2004 Mercury MONTEREY problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
283 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
78,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 272 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 130 of 283 complaints (45.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 177 | 62.5% |
| Engine operation | 29 | 10.2% |
| Braking behavior | 22 | 7.8% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 3.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 1.4% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 130 |
| Power Train | 70 |
| Seats | 15 |
| Structure:Body | 14 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter | 12 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Steering | 8 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 130; Power Train: 70; Seats: 15; Structure:Body: 14; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter: 12; Vehicle Speed Control: 10; Electrical System: 9; Steering: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 35 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 82 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 62 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 71 |
| 150,000 and above | 16 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 35; 50,000 to 74,999: 82; 75,000 to 99,999: 62; 100,000 to 149,999: 71; 150,000 and above: 16
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (82). 11 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 18 |
| 2009 | 42 |
| 2010 | 67 |
| 2011 | 40 |
| 2012 | 35 |
| 2013 | 20 |
| 2014 | 14 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2006: 2; 2007: 7; 2008: 18; 2009: 42; 2010: 67; 2011: 40; 2012: 35; 2013: 20; 2014: 14; 2015: 8; 2016: 5; 2017: 9; 2018: 5; 2019: 3; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2024: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 177 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 29 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 22 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 10213728 · 2008-01-04 (January 4, 2008)
I WAS DRIVING ALONG AT ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN MY 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY SUDDENLY SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND BEGAN SLOWING DOWN. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE MAIN ROAD ONTO A SIDE STREET SO THE CAR COULD COAST TO A STOP. ACCORDING TO TWO SEPERATE FORD DEALERSHIPS THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. BOTH DEALERSHIPS CLAIM THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE FOR A COST OF $3500. THE CAR ONLY HAS 46,000 MILES ON IT. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR SOME TIME AND …
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10213728 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10220810 · 2008-03-11 (March 11, 2008)
2004 MERCURY MONTEREY 4.2 LITER ENGINE, 4 SPEED AUTOMATIC- NO WARRANTY 38,960 MILES WITHOUT WARNING, THE VAN STOPPED ACCELERATING ON FREEWAY ON-RAMP AND THE DRIVER HAD TO COAST TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY CLOVERLEAF. WHEN VEHICLE WAS SAFE FROM MERGING TRAFFIC BUT STILL ON FREEWAY SHOULDER THE ACCELERATOR WAS PUSHED AND THE VAN WOULD REV IT'S ENGINE IN ALL GEARS, FORWARD AND REVERSE WITHOUT MOVING FORWARD OR REVERSE. SINCE THE VAN WOULD NOT MOVE UNDER IT'S POWER ' THE VAN WAS TOWED TO A LINCOLN MERCURY DEALER. MY WIFE AND 1 YEAR OLD CHILD GOT A RIDE F…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,960 miles reported. Look up ODI 10220810 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10251972 · 2008-12-16 (December 16, 2008)
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY VAN SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING LET GO AS I WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY IN FLORIDA. THANK GOD I HAD THE SENSE TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD AND SPARE A POTENTIAL DISASTER WITH MY FIVE CHILDREN IN THE VAN. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGNS PRIOR TO THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND IT'S VERY UPSETTING THINKING OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10251972 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10293072 · 2009-11-20 (November 20, 2009)
WAS DRIVING 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY PREMIER MINIVAN WHEN SUDDENLY WHILE IN DRIVE GEAR LOST ALL DRIVE POWER TO THE WHEELS. LUCKILY THERE WAS AN OUT TO PULL SAFELY OFF THE ROAD, INTO A DRIVEWAY. IF THIS WOULD'VE OCCURRED 1/4 MILE FURTHER IN THE ROADWAY THERE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN AN "OUT" AS THIS IS A VERY CURVY MOUNTAINOUS ROAD WHERE FEW PLACES TO SAFELY EXIT THE HIGHWAY. POTENTIALLY THERE COULD'VE BEEN TERRIBLE INJURIES OR WORSE W/4 PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE INCLUDING MY PRECIOUS 2YR OLD DAUGHTER AND HANDSOME 4 YEAR OLD BOY. THERE WAS A COMPLETE LO…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293072 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074724 · 2004-06-03 (June 3, 2004)
