Head-to-head reliability
Mercury Milan vs Toyota Camry
How the Mercury Milan and Toyota Camry compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Mercury Milan vs Toyota Camry: The Milan averages 429.5 complaints per year over 6 years, while the Camry averages 205.6 over 10 years. The Milan has 44 recalls and 98 crash-related complaints; the Camry has 31 recalls and 171 crash-related complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercury Milan or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercury Milan
The Mercury Milan is a midsize sedan that shows a high rate of owner complaints, averaging about 430 per year over six years. The most common issues involve air bags, brakes, and steering, with some reports of crashes and injuries. Many complaints center on the Takata air bag recall, which owners say remains unresolved, and brake problems that can make stopping unpredictable. This suggests that living with a Milan may require vigilance and frequent repairs.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan with a lower annual complaint rate, about 206 per year over ten years. Complaints frequently mention power train, engine, and electrical system issues, including hesitation, shuddering, and various electronic malfunctions. While the Camry has fewer complaints per year, the reports still describe significant problems that can affect drivability and safety. Overall, it appears to have a more consistent reliability record than the Milan, but not without its own concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercury Milan | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,577 | 2,056 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 44 | 31 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 98 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 429.5 | 205.6 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 48 Better | 158 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Mercury Milan
- 01AIR BAGS788
- 02SERVICE BRAKES587
- 03STEERING350
- 04VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL259
- 05POWER TRAIN251
Owners report Takata air bag inflator recalls, especially for the passenger side, with concerns about the air bag exploding and causing injury. Many complain that the recall fix has not been completed, leaving them worried about safety.
Drivers describe a delay between pressing the brake pedal and the vehicle stopping, sometimes requiring pumping the brakes. In some cases, the brakes failed completely, leading to dangerous situations.
Complaints mention the rear end wiggling side to side in winter conditions, even with new tires, making the car feel unstable and hard to control.
Owners report transmission shifting problems, such as hard shifts and delayed gear engagement, often after battery disconnection. This can affect acceleration and drivability.
“(TAKATA RECALL). THEY RECOMMEND YOU DO NOT HAVE PASSENGERS IN THE FRONT SEAT OF THIS VEHICLE DUE TO ACTIVE RECALL OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THIS RECALL WAS IN 2017. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT THEY HAVE NOT FIXED THIS ISSUE AS OF TODAY. IT IS NOT REASON…”
“TAKATA RECALL- AFTER PURCHASING MY VEHICLE I FOUND OUT THAT THE CAR WAS IN A FEW PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS WHERE THE AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED. ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, WHICH IS THE RECALLED SIDE, I AM WORRIED ABOUT IT EXPLODING AS MY RECALL STATED. MY RECALL ALSO STATED…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report issues like the ignition key getting stuck in Park, requiring battery disconnection to remove, and transmission hesitation or shuddering. These problems can leave drivers stranded or cause unsafe driving conditions.
Complaints include delayed throttle response when pressing the accelerator, with the car taking several seconds to move. This hesitation can be dangerous when merging or crossing intersections.
Drivers describe the electronic parking brake failing to disengage, requiring towing, and clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area. These issues can prevent the car from moving or indicate ABS problems.
Multiple system malfunctions are reported, including stability control, power steering, and blind spot monitoring failing simultaneously. Such failures can compromise safety and require costly diagnostics.
“My 2023 Toyota Camry has developed an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the dashboard shows the vehicle is in Park. The only way to remove the key is to disconnect the vehicle's battery, which is not a…”
“The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was hesitating and shuddering, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Mercury Milan — 44 recalls
The defect: 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…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: 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 th…
The defect: 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 c…
The risk: If the valves do not properly close, additional brake pedal travel may be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will flush the brake system with DOT 4 fluid and install a new brake fluid reservoir cap. In addition, the HCU will be tested to detect a possible stuck valve condition, replacing the HCU as necessary.…
The defect: 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…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: 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 th…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Maria…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: 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. Interim letters informing owners of the recall an…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Mercury Milan or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Toyota Camry has fewer complaints per year (about 206) compared to the Mercury Milan (about 430), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. In practice, this means a Camry owner might experience fewer trips to the mechanic for unexpected problems, though both vehicles have notable safety-related complaints. The Milan's higher complaint rate suggests it may demand more attention and repair costs over time.
Key differences
- The Mercury Milan has a much higher complaint rate per year (429.5) than the Toyota Camry (205.6), suggesting more frequent issues.
- Milan complaints often involve air bag inflator recalls and brake failures, while Camry complaints more often involve power train and engine hesitation.
- The Milan has more crash-related complaints (98) and injuries (48) than the Camry (171 crashes, 158 injuries), but the Camry's higher injury count may reflect its larger sales volume or different reporting.
- Camry owners report electronic system malfunctions like stability control and parking brake failures, whereas Milan owners report steering instability and transmission shifting problems.
- Check if the Takata air bag recall has been completed for both driver and passenger sides; if not, insist on proof of repair before purchase.
- Test the brakes thoroughly for any delay or sponginess, and inspect for ABS module issues, as sudden brake failure has been reported.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park and look for any sticking; also check for transmission hesitation during a test drive.
- Verify that the electronic parking brake engages and disengages properly, and listen for unusual noises from the brake pedal area.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and confirm all open recalls are addressed, especially air bag recalls on the Milan.
- During a test drive, pay attention to brake response, transmission shifting, and any hesitation or shuddering.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the brake system, steering components, and electronic systems for both models.
- For the Camry, specifically test the electronic parking brake and check for any warning lights related to stability control.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and check if the car has been regularly serviced, as both models have known issues that may worsen with neglect.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Mercury Milan or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercury Milan vs Toyota Camry
- Mercury Milan total complaints
- 2,577
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Mercury Milan total recalls
- 44
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Mercury Milan avg complaints/year
- 429.5
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Camry
- Mercury Milan top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN