2005 Mercury Montego: problems, recalls and reliability
2 recalls and 135 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is power train (30% of complaints); the 2007 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Oct 2006
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 135 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“This vehicle had a recall performed on it. In the recall, it states that the door does not latch properly in colder weather. Vehicle has been brought to the dealership. They have stated that they have performed the recall service. But when the car is driven, the door still does not latch which causes a safety issue because it will open randomly. This has been brought to Ford's attention and they have not been able to help with a solution.”Owner report · Structure · Dec 2024
“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mercury montego. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the front passenger's side door remained open which resulted in a loss of the normal functions of instrument panel due to the passenger's side door ajar message overlaying all other system functions on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not taken to the local dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 06v383000 (latches/locks/linkages) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.”Owner report · Latches/Locks/Linkages · Jan 2021
“I own a 2005 mercury montego. While driving various speeds, all of the instrument panel gauges would illuminate and drop to zero and the seat belt indicators would illuminate and chime. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Nov 2020
Show 7 more owner reports
“When lowering the original car's manual scissor jack it gave out half way down causing the vehicle to drop onto my driveway suddenly. The threading on the power screw seem fine but the pin that it feeds through on the other end looks mangled (see pictures). When the jack dropped it sounded like the power screw slid. No one was harmed.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Aug 2020
“The linkage that controls the gear shift allowed the car to roll while the car was supposed to have been in park. Moreover. The car was in park but wouldn't start. When the tow truck put the car on the flat bed, the car tried to roll off even though the car shift level was in park. The car was in park and the engine was off. And the key wasn't in the ignition.. The car was repaid to the tune of about $800.00. It had to do with some linkage that runs underneath the battery box. Also the car wouldn't start.”Owner report · Power Train · Jun 2019
“I purchased bridgestone ecopia 225 55 r18 and about four months after I've had them had bubble show in front tire took it back to firestone they replaced it after replacing it now it's been a month I have another bubble in the same tire that they just replaced and they are the bridgestone ecopia ep422 tire size 22555 r18”Owner report · Wheels · Feb 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mercury montego. When the contact attempted to close the driver's door, the latching mechanism did not engage. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 147,500.”Owner report · Latches/Locks/Linkages · Dec 2018
“Tl* the contact owned a 2005 mercury montego. While driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration and crashed into the rear of a second vehicle. Prior to the failure, the engine rpms erroneously increased and the vehicle surged forward. The front end of the vehicle sustained severe damage, but the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not notified. The failure mileage was 150,000.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Aug 2018
“The car has been lurching forward and decelerating randomly. Keeps going into "failsafe engine mode" and the wrench light comes on but only for a few moments, then runs normally again after restarting. Haven't been able to have the light on long enough to get diagnostics done. Happens while driving or when starting occasionally.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Mar 2018
“In freezing weather, door latches will not latch and the door remains open. This only happens when the car is left outside and is not "fixed" until the door mechanisms warm up from being in the sun. Due to this issue we are unable to drive the vehicle until the doors latch again. I've been told my car was not affected by the recall (#06s45), but I feel that I have the exact problem described and would like to get the issue fixed so I don't have to worry about it the rest of winter.”Owner report · Structure · Dec 2016
When filing, owners marked a crash in 10 of these complaints and injuries in 6 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 2 campaigns
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. THE SIDE DOOR LATCH MECHANISMS MAY EXPERIENCE WATER INTRUSION ALLOWING THE LATCH MECHANISM TO FREEZE IN COLD WEATHER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SHIELD OVER THE FRONT LATCHES; SEAL A DRAIN HOLE IN THE REAR WINDOW TRIM MOLDING ON THE FREESTYLE REAR SIDE DOORS; AND APPLY GREASE TO ALL FRONT AND REAR SIDE-DOOR LATCH MECHANISMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 8, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE STRAPS THAT SECURE THE FUEL TANK TO THE VEHICLE BODY MAY BREAK, CAUSING THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL TANK HEAT SHIELD TO DROP ON THE DRIVESHAFT (ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES) OR EXHAUST SYSTEM (FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES).
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FUEL TANK STRAPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 1, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2005 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Montego by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Mercury Montego reliable?
NHTSA has 135 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on record for the 2005 Mercury Montego. The most complained-about area is power train (30% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2005 Mercury Montego problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 70,000 miles or less.
Does the 2005 Mercury Montego have open recalls?
2 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.