Problems · NHTSA complaints
2004 Mercury Monterey problems
Owners filed 283 complaints about the 2004 Mercury Monterey with NHTSA between Jun 2004 and Feb 2026. The most-cited component is power train (203).
Complaints
283
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train203
- Structure19
- Seats16
- Electrical system11
- Vehicle speed control11
- Steering8
- Engine7
- Engine and engine cooling7
- Wheels7
- Fuel/propulsion system6
- Suspension6
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Fuel system, gasoline4
- Service brakes3
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 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
1
2
7
18
42
67
40
35
20
14
8
5
9
5
3
2
1
0
0
2
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 18 |
| 2009 | 42 |
| 2010 | 67 |
| 2011 | 40 |
| 2012 | 35 |
| 2013 | 20 |
| 2014 | 14 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 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
203 reports1 crash1 fire1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Monterey. The contact stated that while driving through a drive thru, the vehicle independently shifted into neutral and was unable to shift into the intended gear. The automatic transmission warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. A dealer was contacted back in 2012 who confirmed that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V006000 (Power Train); however, parts were not available. The contact called that same dealer in 2015 who confirmed that parts were available for the recall repair however, there was no available appointment and advised the contact to bring in the vehicle to be repaired only if a failure was experienced. The vehicle was not repaired. After the most recent failure, the contact called the same dealer and was informed that the system was indicating that the recall repair was completed; however, the vehicle was never scheduled for the recall repair. The contact confirmed that the recall repair was not performed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.”
Structure
19 reports
“LOWER CONTROL BOLT THAT MOUNTED TO SUBFRAME RUSTED THREW FRAME . IF NOT CAUGHT ON TIME THE TIRE WOULD SEPERATE I TOOK THE VECHICLE TO A WEDLER FOR TEMPERARY REPAIR. BUT UNFORTANLEY THE DESIGN ON THE SUBFRAME HAS HOLES SO IT ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER AND CAUSE FRAME TO RUST! ALERT WHEN BRAKING YOU MAY EXPERIENCE CLUNKING THAT IS THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BOLT BROKEN. VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE VECHICLE WITH PHYSICAL PROOF OF RUSTED FRAME IF NEEDED I CAN TAKE PICTURES WHEN THE TIME COMES.”
Seats
16 reports1 related recall
“CORROSION OF THIRD ROW SEAT ATTACHMENT. ON 23 JUNE 2016, REMOVED INTERIOR PANEL TO SERVICE AUXILIARY A/C UNIT AND DISCOVERED SEVERELY RUSTED AREA AROUND THE THIRD-ROW SEAT ATTACHMENT. BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES OF THE VEHICLE ARE RUSTED; THE LEFT SIDE IS MUCH WORSE THAN THE RIGHT SIDE AT THIS TIME. CONTACTED LOCAL DEALER AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVE BODY SHOP; BOTH REFUSED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM DUE TO POTENTIAL LIABILITY ISSUES. WAS REFERRED TO FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP SERVICE. THEY NOTED THERE ARE NO ACTIVE RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE - AND SINCE I AM NOT IN A "HIGH CORROSION" STATE, RECALL 13S01 DOES NOT APPLY (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V081000). HAVE ATTACHED PICTURES OF THE AFFECTED AREAS. AM TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM IF THE DEALER AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVE BODY SHOP REFUSE TO APPROACH IT.”
Electrical system
11 reports1 fire
“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2004 Mercury Monterey. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 223,476 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 361,749.”
Vehicle speed control
11 reports1 crash1 fire
“The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Monterey. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to respond, and the vehicle continued to accelerate. The driver manually shifted gears to slow the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and the contact was informed that the return spring part was no longer being produced. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 184,000.”
Steering
8 reports1 fire1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING ABILITY BECAME VERY HARD. THE FAILURE BEGAN TWENTY DAYS AGO AND WORSENED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,320. THE VIN WAS INVALID. CONTACT REPORTS THAT STEERING BALLJOINT WAS HEAVILY AND CORRODED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.