2005 Mercury Monterey: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 119 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is power train (81% of complaints); the 2006 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Mar 2013
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 119 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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.”Owner report · Power Train · Jan 2020
“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!”Owner report · Engine · Sep 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.”Owner report · Structure · Jan 2019
Show 7 more owner reports
“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.”Owner report · Structure · Jul 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.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jun 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.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jun 2018
“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.”Owner report · Power Train · Aug 2017
“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.”Owner report · Power Train · Nov 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mercury monterey. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 13v081000 (seats). The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician stated that the condition of the vehicle did not support the installation of the recalled part due to excessive corrosion in the wheel well of the rear driver side of the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated that the striker latch had previously detached. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 141,765.”Owner report · Structure · Aug 2015
“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.”Owner report · Structure · Jun 2015
When filing, owners marked a crash in 2 of these complaints and injuries in 7 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
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.
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.
ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH THE POWER LIFTGATE OPTION, THE POWER LIFTGATE MOTOR AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGES AFTER THE LIFTGATE IS POWERED OPEN.
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.
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.
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.
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 FORD FREESTAR AND MERCURY MONTEREY VEHICLES. THE TORQUE CONVERTER OUTPUT SHAFT MAY FAIL.
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.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
How other years compare
Check your exact Monterey 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 Monterey reliable?
NHTSA has 119 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 2005 Mercury Monterey. The most complained-about area is power train (81% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2005 Mercury Monterey problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 72,813 miles or less.
Does the 2005 Mercury Monterey have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning seats. 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.