Take these problems, for instance
What’s most likely to break in a Mercury? We’ve got the most common problems, which vehicles they affect, and how long until it happens to you. We even have recommendations on specific generations to avoid.
Parts supplier, Takata, manufactured defective, shrapnel-hurling airbag inflators that need to be recalled. The issue affects 34 million+ vehicles spread out across 24 brands, making it one of the largest (and most dangerous) recalls in automotive history.
Own a 2002–2005 Mountaineer? Chances are your lift-gate is cracked. Complaints about cracked rear panels in that generation of Ford SUV’s including the Mountaineer, Lincoln Aviator, and Ford Explorer is one of the most commonly issues reported on CarComplaints.com
The Milan is part of another Takata recall expansion announced by Ford.
The whole situation is a mess, from FordProblems.com:
Across the industry 3.3 million vehicles are getting called back. There have been more confirmed casualties due to the inflators, and now there’s a stop-driving order for certain Ranger owners before it happens again.
The first Takata recall happened in May of 2013, crazy.
“[Ford and Mazda] have petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to be exempted from the Takata recall. Unlike the tens of millions of airbag inflators already recalled in millions of vehicles, the 2.7 million inflators have a drying agent (desiccant) called calcium sulfate used to protect the explosive chemical, ammonium nitrate, from moisture.”
Takata initially thought these inflators were safe, but further testing revealed problems. Given the dangers Nissan did the smart thing and accepted the recall right away. Ford, meanwhile, wants more even more testing. That means owners of the 1st generation Milan are their crash dummies.
Ford Motor Company announced it will recall 816,000 vehicles with dangerous Takata airbags, including the 2006-2008 Mercury Milan.
Each vehicle needs new passenger-side frontal airbag inflators.
The recall starts in Zone B locations, which include:
“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.”
Additional recalls will also be done in the following:
“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.”
Car problems are the worst, amirite? If you're having trouble with your Mercury, help us keep the pressure on by adding a complaint to CarComplaints.com. You can also signup for free vehicle email alerts that will notify you of new problems or upcoming recalls, sometimes months ahead of manufacturers.