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U.S. public vehicle records

Mercury MONTEREY problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

454 owner complaints analyzed

9 distinct recall campaigns

78,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1968 to 2007 model years. Data snapshot: . 428 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 181 of 454 complaints (39.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting29364.5%
Engine operation5111.2%
Braking behavior367.9%
Steering behavior153.3%
Electrical and battery issues132.9%
Fuel system concerns51.1%

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:Automatic Transmission
181
Power Train
142
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter
21
Seats
19
Electrical System
17
Structure:Body
17
Engine
15
Vehicle Speed Control
15
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train:Automatic Transmission181
Power Train142
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter21
Seats19
Electrical System17
Structure:Body17
Engine15
Vehicle Speed Control15

Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 181; Power Train: 142; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter: 21; Seats: 19; Electrical System: 17; Structure:Body: 17; Engine: 15; Vehicle Speed Control: 15

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
15
25,000 to 49,999
54
50,000 to 74,999
128
75,000 to 99,999
101
100,000 to 149,999
106
150,000 and above
24
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00015
25,000 to 49,99954
50,000 to 74,999128
75,000 to 99,999101
100,000 to 149,999106
150,000 and above24

Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 54; 50,000 to 74,999: 128; 75,000 to 99,999: 101; 100,000 to 149,999: 106; 150,000 and above: 24

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (128). 26 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
2004
1
2005
3
2006
2
2007
9
2008
25
2009
58
2010
94
2011
71
2012
52
2013
35
2014
21
2015
21
2016
15
2017
15
2018
13
2019
8
2020
5
2021
1
2022
1
2024
2
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20001
20041
20053
20062
20079
200825
200958
201094
201171
201252
201335
201421
201521
201615
201715
201813
20198
20205
20211
20221
20242
20261

2000: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 3; 2006: 2; 2007: 9; 2008: 25; 2009: 58; 2010: 94; 2011: 71; 2012: 52; 2013: 35; 2014: 21; 2015: 21; 2016: 15; 2017: 15; 2018: 13; 2019: 8; 2020: 5; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2024: 2; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 293 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 51 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 36 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 556638 · 2000-10-31 (October 31, 2000)

CONSUMER FEELS FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER. NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 556638 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 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 ↗

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
4
2005
3
2006
2
2007
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20044
20053
20062
20071

2004: 4; 2005: 3; 2006: 2; 2007: 1

Year-by-year records

Mercury MONTEREY model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
196810Not available
197201Not available
197302+1
197401-1
20042834Not available
20051193-1
2006442-1
200771-1