2011 Mercury Milan Electrical Problems

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. 4) No, the vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or other parties. 5) The dashboard displayed the message “Service Power Steering Now,” and the steering assist stopped working. The problem appeared suddenly when the vehicle was started. The steering immediately became extremely stiff, and the warning message appeared at that time. This failure created a serious safety hazard because the steering assist stopped working without warning, making the vehicle extremely difficult to control. A sudden loss of steering assist can increase the risk of a crash, especially when turning, parking, or driving in traffic. I am concerned that other drivers could experience the same sudden steering failure. The vehicle displayed the message “Service Power Steering Now,” and the steering immediately became extremely stiff. The vehicle is currently undriveable in reverse and difficult to steer safely.

NHTSA ID

11722674

Incident

Jan 12, 2026

THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL OF POWER STEERING. NOW DISPLAYS SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW. I NOTICED THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON OTHER 2011 MERCURY MILANS, BUT NOT MINE. THIS SEEMS VERY UNSAFE, AND NOT AN AFFORDABLE FIX. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED ON MULTIPLY FORD VEHICLES. I COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL.

NHTSA ID

10949881

Incident

Feb 3, 2017

Mileage

80,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10817353

Incident

Feb 28, 2015

Mileage

58,900 mi

BREAK LIGHTS STAYED ON /ILLUMINATED WHEN HEAD LIGHTS WERE ON THUS HAVING NO BRAKE LIGHTS AT NIGHT. LUCKILY , MY HUSBAND WAS FOLLOWING BEHIND ME IN HIS VEHICLE AND NOTICED I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. DEALER REPLACED BOTH TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.($1100) THIS IS DANGEROUS DRIVING AT NIGHT. MANUFACTURE NEEDS TO RECALL THEIR FAULTY TAIL LIGHTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10659002

Incident

Oct 1, 2014

Mileage

50,000 mi

THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT IS NOT FUNCTIONING. THIS LIGHT IS NOT A NORMAL INCANDESCENT BULB. IT IS AN LED THAT IS NOT OWNER-SERVICEABLE. THE ONLY FIX IS THAT THE ENTIRE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $400. ANY BUYER'S EXPECTATION IS THAT WHEN A LIGHT BULB BURNS OUT, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO REPLACE IT OURSELVES FOR FIFTY CENTS. SINCE THIS 50-CENT ITEM IS NOW UNEXPECTEDLY $400, THE NET EFFECT IS THAT ALL OWNERS WILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE AROUND WITH TWO OF THREE, ONE OF THREE OR NO BRAKE LIGHTS AT ALL. THIS SHOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE SAFETY RECALL. *TR *TR

NHTSA ID

10653568

Incident

Nov 6, 2014

Mileage

46,125 mi

I WAS MADE AWARE OF MY TAIL LIGHT NOT FUNCTIONING WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES. WHEN I TRIED TO REPLACE THE BULB, I SOON LEARNED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT IS LED AND A SEALED UNIT, MAKING IT VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO REPAIR. THE REPLACEMENT UNIT IS ASTRONOMICALLY EXPENSIVE, PRICES BETWEEN $150-$350 USED. IF THE UNIT HAD A REPLACEABLE BULB, THEN I WOULDN'T EVEN BE WRITING THIS. I UNDERSTAND THAT NOTHING WILL MOST LIKELY BE DONE ABOUT THIS, BUT IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10637014

Incident

Sep 16, 2014

Mileage

31,000 mi

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2011 MERCURY MILAN LESS THAN FOUR YEARS OLD AND WITH ALMOST 25,000 MILES ON IT. RECENTLY THE LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT / BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY BURNED OUT ON ME. I TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO REPAIR THE TAIL LIGHT / BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY, AND THAT THE SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE TAIL LIGHT / BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY. I HAD IT REPLACED FOR OVER $400.00 I AM DISAPPOINTED IN THE LIFE SPAN OF THIS IMPORTANT PIECE OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT. I AM ALSO DISAPPOINTED THAT FORD WOULD DESIGN THIS IMPORTANT PIECE OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED. I WOULD LIKE THE FEDERAL GOV'T TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10596062

