CarBrief

NHTSA has 451 owner complaints on file for the 2008 Mercury Milan, with air bags and brakes the largest groups[1][2][3]. The car also has 4 recalls on file, so check each one before you buy or keep it[4].

451owner complaints[1]
4recalls[4]
20–23MPG combined (EPA)[5]

Most reported problems

Of the 451 complaints, 22 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 8 injuries and 1 a death[1]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name more than one component. Counts are not adjusted for sales.

Component group Complaints Crashes
Air bags[2] 211 7
Brakes[3] 196 15
Speed control[6] 19 3
Power train[7] 17 0
Engine[8] 16 0
Structure[9] 11 2
Electrical system[10] 6 0

Air bags. The median mileage for these complaints is 99,500[2]. In a sample of 12 complaint texts we read, 5 describe the passenger-side dashboard or air bag cover warping, lifting or separating[2]. Three describe a recall notice arriving while repair parts were not yet available[2]. Two describe the passenger seat sensor switching the passenger air bag off or lighting the warning light[2].

Brakes. The median mileage is 100,000[3]. In a sample of 12 brake complaint texts, 9 describe a pedal that sinks to the floor or feels soft[3]. Six name the master cylinder as the cause, and four say the pedal stayed low after the ABS engaged, three of them over a speed bump[3]. Some of these texts look like repeat filings of the same report[3].

Speed control and power train. In a sample of 12 speed control texts, 5 describe the car accelerating or surging on its own and 5 describe loss of power or stalling[6]. In a sample of 12 power train texts, 9 describe throttle trouble, sudden revving or lost power, and 3 mention a transmission that does not shift properly[7]. These groups are much smaller than air bags and brakes, so we do not treat them as a pattern.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2008 Milan[4]. Newest first:

The passenger-side recalls cover certain 2008 Milans depending on the state where the car was originally sold or registered[13][14]. Ask a Ford dealer or check NHTSA with the car's VIN to see which recalls are open on a specific car.

Fuel economy

The EPA lists four versions of the 2008 Milan[5][15][16][17].

Version City / Highway / Combined MPG Annual fuel cost
2.3L 4-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, front-wheel drive[5] 20 / 28 / 23 $2,900
2.3L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, front-wheel drive[15] 20 / 29 / 23 $2,900
3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, front-wheel drive[16] 18 / 26 / 21 $3,200
Milan AWD, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, all-wheel drive[17] 17 / 25 / 20 $3,350

The 6-cylinder versions use more fuel. The EPA cost estimates use current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new[5].

Safety ratings

NHTSA gives the 4-door Milan 5 stars for rollover, with a rollover risk of 9.2%[18]. We have no other NHTSA star ratings for this car, so this page does not rate crash protection.

How 2008 compares with other years

2006: 214 complaints, 4 recalls20062007: 434 complaints, 4 recalls20072008: 451 complaints, 4 recalls45120082009: 226 complaints, 6 recalls20092010: 1,062 complaints, 11 recalls20102011: 191 complaints, 7 recalls2011
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Milan model year. The 2008 is highlighted[4].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
20062144
20074344
20084514
20092266
20101,06211
20111917
Model year Complaints Recalls
2006 214 4
2007 434 4
2008 451 4
2009 226 6
2010 1,062 11
2011 191 7

All figures are from NHTSA[4]. The 2008 model has the second highest complaint count of the six years, behind 2010. Its 4 recalls match 2006 and 2007 and are fewer than 2009, 2010 and 2011[4]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so a higher count does not by itself show a worse car.

Should you buy a used 2008 Milan?

The record is mixed. Air bag and brake complaints are the largest groups[2][3], and all four recalls involve air bag inflators or the ABS unit[11][12][13][14]. Before buying, confirm with the VIN the status of every recall, especially the two passenger-side air bag recalls that told owners not to drive the car until repaired[13][14]. Ask about the brake pedal feel on a test drive, since 9 of the 12 brake complaint texts we read describe a pedal that sinks or feels soft[3]. Fuel economy is 20 to 23 combined MPG, with the 6-cylinder versions lower[5][15][16][17].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Mercury Milan?
Air bags (211 complaints) and brakes (196 complaints) are the largest groups out of 451 total NHTSA complaints[1][2][3].
Does the 2008 Mercury Milan have recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4: 21V158 and 17V024 and 16V384 for air bag inflators, and 19V904 for ABS valves[11][12][13][14][4].
What gas mileage does the 2008 Mercury Milan get?
The EPA rates it from 20 to 23 combined MPG, depending on engine and drive[5][15][16][17].
Is the 2008 Mercury Milan the worst year?
By complaint count it is second to 2010, which has 1,062 complaints against 451 for 2008[4]. Counts are not adjusted for sales.

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 451 owner complaints on file for the 2008 Mercury Milan (22 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 8 injuries, 1 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. 211 complaints name the air bags component group (7 crashes, 1 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 99,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  3. 196 complaints name the brakes component group (15 crashes, 1 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 100,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  4. Owner complaints and recalls for every Mercury Milan model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  5. EPA rating for Milan, 2.3L 4-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 28 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  6. 19 complaints name the speed control component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 61,750). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 17 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 80,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 16 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 75,900). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 11 complaints name the structure component group (2 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 60,725). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 6 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 110,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. Recall 21V158, filed March 10, 2021: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  12. Recall 19V904, filed December 18, 2019: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock / Traction Control / Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit / Module . NHTSA recall database
  13. Recall 17V024, filed January 10, 2017: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  14. Recall 16V384, filed May 31, 2016: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  15. EPA rating for Milan, 2.3L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 29 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  16. EPA rating for Milan, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  17. EPA rating for Milan AWD, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 25 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  18. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD/AWD: rollover 5 stars; rollover risk 9.2%. NHTSA vehicle records

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.