Total Complaints
136 filings
MERCURY MONTEREY · model year
136 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2005MERCURYMONTEREY carries 136 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2005 MONTEREY is power train:automatic transmission with 50 filings, followed by power train (38) and electrical system (6). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2005 MONTEREY. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
136 filings
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 50 |
| POWER TRAIN | 38 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 6 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER | 6 |
| ENGINE | 5 |
| AIR BAGS | 3 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 3 |
| SEATS | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 2 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH THE POWER LIFTGATE OPTION, THE POWER LIFTGATE MOTOR AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGES AFTER THE LIFTGATE IS POWERED OPEN.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 FORD FREESTAR AND MERCURY MONTEREY VEHICLES. THE TORQUE CONVERTER OUTPUT SHAFT MAY FAIL.
SEATS
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, Massac
The contact's fiancée owns a 2005 Mercury Monterey. The contact stated while his fiancée was driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the vehicle failed to respond and inadvertently stopped. The contactâs fiancée pushed the vehicle over the third of a mile by herself until she received assistance to push the vehicle to a parking lot. The vehicle was hauled to the contact's residence. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and shifting into gear, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact, who is an independent mechanic diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,357.
Mileage: 95,357
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MONTEREY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND WHILE SWITCHING GEARS THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE LOCAL DEALER FORSOM LAKE FORD (12755 FOLSOM BLVD, FORSOM LAKE CA.) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.
Mileage: 124,000
I PURCHASED MY 2005 MERCURY MONTEREY IN FEB/MARCH 2018, IN JULY OF 2018 I GO OUT TO START MY VAN TO LEAVE AND NOTHING HAPPENS WONT START, SO WE LOOK UNDER THE HOOD EVERY THING SEEMS FINE, I CALL THE TOW TRUCK TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE SHOP, OIL SPILLS OUT ALL OVER MY DRIVEWAY, THERE IS A HUGE HOLE IN THE ENGINE, SO WE HAD A USED ENGINE PUT IN MARCH 2019, SEPT 2019 I GO TO START MY VAN AND NOTHING, THIS TIME I GET OUT AND NOTICE A HUGE PUDDLE OF OIL.. WE GET DOWN TO LOOK TO SEE WHY AND YET AGAIN THERE IS ANOTHER HOLE IN THE "NEWER" ENGINE!
Mileage: 190,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MONTEREY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CARPET ON THE VEHICLE'S FLOOR WAS MOIST. ALSO, THE THIRD ROW SEAT LATCH WAS SO CORRODED THAT THE CONTACT COULD SEE THE GROUND. THE CONTACT CALLED WESTLAND FORD DEALER (801) 629-5500 (LOCATED AT 3450 WALL AVE, OGDEN, UT 84401) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN AND STATE WERE NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V081000 (SEATS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
Mileage: 112,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MONTEREY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CARPET ON THE VEHICLE'S FLOOR WAS MOIST. ALSO, THE THIRD ROW SEAT LATCH WAS SO CORRODED THAT THE CONTACT COULD SEE THE GROUND. THE CONTACT CALLED WESTLAND FORD DEALER (801) 629-5500 (LOCATED AT 3450 WALL AVE, OGDEN, UT 84401) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN AND STATE WERE NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V081000 (SEATS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
Mileage: 112,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MONTEREY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHILE SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO REVERSE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. RIVERTOWN FORD (1680 WHITTLESEY RD, COLUMBUS, GA 31904, (706) 653-7420) INDICATED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE PART WOULD NEED TO BE ORDERED. IN ADDITION, IT WAS STATED THAT WATER INTRUSION CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A WARRANTY CAMPAIGN. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 06E056000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 12V006000 (POWER TRAIN) AS POSSIBLE CAUSES OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MONTEREY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHILE SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO REVERSE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. RIVERTOWN FORD (1680 WHITTLESEY RD, COLUMBUS, GA 31904, (706) 653-7420) INDICATED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE PART WOULD NEED TO BE ORDERED. IN ADDITION, IT WAS STATED THAT WATER INTRUSION CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A WARRANTY CAMPAIGN. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 06E056000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 12V006000 (POWER TRAIN) AS POSSIBLE CAUSES OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MONTEREY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HATCHBACK CLOSED UNINTENTIONALLY WHILE IN USE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE SPARE TIRE COULD NOT BE REACHED BECAUSE THE HATCHBACK FAILED TO OPERATE CORRECTLY. FOX FORD MAZDA (3560 28TH ST SE, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49512, (616) 956-5511) INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WOULD HAVE TO BE PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TAKATA RECALL. TRAVELING ON ROAD APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH. TRIED RO AVOID HITTING SOME DEER WHO SUDDENLY RAN OUT FROM THE WOODS IN FRONT IF MY VAN. THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE DEFLATED AFTER IT HIT THE DITCH. THEN THE VAN SWERVED INTO THE DITCH AND FLIPPED OVER TWICE. FRONT WINDSHIELD CAME OUT BACK WINDOW CAME OUT. ROOF OF VEHICLE WAS CRUSHED. PASSENGER SIDE WAS CRUSHED AFTER THE ROLLOVER. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.
