Mercury Milan problems
The Mercury Milan is a mid-size car that was marketed by the Mercury division of Ford Motor Company. Named after Milan, an Italian city, the Milan was sold across the 2006 to 2011 model years in a single generation. The smaller of two model lines developed to replace the Mercury Sable, it indirectly succeeded the Mercury Mystique as the smallest Mercury sedan.
Unveiled at the 2005 Chicago Auto Show, the Milan was the first new Mercury sedan nameplate introduced since 1995, and became the final nameplate introduced by the division. Coinciding with the 2010 closure of Mercury, the Milan ended sales after a shortened 2011 model year; the final vehicle was produced on December 17, 2010. The Milan was sold in the United States (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Mexico, and the Middle East.
Throughout its production, the Milan was produced alongside the Ford Fusion at Hermosillo Stamping & Assembly in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.
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Mercury Milan model years
Common Mercury Milan problems
The Mercury Milan has been known to have several common problems based on complaints from owners. One of the most frequently reported issues is transmission-related problems, including gear selector and linkage, transmission computer, transmission sensor or solenoid, clutch adjustment, rough shifting, slipping transmission, and leaks. These issues can lead to a car stalling or having difficulty changing gears, which can be dangerous while driving.
Another common issue reported by Mercury Milan owners is engine problems, including engine knock or ping, fuel leaks, oil leaks, and issues with the electronic throttle body (ETB). These problems can lead to a car stalling, surging, or going into 'limp home mode,' which can be inconvenient and potentially dangerous.
The Mercury Milan has also been known to have issues with the electrical system, including problems with the battery, alternator, starter, and ignition switch. These issues can lead to a car not starting or having difficulty starting, which can be frustrating and potentially dangerous.
In addition to these issues, the Mercury Milan has also been known to have problems with the air conditioning system, including issues with the AC compressor, blower (fan) motor, condenser, evaporator, heater system, automatic climate system, electrical failure, and refrigerant leakage. These problems can lead to a car not cooling properly, which can be uncomfortable and potentially dangerous in hot weather.
Finally, the Mercury Milan has also been known to have issues with the brakes, including problems with the brake pedal, brake lines, and brake rotors. These issues can lead to a car having difficulty stopping, which can be dangerous while driving.
In conclusion, the Mercury Milan has been known to have several common problems based on complaints from owners, including transmission issues, engine problems, electrical system issues, air conditioning system issues, and brake problems. These issues can lead to a car being unsafe to drive, and it is important for owners to address these issues promptly to ensure their safety on the road.
What year of Mercury Milan to avoid?
Years to Avoid
- 2010. ...
- 2006. ...
- 2008. ...
- 2007. ...
- 2011.
What are common problems with mercury?
Depending on the type and amount, exposures to mercury can damage the nervous system, kidneys, liver and immune system. Breathing mercury vapors can harm the nervous system, lungs and kidneys. Mercury vapors can pass easily from the lungs to the bloodstream.
What is the transmission problem on the Mercury Milan?
The Mercury Milan from 2005-2010 is known to have issues with hard shifts and transmission slippage on models equipped with thesix speed automatic transmission. When the transmission gets warm, the issues is most noticeable as a hesitation to shift, followed by jerking or jolting into the next gear.
Are there any recalls on Mercury Milan?
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 close properly.
Percentage distribution of complaints by Mercury Milan years
We have researched Mercury problems and analysed all the complaints filed against Mercury Milan cars and compiled the top 5 most problematic Mercury Milan model years:
Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Mercury Milan model years.
Distribution of the number of complaints by Mercury Milan years
We've also compiled a chart for you with the number of complaints about Volkswagen Jetta cars of certain model years:
Mercury Milan car problems categorized by type of issue
After analysing all complaints related to Mercury Milan , it was concluded that the most common issues with these cars are:
- Air bags problems
- Service brakes problems
- Steering problems
- Vehicle speed control problems
- Power train problems
The graph below shows statistics for all Mercury Milan vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Distribution of the number of complaints where the accident occurred by Milan model years
A total of 96 complaints were registered in which the accident occurred. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with fire by Milan model years
There were a total of 11 complaints that resulted in a fire. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with injuries by Milan model years
There were a total of 46 complaints that resulted in a injuries. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with deaths by Milan model years
There were a total of 1 complaints that resulted in a death. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
The NHTSA has received 2543 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Mercury Milan . Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Mercury Milan vehicles.
