Head-to-head reliability
Mercury Monterey vs Honda Accord
How the Mercury Monterey and Honda Accord 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 Honda Accord: The Monterey averaged 113 complaints per year over 4 years, while the Accord averaged 444 per year over 10 years. The Monterey has 14 recalls and 4 crash-related reports; the Accord has 38 recalls and 160 crash-related reports. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercury Monterey or Honda Accord 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, it averaged about 113 complaints per year, with most complaints about the power train. Owners describe the transmission failing suddenly, sometimes while driving, and the engine stalling or cutting out. These issues can leave you stranded and are expensive to fix.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize car with many advanced safety features. Over ten years, it averaged about 444 complaints per year, with the most complaints about the engine and electrical system. Owners report issues like engine noise, stalling, and problems with forward collision avoidance systems. Some complaints involve serious safety concerns like brake failures and airbag issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercury Monterey | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 453 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 4 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 113.3 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 9 Better | 144 |
| 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 suddenly failing or slipping, sometimes causing the van to stop responding while driving. This is dangerous and costly to repair.
The rear liftgate can unexpectedly close on its own, causing minor injuries. This is a safety risk when loading or unloading.
The engine may stall or cut out while driving or at a stop, and the transmission can feel like it's slipping. This can lead to loss of power and control.
The third-row seat bracket can become loose, and rust may be present. A loose seat is a safety hazard 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…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, loss of power, and critical failure warnings while driving. Some say the vehicle lost speed and could not accelerate.
Problems include tire pressure warnings, rodent damage to wiring, and catastrophic tire failure after service. These can lead to breakdowns or accidents.
The adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic braking may fail intermittently. This reduces the car's ability to prevent crashes.
Complaints include brake system failures and issues with the antilock/traction control module. Brake problems are a major safety concern.
“I purchased this vehicle at 0 miles in July 2025 from Honda Accord in Pensacola Florida. I reported in July 2025 that there was a noise and I was unhappy with the vehicle and would like to exchange the vehicle within the 30 days months later, the noise got lo…”
“Vehicle drove normally in the morning commute. In the afternoon commute it started normally and as i approached highway speeds the alarms started showing up. the Brake, hill descent system, abs, critical failure. the vehicle started losing speed and could not…”
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.
Honda Accord — 38 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the integrated control module (ICM) central processing unit (CPU) may reset while driving, causing a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ICM CPU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is TN2. Vehicle Identificati…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2026 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2025-2026 CR-V Fuel Cell EV vehicles. When using the tire repair kit, pressure may build within the sealant bottle, causing the bottle cap to detach.
The risk: A detached bottle cap can become a projectile and strike the user or others nearby, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the tire repair kit nozzle or sealant bottle, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipat…
The defect: Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Civic, Acura RDX, Acura Integra, and 2022 Honda Accord vehicles. A ball valve in the vehicle stability assist (VSA) modulator may leak brake fluid, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the brake hold feature is engaged or an…
The risk: Unintended vehicle movement or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the VSA modulator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are OEJ, XEK, AEY, XEX and OEW.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
Buyer analysis
Mercury Monterey or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Mercury Monterey has far fewer complaints per year (about 113) than the Honda Accord (about 444). However, the Monterey's complaints are heavily concentrated in the power train, which can be a costly and dangerous failure. The Accord's higher complaint rate reflects its popularity and more complex systems, but it also has more recalls and crash-related reports.
Key differences
- The Monterey has a much lower complaint rate per year (113 vs. 444), but its complaints are dominated by transmission failures that can cause sudden loss of power.
- The Accord has more recalls (38 vs. 14) and more crash-related complaints (160 vs. 4), often involving advanced driver-assist systems.
- Monterey owners report structural issues like a liftgate that can close unexpectedly, while Accord owners report engine and electrical problems like stalling and tire failures.
- The Accord has 3 deaths reported in complaints, while the Monterey has none, but these numbers are not adjusted for the number of vehicles on the road.
- Check the transmission for slipping, delayed engagement, or sudden failure; test drive at highway speeds and listen for unusual noises.
- Inspect the rear liftgate struts and hinges for weakness; ensure it stays open and does not close on its own.
- Look for signs of rodent damage to wiring, especially around the engine; check for chewed wires or nesting materials.
- Test all advanced safety features like adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic braking; ensure they work without error messages.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report to check for recalls and accident damage.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the transmission (Monterey) or engine and electrical systems (Accord) before purchase.
- Test drive the vehicle in various conditions, including highway and stop-and-go traffic, to feel for transmission issues or stalling.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been performed by checking the NHTSA website with the VIN.
- For the Accord, specifically test the forward collision avoidance and brake systems; for the Monterey, check the seat brackets and liftgate operation.
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 Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercury Monterey vs Honda Accord
- Mercury Monterey total complaints
- 453
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Mercury Monterey total recalls
- 14
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mercury Monterey avg complaints/year
- 113.3
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Mercury Monterey
- Mercury Monterey top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE