Mercury Monterey Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Mercury Monterey options? We analyzed 4 model years (2004–2007) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
Free VIN check
Found a Mercury Monterey? Check that exact car.
Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Mercury Monterey has 453 owner complaints and 14 safety recalls across model years 2004–2007. The most reported issue area is POWER TRAIN. 2004 drew the most complaints; 2007 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Mercury
- Model
- Monterey
- Model years analyzed
- 2004–2007 (4 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 453
- Safety recall campaigns
- 14
- Crash-related complaints
- 4
- Fire-related complaints
- 6
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2004 (283 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2007 (7 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- POWER TRAIN
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Mercury Monterey: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe MERCURY MONTEREY has 453 NHTSA complaints and 14 recalls on record. 4 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 453 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 14 federal recall campaigns
- 4 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Sep 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
14 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
SEATS
SEATS
SEATS
SEATS
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHEELS:HUB
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2004–2007. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 453 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
453 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, ON A HIGHWAY, IN TRAFFIC AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. SUDDENLY, IT WAS AS IF THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL. I COASTED OFF TO THE SHOULDER , TRIED TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO GEAR, NOTHING! NO REVERSE, NO FORWARD, 1 OR 3. AFTER SITTING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES, I ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT AGAIN INTO ALL GEARS TO NO AVAIL. HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCURY MONTEREY. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY WENT INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCURY MONTEREY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
WHILE I WAS DRIVING,THE 2007 MONTEREY MINI-VAN SUDDENLY STOPPED RESPONDING TO THE ACCELERATOR. THE BRAKES WERE STILL RESPONSIVE, AS WAS STEERING. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING TO THIS ABRUPT PROBLEM, AND IT WAS PARTICULARLY WORRISOME BECAUSE THERE WERE VEHICLES FOLLOWING ME ON THE 4-LANE ROAD AND I WAS UNEXPECTEDLY NOT MOVING BESIDES COASTING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. OUR MECHANIC, NOT A DEALER, SUSPECTS THE TORQUE CONVERTER. OF NOTE, THE 2004 AND 2005 MONTEREYS WERE RECALLED FOR TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE BECAUSE IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE ONLY OTHER YEARS OF MONTEREYS THAT WERE MADE, 2006 AND 2007, SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR RECALL, ALSO. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE- WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION- IS EXCEEDINGLY DANGEROUS. *TR
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, THE ENGINE IN THIS VEHICLE WOULD STALL, CUT OUT, OR COMPLETELY QUIT RUNNING WHILE DRIVING OR SITTING AT A STOPLITE. ON ACCELERATION, THE ENGINE WOULD STALL OR CUT OUT AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD FEEL LIKE IT IS SLIPPING. WHEN THE ENGINE WOULD STALL OR QUIT RUNNING, STEERING AND BRAKES WOULD BECOME INOPERABLE. ON MANY OCCASIONS, THIS WOULD HAPPEN IN CITY TRAFFIC AND ON THE HIWAY TRAVELING AT HIWAY SPEEDS. AT ONE INSTANCE THE ENGINE STALLED OUT COMPLETELY AND WOULD NOT START. ON NOV. 6, 2014 IS WHEN THIS VEHICLE WAS FIRST TAKEN INTO THE DEALER FOR A MAINTENANCE CHECK, WHICH DETERMINED THAT THE COMPUTER HAD GOTTEN WET BECAUSE OF MOISTURE COMING DOWN BEHIND A COWLING/DEFLECTOR ON THE LOWER PART OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE COMPUTER HAD TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCURY MONTEREY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 6 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
Read 14 more owner reports
ABOUT 1 OUT OF EVERY 100 TIMES I DRIVE MY 2007 MERCURY MONTEREY VAN, THE "ADVANCETRAC" SYSTEM ENGAGES FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I LOSE CONTROL OF ACCELERATION, AND MUST PULL OVER, STOP, AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN THE VAN, AND START IT UP AGAIN TO REGAIN CONTROL. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM ABOUT IT, BUT THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY SAY IT DOESN'T HAPPEN WHEN THEY TEST DRIVE IT. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON SUNNY DAYS, ON DRY PAVEMENT, ON HIGHWAYS, BACK ROADS, ANYTIME ANYWHERE REALLY. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT, BUT HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY WHEN IT HAS HAPPENED. IT IS ALWAYS VERY SCARY AND VERY FRUSTRATING THAT THE DEALER WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROX. 30-35 MPH, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN A HIGH PITCHED SQUEALING SOUND, OCCURED AND MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FORWARD ANYMORE. I COASTED INTO A PARKING LOT, PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, AND THEN SHIFTED THE CAR INTO R,D, AND OD AND NOTHING ENGAGED... THIS HAPPENED ON A CITY STREET...HAD IT TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS SOMETHING WITH MY TRANSMISSION, BUT THEY DIDNT SAY WHAT, ONLY THAT IS WAS GOING TO COST $2250 TO REPLACE IT.....HAD IT TOWED HOME..NOT REPAIRED
MY 2006 MERCURY MMONTEREY STARTED JUMPING WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND MAKING A NOISE WHEN YOU PRESS THE GAS. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE TCC SELENOID SO WE REPLACED IT AN THAT DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE SO TOOK IT BACKTO FIND THE TORQUE CONVETER IS BAD.
