Problems · NHTSA complaints

2008 Mercury Milan problems

Owners filed 451 complaints about the 2008 Mercury Milan with NHTSA between Jan 2008 and Apr 2025. The most-cited component is air bags (211).

Complaints
451
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
22
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  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
  10. Wheels5
  11. Tires4
  12. Engine and engine cooling4
  13. Fuel system, gasoline4
  14. Fuel/propulsion system3

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20083
20091
20107
20116
20122
201310
201418
201519
201652
2017175
201880
201916
202029
202120
20227
20233
20241
20252

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

211 reports7 crashes1 fire3 related recalls
“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

Service brakes, hydraulic

18 reports1 crash1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Milan. The contact stated while driving 25-30 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but went all the way to the floorboard and failed to respond. The contact was unsure whether there was a warning light illuminated. The contact stated that she coasted the vehicle on a hill and turned off the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to three different independent mechanics who diagnosed that the braking system had failed. However, the failure was unrepairable. The contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) which she associated with the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the remedy was not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the remedy was not yet available. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 6, 2022Service brakes, hydraulicODI 11467781

Power train

17 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MILAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JARRETT SCOTT FORD OF PLANT CITY (877-751-9729, LOCATED AT 2000 E BAKER ST, PLANT CITY, FL 33563) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER ALSO LOCATED UNKNOWN FAILURE CODES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,293.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 2, 2020Power trainODI 11292557

Engine

12 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MILAN. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 6, 2018Steering, Service brakes, EngineODI 11149679
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

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