Mileage: 110,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 MERCURY MONTEREY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED AND ROLLED OVER MULTIPLE TIMES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED LACERATIONS AND BRUISES TO THE TORSO WHILE THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE RIGHT ARM. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Mileage: 110,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MONTEREY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE AND REVERSE WITHOUT WARNING. THE WHEELS SPUN WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE BY BILL ESTES FORD (450 N NORTHFIELD DR, BROWNSBURG, IN 46112, (317) 852-2231). THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER STATED THAT A MANUFACTURER RECALL HAD BEEN PERFORMED AND PROVIDED NO SOLUTION OTHER THAN STATING THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, INDICATED THAT A RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED, AND RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
Mileage: 145,000
TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE IN DRIVEWAY. TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED AND IT WENT INTO REVERESE. I THEN PUT IN FORWARD GEAR AND AS I AM DRIVING DOWN ROAD THE VEHICLE DIES. NO ISSUE WITH SHIFTING BEFORE TODAY. IF I PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL THE RPM GOES UP TO 2000. I CALLED FORD TODAY WITH VIN # AND THEY TOLD ME THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN FIXED PER SAFETY RECALL 11S25 SUPPLEMENT #1. VEHICLE IS FULL OF FLUID AND FLUID DOES NOT HAVE A BURNT SMELL.
Mileage: 186,332
VEHICLE HAD SUDDEN LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AND ACCELERATING TO 60MPH HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ALMOST CAUSING MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT. AFTER COASTING TO SHOULDER, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN ANY FORWARD OR REVERSE GEAR. THIS SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT COULD HAVE LEAD TO THE DEATH OF MYSELF AND MY FAMILY OF FIVE. TOWED VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD US THEY WERE AWARE OF A RECALL FOR THE 2005 MERCURY MONTEREY REGARDING THAT ISSUE AND FORD'S RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 11S25. THE RECALL DESCRIBED THIS EXACT FAILURE. ("SUMMARY: FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 FORD FREESTAR AND MERCURY MONTEREY VEHICLES. THE TORQUE CONVERTER OUTPUT SHAFT MAY FAIL.") HOWEVER, AFTER THEY ENTERED THE VIN NUMBER FOR MY VEHICLE, THEY SAID THE RECALL WAS NOT EXTENDED TO THAT VEHICLE. THAT IS WRONG SINCE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND WOULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH. *TR
Mileage: 64,888
WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY ROAD I STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND COULD NOT GO OVER 30 MPH. I COASTED HOME AND HAD TO CALL A TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP, WILLIAMSBURG FORD. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE IN 2012 FOR THE TORQUE CONVERTER WHICH WAS REPLACED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. HOWEVER, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE DAMAGE WAS ALREADY DONE AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 70000 MILES WHICH SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON ANY CAR. I SENT YOU AN EMAIL PREVIOUSLY ON THIS ISSUE AND HAVE NOT HEARD BACK. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS IS NOT RIGHT AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE. THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY.
Mileage: 70,000
I WAS STOPPED AT A FOUR WAY STOP SIGN IN MY 2005 MERCURY MONTEREY. JUST AS I PRESSED ON THE GAS TO MOVE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, THE TRANSMISSION LET GO. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I COULD COAST OUT OF HARMS WAY. THE CAR IS NOW IMMOBLIE. THIS IS THE SECOND CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON THIS VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION FAILED IN JULY 2012 AT 109K MILES. CAR WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO FORD SPECIFICATIONS. SECOND FAILURE ON 11-8-2016 AT 170K MILES. WITHOUT WARNING THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES AND THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD. A SECOND FAILURE RELATED TO THE SAME ISSUE 60K MILES AFTER THE DEFECT WAS ALLEGEDLY CORRECTED IS UNACCEPTABLE.
