NHTSA vehicle safety data

2005 Mercury Monterey Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2005 Mercury Monterey has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 119 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Mercury dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2005 Mercury Monterey, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2005 Mercury Monterey owner complaints

Owners have filed 119 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Mercury Monterey, describing incidents dated August 25, 2005 to October 30, 2021.

Most-cited components

Power Train 97 complaints
Structure 8 complaints
Engine 7 complaints
Electrical System 6 complaints
Air Bags 3 complaints
Seats 3 complaints

Of the 119 complaints on file, 2 report a crash; across all 119 complaints, owners report 7 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11482079 · Filed August 30, 2022
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 contact’s fiancée pushed the vehicle over the third of a mile by herself…
ODI #11307746 · Filed February 7, 2020
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…
ODI #11255668 · Filed September 16, 2019
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…

Read all 119 complaints

Owner-reported

2005 Mercury Monterey mileage at failure

106 of the 119 complaints on file for the 2005 Mercury Monterey give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Power Train	Median 70,000 miles	Middle half 55,000–90,000 miles	Based on 86 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2005 Mercury Monterey in 6 investigations. Audit Queries and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations: they look at whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules, not at a possible vehicle defect. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Engineering Analysis EA12-003: Corrosion of Third-Row Seat Attachment
Closed May 2, 2013
- Recall 13V-081
Equipment Query EQ12-010: Stabilus Rear Liftgate Struts Failing
Closed December 31, 2012
Preliminary Evaluation PE11-033: Service Jack Failure
Closed December 7, 2012
Engineering Analysis EA09-016: Transmission Torque Converter Failure
Closed February 2, 2012
- Recall 12V-006
Preliminary Evaluation PE10-033: Engine Stalling
Closed July 15, 2011

1 more NHTSA investigation

Preliminary Evaluation PE09-033: TORQUE CONVERTER OUTPUT SHAFT FAILURE
Closed November 17, 2009

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Corrosion of Third Row Seat Attachment

NHTSA #13V081000 · Seats · NHTSA notice

Reported March 7, 2013 · Ford Motor Company

Potentially affected: 196,667 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 13S01 · Owners notified March 28, 2013 · Vehicles built March 24, 2003 – November 7, 2006 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

In the event that the vehicle is crashed into from the rear, an unlatched seat may increase the risk of personal injury.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Ford's recall campaign number is 13S01.Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

TORQUE CONVERTER MALFUNCTIONS

NHTSA #12V006000 · Power Train — Automatic Transmission · NHTSA notice

Reported January 9, 2012 · FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 206,452 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 11S25 · Owners notified June 29, 2012 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 FORD FREESTAR AND MERCURY MONTEREY VEHICLES. THE TORQUE CONVERTER OUTPUT SHAFT MAY FAIL.

Safety consequence

THIS CONDITION RESULTS IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER WITH NO WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 9, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

Notes

FORD'S RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 11S25.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

FUEL LEAK/FIRE

NHTSA #06E056000 · Fuel System, Gasoline · NHTSA notice

Reported June 13, 2006 · UFI FILTERS USA

Potentially affected: 58,640 vehicles

Owners notified August 4, 2006

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO UFI FILTERS USA (PUROLATOR) AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON THE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

POWER LIFTGATES

NHTSA #06V069000 · Structure — Body — Hatchback/Liftgate · NHTSA notice

Reported March 9, 2006 · FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 12,728 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 06S42 · Owners notified March 15, 2006 · Vehicles built April 13, 2004 – December 13, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH THE POWER LIFTGATE OPTION, THE POWER LIFTGATE MOTOR AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGES AFTER THE LIFTGATE IS POWERED OPEN.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

FORD RECALL NO. 06S42.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

2005 Mercury Monterey

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

6 investigations

119 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Mercury Monterey.

Power Train

ODI #11482079

Incident: October 30, 2021 · Filed: August 30, 2022

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 contact’s 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.

Power Train

ODI #11307746

Incident: January 1, 2020 · Filed: February 7, 2020

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.

Engine

ODI #11255668

Incident: September 11, 2019 · Filed: September 16, 2019

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!

Structure; Seats

ODI #11176569

Incident: January 2, 2019 · Filed: February 12, 2019

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.

Power Train; Engine

ODI #11155166

Incident: November 29, 2018 · Filed: November 30, 2018

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.

Structure

ODI #11122949

Incident: July 22, 2018 · Filed: August 28, 2018

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.

Air Bags

ODI #11113228

Crash 2 injuries

Incident: June 19, 2018 · Filed: July 24, 2018

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.

Air Bags

ODI #11105387

Crash 2 injuries

Incident: June 12, 2018 · Filed: July 3, 2018

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.

Power Train

ODI #11058256

Incident: May 29, 2017 · Filed: January 3, 2018

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.

Power Train

ODI #11013547

Incident: August 7, 2017 · Filed: August 7, 2017

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.

Other Mercury Monterey model years

Check your 2005 Mercury Monterey VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mercury Monterey at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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