Incident

May 19, 2014

WAS STOPPED BY A POLICEMAN BECAUSE HE SAID MY RIGHT TAILLIGHT WAS GOING CRAZY, BLINKING, ACTING WRONG FOR A BRAKING PROCESS. I HAD NO INDICATION THAT MY RIGHT TAIL LIGHT DID NOT WORK AND ALSO THAT MY RIGHT SIGNAL LIGHT DID NOT WORK. THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE BLINKER WAS NOT WORKING. PRIOR TO BEING STOPPED BY THE POLICEMAN, I HAD A DRIVER SHAKE THEIR HEAD AT ME WHEN I WAS TRYING TO CHANGE LANES TO A RIGHT LANE AND SHE WOULD NOT LET ME IN TO EXIT RIGHT. I DID NOT KNOW THAT THE RIGHT SIGNAL WAS NOT WORKING. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITION BECAUSE THE CAR DOE NOT REGISTER ANY INDICATION THAT THE LIGHT IS NOT WORKING FOR THE BRAKE AND ALSO FOR THE SIGNAL. IN ADDITION, FORD WILL NOT REPLACE THESE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES WITHOUT CHARGING FOR THEM, WHICH COST $500 EACH. IT IS NOT A SIMPLE BULB REPLACEMENT, BUT INSTEAD AN ENTIRE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR $500. I HAD MINE REPLACED BUT ONLY BECAUSE THE DEALER ARGUED WITH THEM AND I HAD TO PAY $100 DEDUCTIBLE FOR MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IF THE LEFT TAIL LIGHT GOES OUT, THIS COST WILL NOT BE COVERED BY FORD AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY THE ENTIRE COST OF $500. JUST THE FACT THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, I WOULD THINK THIS WOULD BE A RECALL EVENT. THIS TAIL LIGHT ISSUE IS ALSO OCCURRING ON OTHER FORD CARS, INCLUDING THE LINCOLN MKZ. *TR

NHTSA ID

10594792

Incident

May 3, 2014

Mileage

42,000 mi

I PURCHASED A MERCURY MILAN WITH 13K MILES ON IT. THIS VEHICLE WAS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED CAR WITH A FULL WARRANTY. AFTER DRIVING IT 10K MILES, THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT DOES NOT WORK AND THE WHOLE RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED. THIS PART IN NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND WILL COST $219. TO REPLACE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR FORD BASED ON OWNER COMMENTS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED BY FORD AT NO CHARGE TO ITS CUSTOMERS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE PERSON BEHIND YOU WILL NOT SEE ANY LIGHTS INDICATING YOU ARE STOPPING OR SLOWING DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10594585

Incident

May 22, 2014

Mileage

24,800 mi

I WAS DRIVING APPROX 25MPH WHEN MY VEHICLE SUDDENTLY STARTED JERKING BACK AND FORTH, THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION, AND THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON MINUTES LATER, IT SEEMED TO BE BACK TO NORMAL. I PROCEEDED DOWN THE ROAD AND MADE IT ABOUT 3/4 MILE WHEN IT DID IT AGAIN, THIS TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. I WAS ABLE TO COAST THROUGH AND PULL INTO A PARKING LOT. THE DEALER TOWED IT IN AND SAID IT IS THE ENGINE THROTTLE BODY. THEY STATE THE PART IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER UNTIL NOVEMBER (3 MONTHS AWAY!), WITH 25,000 CARS CURRENTLY WAITING FOR THIS PART. I DON'T SEE HOW THERE CAN BE THIS HUGE OF A PROBLEM BUT NO RECALL YET. FORD REALLY NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ID

10538084

Incident

Aug 28, 2013

Mileage

59,000 mi

DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, I LOST THE ABILITY TO USE THE THROTTLE. THE ENGINE RAN, BUT DID NOT RESPOND TO THE PEDAL. I WAS FORCED TO PULL THE CAR OVER, IN TRAFFIC, AND RESTART THE CAR. ONCE THE CAR WAS RESTARTED, I WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE.

NHTSA ID

10537974

Incident

Aug 26, 2013

Mileage

40,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN A BUSY ROAD AND CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE, GAS PEDAL NOT RESPONDING. ALMOST GOT REARENDED BECAUSE THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND I HAD MY 8 MONTH OLD GRANDDAUGHTER IN THE VEHICLE. TOOK IT TO AUTOZONE AND THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC SAID IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SENSOR PROBLEM. READ ONLINE WHERE THIS IS A RECURRENT THING GOING ON BUT NO RECALL YET. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE OR ALOT OF PEOPLE DYING FOR THIS TO BE RECALLED? I AM ON DISABILITY AND IT BETTER BE COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY OR WARRANTY SINCE FORD KNOWS THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10536568