Mileage: 170,000
I SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT ON THIS VEHICLE ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. I WANTED TO ADD SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. JUST TO RECAP: THIS 2005 MERCURY MONTEREY WAS RECALLED IN 2012 FOR THE TORQUE CONVERTOR. THE JOB WAS COMPLETED AT A DEALERSHIP BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER WHEN IT HAD LESS THAN 30000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AGAIN AT 70000 MILES. TRAVELING DOWN A BUSY ROAD I LOST POWER AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 30MPH AND THE RPM'S JUMPED ERRATICALLY AND THE TRANSAXLE LIGHT CAME ON. TOWED IT TO THE DEALER THAT CONFIRMED IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND THEN TOWED IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHOT AND REPLACED THE FOLLOWING PARTS: MASTER OH KIT, BAND, PISTON, SERVO, TORQUE CONVERTOR. THE TOTAL COST WAS $1814.00. THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AT 70000 MILES AND JUST A FEW YEARS AFTER THE RECALL. THE ORIGINAL TORQUE CONVERTOR MUST HAVE DONE MORE DAMAGE THAN WHAT WAS REPAIRED IN 2012. I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD PAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION REBUILD
Mileage: 70,000
FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS THE CAR SHUTTERED BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH. THEN, WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY ROAD TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR, I BEGAN TO LOSE POWER, THE RPM'S JUMPED ERRATICALLY, AND THE TRANSAXLE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. I TOOK THE CAR TO WIILIAMSBURG FORD (DEALERSHIP) AND THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC THAT INDICATED A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. I CONTACTED FORD AS THERE WAS A TORQUE CONVERTOR RECALL BECAUSE OF A FAULTY PART CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THEY SAID THE TORQUE CONVERTOR WAS REPLACED IN AUG. OF 2012 BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER UNDER THE RECALL. IF THAT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AT 70000 MILES. THE TORQUE CONVERTOR MOST LIKELY DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION BEFORE IT WAS REPLACED AND SHORTENED THE LIFE. FORD IS TELLING ME THAT THEY WILL NOT COVER THIS SINCE THE TORQUE CONVERTOR WAS REPLACED BUT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF IT WAS DONE CORRECTLY. *TR
Mileage: 70,000
PLEASE SEE ATTACHED LETTER AND INVOICE.
Mileage: 110,211
YOU'LL BE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET OR HIGHWAY AND IT ALL OF SUDDEN IT LOSES POWER AND THE LIGHT THAT MEANS TRANSAXLE PROBLEM HAS BEEN DETECTED AND SHIFTING MAY BE RESTRICTED. HAVE SYSTEM SERVICES IMMEDIATELY IF LIGHT REMAINS ON. I LOOKED IT UP WITH MY VIN NUMBER AND I KNOW THERE IS A RECALL DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I LOOKED IT UP ON A SITE AND IT SAID IT HADN'T BEEN FIXED AND I CALLED ONE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY DON'T SEE WHERE IT HAD BEEN FIXED EITHER. THEN ALL OF SUDDEN WHEN I DISCOVER ANOTHER DEALERSHIP THAT IS CLOSER TO ME A COUPLE DAYS LATER AND DECIDED TO CALL THEM TO SEE IF THEY COULD GET ME IN INSTEAD OF THE FIRST DEALERSHIP CAUSE IT WAS CLOSER TO MY HOUSE THEY ALL OF SUDDEN SAY IT WAS ALREADY HAD BEEN FIXED BACK IN 2012. WHICH IS BULL CAUSE I LOOKED IT UP ON A SITE AND IT SAID IT HADN'T AND THE FIRST DEALERSHIP ALSO SAID IT HADN'T BUT NOW TWO OR THEE SAYS LATER IT'S STRANGELY IN THE SYSTEM WHEN I CALL THE SECOND DEALERSHIP THAT I CALLED CAUSE IT WAS CLOSER. THAT IS VERY ST
Mileage: 94,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MONTEREY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE THIRD ROW SEAT DID NOT LATCH DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V081000 (SEATS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 156,000.
Mileage: 156,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.