THE FRONT WHEEL OF THE 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY FELL OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD 1030 MILES ON IT WHEN IT HAPPENED. IT WAS IN FOR A SAFETY/COURTESY/NEW CAR CHECK AT 600 MILES WHERE THE DEALER SAID HE RETORQUED THE WHEELS. 400 MILES LATER WE HAD A NOISE IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM -- THE TECH SAID THERE WAS A TSB ON IT AND THEY ORDERED THE PARTS. 30 MILES LATER, THE FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF AND DAMAGED THE FENDER, DOOR, SUSPENSION, BUMPER FASCIA, ETC. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE TECH DID NOT TAKE THE WHEELS OFF THE VEHICLE BUT DID TEST DRIVE THE VEHICL…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,030 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074724 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10122350 · 2005-05-27 (May 27, 2005)
I AM IN POSSESSION OF A MERCURY MONTERY 2004 PURCHASED NEW AUGUST 2004. WHEN THIS VEHICLE HAD 4000 MILES AND DURING THE FIRST LENGHTHY HIGHWAY TRIP IN MARCH 2005, I BECAME AWARE OF PULSATING BRAKES BEGINNING AT A SPEED OF 50MPH AND HIGHER. THIS PULSATING MADE ME UNABLE TO SAFELY BRAKE AT A SPEED OF OVER 50MPH. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE MERCURY DEALER IN APRIL WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND WAS INFORMED THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE AND DID NOT HAVE A SOLUTION. IT WAS THEN SUGGESTED TO ME THAT I HAVE THEM…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10122350 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10255402 · 2009-01-17 (January 17, 2009)
THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL ON THE MERCURY MONTEREY ID 03V457000. THIS RECALL SAYS THE POWERSTEERING PRESSURE LINE MAY BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE PINION GEAR CAUSING POTENTIAL FOR THE DRIPPING FLUID TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST CAUSING A FIRE. RECENTLY, WE BY A FORD DEALER SERVICE CENTER THAT ALTHOUGH THE PRESSURE LINE IN OUR MONTEREY HAS NOT BECOME SEPARATED IS DOES HAVE A LEAK AND IS ALSO A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. WE HAVE THREE SMALL CHILDREN AND KNOW OUR CONCERNS ARE VALID. OUR VIN IS NOT ONE OF THE CARS COVERED IN THE RECALL OF …
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10255402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10294112 · 2009-12-01 (December 1, 2009)
DROVE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES AND PARKED IT. GOT BACK IN TO MOVE IT, STARTED VEHICLE, HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN... NO ELECTRICAL, WOULD NOT RESTART. TOW TRUCK CALLED, JUMPED BATTERY, WHEN IT STARTED UP IT WAS PUT IT IN DRIVE AND TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND HEARD A HISSING SOUND AND SAW FLUID SQUIRTING OUT. EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. SHOP SAID STEERING RACK HAD GONE OUT, REPLACED STEERING RACK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10294112 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10456985 · 2012-05-01 (May 1, 2012)
LARGE SECTION OF DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL/UNDERBODY, BROKE OFF FROM VEHICLE INCLUDING AN ANCHOR FOR THE THIRD ROW SEAT. THIS LEFT THE THIRD ROW SEAT UNSAFE TO USE AND THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS. PIECE WAS CLEARLY ROTTED THROUGH. WE ARE TOLD IT WILL COST $1200 TO REPAIR, PARTS ARE SCARCE AND DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN. UNABLE TO SAFELY UTILIZE THIRD ROW SEAT UNTIL REPAIRED. WATER IS TRAPPED IN THE UNDERBODY AND COULD BE DAMAGING TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. PICTURES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 126,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10456985 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10449956 · 2012-03-01 (March 1, 2012)
ON 2/24/2012 I WAS MERGING INTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. THE TRANSAXLES LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VAN HAD DIFFICULTY SHIFTING FROM WHAT I THOUGHT WAS 2ND GEAR IN TO 3RD, JUST BELOW 60 MPH AND AT ABOUT 5500 RPM. I FOUND THIS ODD, SO I EASED OFF OF THE GAS. TRIED TO ACCELERATE AGAIN WHILE THE LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND IT WOULD STILL NOT SHIFT. AFTER PULLING OFF THE HIGHWAY AT AN EXIT. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT. THE LIGHT DISAPPEARED. I DROVE AWAY WITH OUT INCIDENT. I PROCEEDED TO PICK UP MY CHILD AND THEN WENT TO FILL MY GAS TANK ABOUT 2 MILES AWAY.…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10449956 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10520118 · 2013-06-17 (June 17, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE CONTACT DROVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10520118 at NHTSA ↗