Latest 25 complaints
Mercury Milan 2010
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-30
- Date Complaint: 2024-09-30
- VIN: 3MEHM0HAXAR
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: started vehicle, "power steering assist fault" message appeared on dash message center, unable to turn steering wheel. Turn car off, waited, turn back on, message appeared again. tried an additional 3 times, same results. Had to leave the car where i was visiting.
Mercury Milan 2010
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-31
- Date Complaint: 2024-09-12
- VIN: 3MEHM0HA7AR
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: My power steering light came on and then immediately the wheel got tight. I was unable to turn the wheel and then eventually the car is un drivable. There is a lot of complaints about this happening to thousands of cars and it is still under investigation. Imagin someone jumps out in front of you and you are stopping and unable to maneuver your car out of the way. By the grace of God I was able to do so. Please advise me when this recall is open.
Mercury Milan 2011
- Date Of Incident: 2024-01-01
- Date Complaint: 2024-09-04
- VIN: 3MEHM0JG0BR
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: The contact owns a 2011 Mercury Milan. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering functionality. A message indicating power steering failure was displayed. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics, where it was determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the repair of Ford Campaign Number: 15N01 could not be completed due to the vehicle's mileage. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Mercury Milan 2010
- Date Of Incident: 2023-06-01
- Date Complaint: 2024-08-26
- VIN: 3MEHM0HA6AR
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: The contact owns a 2010 Mercury Milan. The contact stated that the power steering assist became inoperable. The driver was unable to turn the steering wheel. The contact stated that the steering wheel had seized. The vehicle was restarted, and the steering wheel operated as designed. The power steering assist fault and service power steering soon messages were displayed. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was referred to the Ford Warranty Department for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.
Mercury Milan 2010
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-19
- Date Complaint: 2024-08-19
- VIN: 3MEHM0JA9AR
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2010 Mercury Milan. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the electronic throttle body and the throttle body injectors failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 153,000.
Mercury Milan 2010
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-29
- Date Complaint: 2024-08-13
- VIN: 3MEHM0JG1R6
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: See attached document for complaint
Mercury Milan 2010
- Date Of Incident: 2024-02-27
- Date Complaint: 2024-07-09
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 3MEHM0JA6AR
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: My name is [XXX] and I own a 2010 Mercury Milan. I bought it on [XXX] from an 84 year old woman who take good care of it. It had 91,000 miles which were mostly hwy miles. She kept records of all her oil changes. After having it for almost 3 years and keeping up with it myself, on February 27,2024 in the morning I put brake fluid in the car. I had brake pads and rotors done on the car in August 2023. On the evening of [XXX], my son and I took a ride to the local 7/11 which is 5 minutes away. While driving home and coming to the traffic light at the beginning of my neighborhood the light turned red. As I proceeded to stop my foot went all the way to the ground and I had no brakes. I had to go through the light because i could not stop. The car was flying down the road because it is a very steep hill. I tried to pull the emergency brake and nothing happened. I was nearing the end of the road going 40 MPH due to the hill. I thought I was going to hit my neighbors house at the bottom of the hill. My son grabbed the steering wheel to turn it and I went up on my curb, across my lawn and crashed into a storage tent on my driveway. My car was wedged inside the tent which was filled with furniture and other belongings. I called Ford Corporation in reference to this recall from December 2019 for 2010 Mercury Milans. Then I spoke with a Ford dealership in Smithtown where they were rude and said the car was 14 years old and I may have to pay if they didn't find my car was part of the recall. I tried calling several other numbers in Washington and was finally told to upload the horrible situation that had occurred due to my brakes not working on this website. Someone needs to look at my car to make sure this will not happen to others. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Mercury Milan 2010
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-02
- Date Complaint: 2024-06-27
- VIN: 3MEHM0HA4AR
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: Upon starting the vehicle, the steering wheel is firm and very difficult to manouver. It requires a great amount of strenght to just turn. The vehicle was diagnosed by the dealer and by a mechanic and both said there was a problem with the steering wheel.
Mercury Milan 2010
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-10
- Date Complaint: 2024-06-27
- VIN: 3MEHM0HA5AR
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: After turning the car on one morning, an alert displayed on the dash saying "Power Steering Assist Fault" and "Service Advancetrac". I turned the car off, and back on, but the same message appeared. When driving, there is no power steering and it is difficult to turn the steering wheel. The Milan only has 110,000 miles. Ford needs to issue a recall as this is obviously a defect affecting many customers.
Mercury Milan 2010
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-01
- Date Complaint: 2024-06-21
- VIN: 3MEHM0HA9AR
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: The contact owns a 2010 Mercury Milan. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the steering wheel was firm and difficult to maneuver. The contact stated that an unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.
Mercury Milan 2009
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-11
- Date Complaint: 2024-06-20
- VIN: 3MEHM07Z19R
- Components: AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE
- Summary: Check engine light airbag light brake light on my car they turned them off and they turned on right after
Mercury Milan 2010
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-10
- Date Complaint: 2024-05-23
- VIN: 3MEDM0L36AR
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: On May 10, 2024, as I was rounding a sharp curve, I applied brakes to slow down, but there were no brakes. In fact the brake pedal went to the floor. I had to use emergency brake to stop and gain my wits. I turned around and slowly drove home (about 0.5 miles) and used e-brake to stop and park in front of house. On May 21 I had vehicle towed to dealer. They found that the brake pedal was still against floorboard, but when they started vehicle, it came back up to normal position and was working fine. They could not duplicate the loss of brakes. My vehicle was manufactured within the date range of a TSB regarding hydraulic control unit and DOT3 brake fluid corrosion, but dealer says VIN not applicable to TSB. I am thinking of paying for new HCU anyway, just for my family's protection. I would like my VIN to be included in TSB repair.
Mercury Milan 2008
- Date Of Incident: 2024-03-29
- Date Complaint: 2024-04-25
- VIN: 3MEHM07158R
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: P205/60R16
Mercury Milan 2010
- Date Of Incident: 2024-04-05
- Date Complaint: 2024-04-19
- VIN: 3MEHM0CG5AR
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: The brake lights on my vehicle are constantly illuminated while my headlights are on, regardless of whether or not the brakes are compressed. This is a huge safety concern for me, as other motorists can no longer see when I am braking. I was pulled over for this and given a fix it ticket.
Mercury Milan 2010
- Date Of Incident: 2024-04-09
- Date Complaint: 2024-04-11
- VIN: 3MEDM0L38AR
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: The contact owns a 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid. The contact stated while his mother was driving approximately 30 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and the pedal extended to the floorboard however, the vehicle did not immediately stop. During the failure, the ABS, traction control, and brake warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the HCU and ABS modules were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact was informed that the HCU module was no longer available from the manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 60,539.
Latest 5 recalls Mercury Milan
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 44 recalls for different components of the Mercury Milan.You can explore the year of the Volkswagen Jetta you are interested in by selecting it from the list.
- Model: Mercury Milan 2008
- Report Received Date: 2021-03-10
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: 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 high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
- Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: 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 the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.
- Model: Mercury Milan 2006
- Report Received Date: 2021-03-10
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: 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 high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
- Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: 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 the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.
- Model: Mercury Milan 2010
- Report Received Date: 2021-03-10
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: 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 high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
- Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: 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 the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.
- Model: Mercury Milan 2007
- Report Received Date: 2021-03-10
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: 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 high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
- Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: 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 the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.
- Model: Mercury Milan 2009
- Report Received Date: 2021-03-10
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: 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 high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
- Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: 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 the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.
Latest negative Mercury Milan car reviews
Latest positive Mercury Milan car reviews
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Vehicle year: 2006
I have loved my Milan from the start. It's hard to believe it's a moderately priced American car because it looks and feels so luxurious. I've received a lot of compliments on it too! Even when I was rear-ended on the highway, I barely felt a jolt and my Milan showed minimal damage. The two years of free oil changes were a great bonus! The only issues I've had are with the brakes and the paint job. I had to have the roof completely repainted due to rust and there are many chips in the paint on the rest of the body. Overall, I'm still very happy with my Milan!
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Vehicle year: 2007
I'm thrilled to report that I've driven 7800 miles since September and everything is going great! I'm getting an average of 24.5 miles to the gallon with an average speed of 50+ miles per hour, which is even better than I expected. The car has been functioning perfectly every time, and I'm really happy with it. I recently discovered that the car has an exterior temperature display - all you have to do is push the little button on the climate control that says EXT. It's a bit tricky to find, but once you do, it's really convenient. The only thing that could be improved is the owner's manual - it could be a bit clearer about how to find the exterior temperature display.
