Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 Mercury Milan owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My head lights are NOT sufficient. It does not have the option for 2 bulbs. I have changed out the bulbs 3 times while owning this vehicle and from the first night I drove it after owning it, I noticed the lights where very off. I drive around town and on dark roads where there is NO Road LIGHTS at night with my head lights on Bright and I DO NOT get brighted back. I have hit an animal due to the lights not being bright. I fear driving the car at night or where it's to dark because the light assembly is not proper. No warning lights.
Tail and brake light for the second time has failed. A safety function of this nature should not be this difficult to fix and replace. The item should be available and affordable. You literally have to take out a lone to get it fixed. So now I can't go to work or anything else with this vehicle. This is supposed to be an affordable car. So the only way for me right now to fix is park it. I hear one person say " well it's not like a wheel falling off " I said tell that to the person behind me. With all these distractions now, between phones and other fancy options on cars. I'm a truck driver so I know how important these warning devices are. It is time to set a new standard in how safety items get replaced availability and cost should never be an issue.!!!!!!!!! With out question.
I was pulled over for my BRAKE LIGHT being out. I went to the dealer and was charged $600 for a brake light assembly. My car has 35,636 miles on it, like new vehicle. Even though it is know defect Ford would not reimburse me for part. I was told it was out of warranty and NOT a saftey issue. I certainly believe that a brake light is a safety issue- especially since they have not replaced my driver side airbag. I think this part should have been recalled and I should be reimbursed. Thank you!
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.
Approximately 25% of the rear passenger-side brake lights on my car permanently went out when I first discovered this problem in July 2014. During the following month, additional LED lights in the rear light assembly failed until, finally, none of them would light up. This was outrageous in that my car, bought brand new in August 2009 and consistently housed in a garage, was fewer than 5 years old and had yet to reach the 30,000-mile mark. A licensed pennsylvania car inspection station representative told me that my car would not pass its safety inspection unless the rear brake light assembly was replaced. Consequently, I was forced to do so; the bill came to $445 for its replacement. Because the light assembly consists of LED lights, the entire assembly should have lasted for the life of the automobile, in my opinion. …
Tail lights stay illuminated bright whenever the head/parking lights are on. Have been told this numerous times even by tenn highway patrol. Took it mtn view Ford, my regular dealer who replaced the brake light switch under premiumcare for the $100 deductible. Then they told me that I needed to replace both of my tail lights which is $375 each plus labor due to the fact that they were LED lights and could not be repaired. This very disheartening since I see that this is evidently a common problem with these vehicles and is not covered under the extended warranty. I guess Ford knew that there would be a problem with the lights and excluded it. I need the NHTSA to have a recall issued so Ford will admit their problem and make it right for their consumers. The approximately $1000 dollars to repair this is unreasonable when a simple bulb change could have resolved the problem. …
I purchased my 2010 Mercury Milan used on August 30, 2012 with 987 miles. Approximately in June, 2013 the car's right rear tail lamp went completely out and I had a new tail lamp installed for $408 + labor. In November, 2013 the car's left rear tail lamp went completely and I had a new tail lamp installed for $408 + labor. Now, March 6, 2015 the right rear tail lamp has gone out and I cannot afford to keep on paying these expenses when I now know that this is a Ford problem and due to poor engineering of the light assembly and because it has not been re-engineered to correct the problem, this will be a recurring problem for the life of the car. I run the chance of being stopped by the police for an unsafe vehicle.
When the headlights are on the rear driver's side tail light does not light as brightly as the passenger side. I have had several people bring this to my attention beginning in approximately sept 2014. My sister in law followed me one night and it drove her absolutely crazy. I have had many people express concerns that I May get stopped for this. I inquired yesterday at the Ford dealer about getting this fixed and was told that the whole unit needs to be replaced because they are LED lights. Approximate cost is $410 plus tax. I since have looked on line to inquire about replacing it myself and found that this is a common problem for Mercury milans and Ford fusions.
My 2010 Mercury Milan premier is having the same lighting problems that I have been reading about. The tail light LED's are going out one by one. My son the police officer just pointed this out to me. He noticed this after following me home the other night. I am reading that this is an expensive repair. It is the left tail light now, but I guess the right will eventually go too. I also had to have both of the front head lights repaired. My local mechanic was able to do this for me at a fairly reasonable cost. After I had to have the expensive lamp bulbs replaced several times. A recall on the rear lights would be greatly appreciated.
It first started with the passenger rear tail light. The LED brakelight failed, LED lights are known to last for 20+ years and these lasted about four. After that a bulb went out, when the bulb was replaced it still didn't resolve the issue. There are two components to the tail light, an inner light attached to the rear trunk and a outer light on the actual rear body. First, the inner passenger went out, then the inner driver's and then the outside passenger. Now finally, the outside driver's side has started flickering. Doing minor google searches immediately returns results with other vehicles having the same problem.
Headlight complaints in other Milan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2010 Mercury Milan?
NHTSA has 135 complaints about the lights of the 2010 Mercury Milan, 13% of the model year's 1,003 complaints. The component named most often is brake lights (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2010 Mercury Milan headlight problems?
No. NHTSA lists no lights recall for the 2010 Mercury Milan, though it has 11 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2010 Mercury Milan headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 48,000 miles, and 15% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 2 injuries to lights problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.