Incident

Aug 19, 2013

Mileage

37,102 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING. A WRENCH APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. I HAD TO BRAKE TO A STOP ALONG THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT SEEMED TO WORK FINE. THIS WAS WEDNESDAY. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN ON FRIDAY AND THEN AGAIN ON MONDAY. AT THAT POINT I TOOK IT TO THE FORD SERVICE CENTER. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY, COSTING ME OVER $430. ADDITIONALLY, HAD ANY OF THE ROADS BEEN BUSIER OR HAD NO PLACES TO PULL OVER, AN ACCIDENT EASILY COULD HAVE OCCURRED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10533275

Incident

May 15, 2013

Mileage

48,300 mi

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 BURN. THIS IS THE SECOND INSTANCE OF THIS HAPPENING TO OUR MERCURY, THE FIRST TIME WE WERE PARKED AND WHEN WE TURNED THE CAR ON IT STARTING BLOWING WHITE SMOKE AND SMELLED OF BURNT ELECTRONICS AND OZONE FROM AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE CAB. WHEN WE HAD A FORD SERVICE CENTER LOOK AT THE VEHICLE, WE WERE TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. AND THAT THE CONTROL UNIT IS BEING USED LIKE A FUSE TO THE BLOWER MOTOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10532364

Incident

Jun 20, 2013

Mileage

82,000 mi

VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND RPM DROPPED BELOW 1000, ENGINE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATOR DEPRESSION. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD THE TROUBLE CODES ANALYZED AND IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY PART THAT WAS DEFECTIVE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT PARTICULAR PART WAS ON BACK ORDER AND THAT THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS VEHICLES WITH THAT PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10514958

Incident

Mar 11, 2013

Mileage

37,100 mi

I HAD JUST PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, PUSHED ON THE GAS, AND THE CAR STARTED SPUTTERING AND JERKING AND CAME TO A STOP. THE "WRENCH" LIGHT AND "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WERE LIT UP ON THE DASH.THINKING PERHAPS JUST A FLUKE, I TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND LET IT IDLE FOR A MINUTE. THE WRENCH AND ENGINE LIGHT WERE NO LONGER DISPLAYED, SO I DROVE AGAIN.MY MAX SPEED WAS MAYBE 15 OR 20 MPH. NOT 30 SECONDS LATER, THE CAR AGAIN DID THE SAME THING, WITH THE WRENCH AND ENGINE LIGHTS COMING ON. LUCKILY I WAS AT A STOP SIGN AND IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AGAIN, AND DROVE BACK HOME THIS TIME. IT WAS REALLY SCARY. LUCKILY I WASN'T DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED! DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE HERE! A FRIEND OF MINE WITH A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC THING, CAME OVER AND TESTED THE CAR ABOUT AN HOUR LATER. THE ERROR CODE WAS THROTTLE ACTUATOR CONTROL SYSTEM. MY FRIEND CLEARED OUT THE CODE AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK WITHOUT IT HAPPENING AGAIN. I PLAN ON TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TOMORROW. ACCORDING TO THESE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, IT APPEARS TO BE THE THROTTLE BODY AND NOT A CHEAP FIX! *TR

NHTSA ID

10510697

Incident

May 5, 2013

Mileage

38,431 mi

I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 70 MPH ON I-70, WHEN THE CAR LOST ALL ENGINE POWER, LIKE IT DIED, I WAS FORTUNATELY GETTING READY TO EXIT, AND WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE,SO COASTED THE CAR OFF TO THE SIDE. A WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON, HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER, WHO SO FAR CANNOT DUPLICATE IT OR GET A CODE FOR IT TO SHOW. HE WANTS TO KEEP IT AWHILE TO FIGURE IT OUT. I AM ADVANCE COMPLAINING SINCE I HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON HERE FOR ANOTHER MILAN, AND HAVE FOUND THE SAME COMPLAINT ON THIS SITE 21 TIMES FOR THE SISTER CAR TO THIS, THE FORD FUSION. IT HAS BEEN THE "THROTTLE BODY" THAT WAS BAD ON THE OTHERS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS, WHATEVER IT IS. ALSO THIS CAR HAS ROLLED THE WINDOWS DOWN BY ITSELF, WHEN I HAVE BEEN IN A STORE. IT WAS RAINING AND WHEN I CAME OUT BOTH MY FRONT WINDOWS WERE DOWN, AND INTERIOR WAS WET. THEY WERE UP , SINCE IT WAS RAINING,WHEN I LOCKED IT AND LEFT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10479712

Incident

Oct 9, 2012

Mileage

44,000 mi