Head-to-head reliability
Mercury Monterey vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Mercury Monterey and Chevrolet Silverado compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Mercury Monterey vs Chevrolet Silverado: The Monterey had 453 complaints over 4 years (113/year) and 14 recalls, while the Silverado had 8,227 complaints over 10 years (823/year) and 101 recalls. The Silverado also had 3 deaths and 160 injuries reported, versus 0 deaths and 9 injuries for the Monterey. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercury Monterey or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercury Monterey
The Mercury Monterey is a minivan that owners report having serious transmission and electrical problems. Over four years, there were 453 complaints, with 338 about the power train, often describing the transmission failing or the van suddenly not responding. Recalls cover seats and fuel system issues, and some complaints mention injuries from the liftgate closing unexpectedly. For a used minivan buyer, this means potential costly repairs and safety concerns.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint rate per year than the Monterey. Over ten years, there were 8,227 complaints, with engines and power trains being the most common problem areas. Owners report issues like engine shutting off while driving, transmission problems, and brake loss. There were also 3 deaths and 160 injuries reported in complaints, and 101 recalls covering fuel pumps, tires, and forward collision warnings.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercury Monterey | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 453 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 4 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 113.3 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 9 Better | 160 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 3 |
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 Monterey
- 01POWER TRAIN338
- 02STRUCTURE28
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM20
- 04SEATS20
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL17
Owners report the transmission failing or the van suddenly not responding while driving, such as stopping in the middle of fast traffic. This can be dangerous and lead to expensive repairs.
The rear liftgate can unexpectedly close on its own, causing minor injuries. This is a safety risk when loading or unloading the back.
The engine may stall, cut out, or quit while driving or at a stoplight, and the traction control warning light can come on with loss of power steering and braking. This makes the van unpredictable and hard to control.
The third-row seat bracket can become loose, and owners have found rust on the garage floor from underneath. A loose seat is a safety concern in a crash.
“MY VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED THE SAME DAY THE TRANSMISSION WENT. MY BROTHER WAS DRIVING IT HOME FROM THE (NON-FORD) DEALERSHIP, WHERE HE WORKS. I HAD NOT HAD ANY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS PREVIOUSLY. THIS IS WHAT HE SENT ME: "I MADE A LEFT HAND TURN OUT OF WAWA INTO…”
“MY FAMILY WAS TRAVELING ON THE I-65 SOUTH INTERSTATE AND THE VAN, 2006 MERCURY MONTEREY, STOP RESPONDING IN THE MIDDLE OF FAST TRAFFIC. IT TOOK ME BY TOTAL SURPRISE. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. SO, I INITIALLY THOUGHT IT HAD ACCIDENTLY WENT IN NEUTRAL BUT T…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners report engines shutting off while driving, requiring a restart, and diesel particulate filter issues on Duramax models. This can leave you stranded or cause a crash.
Transmission problems include the vehicle suddenly going into neutral while driving, such as in a parking garage. This loss of power is dangerous in traffic.
Braking can suddenly fail with a firm pedal but little stopping power, and the engine may shut off with warning messages. These electrical glitches affect critical safety systems.
Owners report severe loss of normal braking, where the vehicle won't stop as expected. This is a major safety hazard.
“I purchased the 2026 Chevrolet Silverado with a 6.2L motor "new" from the dealer with 5700 miles on XXX. Roughly a month and 2500 miles later, my family and I were in the vehicle, 750 miles from home, returning from a vacation to [XXX] from the [XXX]/[XXX] ar…”
“My 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 with the 6.6L Duramax diesel has experienced three separate P2463 Diesel Particulate Filter excessive soot accumulation events at approximately 4,300, 5,500, and 10,280 miles. Each event required a Chevrolet dealer to perform…”
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 Monterey — 14 recalls
The defect: 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, Massa…
The risk: In the event that the vehicle is crashed into from the rear, an unlatched seat may increase the risk of personal injury.
The fix: 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.
The defect: CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE…
The risk: FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
The fix: UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.
The defect: 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, Massa…
The risk: In the event that the vehicle is crashed into from the rear, an unlatched seat may increase the risk of personal injury.
The fix: 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.
The defect: 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, Massa…
The risk: In the event that the vehicle is crashed into from the rear, an unlatched seat may increase the risk of personal injury.
The fix: 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.
Chevrolet Silverado — 101 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles may not have received an owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, “Child Re…
The risk: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will provide the owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 30, 2025. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252532020. Vehicle Identifi…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Chevrolet Silverado 3500, and GMC Sierra 3500 vehicles with gasoline engines and dual fuel tanks (RPOs L8T and N2N). The rear fuel pump may not transfer adequate fuel to the front tank, causing an engine stall.
The risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: The vehicle's engine control module (ECM) will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 8, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782…
The defect: General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Cou…
The risk: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-970…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and GMC Sierra 2500 vehicles equipped with the enhanced towing option and 20-inch accessory tire/wheel package. The tire information label may state the incorrect rear tire pressure, resulting in underinflated tires an…
The risk: Driving with underinflated tires can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect, update the engine control module (ECM) software, apply a tire label overlay, inflate tires to the correct pressure, and perform a tire pressure monitor system (TPMS) re-learn process as necessary, free of charge. Owne…
Buyer analysis
Mercury Monterey or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Mercury Monterey has far fewer complaints per year (about 113) compared to the Chevrolet Silverado (about 823). However, the Monterey's complaints often involve serious transmission and electrical failures, while the Silverado's higher volume includes many engine and brake issues. In practice, the Silverado may have more frequent problems overall, but both have safety-related defects.
Key differences
- The Monterey has 453 complaints over 4 years, while the Silverado has 8,227 over 10 years, meaning the Silverado has a much higher complaint rate per year.
- The Monterey's top issue is power train (338 complaints), often transmission failure, while the Silverado's top issue is engine (2,521 complaints), including stalling and diesel filter problems.
- The Silverado has 233 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths, while the Monterey has 4 crash-related and 0 deaths, though the Monterey still has injury reports from liftgate and seat issues.
- Recalls differ: Monterey recalls focus on seats and fuel system, while Silverado recalls include fuel pumps, tires, and forward collision warnings.
- Check the transmission for slipping, delayed engagement, or sudden loss of power, as many owners report transmission failure.
- Inspect the rear liftgate struts and latches to ensure it doesn't close unexpectedly, and check the third-row seat brackets for looseness or rust.
- Test drive for engine stalling or shutting off, especially at low speeds or when braking, and check for transmission going into neutral unexpectedly.
- Check brake function carefully for any loss of braking power or firm pedal with reduced stopping, and look for warning lights related to traction control or brakes.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, especially the Monterey's seat and fuel system recalls and the Silverado's fuel pump and tire recalls.
- Have a mechanic inspect the transmission on the Monterey for signs of failure, and on the Silverado check the engine for stalling issues and the brakes for proper function.
- For the Monterey, test the liftgate and third-row seats for security and unexpected movement.
- For the Silverado, scan for any stored error codes related to the engine, transmission, or brakes, and test drive at various speeds including stops.
- Review NHTSA complaints for the specific model year you are considering to see if common issues apply.
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 Monterey or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercury Monterey vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Mercury Monterey total complaints
- 453
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- Mercury Monterey total recalls
- 14
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- Mercury Monterey avg complaints/year
- 113.3
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- Mercury Monterey
- Mercury Monterey top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE