Head-to-head reliability
Mercury Monterey vs Toyota Camry
How the Mercury Monterey 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 Monterey vs Toyota Camry: The Monterey averaged 113 complaints per year with 14 recalls, while the Camry averaged 214 per year with 31 recalls. The Monterey's complaints are mostly power train failures, whereas the Camry has more crash-related reports. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercury Monterey or Toyota Camry 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 report sudden transmission failure and stalling, which can leave you stranded. Recalls include seat and fuel system problems, and there are reports of injuries from a collapsing liftgate. Overall, it's a vehicle that demands careful inspection before purchase.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a sedan with a much higher total complaint count—over 2,100 across ten years—but that's partly because it's far more common. The complaints cover a wide range, from transmission grinding to sudden acceleration and brake failure. Recalls address air bags, seats, wheels, and labels. While some issues are serious, the per-year rate is higher than the Monterey's, so you'll want to check for specific problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercury Monterey | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 453 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 4 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 113.3 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 9 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 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 no warning. One complaint describes the van 'stop responding in the middle of fast traffic' with the engine still running. This is a major safety concern and can be expensive to fix.
The rear liftgate can unexpectedly close on its own, causing minor injuries. A 2006 Monterey owner said the liftgate 'collapsed onto him' while parked. This is a physical hazard, especially when loading cargo.
The engine may stall or cut out while driving or at a stop, and the transmission can feel like it's slipping. One owner noted the engine would 'stall, cut out, or completely quit running' on numerous occasions. This can lead to loss of power steering and braking.
The third-row seat bracket can become loose, and owners have found rust on the garage floor from underneath. This suggests corrosion and potential seat instability, which could affect 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…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the transmission and sudden acceleration. One complaint describes the car 'suddenly and rapidly accelerated' three times, eventually crashing. Another mentions transmission replacement needed due to grinding. These are serious drivability and safety issues.
Sudden acceleration is a recurring complaint, with one owner saying the car 'suddenly and rapidly accelerated' and crashed. Another reports a coolant valve bypass issue that wasn't covered by recall. These can lead to loss of control and expensive repairs.
Owners report brake pedal going to the floor with no response. One driver on a steep hill 'attempted to decelerate by pressing the brake pedal. There was no response whatsoever.' This is a critical safety failure that could cause a crash.
Complaints include HVAC odor and AC condenser damage from road debris. One owner noted a 'strong vinegar-like or mildew smell' from the vents. While not safety-critical, it indicates quality issues and potential repair costs.
“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 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.
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 Monterey or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Mercury Monterey has fewer complaints per year (about 113) compared to the Toyota Camry (about 214), but the Monterey's issues are heavily concentrated in the power train, which can be catastrophic. The Camry's higher rate reflects its popularity and a broader range of problems, including brakes and unintended acceleration. In practice, the Monterey may have fewer overall complaints, but the severity of transmission failure makes it a riskier used buy.
Key differences
- The Mercury Monterey has a much lower annual complaint rate (113 vs. 214), but its complaints are dominated by power train failures that can cause sudden loss of power.
- The Toyota Camry has far more crash-related complaints (181 vs. 4) and injuries (163 vs. 9), though this may be due to higher sales volume.
- The Monterey has recalls for seats and fuel system, while the Camry has recalls for air bags, seats, wheels, and labels.
- Owner reports for the Monterey include liftgate collapse and transmission failure, while Camry owners report sudden acceleration and brake failure.
- Check for transmission slipping, delayed engagement, or sudden loss of power during a test drive; listen for unusual noises.
- Inspect the rear liftgate struts and hinges for weakness or unexpected closing, and check the third-row seat brackets for looseness or rust.
- Test the brakes on a downhill slope or at low speeds to ensure the pedal doesn't go to the floor; check for any recall repairs on the brake system.
- During acceleration, listen for grinding noises from the transmission and be alert for any unintended acceleration; also check for HVAC odors.
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 Camry's air bag and brake recalls.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the transmission and engine for the Monterey, and the brakes and acceleration system for the Camry.
- Test drive both vehicles in various conditions: highway, stop-and-go, and parking maneuvers, paying attention to transmission behavior and brake response.
- For the Monterey, inspect the liftgate operation and third-row seat mounting; for the Camry, check for HVAC odor and AC condenser damage.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, particularly for transmission fluid changes on the Monterey and brake service on the Camry.
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 Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercury Monterey vs Toyota Camry
- Mercury Monterey total complaints
- 453
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Mercury Monterey total recalls
- 14
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Mercury Monterey avg complaints/year
- 113.3
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Mercury Monterey
- Mercury Monterey top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN