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2006 Mercury Milan: problems, recalls and fuel economy
NHTSA has 214 owner complaints on file for the 2006 Mercury Milan[1]. The car also has 4 recalls[2], and two of them involve passenger-side air bag inflators[3][4]., and two of them involve passenger-side air bag inflators[3][4].
Reported problems
Owners filed 214 complaints with NHTSA[1]. Six mention a crash, none mention a fire, four mention an injury and none mention a death[1]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name several parts. The counts are also not adjusted for how many cars were sold.
Here is how the complaints split by component group.
| Component group | Complaints | Crashes | Median mileage at failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags[6] | 128 | 3 | 84,000 |
| Structure[7] | 23 | 1 | 52,000 |
| Power train[8] | 21 | 0 | 81,750 |
| Brakes[9] | 16 | 3 | 120,000 |
| Engine[10] | 10 | 0 | 94,000 |
| Speed control[11] | 10 | 0 | 99,000 |
| Latches, locks, linkages[12] | 8 | 0 | 45,000 |
| Electrical system[13] | 7 | 0 | not listed |
We also read a small sample of 12 complaint texts for each of the four largest groups. This is only a sample, so treat it as a hint and not as a measure of how common anything is.
- Air bags. In a sample of complaints we read, 10 of 12 are about a recall notice or the Takata recall, and most of those say the repair parts were not available when the owner wrote[6]. Or use 'at least 7'.. Three mention an air bag warning light[6]. One describes air bags that did not deploy in a crash[6].
- Structure. In the sample, 11 of 12 describe a broken plastic interior door handle[7]. Several owners say they could not open the door from inside and had to roll the window down and use the outside handle[7].
- Power train. Owners describe the automatic transmission slipping, shifting hard or lunging in 7 of 12 sampled complaints[8]. Two describe throttle body trouble with a loss of speed and a warning light[8].
- Brakes. In the sample, 9 of 12 describe the pedal sinking toward the floor, going soft, or the car not stopping[9]. Three mention the ABS recall, and two of those say the repair was not yet available[9].
Recalls
NHTSA lists four recalls for this model year, newest first[2]. Each one is a safety recall, so check each one against the car you are looking at.
- Driver-side air bag inflator (21V158). The inflator can explode after long exposure to humidity and heat. Metal fragments could hit the driver or other occupants and cause serious injury or death. The fix is a free replacement of the inflator or module by a dealer[14].
- ABS control unit valves (19V904). Valves in the ABS hydraulic control unit can react with certain brake fluid additives and fail to close properly. That can mean the pedal has to travel farther to stop the car, which raises crash risk. The fix is a free brake system flush with DOT 4 fluid, a new reservoir cap, and a test of the control unit, which is replaced if needed[15].
- Remedy pending
Passenger-side air bag inflator (17V024). The inflator can rupture in a crash after long exposure to humidity and temperature swings, sending metal fragments at occupants. Ford advised owners not to drive the car until the repair is done. The recall record says the remedy was not yet available and owners would get a second notice when parts arrived. Whether a car is covered depends on where it was originally sold or registered[3]. - Remedy pending
Passenger-side air bag inflator (16V384). This is the same kind of inflator problem, with the same risk and the same advice not to drive until repaired. The record says the remedy was not yet available and a second notice would follow. Coverage again depends on where the car was originally sold or registered[4].
Because the remedy status on the two passenger-side recalls is described as pending in our records, do not assume those repairs can be done today. Ask a Ford dealer about current parts availability for any car you consider.
Fuel economy
EPA lists three versions of the 2006 Milan, all front-wheel drive and all on regular gas.
| Engine and transmission | City / highway / combined MPG | EPA annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl, Automatic 5-spd[5] | 21 / 29 / 24 | $2,800 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd[16] | 20 / 28 / 23 | $2,900 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd[17] | 18 / 27 / 21 | $3,200 |
The annual cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices from when the car was new. The 3.0L costs about $400 more a year to fuel than the 2.3L automatic by those numbers[5][17].
Safety ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings list two 4-door front-wheel-drive versions of this car (one labeled W/SAB, one without that label) as not rated[18][19]. That means there is no star rating to compare with other cars.
How 2006 compares with other years
Show the numbers
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 214 | 4 |
| 2007 | 434 | 4 |
| 2008 | 451 | 4 |
| 2009 | 226 | 6 |
| 2010 | 1,062 | 11 |
| 2011 | 191 | 7 |
NHTSA's counts for each Mercury Milan model year are below[2].
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2006[2] | 214 | 4 |
| 2007[2] | 434 | 4 |
| 2008[2] | 451 | 4 |
| 2009[2] | 226 | 6 |
| 2010[2] | 1,062 | 11 |
| 2011[2] | 191 | 7 |
The 2006 model year has the second lowest complaint count of the six years. Only 2011 is lower. It ties 2007 and 2008 for the fewest recalls. The 2010 model year has the most of both. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so they show where reports landed and not which year is more reliable[2].
Should you buy a used 2006 Milan?
The 2006 Milan has fewer complaints than four of the other five model years on file, but it is not trouble free[2]. Its four recalls cover air bag inflators and ABS valves, so confirm that each one has been dealt with before you buy[14][15][3][4]. In the complaint samples we read, owners describe a slipping automatic transmission and broken interior door handles, which are worth checking on a test drive[7][8]. Combined fuel economy runs from 21 to 24 MPG depending on the engine and transmission[5][16][17]. Treat the complaint data as a guide to what to inspect, not as a verdict on every car.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the most common problems with the 2006 Mercury Milan?
- Air bags is the largest group in NHTSA's data with 128 of 214 complaints, followed by structure with 23 and power train with 21[1][6][7][8]. In samples we read, owners describe recall waiting, broken interior door handles and transmission slipping[6][7][8].
- Does the 2006 Mercury Milan have recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 4: a driver-side air bag inflator, ABS control unit valves, and two passenger-side air bag inflator recalls[14][15][3][4].
- What MPG does the 2006 Mercury Milan get?
- EPA lists 24 combined MPG for the 2.3L automatic, 23 for the 2.3L manual and 21 for the 3.0L automatic[5][16][17].
Facts and sources
- NHTSA has 214 owner complaints on file for the 2006 Mercury Milan (6 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 4 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
- Owner complaints and recalls for every Mercury Milan model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
- Recall 17V024, filed January 10, 2017: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 16V384, filed May 31, 2016: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Milan, 2.3L 4-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 21 city / 29 highway / 24 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- 128 complaints name the air bags component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 84,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 23 complaints name the structure component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 52,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 21 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 81,750). NHTSA vehicle records
- 16 complaints name the brakes component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 120,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 10 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 94,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 10 complaints name the speed control component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 99,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 8 complaints name the latches/locks/linkages component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 45,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 7 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- Recall 21V158, filed March 10, 2021: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 19V904, filed December 18, 2019: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock / Traction Control / Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit / Module . NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Milan, 2.3L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 28 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Milan, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 27 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4-DR W/SAB FWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4-DR FWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records