2005 Mercury MONTEREY: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
119 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
72,813 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 106 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 50 of 119 complaints (42.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 81 | 68.1% |
| Engine operation | 14 | 11.8% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 6.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 4.2% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 0.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.8% |
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 | 50 |
| Power Train | 38 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter | 6 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Seats | 3 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 50; Power Train: 38; Electrical System: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter: 6; Engine: 5; Air Bags: 3; Seats: 3; Structure:Body: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 37 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 27 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 19 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 37; 75,000 to 99,999: 27; 100,000 to 149,999: 19; 150,000 and above: 5
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (37). 13 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 16 |
| 2010 | 25 |
| 2011 | 28 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2005: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 4; 2009: 16; 2010: 25; 2011: 28; 2012: 14; 2013: 5; 2014: 4; 2015: 3; 2016: 5; 2017: 2; 2018: 5; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 81 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 14 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10138125 · 2005-09-29 (September 29, 2005)
DT: ON AUGUST 25, 2005 THE GAS TANK WAS LEAKING GASOLINE. THE GAS TANK HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE. ONE COULD SMELL GASOLINE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS POURING OUT. HOWEVER, THE GAS GAUGE DID NOT MOVE. HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT. THERE WAS SO MUCH GASOLINE THAT THEY CAME OUT AND PUT SOME TYPE OF DIRT OVER THE GASOLINE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 2,710 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138125 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10143673 · 2005-11-25 (November 25, 2005)
THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IN THE VAN HAS MALFUNCTIONED IN THE EXACT SAME WAY TWICE. IT SAYS THE REAR SLIDING DOOR IS OPEN WHEN IT IS, IN FACT, CLOSED. IT ALSO BEEPS FOR 60 SECONDS EVERY TIME YOU STOP AND START GOING AGAIN. THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN TAKEN IN AND REPAIRED TWICE. IT IS MORE THAN A HASSLE FOR US TO GET THE VAN IN TO BE REPAIRED DUE TO HAVING INFANTS AND WORKING A VERY STRICT SCHEDULE IN THE MILITARY... WHICH IS WHY WE BOUGHT A NEW VEHICLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10143673 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10197046 · 2007-07-20 (July 20, 2007)
MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH LEASE FORD/MERCURY VEHICLES AND HAVE DONE SO FOR 30+ YEARS. HIS CURRENT VEHICLE REQUIRED REAR BRAKE WORK IN APRIL, MINE IN FEB. OF THIS YEAR. HIS (A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE) IS NOW BEING RECALLED FOR THAT REASON. MINE (A 2005 MERCURY MONTEREY VAN) IS NOT UNDER RECALL, EVEN THOUGH I HAD TO HAVE THE EXACT SAME WORK DONE ON THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE IN FEB. 2007. WHY HAVE YOU NOT DIRECTED FORD TO EXTEND THIS RECALL TO ALL VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM? UNTIL THIS IS CORRECTED, WE WILL NOT PURCHASE FORD OR MERCURY PRODUCTS AG…
Owner-reported narrative. 41,515 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197046 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10212933 · 2007-12-27 (December 27, 2007)
DRIVING ON I35 AT 75 MILES PER HOUR WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS. THE CAR ENGINE JUST STARTED RACING WITH NO WARNING, I TOOK THE CRUISE OFF AND HAD LOST ALL ABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD OR REVERSE. I HAD THE ENTIRE FAMILY IN THE CAR. I AM 800 MILES FROM HOME AND IT WILL BE 2 DAYS FOR THE FIX. THEY ESTIMATE APPROXIMATELY $1800. THE VAN IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD AND HAS 47,000 MILES. THIS IS HAZARDOUS AND I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT FORD DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS AS JUST DOING AND INTERNET SEARCH ON THIS…
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10212933 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10233716 · 2008-07-09 (July 9, 2008)
WITH NO WARNING, THE TRANSMISSION WILL GO OUT LEAVING THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO DRIVE. I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE MINIVANS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 103,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233716 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10236241 · 2008-07-29 (July 29, 2008)
DRIVING MY MERCURY MONTEREY WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS NO TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER STATES A NEW TRANSMISSION IS REQUIRED FOR 4500. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 98,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10236241 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10240298 · 2008-08-30 (August 30, 2008)
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON SR528 AT NIGHT IN OUR 2005 MERCURY MONTEREY COMING HOME FROM WORK. WHILE DRIVING OVER THE INDIAN RIVER BRIDGE, THE ENGINE REVVED UP ON HER AND ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. THERE WAS NO WARNING WHATSOEVER WHICH PLACED HER IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. EVERY GEAR (REVERSE, D, 3, 1) ACTS LIKE IT'S IN NEUTRAL. NOW THE MINIVAN IS SITTING AT A GAS STATION WHILE WE WAIT TO FIND OUT THE COST OF REPAIR. THE VAN HAS 57000 MILES AND WE'VE HAD IT LESS THAN 3 YEARS. THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON FAILURE HAPPENING WITH THE 2004 A…
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10240298 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10250525 · 2008-12-02 (December 2, 2008)
2005 MERCURY MONTEREY, TRANSMISSION SUDDEN FAILURE WHILE WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS 34,000 MILES ON IT. FORD REFUSED ANY REPAIRS CITING IT WAS 8 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. IT WOULD APPEAR THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR FORD AND THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO NOT ADDRESS IT FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. THIS DOES SEEM TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK ALTHOUGH WE WERE FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE INTO A SAFE PLACE AND THEN HAVE IT TOWED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250525 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
06V069000 · Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate
Reported: 2006-03-09 (March 9, 2006)
ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH THE POWER LIFTGATE OPTION, THE POWER LIFTGATE MOTOR AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGES AFTER THE LIFTGATE IS POWERED OPEN.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A LIFTGATE STRUT MALFUNCTION, THE LIFTGATE CAN FALL FREELY WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. ANYONE STANDING BENEATH THE LIFTGATE MAY BE INJURED IF THE LIFTGATE FALLS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE POWER LIFTGATE MODULE TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE LIFTGATE COULD FALL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA campaign record ↗12V006000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter | Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 2012-01-09 (January 9, 2012)
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 FORD FREESTAR AND MERCURY MONTEREY VEHICLES. THE TORQUE CONVERTER OUTPUT SHAFT MAY FAIL.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION RESULTS IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER WITH NO WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 9, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.
NHTSA campaign record ↗13V081000 · Seats
Reported: 2013-03-07 (March 7, 2013)
Ford is recalling certain model year 2004-2007 Freestar and Mercury Monterey vehicles manufactured from March 24, 2003, through November 7, 2006, equipped with a third row seat and originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. The third row stowable seat can experience corrosion and structural degradation at the seat anchor mechanism mounted to the rear wheel wells. As a result of the corrosion, the third row seat may not fully latch into its seating position.
Consequence: In the event that the vehicle is crashed into from the rear, an unlatched seat may increase the risk of personal injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install new third row seat latch striker mounting brackets, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.
NHTSA campaign record ↗