Head-to-head reliability
Mercury Monterey vs FORD F 150
How the Mercury Monterey and FORD F 150 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 FORD F 150: The Monterey averaged 113 complaints per year over 4 years, while the F-150 averaged 1,131 per year over 10 years. Both suffer power train issues, but the F-150 has far more recalls (145 vs 14). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercury Monterey or FORD F 150 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 averaged about 113 complaints per year over four years, with most issues centered on the power train. Owners frequently report sudden transmission failure and stalling, which can leave you stranded. There are also notable complaints about the rear liftgate closing unexpectedly and seat brackets rusting. Overall, it's a vehicle that demands careful inspection before purchase.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that averaged over 1,100 complaints per year across ten years, with power train and electrical problems dominating. Many owners describe hard or delayed transmission shifts and sudden loss of power. Electrical glitches like camera malfunctions and warning lights are also common. With 145 recalls and 328 crash-related complaints, it's a high-maintenance vehicle that requires diligence.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercury Monterey | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 453 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 4 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 113.3 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 9 Better | 287 |
| 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 Monterey
- 01POWER TRAIN338
- 02STRUCTURE28
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM20
- 04SEATS20
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL17
Owners report the transmission suddenly failing or the van losing power while driving, sometimes with the engine still running. This can happen without warning and may require a costly replacement.
The rear liftgate can unexpectedly close on its own, causing minor injuries. This is a safety concern when loading or unloading the back.
The engine may stall or cut out while driving or at a stop, and the transmission can feel like it's slipping. This intermittent issue can be dangerous in traffic.
Seat brackets can become loose and rust, potentially affecting the third-row seat's stability. This could compromise passenger safety 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…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10-speed automatic transmission often shifts hard or jerks between gears, and some owners experience a sudden loss of power. These issues can lead to expensive repairs and unsafe driving conditions.
Owners report warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' appearing frequently. These glitches can disable safety features and be distracting.
Some complaints involve engine problems, though specific details are limited in the sample. Given the high number of engine-related complaints, it's wise to have a mechanic inspect thoroughly.
Headlight issues are common enough to be a top complaint category. Faulty lighting can reduce visibility and increase accident risk.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
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.
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Mercury Monterey or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Mercury Monterey has far fewer complaints per year (about 113) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,100), but both have serious power train issues. In practice, the Monterey may be simpler to maintain, but its transmission failures can be sudden and costly. The F-150's higher volume of complaints means more frequent trips to the shop.
Key differences
- The Monterey's most common complaint is power train (338 complaints), often sudden transmission failure; the F-150 also has power train issues (3,553 complaints) but with hard shifting and power loss.
- The Monterey has 14 recalls, including multiple seat-related recalls; the F-150 has 145 recalls covering electrical, engine, and lighting systems.
- The Monterey has 4 crash-related complaints and 9 injuries; the F-150 has 328 crash-related complaints and 287 injuries, indicating a much higher volume of safety incidents.
- Electrical problems are prominent in both: Monterey owners report stalling and traction control warnings; F-150 owners report camera malfunctions and battery cable issues.
- Test the transmission thoroughly for slipping, delayed engagement, or sudden loss of power, as owners report complete failure.
- Inspect the rear liftgate struts and hinges for weakness, and check seat brackets for rust or looseness, especially in the third row.
- During a test drive, pay attention to transmission shifts between gears, especially 4-5, 5-6, and 7-8, for jerking or clunking.
- Check for any dashboard warning messages related to the front camera or pre-collision assist, and ensure all lights work properly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on transmission and electrical systems.
- For the Monterey, specifically test the liftgate operation and inspect seat mounting points for rust.
- For the F-150, scan for stored error codes and test all electronic safety features.
- Budget for potential repairs, as both vehicles have known costly issues.
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 FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercury Monterey vs FORD F 150
- Mercury Monterey total complaints
- 453
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Mercury Monterey total recalls
- 14
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Mercury Monterey avg complaints/year
- 113.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Mercury Monterey
- Mercury Monterey top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN