Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2004 Mercury Monterey
NHTSA data on file today
The 2004 Mercury Monterey has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 283 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #13V081000 Corrosion of Third Row Seat Attachment NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V006000 TORQUE CONVERTER MALFUNCTIONS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E056000 FUEL LEAK/FIRE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V446000 FORD/HUBS, ROTORS, WHEEL BEARINGS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V457000 FORD/POWER STEERING LINE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 203 complaints
- Structure 19 complaints
- Seats 16 complaints
- Electrical System 11 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 11 complaints
- Steering 8 complaints
Of the 283 complaints on file, 2 report a crash and 6 a fire; across all 283 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2004 Mercury Monterey has numerous power train issues and multiple recall campaigns, indicating reliability concerns. With 283 complaints, a significant portion focus on the power train, suggesting notable failure rates. Other areas like structure and seats show lower complaint counts. The evidence is moderate to solid, supporting a below-average rating based on available data.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power train | 80,000–120,000 miles | $1,500–$3,000 | very common |
| Seats | Unknown | $300–$600 | occasional |
| Steering | 70,000–100,000 miles | $400–$1,000 | rare |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Transmission fluid changes
- Cooling system flush
- Spark plug replacement
- Tire rotations
- Brake pad inspections
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual transmission noises
- Difficulty in gear shifting
- Steering fluid leaks
- Seat latch issues
- Inconsistent speed control
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2004 Mercury Monterey at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.