Head-to-head reliability
Mercury Montego vs Toyota Camry
How the Mercury Montego and Toyota Camry compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Mercury Montego vs Toyota Camry: The Montego averaged 85 complaints per year over 3 years, while the Camry averaged 214 per year over 10 years. The Montego had 3 recalls and 0 deaths; the Camry had 31 recalls and 1 death. Both show power train issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercury Montego or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercury Montego
The Mercury Montego is a large sedan that, based on owner complaints, can be demanding to own. Over three years, it averaged about 85 complaints per year, with the most common issues involving the power train, vehicle speed control, and electrical system. Many reports describe sudden loss of power, unintended acceleration, and transmission problems that can leave drivers stranded or cause safety hazards.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a popular midsize sedan with a much longer complaint history: over ten years, it averaged about 214 complaints per year. The most frequent problem areas are the power train, engine, and service brakes, with some owners reporting sudden acceleration, transmission failure, and brake issues. While the total number of complaints is higher, this reflects a longer period and far more vehicles on the road.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercury Montego | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 256 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 3 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 16 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 85.3 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 11 Better | 163 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Mercury Montego
- 01POWER TRAIN86
- 02VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL50
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM40
- 04ENGINE30
- 05SERVICE BRAKES26
Owners report electronic throttle failures that cause sudden loss of power or unintended acceleration, often leaving them stranded. Transmission jerking, clunking, and slipping into neutral are also common, which can be dangerous in traffic.
Complaints describe cruise control failing to disengage when the brake is pressed, and throttle control transmission failures that cause the vehicle to stop unexpectedly. These issues can lead to loss of control.
Drivers report instrument cluster gauges suddenly dropping to zero and flickering, as well as jerking and clunking that feels like the transmission will drop out. These electrical glitches can distract and confuse the driver.
Some owners experience lurching when shifting from park or neutral, and a burning odor followed by loss of power steering. These symptoms suggest engine and related system failures that can be costly and hazardous.
“MY CAR HAS A ISSUE WITH ELECTRONIC THROTTLE, I CALLED AND WAS TOLD SORRY YOUR 189,000 IS OVER 150,000 LIMIT TO BE REPAIRED. I HAVEN'T HAD THE CAR FOR 3 YEARS YET. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL VS A CUSTOMER CARE ISSUE. I DROVE TO MY SON'S ON MONDAY AND CAR LOSS POW…”
“I AM ALSO IN THE GROUP OF BAMBOOZLED PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE UNFORTUNATE EXPERIENCE OF OWNING A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO. RECENTLY ON A 90 MILE TRIP ABOUT 40 MILES IN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 GOING UP A HILL I ACCELERATED TO PASS A VEHICLE AND MY CAR SUDDENLY AND UN…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the front end during acceleration, often traced to transmission failure that requires replacement. Some also describe sudden acceleration incidents, including one that resulted in a crash.
Complaints include uncontrollable sudden acceleration and engine maintenance codes related to a coolant valve bypass. These can lead to unexpected acceleration or engine damage if not addressed.
Drivers report brake pedal going to the floor with no response, especially on slopes, and sudden loss of braking ability. This is a critical safety concern that requires immediate attention.
Many complaints involve AC condenser damage from road debris and persistent mildew odors from the vents. While not safety-critical, these issues affect comfort and can be expensive to repair.
“I turned into a restaurant’s parking lot, found a spot and slowly drove into the lot, I eased off the gas pedal and gently applying the brake as the lot has a slight downward slope. When I reach the chunk (the parking block), I added more force to the brake,…”
“Grinding noise coming from front end upon acceleration. Brought to dealership who confirmed noises coming from transmission. Transmission needs to be replaced per dealer recommendation. Recalls on 2021 Toyota Camry for same issue. Transmissions on backorder a…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Mercury Montego — 3 recalls
The defect: FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED AND MERCURY MONTEGO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 11, 2006. THE FUEL TANKS MAY NOT HAVE CONSISTENT WELDS BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL FILLER NECK SPUD WHICH CAN AFFECT THE STRENGTH OF THE JOINT. SOME FUE…
The risk: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 16, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA,…
The risk: AS A RESULT, THE DOOR LATCH PAWL MAY NOT RETURN TO THE LATCH POSITION WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED, AND THE DOOR COULD OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SHIELD OVER THE FRONT LATCHES; SEAL A DRAIN HOLE IN THE REAR WINDOW TRIM MOLDING ON THE FREESTYLE REAR SIDE DOORS; AND APPLY GREASE TO ALL FRONT AND REAR SIDE-DOOR LATCH MECHANISMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON…
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE STRAPS THAT SECURE THE FUEL TANK TO THE VEHICLE BODY MAY BREAK, CAUSING THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL TANK HEAT SHIELD TO DROP ON THE DRIVESHAFT (ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES) OR EXHAUST SYSTEM (FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES).
The risk: IF THIS HAPPENS, DRIVERS MAY NOTICE A NOISE OR A FUEL LEAK. A FUEL LEAK IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FUEL TANK STRAPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 1, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Mercury Montego or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Mercury Montego has far fewer complaints per year (about 85) compared to the Toyota Camry (about 214), but the Camry's numbers span ten years and a much larger vehicle population. In practice, the Montego's complaints often involve severe power train and throttle issues that can strand drivers, while the Camry's broader range includes brakes, engine, and comfort problems. Neither is free of serious concerns, but the Montego's lower volume may mean less aftermarket support and fewer documented fixes.
Key differences
- The Montego has about 85 complaints per year over 3 years, while the Camry has about 214 per year over 10 years, but the Camry's total is spread across many more vehicles.
- Montego owners frequently report electronic throttle and transmission problems causing sudden power loss or unintended acceleration, whereas Camry owners report transmission grinding and sudden acceleration that can lead to crashes.
- Camry complaints include brake pedal failures and AC issues, while Montego complaints include instrument cluster failures and engine lurching.
- The Montego has 3 recalls and 0 deaths in the data, while the Camry has 31 recalls and 1 death, indicating different recall and safety profiles.
- Check for any signs of electronic throttle issues: test drive at various speeds and listen for hesitation or sudden loss of power.
- Inspect transmission behavior: look for jerking, clunking, or slipping when shifting between drive and reverse, and check for instrument cluster flickering.
- Listen for grinding noises from the front end during acceleration, which may indicate transmission problems requiring replacement.
- Test the brakes on a slope or during hard stops to ensure the pedal doesn't go to the floor, and check for any sudden acceleration incidents during the test drive.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models using the NHTSA VIN lookup tool.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the transmission and throttle system on the Montego, and the transmission and brakes on the Camry.
- During the test drive, pay attention to any hesitation, sudden acceleration, or unusual noises from the engine and transmission.
- Check the operation of all electrical components, including the instrument cluster, on the Montego, and the air conditioning on the Camry.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes and brake repairs, and be wary of vehicles with incomplete histories.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Mercury Montego or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercury Montego vs Toyota Camry
- Mercury Montego total complaints
- 256
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Mercury Montego total recalls
- 3
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Mercury Montego avg complaints/year
- 85.3
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Mercury Montego
- Mercury Montego top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN