Carlexica

2008 Mercury Milan: problems, recalls and reliability

5 recalls and 451 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (45% of complaints); the 2006 and 2009 model years look more trouble-free.

Data updated weekly · latest recall Mar 2021

5
recalls
451
owner complaints
1
fire reports
95,000
typical failure mileage, mi

All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.

Problems tend to appear late (median 95,000 mi)One of the most complained-about Milan years (#2 of 6, age-adjusted)Weak spot: air bags (45%)1 fire report

Common problems

Computed from 451 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

Air Bags (airbags and crash sensors)45% · 198 complaints
Service Brakes (brakes)37% · 164 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic (brakes)3% · 15 complaints
Power Train (transmission, axles, driveline)3% · 12 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control (unintended acceleration, cruise control)3% · 12 complaints
Structure (body, frame, doors, rust)2% · 10 complaints
08 merc milan abs did not work and brakes failed almost causing major accidents. I used e brake to stop. Brakes went to floor. Been calling for and dealerships for recalls I find out now about abs malfunctioning noone will fix or get back to me. Leaking brake fluid all around abs module now. Dealerships saying they not fixing abs even on recalls. Ford dealership in East rutherford nj.Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Apr 2025
The gas pedal gets stuck at the top when I go to press down on it allowing the car to keep driving when I am trying to stop the car.Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Mar 2023
Was not able to drive my car because you had to press the breaks all the way to the ground in order for the vehicle to attempt to stop. A recall was issued for the hydraulic breaks in 2019 and no parts were available for almost a year. Car has been at the dealership being repaired since August 12, but now they are telling us that the hydraulic breaks issues has caused the break master cylinder to fail - leaving the car unsafe and undrivable but they are expecting us to pay for the replacement of the master cylinder when the dealership openly admitted this was directly caused because of the recallOwner report · Service Brakes · Oct 2022
Show 7 more owner reports
In March 2021 I received important safety recall from Ford advising me that the Airbag inflator might explode in the event of a crash and may cause injury or death to the driver or passengers. My daughter still drives this car, why have they not followed up and replaced this part?Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2022
I took the vehicle in earlier this year for the recall on the Brake system. They bled the brakes and said it was fine but now the brakes are just like they were before taking it in. I would assume that the HCU is bad but they did not want to change it out when they had it.Owner report · Service Brakes · May 2022
For several years, my vehicle has had an issue with "extended brake pedal travel," making it more difficult to come to a stop with a reasonable effort, and increasing the likelihood of an accident. My vehicle has already been repaired for a prior recall regarding "extended brake pedal travel" (this "repair" did not fix this problem; in fact, it apparently passed the Ford-developed test, thus warranting no significant repair. My father is a Ford automotive technician and he was also surprised by this result. I suspect the Ford-developed "test" to determine whether there is indeed a problem was developed in Ford's favor and does not ensure the safety of the customer/driver.Owner report · Service Brakes · Jan 2022
The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Milan. The contact stated the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, while she was driving 10 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but felt soft and remained on the floorboard. The contact stated she continued to pump the brake pedal until it became firm. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the parts used for the recall repair had failed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that she would be responsible for the cost of the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 68,000.Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Sep 2021
Frame Rail corrosion, noticed by dealer while having other recall service performed, they took photos since they hadn't seen this on a Milan, Fusion, or MKZ. I am now concerned with the car's safety.Owner report · Structure · Jun 2021
2008 Mercury Milan. Consumer writes in regard to NHTSA Safety Recall 19V-904. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS MADETO THE VEHICLES.Owner report · Service Brakes, Air · May 2021
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 mercury milan. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19v904000 (service brakes, hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. Steven's 112 ford (507 ny-112, east patchogue, ny 11772) was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and referred the contact to a local dealer. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Apr 2021

When filing, owners marked a crash in 22 of these complaints and injuries in 8 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.

Recalls - 5 campaigns

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE16V384000 · May 2016

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.

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.

EQUIPMENT14E028000 · May 2014

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.

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.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE21V158000 · Mar 2021

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.

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.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE17V024000 · Jan 2017

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.

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.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE19V904000 · Dec 2019

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.

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.

Specifications

Factory options offered for the 2008 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.

Drive typeAWD/All-Wheel Drive
Body stylesSedan/Saloon

How other years compare

Check your exact Milan by VIN

Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.

Open VIN decoder

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Mercury Milan reliable?

NHTSA has 451 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 2008 Mercury Milan. The most complained-about area is air bags (45% of complaints).

At what mileage do 2008 Mercury Milan problems usually appear?

Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 95,000 miles or less.

Does the 2008 Mercury Milan have open recalls?

5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.