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U.S. public vehicle records

Mercury MONTEGO problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

260 owner complaints analyzed

15 distinct recall campaigns

69,090 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1970 to 2007 model years. Data snapshot: . 228 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 52 of 260 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting8432.3%
Braking behavior6223.8%
Engine operation186.9%
Electrical and battery issues135.0%
Steering behavior93.5%
Fuel system concerns10.4%

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.

Power Train
52
Vehicle Speed Control
49
Electrical System
36
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
33
Engine
30
Fuel/Propulsion System
11
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
11
Engine And Engine Cooling
10
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train52
Vehicle Speed Control49
Electrical System36
Power Train:Automatic Transmission33
Engine30
Fuel/Propulsion System11
Service Brakes, Hydraulic11
Engine And Engine Cooling10

Power Train: 52; Vehicle Speed Control: 49; Electrical System: 36; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 33; Engine: 30; Fuel/Propulsion System: 11; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling: 10

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
31
25,000 to 49,999
35
50,000 to 74,999
59
75,000 to 99,999
44
100,000 to 149,999
41
150,000 and above
18
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00031
25,000 to 49,99935
50,000 to 74,99959
75,000 to 99,99944
100,000 to 149,99941
150,000 and above18

Under 25,000: 31; 25,000 to 49,999: 35; 50,000 to 74,999: 59; 75,000 to 99,999: 44; 100,000 to 149,999: 41; 150,000 and above: 18

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (59). 32 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.

2000
1
2005
8
2006
6
2007
13
2008
12
2009
15
2010
30
2011
41
2012
27
2013
25
2014
17
2015
18
2016
17
2017
4
2018
7
2019
6
2020
5
2021
1
2022
2
2024
2
2025
2
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20001
20058
20066
200713
200812
200915
201030
201141
201227
201325
201417
201518
201617
20174
20187
20196
20205
20211
20222
20242
20252
20261

2000: 1; 2005: 8; 2006: 6; 2007: 13; 2008: 12; 2009: 15; 2010: 30; 2011: 41; 2012: 27; 2013: 25; 2014: 17; 2015: 18; 2016: 17; 2017: 4; 2018: 7; 2019: 6; 2020: 5; 2021: 1; 2022: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 2; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 84 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 62 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 18 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 10118530 · 2005-04-26 (April 26, 2005)

2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER I'VE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS; A HARD JERKING WHEN YOU PLACE IT IN REVERSE,AND ROUGH SHIFTING WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. DEALERSHIP MADE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR, AND OFTEN SAID THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL QUITS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, REPLACED BUT STILL A PROBLEM.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118530 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10124276 · 2005-06-06 (June 6, 2005)

ABS BRAKE FAILURE, GAS CAP WARNING COMING ON AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE ALL UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE CAR IS 7 WEEKS OLD

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10124276 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10140819 · 2005-10-26 (October 26, 2005)

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ONLY PROJECT OUT ABOUT 2 OR 3 CAR LENGTHS. DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING ABOVE 40 MPH ON DARK UN-LIT ROADS. HAVE HAD DEALER CHECK THE AIM AND WAS TOLD IT WAS RIGHT ON SPEC AND IF IT WASN'T IT WAS AT MAX ADJUSTMENT FOR HEIGHT. HAVE ATTEMPTED TO ADJUST THEM MYSELF PER OWNERS MANUAL AND APPARENTLY DEALER IS CORRECT BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO ELEVATE THEM AS WELL. VERY DANGEROUS, CANNOT SEE FAR ENOUGH AHEAD TO BRAKE UNLESS GOING VERY SLOWLY. HIGH BEAMS ARE FINE, NO PROBLEM. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10140819 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10345904 · 2010-07-28 (July 28, 2010)

I OWN A 2005 MERCURY MONTEGO THAT HAS BEEN A CONSTANT DOWNWARD SPIRAL.APPROX. 3 MONTHS AGO, I HAD TO REPLACE THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION,BECAUSE I WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT THEY DO NOT SELL THE TOOLS OR PARTS TO REPLACE ANYTHING IN IT, THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED.APPROX. 1 WEEK AGO, I WAS SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND MY CAR REVVED UP TO APPROX. 3500 RPM AND PUSHED MY CAR FORWARD INTO TRAFFIC. I THEN TRAVELED ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR STARTED BUCKING AND ENGINE FAIL SAFE MODE WAS ACTIVATED ON THE DASH, ALONG WITH A SMALL W…

