Head-to-head reliability
Mercury Milan vs FORD F 150
How the Mercury Milan and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Mercury Milan vs FORD F 150: The Milan averaged 429 complaints per year over 6 years, while the F-150 averaged 1,162 per year over 10 years. The Milan's top issue is airbags (788 complaints), and the F-150's is power train (3,648). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercury Milan or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercury Milan
The Mercury Milan is a midsize sedan that averaged about 429 owner complaints per year over six years, with 44 recalls. The most common complaints involve airbag inflators, brake performance, and steering stability, suggesting that living with this car means staying on top of safety recalls and being alert to brake and steering behavior. With 98 crash-related reports and 48 injuries in the data, these are not just minor annoyances.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that averaged about 1,162 complaints per year over ten years, with 151 recalls. Power train and electrical problems dominate the complaint pattern, often described as transmission limp mode, harsh shifting, and lead frame failures that can affect speed sensing. The volume of complaints is much higher, but it also reflects a much larger number of trucks on the road.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercury Milan | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,577 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 44 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 98 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 429.5 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 48 Better | 297 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Mercury Milan
- 01AIR BAGS788
- 02SERVICE BRAKES587
- 03STEERING350
- 04VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL259
- 05POWER TRAIN251
Owners report Takata airbag inflator recalls, especially on the passenger side, with concerns about the airbag exploding and long waits for repairs. A buyer should confirm that all open airbag recalls have been completed before purchase.
Complaints describe a long delay between pressing the brake pedal and the vehicle stopping, sometimes requiring pumping the brakes. In one report, a teenage driver could not stop in traffic, which is a serious safety concern for any buyer.
Owners report the rear end wiggling side to side in winter conditions even with new tires, making the car feel unstable and hard to control. This suggests that rear suspension or steering components may need close inspection, especially in cold climates.
Some owners report shifting problems after battery disconnection, such as the car not shifting unless the gas is released, hard shifts, and delayed gear engagement. A buyer should test drive at various speeds and check for transmission hesitation or unusual shifting.
“(TAKATA RECALL). THEY RECOMMEND YOU DO NOT HAVE PASSENGERS IN THE FRONT SEAT OF THIS VEHICLE DUE TO ACTIVE RECALL OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THIS RECALL WAS IN 2017. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT THEY HAVE NOT FIXED THIS ISSUE AS OF TODAY. IT IS NOT REASON…”
“TAKATA RECALL- AFTER PURCHASING MY VEHICLE I FOUND OUT THAT THE CAR WAS IN A FEW PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS WHERE THE AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED. ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, WHICH IS THE RECALLED SIDE, I AM WORRIED ABOUT IT EXPLODING AS MY RECALL STATED. MY RECALL ALSO STATED…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners describe recurring transmission problems, including limp mode stuck in 5th gear, harsh shifting, and lead frame failures that can cause speed sensor errors. These issues can leave a driver stranded or in a dangerous situation, so a thorough transmission check is essential.
Complaints include lead frame issues affecting speed sensing and output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode. A buyer should check for stored trouble codes and confirm any related recalls or software updates have been performed.
One owner reported the rear window exploding outward after using the defroster, which was linked to a short in the rear window defroster. This is a rare but serious event, so inspect the rear window and defroster operation carefully.
Exterior lighting is a top complaint area, though the sample text does not describe a specific failure. A buyer should test all lights, including brake lights, turn signals, and headlights, and look for any recall notices related to lighting.
“This lead frame issue is never ending. Well over a decade without a proper remedy. I’m very familiar with it. but this one nearly ended my life. After the near collision I called my mechanic and bought a new ford lead frame from a dealership. It’s doing fine…”
“My 2017 Ford F-150 V8 with the 6-speed automatic transmission has been experiencing a serious and recurring transmission malfunction. The truck has consistently, almost on a daily basis, gone into limp mode and become stuck in 5th gear. It also frequently fai…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Mercury Milan — 44 recalls
The defect: 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…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for th…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles. 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 c…
The risk: If the valves do not properly close, additional brake pedal travel may be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will flush the brake system with DOT 4 fluid and install a new brake fluid reservoir cap. In addition, the HCU will be tested to detect a possible stuck valve condition, replacing the HCU as necessary.…
The defect: 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…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for th…
The defect: 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 Maria…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners of the recall an…
FORD F 150 — 151 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block he…
The risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.
The risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks. The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the do…
The risk: A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer…
Buyer analysis
Mercury Milan or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Mercury Milan has far fewer complaints per year (about 429) than the Ford F-150 (about 1,162), but the Milan's complaints include serious brake and airbag issues. In practice, the F-150's higher volume means more reported problems overall, while the Milan's lower volume still requires attention to safety recalls and brake performance.
Key differences
- The Milan's top complaint is airbags (788), often tied to Takata recalls, while the F-150's top complaint is power train (3,648), often tied to transmission limp mode and lead frame failures.
- Milan owners report brake delay and steering wiggle, while F-150 owners report electrical issues like output speed sensor failures and rear window defroster shorts.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls and 11,621 complaints over 10 years, compared with 44 recalls and 2,577 complaints over 6 years for the Milan.
- Both have 1 death reported in the data, but the F-150 has 330 crash-related reports versus 98 for the Milan, reflecting its larger population and different usage.
- Check for any open Takata airbag recalls, especially passenger side, and confirm the inflator has been replaced; owners report long delays and worry about explosion.
- Test the brakes for a long pedal or need to pump before stopping, and listen for rear-end instability or wiggle during a test drive, especially on uneven roads.
- Scan for transmission trouble codes and test drive for limp mode, stuck gears, or harsh shifting, which owners report as recurring power train problems.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster for signs of overheating or damage, and test the defroster briefly to see if it works without issue, given one report of the window exploding.
Before you buy
- Ask for a written recall history and confirm all safety recalls are closed, especially airbag recalls on the Milan and power train or electrical recalls on the F-150.
- Take a test drive that includes braking from highway speed, shifting through all gears, and driving over uneven surfaces to check for the reported brake, steering, and transmission symptoms.
- Have a mechanic scan for stored trouble codes, particularly transmission and output speed sensor codes on the F-150, and check brake and suspension components on the Milan.
- Verify the rear window defroster and all exterior lights work on the F-150, and check for any signs of electrical gremlins or water leaks.
- Review the owner's manual and any recall notices for the specific model year, and budget for potential repairs in the areas with the most complaints.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Mercury Milan or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercury Milan vs FORD F 150
- Mercury Milan total complaints
- 2,577
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Mercury Milan total recalls
- 44
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Mercury Milan avg complaints/year
- 429.5
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Mercury Milan
- Mercury Milan top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN