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Research · Midsize Cars

2008 Mercury MilanRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 451 owner complaints for the 2008 Mercury Milan. Most complaints involve air bags (211) and service brakes (178). The EPA rates it 20–23 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
20–23mpg
EPA · 4 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
5campaigns
Latest Mar 2021
Owner complaints
451
Top: air bags
Fuel cost / yr
$2,700est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

5 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Air bags: inflator module

Park It: do not driveRemedy pending

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.

Air bagsReported Jan 10, 2017NHTSA 17V024000

Air bags: inflator module

Park It: do not driveRemedy pending

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.

Air bagsReported May 31, 2016NHTSA 16V384000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Mar 10, 2021NHTSA 21V158000
See all 5 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

451 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jan 2008 – Apr 2025
  1. Air bags211
  2. Service brakes178
  3. Vehicle speed control19
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic18
  5. Power train17
  6. Engine12
  7. Structure11
  8. Electrical system6
  9. Steering5

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Milan model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2006214
2007434
2008451
2009226
20101,062
2011192
Crashes reported
22
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
8
Deaths reported
1
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Air bags

211 reports7 crashes1 fire
“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 complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 28, 2022Air bagsODI 11476335

Service brakes

178 reports14 crashes1 fire
“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 complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 16, 2025Unknown or other, Service brakesODI 11655118

Vehicle speed control

19 reports3 crashes
“PULLED 2008 MILAN IN PARKING LOT, PUT IN PARK, ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE, TAPPED GAS PEDAL, ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL. CAR STARTED FINE, DRIVEN SHORT DISTANCE, I STOPPED AT STOP SIGN. PUT FOOT ON GAS PEDAL, CAR BEGAN 'LIMP HOME' MODE, WAS ABLE TO PULL TO CURB. WRENCH LIGHT APPEARED. SHUT CAR OFF A FEW MINUTES.STARTED FINE, WRENCH LIGHT ON, WAS ABLE TO DRIVE FEW BLOCKS TO GET HOME. NEXT DAY STARTED ENGINE 3 TIMES, EACH STALLING WITHIN SECONDS. NEVER HAD ISSUES WITH CAR. PURCHASED PRECERTIFIED IN 2011, 52,0000 MI. ON IT. WILL OWN 7 YRS. MAY 2018. I PUT 1000 MI. YRLY. ON CAR. ODOMETER NOW UNDER 59,500. ON 3/9/18 CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP (WHERE I PURCHASED IT). CAR SAT IN LOT 10 DAYS BEFORE LOOKED AT. FINALLY, CHECKED AND DIAGNOSED. INSTALLED NEW THROTTLE BODY. RE-TESTED. PROBLEM. INSTALLED NEW ACCELERATOR. RE-TEST. PROBLEM. CODES APPEARING. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. IN MICHIGAN.TOLD TO KEEP CALLING DEALERSHIP. I'VE SPOKEN TO NUMEROUS STAFF ALREADY & ASKED FOR LOANER CAR. NOT GRANTED. I DID INTERNET RESEARCH & FOUND LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD ABOUT 'LIMP HOME' MODE INVOLVING THROTTLE BODY & COMPUTER SENSORS DEFECT ON FORD, MERCURY & LINCOLN BROUGHT ON BY NCCC. FORD NOT FORCED…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 8, 2018Power train, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11083858
All 2008 Milan problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

4 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Midsize Cars
Engines
2.3L 4-cyl · 3.0L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 5-spd · Manual 5-spd · Automatic 6-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Milan
Auto 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L · Front-Wheel Drive
202823$2,700386
Milan
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L · Front-Wheel Drive
202923$2,700386
Milan
Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
182621$2,950423
Milan AWD
Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
172520$3,100444
  • Milan
    Auto 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L
    20 city · 28 hwy · $2,700/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Milan
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L
    20 city · 29 hwy · $2,700/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Milan
    Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L
    18 city · 26 hwy · $2,950/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Milan AWD
    Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L
    17 city · 25 hwy · $3,100/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2008 Mercury Milan as of Nov 10, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 10, 2026Vehicle 2810Vehicle 2536
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2008 Milan questions

How many recalls does the 2008 Mercury Milan have?

5 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2008 Mercury Milan problems?

Owners filed 451 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (211), service brakes (178), vehicle speed control (19). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2008 Mercury Milan get?

The EPA rates the 2008 Mercury Milan at 20–23 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 10, 2026