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 averages 113 complaints per year with 14 recalls, while the Accord averages 452 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Monterey's top issue is power train, and the Accord's is engine. 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 problems, often losing power while driving. Complaints also mention the rear liftgate closing unexpectedly and electrical issues that cause stalling. With an average of 113 complaints per year, it's a vehicle that may require frequent attention.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize car with a much higher average of 452 complaints per year, but that's across many more vehicles on the road. Owners report engine and electrical problems, including stalling and power steering failure, as well as issues with forward collision avoidance. The Accord has more recalls and crash-related complaints, but also more advanced safety features that can malfunction.
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 | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 4 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 113.3 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 9 Better | 146 |
| 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, causing the van to stop responding in traffic. This can be dangerous and expensive to fix.
The rear liftgate can unexpectedly close on its own, potentially injuring someone. This is a serious safety concern.
The engine may stall or cut out while driving, 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, which may affect seat stability. This could be a safety risk 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
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report rattling noises, rough transitions between electric and gas modes, and sudden loss of power with multiple warning lights. This can leave you stranded.
The electronic power steering and braking systems can fail simultaneously, making the car hard to control. This is a severe safety issue.
The system may activate unexpectedly or fail to work, and dealers sometimes can't fix it. This undermines a key safety feature.
There are complaints of fuel pump failures and propulsion issues, which can cause stalling or loss of power. This is a reliability concern.
“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…”
“Vehicle makes rattling noises while accelerating similar to a diesel engine also rough transitions between EV mode and Gas mode also when you press the charge button the engine makes a very noticeable jerk once it’s on ,Honda does not want to fix my issue and…”
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 (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint sys…
The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
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 (113 vs. 452), but it's an older, less common vehicle. The Honda Accord's higher complaint rate reflects its larger sales volume, but the issues reported are often more complex and involve advanced safety systems. In practice, the Monterey may have more basic, mechanical problems, while the Accord may have more electronic and software-related faults.
Key differences
- The Monterey's most common complaint is transmission failure, while the Accord's is engine issues.
- The Monterey has a reported liftgate injury risk, while the Accord has electronic steering and braking failures.
- The Accord has many more complaints about forward collision avoidance and fuel system problems.
- The Monterey has fewer recalls (14) compared to the Accord (38), but the Accord has more crash-related complaints (162 vs. 4).
- Test the transmission for slipping, delayed engagement, or sudden loss of power during a test drive.
- Inspect the rear liftgate struts and hinges for weakness, and check the third-row seat brackets for rust or looseness.
- Check for any warning lights related to the engine, power steering, or braking systems, and test the forward collision avoidance system if possible.
- Listen for rattling noises from the engine and feel for rough transitions between electric and gas modes in hybrid models.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the transmission and electrical system on the Monterey, and the engine and hybrid components on the Accord.
- Test drive the vehicle extensively, including highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic, to replicate complaint conditions.
- For the Accord, verify that all software updates and recall repairs have been performed.
- For the Monterey, check the liftgate operation and seat mounting points for signs of wear or damage.
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
- 4,524
- Mercury Monterey total recalls
- 14
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mercury Monterey avg complaints/year
- 113.3
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Mercury Monterey
- Mercury Monterey top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE