2011 Mercury MILAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
191 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
59,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 150 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 76 of 191 complaints (39.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 76 | 39.8% |
| Braking behavior | 33 | 17.3% |
| Engine operation | 17 | 8.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 5.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 3.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 76 |
| Power Train | 31 |
| Exterior Lighting | 26 |
| Engine | 22 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 22 |
| Air Bags | 17 |
| Electrical System | 17 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 15 |
Steering: 76; Power Train: 31; Exterior Lighting: 26; Engine: 22; Vehicle Speed Control: 22; Air Bags: 17; Electrical System: 17; Fuel/Propulsion System: 15
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 51 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 36 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 25 |
| 150,000 and above | 14 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 51; 50,000 to 74,999: 36; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 25; 150,000 and above: 14
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (51). 41 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 47 |
| 2014 | 31 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 16 |
| 2018 | 17 |
| 2019 | 19 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 6 |
2012: 3; 2013: 47; 2014: 31; 2015: 13; 2016: 8; 2017: 16; 2018: 17; 2019: 19; 2020: 2; 2021: 5; 2022: 4; 2023: 9; 2024: 5; 2025: 6; 2026: 6
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 76 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 33 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 17 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10547182 · 2013-10-08 (October 8, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCURY MILAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10547182 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10641947 · 2014-10-07 (October 7, 2014)
WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING WOULD NOT WORK, AFTER A FEW SECONDS I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED IT, THEN IT WORKED JUST FINE. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO IF IT AS LONG AS IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY AT THE TIME I REPORTED IT TO THEM. I CAN SEE THIS COULD BE A REAL PROBLEM IF IT OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. SINCE THIS HAPPENED APPROX. A YEAR AGO, THE DATE AND MILEAGE ARE ESTIMATES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10641947 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10462584 · 2012-06-21 (June 21, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCURY MILAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY AS HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS WITH A FLIGHT RECORDER HOOKED TO THE ENGINE, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED HE HAS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THEM TO INSPECT THE FAILURE. THEY OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FA…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10462584 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10514450 · 2013-05-31 (May 31, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCURY MILAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED AND LEFT BRAKE LIGHT FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE BRAKE LIGHT MOUNTING UNIT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000. ..UPDATED 07-17-13 *BF
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10514450 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10510751 · 2013-05-06 (May 6, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCURY MILAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED THEN STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE THROTTLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,400. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 41,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10510751 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10521047 · 2013-06-21 (June 21, 2013)
I BROUGHT MY 2011 MERCURY MILAN FROM SANDY SPRINGS FORD LAST YEAR. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 60K MILES ON IT AND I AM EXPERIENCING STALLING/ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WHICH ARE HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY SINCE THE INITIAL FAULT. WHEN DRIVING MY CAR DECELERATES AND I CANNOT PICK UP SPEED SO THE CAR EVENTUALLY STOPS. THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING SOMETHING WAS WRONG. THIS HAPPENED TO ME 4 FOUR TIMES SINCE LAST WEEK (3 TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY) AND I HAD TO HURRY UP AND PULL MY VEHICLE OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AS THE SPEED DECELERATED AND BEFORE IT S…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10521047 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10465733 · 2012-07-15 (July 15, 2012)
I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHSPEED ROAD WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS NOTHING HAPPENING WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS. A SMALL WRENCH CAME ON THE DASH. THE OWNER'S MANUAL SAID THROTTLE/TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. HAD WE BEEN IN THE PASSING LANE WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED AND KILLED! AS IT WAS, I WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND EVENTUALLY PULL INTO A PARKING LOT. I TURNED OFF THE CAR, WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND TURNED IT BACK ON. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ABOUT 5 MILES BEFORE THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I LEFT THE CAR IN A PARKING LOT. I HA…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10465733 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10532364 · 2013-07-29 (July 29, 2013)
WHILE WE WERE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE BLOWER MOTOR FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER SHUT ITSELF OFF THEN CAME BACK ON AND IT WAS BLOWING WHITE SMOKE OUT OF ALL OF THE VENTS. WE HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND SHUT OFF THE CAR IN ORDER TO STOP THE WHITE SMOKE FROM COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE HVAC BLOWER CONTROL MOTOR UNIT HAD STARTED BURNING AND FAILED TO DISENGAGE THE BLOWER MOTOR WHILE IT WAS BURNING. ADDITIONALLY THE VEHICLES 40A FUSE AND 30A ISO RELAY DID NOT WORK PROPERLY, IF WE DID NOT SHUT OFF THE CAR IT WOULD HAVE CONTINUED TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10532364 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10547745 · 2013-10-13 (October 13, 2013)
ON 10/3/13 WHILE DRIVING HOME IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE MY 2011 MILAN WITH 44,000 MILES ON IT SPUTTERED AND DIED AT FREEWAY SPEED. STILL HAD ELECTRICAL POWER AND THE WRENCH WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH WAS LIT UP. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER AND STOP THE VEHICLE. ONCE RESTARTED THE CAR WENT THREE DAYS BEFORE AGAIN DYING ON THE INTERSTATE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I DISCOVERED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD THROTTLE BODIES ON SEVERAL MAKES AND MODELS. 10/12/13 I PURCHASED A NEW THROTTLE BODY FROM MY LOCAL FO…
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10547745 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10846262 · 2016-03-12 (March 12, 2016)
FUEL TANK AND PURGE VALVE RECALL. VEHICLE IN MOTION. LEAVING A STOP SIGN FROM A COUNTRY HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE STALLED WHEN ACCELERATING. DIFFICULT TO RESTART.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10846262 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11099207 · 2018-06-01 (June 1, 2018)
MY 90 YEAR OLD DAD (KOREAN WAR VET) WAS SOLD THIS PILE OF JUNK AT PALESTINE FORD. IT WAS RECALLED TWICE. ONCE FOR POWER STEERING , AND ONCE FOR A GAS TANK SENSOR. IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED. NOW THE SERVICE ADVANCE TRACK , AND SERVICE POWER STEERING WARNING COMES ON AND THERE IS NO POWER STEERING. AND NO ONE WANTS TO INSPECT IT. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE WAS A TAIL LIGHT DEFAULT ON THE VEHICLE. I SPENT $1,000 GETTING THAT FIXED LAST YEAR AT INSPECTION TIME. THE ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED, SO $700 OF THAT WAS PARTS. DAD IS STILL MAKING PAYMENTS…
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11099207 at NHTSA ↗