RoadVitals

2006 Mercury Monterey

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
44
Latest Nov 1, 2020
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Mar 7, 2013
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
3
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 44 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2006 Mercury Monterey, most frequently naming the powertrain (other), transmission and brakes categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 3 NHTSA investigations name it; and 14 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Transmission47.7%
  • Brakes47.7%
  • Engine35.8%
  • Driver assistance35.8%
  • Other / unspecified23.8%
  • Electrical23.8%
  • Fuel system11.9%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
Mar 7, 2013
196,667 units potentially affected
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, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. The third row stowable seat can experience corrosion and structural degradation at the seat anchor mechanism mounted to the rear wheel wells. As a result of the corrosion, the third row seat may not fully latch into its seating position.
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 remedy: 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.
Ford Motor CompanyManufacturer number 13S01View on NHTSA.gov

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Jun 13, 2006
58,640 units potentially affected
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 CONNECTION MAY BELIEVE THAT THE QUICK CONNECTOR IS FULLY ATTACHED.
The risk: FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
The remedy: 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.
UFI FILTERS USAView on NHTSA.gov

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

Mar 9, 2006
12,728 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH THE POWER LIFTGATE OPTION, THE POWER LIFTGATE MOTOR AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGES AFTER THE LIFTGATE IS POWERED OPEN.
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF A LIFTGATE STRUT MALFUNCTION, THE LIFTGATE CAN FALL FREELY WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. ANYONE STANDING BENEATH THE LIFTGATE MAY BE INJURED IF THE LIFTGATE FALLS.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE POWER LIFTGATE MODULE TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE LIFTGATE COULD FALL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYManufacturer number 06S42View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EQ12010ClosedInvestigation

Stabilus Rear Liftgate Struts Failing

Opened Sep 28, 2012
Closed Dec 31, 2012

Please see the attached closing resume summary.It has been attached to this document as a PDF.

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
EA12003ClosedEngineering Analysis

Corrosion of Third-Row Seat Attachment

Opened Apr 23, 2012
Closed May 2, 2013

Ford is conducting a safety recall to repair the third-row seat's latch mechanisms in approximately 196,667 model year (MY) 2004 through 2007 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey vehicles (see NHTSA recall 13V-081 for more details).The recall covers vehicles originally sold, or currently registered, in the salt belt states or high corrosion areas of the United States: Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.Approximately 100,000 remaining MY 2004-2007 Freestar and Monterey vehicles--those vehicles that were not originally sold, or are not currently registered, in salt belt states--are not included in the recall action. Although these vehicles are the same as the ones described above, they experience significantly lower failure rates because of reduced road salt exposure.ODI is currently aware of only one complaint on vehicle outside of the recall scope.ODI will monitor complaints and take further action if warranted by the circumstances.For owners of vehicles that are outside of the recall scope but exhibit the defect condition, owners (and affected Ford dealers) can contact Ford to request the recall repair.This Engineering Analysis is closed.See attached report and associated recall file for additional information.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10399896, 10410491, 10420028, 10424850, 10433928, 10436592, 10438529, 10440616, 10441489, 10441641, 10442809, 10446564, 10450295, 10450559, 10450587, 10452933, 10453826, 10454977, 10455545, 10456985, 10457423, 10457910, 10458738, 10459042, 10460511, 10461074, 10462910, 10463126, 10463262, 10463366, 10463600, 10464243, 10467003, 10467680, 10468429, 10469188, 10469200, 10470216, 10470510, 10471280, 10471520, 10471813, 10471978, 10472514, 10473087, 10473159, 10477025, 10477387, 10477954, 10478449, 10479247, 10479758, 10480611, 10480665, 10481054, 10481412, 10482213, 10482236, 10482613, 10482620, 10487872, 10489445, 10490515, 10490641, 10490663, 10490744, 10491495, 10492220, 10493470, 10493572, 10496348, 10497631, 10497976, 10498310, 10498433, 10499681, 10499861, 10500495.

