Most common 2009 Mercury Sable problems
Share of the 20 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercury Sable complaints by model year
Best Sable years: 2009, 2004, 2008. Years to avoid: 2000, 2001, 2002, 1995, 1996. Compare all years →
What 2009 Mercury Sable owners say
Speed control & acceleration
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Mercury Sable. The contact stated that while attempting to park, the vehicle suddenly accelerated, crashing into and embankment and continuing into a golf course. The contact sustained lacerations from the crash. The front passenger's head impacted the windshield, resulting in a contusion. In addition, the passenger sustained lacerations and bruises to the arms and legs. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 50,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Mercury Sable. While pulling into a parking space at 2 MPH, the vehicle accelerated on its own. The failures occurred intermittently for three years. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failures. The manufacturer was notified. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 22,300. Updated 9/4/14 the consumer stated when an incident would occur the vehicle had no brakes unless put in nuetral. The acceleration maintained the current speed. For the past 39 months the owner had been driving with one hand on the shifting lever to be able to stop. Updated 1/5/2014
Engine & cooling
While cruising on interstate highways, on three occasions, the engine has quit running. The first incident occurred October 12, 2012 with about 18,000 miles on odometer.the second incident occurred during May, 2014 with about 34,000 miles on odometer. The third incident occurred on April 20, 2016 with 40,665 miles on odometer. It is interesting to note that while this vehicle is used primarily for out-of-state travel, all 3 incidents have occurred while returning home from out of state trips and within about a 70 mile radius in central illinois. The engine will readily restart after a shutdown. The engine ran smoothly both before and following each shutdown, as well as all other times during the life of this vehicle. The Ford dealer checked the engine this week and found no cause for engine shutdown nor vehicle recalls. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Mercury Sable. When the contact turned the steering wheel while driving 15 MPH, the vehicle felt as if it would stall and an abnormal noise was heard. The traction control warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but could not be diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 65,000.
Transmission & drivetrain
Having driven 150 miles or so of highway driving using cruise control, stopping two times to rest, driving approx. 65 - 70 MPH. I arrived at waltham on rt. 128 where the traffic was bumper to bumper. I had to keep my foot on the brake until I was at exit 38 or 39. We travelled 5 - 15 MPH. After I was in the slow traffic for approx. 20 minutes my car started to lurch forward while gassing up and wanting to jump ahead. My foot was on the brake and I needed to brake even harder to hold onto the force that the car was exerting. I was in bumper to bumper traffic and had kept a distance betweeh myself and the car in front so the small jump did not hit that car before I pushed harder on the brake. The same thing happened again within 5 minutes. Once I arrived in danvers I drove to the dealer to report the problem and they gave me an appointment for wednesday8/28/13. …
Automobile engine inadvertently stopped running while driving at highway speed. Only indication was illumination of alternator system failure warning light and tachometer indication of zero. There was no associated shudder, lurching, or other physical indication that engine had failed. No engine service light or other indication was displayed. Vehicle transmission was placed into neutral, restart attempted, and engine resumed normal operation without further incident. This problem has occurred three times in the last 120 days. I contacted the dealer, where the vehicle was purchased - sentry Ford in medford ma., and the service rep on the phone found no apparent reason for the malfunction or to schedule a diagnostic dealer service appointment, since no engine service light came on, based on my testimonial. …
2009 Mercury Sable engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 28 / 21 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 24 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Mercury Sable a good car?
Based on 20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Sable rates better than average: 91% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Sable at the same age. It is one of the best Sable years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2009 Mercury Sable?
The speed control & acceleration — 5 complaints, 25% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (5) and transmission & drivetrain (3).
How many recalls does the 2009 Mercury Sable have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2009 Mercury Sable. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercury Sable?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2009, 2004 and 2008. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000, 2001, 2002, 1995 and 1996. See the full Mercury Sable years comparison.
At what mileage do 2009 Mercury Sable problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 34,000 miles; 68% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.