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 THAT WASN'T THE CASE. I TRIED A LOWER GEAR WITH NOT LUCK. NOT WANTING TO BE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE I THEN TURNED ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND FRANTICALLY MANEUVERED THE VAN TO THE SIDE OF THE BUSY INTERSTATE ROAD. ONCE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD MY HUSBAND TRIED EVERY GEAR AND THE VAN WASN'T RESPONDING IN ANY OF THEM. WE ENDED UP GETTING IT TOWED TO OUR HOUSE. AFTER WE GOT HOME MY HUSBAND STARTED RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM BECAUSE HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF A VEHICLE STOP RESPONDING LIKE THAT WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNS. HE SAID THIS HAS TO BE VEHICLE DEFECT AND LOOKED UP RECALLS FOR THE VAN ON THE NHTSA.ORG WEBSITE. THERE WASN'T A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BUT THERE WERE PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS EXACT SAFETY ISSUE. AFTER DOING MORE RESEARCH WE FOUND THAT THE 2004 MODEL OF THIS VAN HAD THE SAME ISSUE WHICH FORD DID DO A RECALL FOR THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE FORD COMPANY NEEDS TO BE IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED THAT THIS IS ALSO A BIG SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE 2006 MODEL. ONE THE REASONS MY HUSBAND BOUGHT THE VEHICLE WAS BECAUSE IT WAS BUILT BY FORD AND HE TRUSTED THEIR PRODUCTS. I HOPE FORD WILL TAKE THE COMPLAINT SERIOUSLY AND STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND GET THIS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER ON THE MERCURY MONTEREY 2006 VEHICLES RESOLVED QUICKLY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY MONTEREY. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND AS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED. ALSO, THE RPMS INCREASED TO HIGH. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS STRIPPED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.
OUR VAN WAS DRIVING JUST FINE AND SUDDENLY, WITH NO WARNING AT ALL, WENT INTO NEUTRAL, STOPPING IN AN INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS AROUND 88000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THE LINCOLN DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER HAD FAILED. I NOTICED FORD HAD ALREADY RECALLED ALL OF THE 2004 FREESTARS AND 2005 MONTEREYS FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT YET SOMEHOW MY 2006 WITH A SEPTEMBER 2005 BUILD DATE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. SO GUESS WHAT? FORD KNOWINGLY LEFT ME IN AN UNSAFE VEHICLE, AND NOW I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR BILL. FORD SO VERY CLEARLY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND NEVER CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BY THE TIME BY VEHICLE WAS BUILT. NHTSA NEEDS TO ENCOURAGE FORD TO RECALL ALL THE 2006 AND PROBABLY ALL THE 2007S AS WELL. FORD SHOULD BE PAYING FOR MY REPAIR, NOT ME.
DRIVING DOWN THE STREET...LOST ALL FORWARD MOVEMENT. EVERYTHING WAS RUNNING, JUST NO ENGAMENT OF TRANSMISSION
TAKATA INFLATORS. DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE JUST STOPS MOVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.BELIEVE SOLENOID TO DRIVE TRANNY IS FAULTY.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, JUST NORMAL DRIVING, POSTED SPEED OR BELOW,. HAD GAS PEDAL DOWN AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE HAS NO POWER. HAD TO PUSH TO THE SIDE. CAN MOVE GEAR SHIFT, BUT CAR DOESN'T GO INTO ANY DIRECTION, FORWARD OR BACKWARD.
TRANSMISSION PROBLEM ITS RACING ALSO THE CRUSE CONTROL SPEED UP MORE THAN IT SHOULD MY FAMILY AND ARE NOT SAFE WHEN GOING ON A LONG ROAD TRIP HOW WOULD YOU FEEL HAVING A BREAK DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE AND ON THE HIGH WAY BECAUSE OF THE BAD TRANSMISSION YOU PUT IN THE VEHICLE PLEASE FIX IT PLEASE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY MONTEREY. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,080.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY MONTEREY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE GOING UP AN INCLINE, THE TRANSMISSION STALLED AND THE VEHICLE JUMPED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE TRANSMISSION WAS CONTAMINATED WITH WATER AND NEEDED TO BE REBUILT, THE FLUID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE WIPER COWL NEEDED TO BE REMOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE10033 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
WHILE EXITING HIGHWAY LOST TRANSMISSION. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. REPAIR ATTEMPT DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. WAS TOLD IT WAS TORQUE CONVERTER.
WAS DRIVING DOWN MAIN STREET IN MONROE WIS WHEN CAR JUST WENT IN TO NEUTRAL AND WE JUST COST. LUCKILY HAD ENOUGH SPEED TO GET IN A PARKING LOT. LEFT 2 86 YEAR OLDS AND 1 92 YEAR OLD SITTING IN THE VAN AT 10:30 AT NIGHT LUCKILY A RELATIVE COULD GET US. TOWED VAN TO DEALER WAS TOLD TORQUE CONVERTER HAD STRIPPED THE OUT PUT SHAFT SPLINES THAT THIS WAS A RECALL ON THE YEAR BEFORE. *TR
Showing 20 of 453 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Mercury Monterey
These pages show model-year patterns across 4 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Mercury Monterey, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Mercury Monterey has 453 complaints on record across 4 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Mercury Monterey has 14 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 4 of the Mercury Monterey's 453 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Mercury Monterey vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Mercury Monterey vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Mercury Monterey has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
Compare
Buyers also compare
How does the Mercury Monterey stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.
By state
Check a Mercury Monterey by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Mercury Monterey.
Research more
Keep researching before you buy
Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.
Mercury Monterey reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Mercury Monterey reliable?
Poor. The Mercury Monterey has 453 NHTSA owner complaints and 14 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is POWER TRAIN. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Mercury Monterey years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2004 (283 complaints), 2005 (119 complaints), 2006 (44 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Mercury Monterey problems?
Top reported issues: POWER TRAIN (338 complaints); STRUCTURE (28 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (20 complaints).
Does the Mercury Monterey have recalls?
Yes — 14 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Mercury Monterey. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.