLEM COULD BE NOTED FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. *TR
2008 MERCURY SABLE. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH POWER STEERING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING FAILED AS HE WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE RACK AND PINION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026