2011 Mercury Milan Problems & Complaints

Averageabout as many complaints as a typical year of the Milan at the same age

Owners have filed 191 complaints about the 2011 Mercury Milan with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is about average for the Milan at the same age. The most reported problem area is the steering (76 complaints, typically around 100,000 miles). 7 recalls cover this model year, including 2 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning.

191complaints
7recalls
1crashes
2fires
0injuries
0deaths

Most common 2011 Mercury Milan problems

  • Steering~100,000 miles
    7640%
  • 3116%
  • Lights~50,000 miles
    2915%
  • Engine & cooling~47,000 miles
    2413%
  • 2212%
  • Fuel & propulsion system~45,000 miles
    179%
  • Electrical system~44,000 miles
    179%
  • Air bags~73,000 miles
    179%
  • Brakes~46,000 miles
    126%
  • Other / not specified~66,000 miles
    63%
  • Stability & traction control~120,000 miles
    42%
  • Wheels & tires
    21%
  • A/C & heater~82,000 miles
    11%
  • Suspension
    11%
  • Equipment & accessories~53,000 miles
    11%
  • Body & structure~65,000 miles
    11%
  • Driver assistance
    11%

Share of the 191 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Mercury Milan complaints by model year

2006200720082009201020112144344512261.0k191
Owner complaints per model year, Mercury Milan. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best Milan years: 2006, 2007. Years to avoid: 2010. Compare all years →

2011 Mercury Milan recalls (7)

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 21V-158 · Mar 10, 2021 · 2,602,668 vehicles

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.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge.

Air bags › Frontal

NHTSA recall 21V-081 · Feb 16, 2021 · 1,067 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 19V-001 · Jan 7, 2019 · 782,384 vehiclesDo not drive

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S.

Remedy: 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.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 16V-384 · May 31, 2016 · 1,892,343 vehiclesDo not drive

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles, and 2005-2011 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California,…

Remedy: 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.

Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Auxillary tank

NHTSA recall 15V-793 · Nov 24, 2015 · 411,205 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured July 21, 2008, to March 4, 2011, and 2010-2011 Mercury Milan vehicles manufactured July 23, 2008, to December 10, 2010.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle powertrain control modules and inspect the vehicle for any diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) for this issue and perform a leak test on the Canister Purge Valve…

Steering › Electric power assist system

NHTSA recall 15V-340 · Jun 2, 2015 · 393,623 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine and 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln…

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC).

Show 1 more recall

Wheels › Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs

NHTSA recall 11V-574 · Dec 7, 2011 · 128,616 vehicles

Ford is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Ford fusion and Mercury milan vehicles equipped with 17 inch steel wheels and built from April 1, 2009, through April 30, 2009, and from December 1, 2009, through November 13, 2010. The wheel studs May fracture, potentially causing a wheel to separate.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear brake disc surface for flatness and replace the discs as necessary. Additionally, the wheel lug nuts will be replaced on all four wheels.

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2011 Mercury Milan:

Electric power steering failure

NHTSA investigation PE14030 · opened Oct 2, 2014 · closed Sep 10, 2015 · led to recall 15V-340

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a preliminary evaluation to investigate complaints of the loss of power steering while driving. The subject vehicles are equipped with a rack mounted Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) unit.Some of the complaints alleged that the steering assist failed and resulted in increased steering efforts that contributed to a loss of control and in some cases a crash.The…

Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction

NHTSA investigation PE13003 · opened Feb 21, 2013 · closed Feb 28, 2014

On February 21, 2013, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE13-003 to investigate allegations of electronic throttle body (ETB) failures resulting in sudden reduction of engine power in model year (MY) 2009-2013 Ford Escape, Fusion, Mariner and Milan vehicles.

