Problems · NHTSA complaints
2006 Mercury Montego problems
Owners filed 85 complaints about the 2006 Mercury Montego with NHTSA between Dec 2005 and May 2026. The most-cited component is power train (28).
Complaints
85
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train28
- Engine18
- Vehicle speed control14
- Electrical system7
- Engine and engine cooling6
- Suspension5
- Structure5
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Fuel/propulsion system4
- Fuel system, gasoline4
- Air bags4
- Exterior lighting4
- Seat belts3
- Tires3
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
2
3
3
4
9
13
9
9
7
8
5
1
3
2
1
0
2
0
2
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Power train
28 reports2 crashes
“The contact owns a 2006 Mercury Montego. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds and attempting to depress the accelerator pedal, the vehicle was jerking and shuddering. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or local dealer. A local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 184,000.”
Engine
18 reports1 crash1 fire
“WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON, CAR SPITS AND SPUTTERS AND DIES. AFTER RESTARTITBE CAR, LIGHT IS OFF. HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK. CAR WILL NOT DRIVE WITHOUT RESTART.”
Vehicle speed control
14 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 2006 Mercury Montego. The contact stated that while parallel parking, the vehicle independently accelerated and lunged forward. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was due to the throttle body. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.”
Electrical system
7 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT TOOK MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING 34 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE'S WIRING WAS NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.”
Engine and engine cooling
6 reports
“PURCHASED MY 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO IN 2007. CAR HAS ALWAYS SEEMED TO IDLE TOO FAST. CAR WILL SUDDENLY LURCH FORWARD OR BACKWARD, SEEMINGLY WITHOUT PROVOCATION. I AM FEARFUL OF MY SAFETY, SAFETY OF OTHERS OR OF DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING VEHICLES/PROPERTY. MECHANICS I HAVE CONTACTED HAVE RESET THE COMPUTER, BUT THE CAR ALWAYS RETURNS TO THE SAME ISSUE AFTER A DAY OR SO. MECHANICS ARE BAFFLED OVER THIS ISSUE. IT IS ALMOST AS IF THE CAR HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. *TR”
Suspension
5 reports
“EXPERIENCING ODD INSIDE TIRE WEAR ON REAR TIRES OF MY MERCURY MONTEGO. HAD OIL CHANGED AT DEALERSHIP SERVICE REP FROM DEALERSHIP SAID FORD ISSUED TSB 10-2-13, SEEMS FORD SHOULD BE ISSUING A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT CAME FROM THE FACTORY WITH IT. UNDER NORMAL DRIVING IT WOULD SEEM AS IF THIS PROBLEM WOULD NOT HAPPEN, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.