Is the 2008 Mercury Milan a bad year?
451 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Milan years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2008 Mercury Milan are in line with other Milan years. Air bags and brakes stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2008 Milan owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 100,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 211 (47%) | 62k–127k miles · around this mileage | — |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 198 (44%) | 70k–125k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Speed control | 19 (4%) | 27k–110k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 17 (4%) | 72k–108k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 15 (3%) | 69k–109k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 6 (1%) | 74k–120k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Body structure | 11 (2%) | 37k–98k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 100,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 451 complaints: 22 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 7 report an injury · 9 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Apr 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2008 Mercury Milan: 5
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. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
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. If the valves do not properly close, additional brake pedal travel may be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The affected floor mats may move and possibly interfere with the accelerator pedal. The floor mat could shift such that it could interfere with the accelerator pedal, preventing its return to an idle position, which could result in unintended vehicle speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Mercury: 13
Repair instructions Mercury sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2008 Mercury Milan. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Ford/lincoln/mercury: some vehicles, with diagnostic codes (DTCs) P0351, P0352, P0353, P0354, P0355…
Certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2005-2006 GT, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion and MKZ/Zephyr, 2006-2011 Milan…
Replacing the original equipment SYNC/Navigation system with either an aftermarket SYNC/Navigation kit or modifying original SYNC/Navigation parts to provide…
Some vehicles may generate a vhr that identifies a concern with the brakes and suspension category indicating service is required due to a brake system warning…
NHTSA defect investigations: 5
Extended Braking Distance
Extended Braking Distance
Floor mat interference with accelerator
Accel Pedal Interference - Acc Floormat
Tire valve cracking
Neighbouring years
2007 Milan: 434 complaints, keep it · 2009 Milan: 226 complaints, keep it.
Every Mercury Milan year
2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · All Milan years side by side
Other Mercury models: Mercury Cougar · Mercury Grand Marquis · Mercury Mariner · Mercury Mariner Hybrid · Mercury Montego · Mercury Monterey · Mercury Mountaineer · Mercury Sable. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2008 Mercury Milan a bad year?
451 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Milan years. At 100,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Mercury Milan?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (211), brakes (198), speed control (19), transmission and drivetrain (17), engine (15).
How many recalls does the 2008 Mercury Milan have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 21V-158), Brakes (NHTSA 19V-904), Air bags (NHTSA 17V-024), Air bags (NHTSA 16V-384) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.