SEATSLed to recall 13V081000
PE10033ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

Engine Stalling

Opened Aug 23, 2010
Closed Jul 15, 2011

The subject vehicles suffered from a design issue whereby water could run down onto the cowling under the hood and located in the area of the windshield wipers and then drip onto a computer module, the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), which could be manifested in a variety of symptoms depending on which part of the circuit board became wet or which of the connector pins shorted out.In addition to causing an engine to stall, which may or may not then restart, the water intrusion could also cause the transmission to shift poorly, the vehicle to have erratic power, a malfunction indicator light to come on, or result in an inability to start the vehicle, an inability to shift the vehicle into either forward or reverse. Also the problem could cause a higher than normal idle RPM in Park, or for the radio to malfunction, or the interior lights to stay on.During this investigation ODI was concerned with the effect of the engine stalling or a drastic and sudden loss of power either of which may create a safety risk.In reviewing the actual number of these types of incidents, collectively referred to here as engine stalls, the number was found to be below what would be considered a defect trend.For example, the number of engine stalls identified in Ford's warranty claims for the model year (MY) 2004 subject vehicles, the MY with the most failures, was 200 out of population of 125,865, for a failure rate of 0.16%.The one crash recorded by a complainant to NHTSA, VOQ 10311522, alleged that the engine stalled, due to water intrusion into the PCM, while the road was turning causing her to go off the road and according to the police report the vehicle then hit an embankment and a tree stump. Ford reported in their response that there were three alleged crashes but none of these were validated as being caused by a problem with water intrusion into the PCM causing a stall.Accordingly this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 1, 2020

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

NHTSA ID
11372494
Incident
Oct 26, 2020
Mileage
180,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 20, 2020

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.

NHTSA ID
11321674
Incident
Feb 29, 2020
Mileage
167,195 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 1, 2019

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.

NHTSA ID
11283100
Incident
Nov 29, 2019
Mileage
126,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 17, 2019

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.

NHTSA ID
11220581
Incident
Jun 7, 2019
Mileage
141,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 8, 2019

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.

NHTSA ID
11218671
Incident
Jun 6, 2019
Mileage
88,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 23, 2018

DRIVING DOWN THE STREET...LOST ALL FORWARD MOVEMENT. EVERYTHING WAS RUNNING, JUST NO ENGAMENT OF TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ID
11121951
Incident
Aug 23, 2018
Mileage
121,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 15, 2018

TAKATA INFLATORS. DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE JUST STOPS MOVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.BELIEVE SOLENOID TO DRIVE TRANNY IS FAULTY.

NHTSA ID
11085104
Incident
Feb 14, 2018
Mileage
116,464 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 23, 2018

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.

NHTSA ID
11074530
Incident
Feb 22, 2018
Mileage
150,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SSM 46085

ENGINE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV); ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE); ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to diagnose possible ETB concerns. The IDS has a limited refresh rate when reading these PIDs and cannot display quickly enough to validate a concern. The PCM automatically monitors these inputs more accurately and will set diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) when appropriate. Using these PIDs for diagnostics will lead to inaccurate results and improper ETB replacements. If a concern is intermittent and no DTCs are present, refer to historical DTCs and the PC/ED, Section 3 No DTCs Present Index chart for further information.

TSB160069

SEATS; SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

Safety recall 13S01 - Corrosion on sheet metal that supports 3rd row seat latch strikeers - requests for recall service action

16-0069

SEATS

For 2004-2007 Freestar or Monterey vehicles Safety Recall 13S01 has been issued for vehicles that are operated in high corrosion areas for an extended period, where the sheet metal that supports the folding 3rd row seat latch strikers could experience corrosion and may compromise the mounting point for the forward portion of the 3rd row seat. Initially, this condition may result in seat movement when passengers sit on or put weight on the seat, or difficulty latching the front of the seat when in its seating position. If corrosion is severe, the seat latch strikers may become detached from the vehicle. The seat belts and the permanent mounting attachment at the rear of the seat are unaffected.

TSB-14-0166

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; SEATS

FORD/MERCURY: SAFETY RECALL REGARDING SHEET METAL SUPPORT FOR FOLDING 3RD ROW SEAT LATCH STRIKERS CAN EXPERIENCE CORROSION AND WILL COMPROMISE MOUNTING POINT CAUSING SEAT TO MOVE. MODEL 2004-07 FREESTAR, MONTEREY. *PE

TSB-14-0144

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

FORD/MERCURY: SHEET METAL SUPPORTING FOLDING 3RD ROW SEAT LATCH STRIKERS WILL EXPERIENCE CORROSION AND COMPROMISE MOUNTING POINT FOR FORWARD PORTION OF 3RD ROW SEAT, IF VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN HIGH CORROSION AREAS FOR EXTENDED PERIOD. MODEL 2004-2007 FREESTAR, MONTEREY. *PE

0637

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 06B37. CRANK POSITION SENSOR CONNECTOR INSPECTION. THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR HARNESS CONNECTOR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FULLY SEATED IN THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. IF THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR BECAME DISCONNECTED, THE ENGINE WOULD STOP. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercury Monterey by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2007723
2006Viewing443352.3
20051194656.1
20042835757.9
1974010
1973020
1972010
1968100

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.