To whom it may concern: the left rear lower arm to body hinge bolt unscrewed (front location of rear lower arm) out of rear lower arm (about 2 inches out from lower arm) visual sighting caught this item - rear axle could have disengaged from the vehicle if rear lower arm bolt had fallen completely out. Dealership reinstalled bolt. *kb
2009 Mercury Sable suspension problems
moderate 3 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Complaints
3
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
When does it fail?
Of the 3 suspension complaints filed for the 2009 Mercury Sable, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA suspension complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 14 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
I have a 2009 merc sable premiere, when I go over bumps in the road the struts bottom out, and the car like slides side ways. I took it to the dealer where I bought it and they looked on the internet and found that Ford says when driving over bumps the car will bottom out and this is normal. I told the service man that this was [xxx] and he said he could not replace the struts until they recall…
I now have 75,000 miles on the vehicle, but at around the 15,000 mile point the driver's side front strut went out followed by the passenger front strut 4,000 miles later. In total both front struts have been replaced three times (the original and two replacement sets) and the driver's side front strut is again making a clunking sound, same as before. The dealer has replaced the original and…
Had suspension trouble with your 2009 Mercury Sable?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the suspension problem on the 2009 Mercury Sable?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 3 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Based on the 3 complaints filed, suspension issues most often appear around 39,817 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Mercury/Sable.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.