Floor mat interference with accelerator

NHTSA investigation EA12009 · opened Dec 12, 2012 · closed Jun 12, 2014 · led to recall 14E-028

On May 27, 2014, Ford Motor Company submitted recall 14E-028 (Ford recall #14S07) to correct a safety-related problem with certain driver's side Ford optional all-weather floor mats sold for use in model year 2006 through 2011 model year Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr, and Lincoln MKZ vehicles built at Hermosillo Assembly Plant (HAP) from November 9, 2007, to October 31 ,2010.NHTSA testing determined…

What 2011 Mercury Milan owners say

Steering all 76 →

The contact's girlfriend owns a 2011 Mercury Milan. The contact stated that upon start-up of the vehicle, excessive effort was needed to steer the vehicle without warning; however, the power steering assist would return after a few minutes of driving. Recently, the contact stated that the power steering assist failed with the power steering assist fault warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact had called the manufacturer and was referred to the local dealer for assistance. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where he was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering) and that the warranty on the vehicle for the power steering was expired. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

80,000 miles · Jan 2021

The contact owns a 2011 Mercury Milan. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the electronic power steering failure warning light illuminated. Additionally, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. The contact's family member attached the ODS monitor to the vehicle, and fault codes: C1277 (Steering Wheel Angle Sensor), UL3000 (Power Steering Control Modular) and several other failure codes associated with the electronic power steering were retrieved. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,430.

91,000 miles · Jun 2026

Transmission & drivetrain all 31 →

While driving, the ABS, traction control and power steering lights came on. I was coming off the highway and I lost power steering!!! I almost wrecked into the guard rail coming off the exit!!! I got to the light at the bottom of the exit and I had no power steering. I pulled over immediately and called for a tow. I took it to my mechanic and he said the rack and pinion is bad. We looked it up and there are a ton of people with the same year/make/model as me that are getting tier cars fixed under recall. They wont pay for mine because my vin isnt in this campaign. They said take it to Ford for ANOTHER diagnosis just to tell me they will let me know if my car gets added!! Im not paying for another diagnosis when I have one already!! This is a serious safety issue and they arent fixing their product!!! I JUST bought it and its costing me almost $1800 for a repair!!! …

May 2026

1) The electric power steering system failed. The dashboard displayed the message "Service Power Steering Now," and the steering assist stopped working, making the steering extremely stiff. The vehicle also lost reverse gear, where the engine revs but the vehicle does not move when shifted into reverse. The vehicle is still in my possession and available for inspection upon request. 2) When the power steering assist failed, the steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn, which made the vehicle harder to control. This created a safety risk when attempting to turn or maneuver the vehicle in traffic or parking areas. Additionally, the inability to use reverse gear could create a hazardous situation if the driver cannot back out of traffic, parking spaces, or other areas. 3) The problem has not yet been inspected or confirmed by a dealership or independent service center. …

Jan 2026

Lights all 29 →

Passenger side brake light assembly failed June 2025. I found it our at an oil change inspection. Ford discontinued manufacturing this LED brake light assembly, so it is difficult to replace this safety critical part. The part number is 9N7Z 13404 A.

Jun 2025

Driver's side brake light stays illuminated all the time while vehicle is on and while driving, instead of only turning on when brake is pressed down. In November I noticed the driver's side brake light begin to flicker while parked. Since it is a malfunction with the LED lights, the entire brake light housing would have to be replaced, a roughly $410 repair. For as often as I have seen other 2011 Mercury Milan owners complain about this, you would think this would have been recalled already. I have been told the brake light constantly staying on is distracting and very bright to other drivers behind me.

59,000 miles · Feb 2015

2011 Mercury Milan engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
2.5L 4-cyl hybridCVTFWD41 / 35 / 38
2.5L 4-cyl6-speed automaticFWD23 / 32 / 26
2.5L 4-cyl6-speed manualFWD22 / 31 / 25
3.0L 6-cyl6-speed automaticFWD20 / 28 / 23
3.0L 6-cyl6-speed automaticAWD18 / 25 / 20

EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Mercury Milan a good car?

Based on 191 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Milan rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Milan at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 2011 Mercury Milan?

The steering — 76 complaints, 40% of all complaints for this model year, most often about electric power assist system. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (31) and lights (29).

How many recalls does the 2011 Mercury Milan have?

There are 7 recalls for the 2011 Mercury Milan, the most recent from March 10, 2021 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the Mercury Milan?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2006 and 2007. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2010. See the full Mercury Milan years comparison.

At what mileage do 2011 Mercury Milan problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 59,000 miles; 39% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

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.