Before you buy
This 2006 Mercury Monterey has 44 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Transmission / Drivetrain.
A model-year pattern isn't the car in front of you. Check this exact VIN for accidents, open recalls, odometer rollback, and salvage titles.
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2006 Mercury Monterey Fuel Economy
✓ EPA Official DataEPA official fuel economy rating for the 2006 Mercury Monterey.
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov. Figures reflect EPA lab testing; real-world results vary by driving style, load, and conditions.
2006 Mercury Monterey Safety Ratings
NHTSA 5-Star ProgramOfficial crash test results from the NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Stars reflect government-conducted tests; higher is safer.
Overall
Not RatedFrontal Crash
Not RatedSide Crash
Not RatedRollover
Not RatedSource: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Ratings are based on government crash tests and may not reflect all trim levels.
MERCURY MONTEREY 2006 has 44 NHTSA complaints, with 34 related to transmission/drivetrain issues. Three recalls were issued. Buyers should prioritize transmission inspection and recall verification. Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recall records.
- Make
- Mercury
- Model
- Monterey
- Model year
- 2006
- NHTSA owner complaints
- 44
- Crash-related complaints
- 0
- Safety recall campaigns
- 3
- Top reported component
- Transmission / Drivetrain
- Reliability signal
- Good Record
- EPA MPG combined
- 17
- EPA MPG city / highway
- 15 / 21
- Fuel type
- Regular Gasoline
- Electronic stability control
- Optional
Common problems
Most common 2006 Mercury Monterey problems
Top owner-reported complaint areas and where they often appear.
Transmission / Drivetrain
Brake System
Hydraulic
Complaint patterns center on Transmission / Drivetrain, Brake System, Hydraulic. Use these as a pre-purchase inspection guide, then verify recall and damage history on the specific VIN.
Buyer verdict
Should you buy a used 2006 Mercury Monterey?
The 2006 Mercury Monterey is a high-risk choice due to the overwhelming number of transmission complaints. Only consider if you are prepared for potential major repairs and have a detailed service history.
Transmission failures can lead to costly repairs or replacement, making this the most critical concern for this model year.
May Suit
This year may suit a buyer who is mechanically inclined, can afford potential transmission work, and finds a well-maintained example at a very low price.
May Want to Avoid
Buyers seeking reliable daily transportation or those with a limited repair budget should avoid this year.
Pre-purchase
What to check before buying a used 2006 Mercury Monterey
Inspection Focus
- Transmission fluid condition and shift quality
- Brake system for leaks or wear
- Engine for stalling or hesitation
Before You Close the Deal
- Perform a thorough transmission inspection and test drive
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for transmission and brake repairs
- Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Check the exact car
Shortlist with model-year data. Decide with the exact VIN.
Before buying a used 2006 Mercury Monterey, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, theft checks, and open recalls for the exact vehicle.
AI verdict
What the complaint data suggests
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2006 Mercury Monterey shows a high concentration of transmission/drivetrain problems (34 of 44 complaints). Buyers should prioritize a thorough transmission inspection and verify all recall repairs. Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recall records.
Year context: Compared to other minivans of the same era, the 2006 Monterey's complaint volume is elevated, particularly in the transmission category.
Recall context: Three recalls indicate known safety issues that must be checked and remedied before purchase.
- Transmission/drivetrain accounts for 34 of 44 total complaints (77%).
- Brake system and hydraulic issues each have 4 complaints.
- Unintended acceleration and engine problems each have 3 complaints.
- Transmission / Drivetrain failures
- Brake system problems
- Unintended acceleration reports
Full breakdown
All 2006 Mercury Monterey complaints by category
Every owner-reported complaint category filed with NHTSA for the 2006 Mercury Monterey. Use this as a pre-purchase inspection checklist.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 34 | — | — | — | |
| Brake System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
In their words
Real owner complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2006 Mercury Monterey. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
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 ENGAGE…
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. …
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 STA…
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 H…
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…
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 MANUFACTURE…
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 W…
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…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY MONTEREY. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000…
CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. MECHANIC SAYS THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE BURNED UP. IT APPEARS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER INCIDENTS IN WHICH THIS HAS HAPPENED
I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE AND DO NOT WANT TO INCUR THE EXPENSE REPLACING ANOTHER. WITH NO WARNING THE VEHICLE ACTED AS IF IT SLIPPED OR POPPED OUT OF GEAR AS I WAS GOING DOWN A FAIRLY BUSY STREET. I HAD LOST ALL GEARS. I COULD MOVE THE SHIFTER BUT N…
TORQUE CONVERTER IS STRIPPING. 2004 AND 2005 RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT NOT 2006. SAME CAR. SAME TRANSMISSION. SAME TORQUE CONVERTER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY MONTEREY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR PARK POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIFT FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR…
WE ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE 3RD ROW PASSENGER SEAT IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION AND DISCOVERED THE SEAT BRACKET WAS LOOSE. UPON REMOVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE GARAGE, WE OBSERVED RUST ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. AFTER INSPECTING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND CHECKING ON WEBSITES TO DETERMINE…
I WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION JUMPED AND LOST ALL THE GEARS. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT OFF THE VAN. I STARTED IT BACK UP AND WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THROUGH ALL OF THE GEARS BUT WOULD NOT MOVE JUST REV THE RPMS. HAD IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION …
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2006 Mercury Monterey.
Safety recalls
2006 Mercury Monterey recalls
3 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2006 Mercury Monterey. Three recalls indicate known safety issues that must be checked and remedied before purchase. Recalls are free to fix at authorized dealers, but completion status must be verified on the exact VIN.
SEATS
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Research more
Keep researching before you buy
Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.
Questions
2006 Mercury Monterey buying FAQ
Buyer-focused answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this model year.
Is the 2006 Mercury Monterey reliable?▾
Good Record. NHTSA currently shows 44 owner complaints, 0 crash-related complaints, and 3 recall campaigns for this model year. The 2006 Mercury Monterey is a high-risk choice due to the overwhelming number of transmission complaints. Only consider if you are prepared for potential major repairs and have a detailed service history. Treat this as a model-year signal, then verify the exact vehicle's condition and history before purchase.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Mercury Monterey?▾
#1: Transmission / Drivetrain (34 complaints). #2: Brake System (4 complaints). #3: Hydraulic (4 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2006 Mercury Monterey?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2006 Mercury Monterey?▾
Complaint data is not the same as crash-test scoring, but it does highlight possible risk patterns. For the 2006 Mercury Monterey, NHTSA complaints include 0 crash-related reports and 0 fire reports out of 44 total complaints. 1 injury reports are also on file. For controlled crash-test ratings, check nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2006 Mercury Monterey have any recalls?▾
Yes. 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2006 Mercury Monterey. A major recall area is SEATS. Three recalls indicate known safety issues that must be checked and remedied before purchase. Always verify open recalls by VIN because completion status varies by vehicle.
Should I buy a 2006 Mercury Monterey?▾
The 2006 Mercury Monterey is a high-risk choice due to the overwhelming number of transmission complaints. Only consider if you are prepared for potential major repairs and have a detailed service history. Transmission failures can lead to costly repairs or replacement, making this the most critical concern for this model year. Pay extra attention to Transmission / Drivetrain during inspection. Before committing, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, and recall completion for the exact car.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpectorAI.
Wider context: See the full Mercury Monterey reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Owner Reliability Rating
Rate the 2006 Mercury Monterey based on your ownership experience.
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Ratings are based on owner experience and are separate from NHTSA data shown above.
Before you buy
Check the exact vehicle history before you buy
Model-year complaints and recalls reveal patterns. A VIN report confirms whether the exact car has accident history, title brands, mileage issues, or open recalls.