Head-to-head reliability
Mercury Milan vs Honda Accord
How the Mercury Milan and Honda Accord 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 Honda Accord: The Milan averaged 430 complaints per year over 6 years, with 44 recalls and 1 death, while the Accord averaged 452 complaints per year over 10 years, with 38 recalls and 3 deaths. The Milan's top issues are airbags and brakes; the Accord's are engine and electrical. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercury Milan or Honda Accord 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 with a mixed reliability record. Over six years, owners filed 2,577 complaints, averaging about 430 per year, with airbags, brakes, and steering being the most common trouble spots. Many complaints involve the Takata airbag recall, which owners say remains unresolved, and brake problems that can make stopping unpredictable. If you're considering a Milan, be prepared to verify that recall work was actually completed and to budget for potential brake and steering repairs.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan with a higher total complaint count—4,524 over ten years—but a lower yearly average of about 452. The most frequent issues involve the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance, with some owners reporting sudden power loss, warning lights, and unintended braking. While the Accord has fewer recalls than the Milan, the complaints often describe complex electronic and powertrain problems that can be costly to diagnose. A used Accord may still be a solid choice, but a thorough inspection and service history check are essential.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercury Milan | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,577 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 44 | 38 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 98 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 429.5 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 48 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 Better | 3 |
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 that can cause the airbag to explode, and many complain that the fix hasn't been done. This matters because a recalled airbag can seriously injure or kill occupants if it deploys.
Drivers describe a long delay between pressing the brake pedal and the vehicle stopping, sometimes requiring pumping the brakes. This is a serious safety concern because it can lead to crashes, especially in traffic.
Complaints mention the rear end wiggling side to side in winter conditions, even with new tires, making the car feel uncontrollable. This instability can make driving in snow or ice dangerous.
Owners report transmission shifting problems, such as harsh shifts and delayed gear engagement after battery disconnection. This can affect drivability and may indicate electronic or transmission issues.
“(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…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners describe sudden power loss, warning lights for brakes and stability systems, and rattling noises during acceleration. These symptoms can leave a driver stranded or cause a loss of speed on the highway.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of power steering and braking, as well as tire pressure monitoring system issues that may lead to tire failure. Electrical glitches can disable critical safety features without warning.
Drivers report the system unexpectedly activating or failing to prevent collisions, sometimes with adaptive cruise control engaged. This can cause sudden braking or a near-miss, undermining trust in the safety technology.
Some owners note fuel pump problems and hybrid system jerking between EV and gas modes. These issues can cause stalling or rough operation, affecting reliability and driving comfort.
“Vehicle drove normally in the morning commute. In the afternoon commute it started normally and as i approached highway speeds the alarms started showing up. the Brake, hill descent system, abs, critical failure. the vehicle started losing speed and could not…”
“Vehicle makes rattling noises while accelerating similar to a diesel engine also rough transitions between EV mode and Gas mode also when you press the charge button the engine makes a very noticeable jerk once it’s on ,Honda does not want to fix my issue and…”
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…
Honda Accord — 38 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the integrated control module (ICM) central processing unit (CPU) may reset while driving, causing a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ICM CPU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is TN2. Vehicle Identificati…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2026 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2025-2026 CR-V Fuel Cell EV vehicles. When using the tire repair kit, pressure may build within the sealant bottle, causing the bottle cap to detach.
The risk: A detached bottle cap can become a projectile and strike the user or others nearby, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the tire repair kit nozzle or sealant bottle, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipat…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint sys…
The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
Buyer analysis
Mercury Milan or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Honda Accord has a lower complaint rate per year (about 452) compared to the Mercury Milan (about 430), but the difference is small. However, the Milan's complaints often involve unresolved airbag recalls and brake failures, which are immediate safety risks. The Accord's issues tend to be more electronic and powertrain-related, which may be less immediately dangerous but can be expensive to fix.
Key differences
- The Mercury Milan has a high number of airbag complaints tied to the Takata recall, while the Honda Accord's top complaints are engine and electrical issues.
- Milan owners report brake pedal delay and steering instability, whereas Accord owners describe sudden power loss and unintended braking from collision avoidance systems.
- The Milan has 44 recalls over 6 years, compared to 38 recalls over 10 years for the Accord, meaning the Milan has a higher recall rate per year.
- The Accord has more crash-related complaints (162 vs 98) and injuries (146 vs 48), but also more total vehicles on the road, so rates may differ.
- Check if the Takata airbag recall was performed; if not, the passenger-side airbag could explode in a crash.
- Test the brakes for any delay or sponginess, and inspect the rear suspension for steering instability, especially in winter conditions.
- Look for warning lights related to the electrical system, power steering, or brakes, and test the forward collision avoidance system for unexpected activation.
- Listen for engine rattles during acceleration and check for transmission jerking between EV and gas modes on hybrid models.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA's recall website to see if any open recalls exist, especially for airbags on the Milan and fuel pumps on the Accord.
- Ask for a complete service history and verify that all recall repairs were completed with documentation.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds and braking to check for brake delay, steering wobble, or unexpected warning lights.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the brakes, steering, and electrical systems, and scan for stored error codes.
- For the Accord, specifically test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control if equipped, and check for hybrid system smoothness.
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 Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercury Milan vs Honda Accord
- Mercury Milan total complaints
- 2,577
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Mercury Milan total recalls
- 44
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mercury Milan avg complaints/year
- 429.5
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Mercury Milan
- Mercury Milan top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE