VehicleVerdict

2008 Mercury Milan problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Worth extra scrutiny

The 2008 Mercury Milan sits mid-pack among Milan years: 522 NHTSA complaints against a model median of roughly 381, with 5 recalls and 5 closed investigations. Reports tied to this model year include 2 deaths and 10 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

The trouble concentrates in one system: airbags issues account for 41% of all reports (212 of 522), far ahead of brakes at 199.

522

NHTSA complaints

5

Recalls

5

Investigations

31

Crash-involved

3

Fires reported

10

Injuries

2

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2008 compare to other Milan years?

Milan NHTSA complaints by model year, 2008 highlighted1,430 complaints2006: 250 complaints2007: 505 complaints2008: 522 complaints2009: 251 complaints2010: 1,430 complaints2011: 258 complaints
Milan NHTSA complaints by model year, 2008 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Milan years to avoid →

What are the most common 2008 Mercury Milan problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Airbags21241%
Brakes19938%
Speed Control194%
Transmission173%
Engine163%
Body & Structure112%
Other102%
Electrical System92%
Tires & Wheels92%
Fuel System71%
Steering51%
Seats31%
Lighting31%
Suspension20%

Does the 2008 Mercury Milan have recalls?

5 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

21V158000AirbagsMarch 10, 2021 · 2,602,668 units

Defect

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.

19V904000BrakesDecember 18, 2019 · 600,166 units

Defect

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles. The valves within the ABS Hydraulic Control Units (HCU) may react with brake fluids containing specific corrosion preventative additives. This reaction may cause the valves to not close properly.

Consequence

If the valves do not properly close, additional brake pedal travel may be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will flush the brake system with DOT 4 fluid and install a new brake fluid reservoir cap. In addition, the HCU will be tested to detect a possible stuck valve condition, replacing the HCU as necessary. All services will be performed free of charge. The recall began April 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S54.

17V024000AirbagsJanuary 10, 2017 · 654,695 units

Defect

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain 2009 Ford Ranger, Edge, Fusion and Mustang, Lincoln MKX, MKZ and Zephyr and Mercury Milan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Ford is recalling certain 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ, 2005-2008 Ford Mustang and 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners of the recall and that parts are not yet available began mailing March 1, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.

16V384000AirbagsMay 31, 2016 · 1,892,343 units

Defect

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles, and 2005-2011 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles and 2005-2008 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Any vehicle not included in "Zone A", or "Zone B" is not included in the safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Ford mailed interim letters informing owners that parts are not yet available on July 15, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.

14E028000OtherMay 29, 2014 · 82,579 units

Defect

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain all weather driver side accessory floor mats sold for use in model year 2006-2011 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, 2006 Lincoln Zephyr, and 2007-2011 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured November 9, 2007, through October 31, 2010. The affected floor mats may move and possibly interfere with the accelerator pedal.

Consequence

The floor mat could shift such that it could interfere with the accelerator pedal, preventing its return to an idle position, which could result in unintended vehicle speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install new replacement mats, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Ford's customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S07. NOTE: Vehicles built after October 31, 2010, while potentially equipped with the same floor mats, are equipped with a Brake Over Accelerator (BOA) feature that prevents simultaneous accelerator and brake application, allowing the vehicle to be safely stopped by pressing firmly and steadily on the brake pedal.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH ON 8/14/08 IN MY VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THIS WAS A SIDE, ALMOST T-BONE IMPACT, AND THE CURTAIN/SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AS A RESULT I HAD GLASS LACERATIONS AND MY HEAD HIT THE DRIVER'S WINDOW, SMASHING IT AND CAUSING INJURY TO MY…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · August 14, 2008 · crash

WHEN BRAKING DURING SLIPPERY CONDITIONS I.E RAIN, SNOW, ICE THE ABS SYSTEM WILL ENGAGE CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSES TO THE FLOOR UNTIL THE VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP, ONLY THEN DO THE BRAKES FINALLY RELEASE.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · February 7, 2019 · crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MILAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING AND AT LESS THEN 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SURGED AND ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED, JUMPING A CURB. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN SKIDDED SEVERAL FEET BEFORE THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · August 27, 2011 · crash

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN MY CAR STARTED RUNNING ON FOUR CYLINDERS INSTEAD OF 6. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP VIA TOW TRUCK. THEY HAD TO REPLACE MY POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) AND A COIL THAT WAS BURNT. THEY FOLLOWED THE TSB 13-4-17 THAT RELATED TO THE 2006-2008…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · May 5, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MILAN. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK, JERKED, AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · September 25, 2016

2008 Mercury Milan — common questions

Is the 2008 Mercury Milan reliable?

It is close to typical for the Milan: 522 NHTSA complaints, 5 recalls, and 5 investigations on file.

What are the most common 2008 Milan problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are airbags (212 complaints), brakes (199 complaints), speed control (19 complaints).

Does the 2008 Mercury Milan have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns affecting the 2008 Mercury Milan. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2008 Mercury Milan under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 5 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Mercury Milan years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Milan years to avoid are 2010. The cleanest record among Milan years belongs to 2006.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.