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Vehicle year: 2006
Hi there! I'm happy to hear that you bought the V6 Premier. From what you've said, it seems like the ride is excellent. Although, you mentioned that there might be a slight issue with the torque during hard acceleration. However, the shifting of the 6-speed transmission is smooth and provides more than adequate power. It's great to hear that you've been averaging about 25 mpg combined highway and city driving since owning the car. Thanks for sharing your experience with us!
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Vehicle year: 2009
I recently turned in the lease of my 06 Lincoln Zephyr and purchased an 09 Milan Base model with an automatic transmission. It's a great basic sedan and the 4-cylinder engine gets excellent mileage. Although it's hard to go from a fully loaded Lincoln to a base model, I don't do as much driving as I used to, so it's perfect for my needs. However, I find the headrests to be very uncomfortable! I'm not sure why they changed them, as I had no problem with the ones in my Lincoln. Hopefully, I can switch them out. I've had the car for 2 weeks now and I still haven't had to put gas in it! It's great basic transportation without any frills.
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Vehicle year: 2008
I've been driving this car for 5 years now and I absolutely love it! Although I've had a few minor issues, they were nothing major. If I could find a newer version, I would definitely consider getting another one. Unfortunately, it seems like they've discontinued this vehicle.
Are you having problems with your Mercury Milan?
Haley Russel 2025-10-23
Vehicle year: 2010
We recently received our Milan Premier with 6 cylinders and front-wheel drive, after trading in our 2007 Lincoln MKZ. Although we initially wanted another Lincoln, we found that the base price had increased by over $10,000 in just three years. The Milan, however, is essentially the same car but much more affordable, with plenty of impressive features. We've found it to be of good quality, and it gets an impressive 31 mpg on the highway and 24 mpg in the city. The Voice Sync system is pretty neat, but it does have a bit of a learning curve and can be distracting. We also opted for Sirius for two years, which has been great. Overall, we feel that we got a lot of car for the price.
Micah Marvin 2025-09-29
Vehicle year: 2008
This car looks great and drives decently, but unfortunately, it has a major issue with its Mazda-built 5-speed automatic transmission. This particular transmission seems to have a shorter lifespan than most modern transmissions, with mine starting to fail at around 80k and completely shutting down at 95k. It is a sealed system that cannot be serviced, and rebuilding it can be quite expensive. Even used transmissions cost twice as much as any other used transmission. Therefore, it may be wise to avoid Milan and Fusion models with this part, and perhaps all Milan and Fusion models.
Clemens Rosenbaum 2025-09-25
Vehicle year: 2008
I was able to achieve over 30 mpg on the highway, and even on a 300-mile trip with the air blasting and an average speed of 70-75 mph, I still managed to average 32 mpg. That's pretty impressive for a v6! The sound system is great, and I especially appreciate the mp3 outlet. There's plenty of storage space, including a spacious trunk. However, the city mpg leaves something to be desired, as I only average 17 mpg in city driving. Unfortunately, the dash and doors tend to rattle quite a bit, even when driving carefully over bumps. Despite attempts to fix it, the dealer has been unable to resolve the issue. Additionally, the cloth seats are not of the highest quality. One thing that would improve the car would be a digital clock in the radio. Lastly, there is a storage compartment on top of the front dash that I worry may start to rattle as well. It seems like an odd place to put a storage compartment.
Brady Koss 2025-09-13
Vehicle year: 2011
I hope your wife enjoys her new V6 all-wheel drive! It sounds like the Milan was the perfect choice for her, especially with the great deal you got. It's good to know that parts will always be available for it. Thank you for sharing your experience with us!
Randi Labadie 2025-08-28
Vehicle year: 2010
Please be aware of the rectangular box located under the back seat doors of your car. This box collects water and salt from the road, which can cause blistering and rusting on the outside and underneath the box. Unfortunately, it costs $2000 to replace each box, including installation, repainting, and rust proofing. The car is designed to rust out, so even if the engine is still in good condition, you may need to buy a new car. Additionally, if your car has aluminum wheels, they may leak air, and you will need to have them sealed before each winter to avoid constantly filling up the tires at the gas station. If you own a car with these issues, we recommend consulting with your auto body shop to see if they can seal the inside of the boxes with a substance like tar or another appropriate material.