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10345904 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10409322 · 2011-06-29 (June 29, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MONTEGO PREMIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED NUMEROUS TIMES, WOULD LOSE POWER AND STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR. THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT RECALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10409322 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10289976 · 2009-10-27 (October 27, 2009)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MONTEGO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT FROM NORMAL TO ZERO AND THEN BACK UP TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE WIRE THAT CAUSED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE TO MALFUNCTION WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE COULD CAUSE HIGH VOLTAGE IN THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, WHICH COULD HAVE LEAD TO A FIRE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,080. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,956. UPDATED 11/13/09.*LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS WELL. THE MECHANIC FOUND THREE CODES STORED FOR THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 54,956 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289976 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10389836 · 2011-03-11 (March 11, 2011)

MY 2005 MERCURY MONTEGO HAS AN INSTRUMENT FAILURE IN WHICH ALL WARNING LIGHTS STAYED ON. ONE LIGHT REMAINED ON AFTER IGNITION WAS OFF. THE BACKUP LIGHTS STAYED ON WHILE IN DRIVE PRESENTING A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. FOR EXAMPLE, A CAR APPROACHING FROM THE REAR, UPON SEEING FAULTY BACKUP LIGHTS ON MAY SWERVE TO AVOID. THIS SITUATION WOULD BE EVEN MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN AT NIGHT ON A TWO LANE ROAD. NHTSA PREVIOUSLY CLOSED THE ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION DUE TO 'NO SAFETY DEFECT'. THAT REASON WAS BASED ON FORD'S INACCURATE STATEMENT TO ODI THAT THE BA…

Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10389836 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10859900 · 2016-04-16 (April 16, 2016)

MY 2005 MERCURY MONTEGO SHUTS OFF WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. I HAVE PAID AROUND $4000 TO TRY AND HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED AND IT HAS NEVER STOPPED. THE REVERSE GEAR IS UNUSABLE, AS SOON AS YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE IT SHUTS THE CAR OFF. THE TRANSMISSION JERKS AND WILL NOT STEADILY ACCELERATE AT RANDOM TIMES. THE CAR WILL RANDOMLY SHUT OFF WHEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD LOSING ALL POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKING ABILITY. THIS IS PARTICULARLY A PROBLEM CONSIDERING I HAVE AN INFANT IN THE BACKSEAT MOST EVERY TRIP. I SAW THIS LAWSUIT AND EVERY SINGLE THIN…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10859900 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10245637 · 2008-10-16 (October 16, 2008)

I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN I REALIZED THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME WAS SITTING STILL WITHOUT ANY BREAK LIGHTS. I HIT MY BREAKS BUT I SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE HEAD ON. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF MY CAR WAS PUSHED BACK TOWARD THE WINDSHIELD. MY AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. I WOULD THINK THAT WITH THE BUMPER AND GRILL BEING PUSHED BACK TOWARD THE ENGINE THE AIRBAG WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. MY SON AND I WERE BOTH WEARING SEATBELTS AND SUFFERED INJURIES FROM THOSE. DESPITE THE SEAT BELT I WAS STILL THROWN FORWARD ALMOST SLAMMING INTO THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10245637 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10133582 · 2005-08-19 (August 19, 2005)

PURCHASED VEHICLE IN JAN.05 SEAT BELT REPLACED IN JAN TRANSMISSION REPLACED IN FEB. 05 AND A VALVE REPLACED DUE TO CHECK ENGINE WARNING FUEL PUMP REPLACED IN AUG.05, NOW HAVE TROUBLE STARTING CAR

Owner-reported narrative. 423 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133582 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2004
0
2005
2
2006
0
2007
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20040
20052
20060
20071

2004: 0; 2005: 2; 2006: 0; 2007: 1

Year-by-year records

Mercury MONTEGO model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
197001Not available
197202Not available
1973020
1974020
1975120
197604+2
200430Not available
20051352+2
2006850-2
2007361+1