jep8n@bellsouth.net

I am towing a 2010 Mercury Milan and from the first tow the battery was dead after 6 hours. Ford would not respone to this problem. They said to use a charger from the motor home when towing. I purchased a charging kit off the internet and installed on MH and tow car. After 6 hours of towing the car would start but another 3 hours the car would not start with out a jump. The charging system off the internet was advertised to charge at 10 amps. Testing showed a 3 amp charge rate with the MH engine running. There is a 6 to 7 amp drain when ignition key in tow position. 6 amps for 6 hours will drain the 37 amp hour battery in the Milan. I started removing fuses while monitoring the current and found that the instrument cluster (fuse 26 on the Milan) was drawing 4 to 5 amps. I made a fused switch jumper and installed in F26 position (laying on my back and removing fuse for each tow was too hard). Now when car is configured to tow I open the switch and for the past year and 8,000 miles no battery problem. The 2010 Ford Focus and Fusion has the same battery problem when towing. John Pridgen 2004 Cheetah

On 6/10 I talked to the Service Director at the dealer where I purchased my Milan and was told the Powertrain Control Module Reprogramming was to make the Tx shift more smoother. John

I talked to the Service Director at the dealer, on 6/10, where I purchased Milan and he told me the programming recall had nothing to do with the transmission problems it only makes for a smother shifting tx. john pridgen

I do not know! I have a copy of the email that Stokes-Craaven in Minning SC gave me "of the so called recall" and under the New Field Service Actions were 3 items: First one had to do with Front Seat Manual Recliner Replacement. Second one was as follows:Customer Satisfaction Program 10B15: Certain 2010 Model Year Fusion and Milan and Certain 2009 and 2010 Modle Year Escape and Mariner Vehicles Equipped with 6F35 Transmission: Powertrain Control Module Reprogramming. Third was a new set of Four Wheel Down Towing Instructions. As you can see item 2 did not mention Towing. I have a copy of of the instructions and the only changes from my manual are: change "AWD to 4WD" (2 places) and change "ALL to Four". John

I do not know. The dealer we bought the car from said it was set up for towing. First 350 miles, with stop for 5 min run, the tx was burned. Spent 6 days at the Ford dealer in Manning SC while new tx(with a baffle to reduce fluid aeration) and radiator was installed. Was told fluid level was as per the manual for flat towing. Towed 3 100 mile trips and was in Wilmington NC and though I smelled burn oil. Went to Ford dealer in Wilmington NC and the service manager said the only thing he saw was a low fluid level in the tx. Before he added fluid I showed him the fluid level in the owner's manual and he said he did not know that. He assured me that the level was per the manual. 900 miles later the second tx burned up. Got tow dolly in VA and towed back to FL where I purchased car. On way back I stopped by ford in Manning and service manager gave me a copy of a recall he had received the day before requiring a reprogramming of the tx computer. Gave Ford in Titusville a copy of recall, and tx with new radiator was installed. They gave me a copy of the work order for the reprogramming of the tx computer. Got home yesterday after 1150 miles towing as per the manual and only problem was the battery was run down after 5.5 hours of towing. This has been a problem since I first towed it. John

I looked at my 2010 Mercury Milan's Owners Manual set up procedure for flat towing after each of the two transmissions burned up on first trip out with 2400 miles on car. jep8n

We bought a new 2010 Mercury Milan 6 speed auto transmission in Feb to tow with our Motor Home. Left Florida with 1729 miles on car on 3/27 and stopped in Santee. Sun morning tried to start car to go thru setup to tow and nothing would work including the gear shifter. Towed car 17 miles to Ford dealer Stokes-Craven in Manning SC and was told the transmission was burned up. They contacted Ford and was told they had issues with the transmission. It did not have a part installed that would prevent or reduce fluid aeration which causes over heating. A new Tx was ordered and installed and we left Manning 4/3 for NC. We stayed in Stokes-Craven Ford's lot 6 days with electric, water and sewer available, they even fed us one day. The overall service from Ford Motor Co and Stokes-Craven Ford could not have been better. John Pridgen Update The second transmission burned up 23 days, and 900 miles, after first one. Brought car back to FL on tow dolly. Dealer in Titusville replaced TX with another new one. Got car back on Fri 5/7 runs just fine and in 1 week will see if it tows to NC with out damage. John Pridgen 3rd update---May 27 1638 Hrs. Just got home from a 1200 mile trip with the Mercury Milan and the transmission did just fine no problems. But from the first tow with the Milan after 5 hours of towing the battery is run down. Can jump car and engine starts right up. drove car 700 miles with no battery problem. Today after 5.5 hours bat was run down. Will see dealer Mon for the 3rd time with batt problem. John