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 has 2,577 complaints over 6 years (avg 430/yr) and 44 recalls, while the Camry has 2,143 over 10 years (avg 214/yr) and 31 recalls. Both have serious safety issues, but the Camry shows fewer annual 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, a midsize sedan, shows a high complaint rate of about 430 per year, with air bag, brake, and steering issues dominating. Owners report sudden loss of power steering, brake failures, and concerns about Takata air bag inflators. These are serious safety-related problems that could affect daily driving and peace of mind.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry, a popular midsize sedan, has a lower complaint rate of about 214 per year, but still shows notable issues in the powertrain, engine, and brakes. Owners report transmission grinding, sudden acceleration, and brake failures, though these are less frequent per year than the Milan's. The Camry also has recalls for air bag sensors and other components, but overall it appears to have fewer annual complaints.
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 | 2,143 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 44 | 31 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 98 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 429.5 | 214.3 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 48 Better | 163 |
| 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 inflator recalls that could explode and send metal fragments, and many express concern about unaddressed recalls. This is a critical safety issue that requires immediate attention.
Brake failure is reported, with the brake warning light illuminating and the pedal going to the floor. Some owners mention electronic brake control module failures, which can lead to a loss of braking power.
Electric power steering failures are common, with messages like 'Service Power Steering Now' and sudden loss of assist, making steering extremely stiff and difficult, especially at highway speeds.
“RE: Safety Recall Notice 21S12 / NHTSA Recall 21V-158 ISSUE: "In the event of a crash that causes deployment of the driver airbag, the driver airbag inflator in your vehicle may explode." RISK: "If an airbag inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments could stri…”
“I've been reading on all these recalls for my car and only one recall was fix which was when I took care of it but these past recalls on my car, and some of the recalls match up to the way my car is acting like and I bought this car used and I am concerned ab…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Transmission issues are reported, including grinding noises and the need for replacement. Some owners mention recalls for the same issue, but parts may be on backorder, leaving drivers waiting.
Sudden acceleration incidents are described, where the car accelerates on its own, leading to crashes. Also, engine maintenance lights and coolant valve bypass codes appear, which may not be covered by recall for all VINs.
Brake failure is reported, with no response when pressing the pedal, especially on hills. This is a serious safety concern that could lead to accidents.
“I turned into a restaurant’s parking lot, found a spot and slowly drove into the lot, I eased off the gas pedal and gently applying the brake as the lot has a slight downward slope. When I reach the chunk (the parking block), I added more force to the brake,…”
“Grinding noise coming from front end upon acceleration. Brought to dealership who confirmed noises coming from transmission. Transmission needs to be replaced per dealer recommendation. Recalls on 2021 Toyota Camry for same issue. Transmissions on backorder a…”
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 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. V…
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: 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. The recall began February 13, 2019. Owners may co…
The defect: 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. The affected vehicles have fuel vapor canisters whose purge valves may not op…
The risk: The pressure changes may cause the tank to crack and leak fuel. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: 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 (CPV). The fuel tank…
The defect: 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 For…
The risk: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). If dealers find any loss of steering assist DTCs, the steering gear will be replaced, free of charge. If, no codes…
The defect: 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 registe…
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. Ford mailed interim letters informing owners that…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
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…
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…
Buyer analysis
Mercury Milan or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Toyota Camry has fewer complaints per year (214 vs 430) and fewer recalls (31 vs 44), suggesting it may be more reliable overall. However, both have serious safety issues, so a thorough inspection is essential.
Key differences
- The Milan has more than double the complaints per year (430 vs 214) and more recalls (44 vs 31).
- Air bag issues are more prominent in the Milan, with Takata inflator recalls, while the Camry has fewer air bag complaints.
- Steering failures are a major issue in the Milan, but not in the Camry's top problems.
- The Camry has more engine and powertrain complaints, including sudden acceleration and transmission issues, which are not as prominent in the Milan.
- Check if all air bag recalls have been performed, especially the Takata inflator recall (21V-158).
- Test the power steering for any stiffness or warning messages, and inspect the brake system for any signs of failure.
- Listen for grinding noises from the transmission and check for any acceleration issues.
- Inspect the brake system for any loss of pressure, and verify that all recalls, such as the air bag sensor recall, have been addressed.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA's website to check for open recalls on both vehicles.
- Have a mechanic inspect the air bag system, steering, and brakes on the Milan.
- For the Camry, test drive to feel for transmission issues and sudden acceleration, and check the engine for any warning lights.
- Ask for service records to see if any major repairs have been done.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic for both.
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
- 2,143
- Mercury Milan total recalls
- 44
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Mercury Milan avg complaints/year
- 429.5
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Camry
- Mercury Milan top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN