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Research · Minivan - 2WD

2005 Mercury MontereyRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 119 owner complaints for the 2005 Mercury Monterey. Most complaints involve power train (97) and structure (8). The EPA rates it 18 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
18mpg
EPA · 1 version
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
4campaigns
Latest Mar 2013
Owner complaints
119
Top: power train
Fuel cost / yr
$3,450est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

4 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Seats

Free remedy

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.

SeatsReported Mar 7, 2013NHTSA 13V081000

Power train: automatic transmission

Free remedy

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 FORD FREESTAR AND MERCURY MONTEREY VEHICLES. THE TORQUE CONVERTER OUTPUT SHAFT MAY FAIL.

Power trainReported Jan 9, 2012NHTSA 12V006000

Fuel system, gasoline

Free remedy

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.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Jun 13, 2006NHTSA 06E056000
See all 4 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

119 complaints filed with NHTSA · Sep 2005 – Aug 2022
  1. Power train97
  2. Structure8
  3. Electrical system6
  4. Engine5
  5. Seats3
  6. Air bags3
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic2
  8. Engine and engine cooling2
  9. Vehicle speed control1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Monterey model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2004283
2005119
200644
20077
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
7
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Power train

97 reports
“The contact's fiancée owns a 2005 Mercury Monterey. The contact stated while his fiancée was driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the vehicle failed to respond and inadvertently stopped. The contact’s fiancée pushed the vehicle over the third of a mile by herself until she received assistance to push the vehicle to a parking lot. The vehicle was hauled to the contact's residence. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and shifting into gear, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact, who is an independent mechanic diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,357.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 30, 2022Power trainODI 11482079

Structure

8 reports
“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 complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 12, 2019Structure, SeatsODI 11176569

Electrical system

6 reports
“IT WAS RAINING AND MY VEHICLE KEPT GOING INTO NEUTRAL AND STALLING. I'D PRESS THE GAS, NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. IT WOULDN'T GO INTO REVERSE. WHEN I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL THE ENGINE JUST REVVED UP. PUTTING IT PARK WAS OK. CHECK ENGINE CODES P0715 AND P0340 APPEARED. A FLASHING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (!), AND SOLID CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. PUTTING IN DRIVE, IT WOULD ONLY GO INTO 3RD GEAR. 1ST GEAR WORKED IF I MOVED THE PRNDL TO 1. REVERSE DIDN'T WORK AT ALL. I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ANYWHERE BUT MY NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE RECENT TORQUE CONVERTER RECALL THAT IS ALSO SCARY AND ALSO RESULTS IN LOSS OF FORWARD MOMENTUM. MY PROBLEM IS WITH THE PCM. THE DEALER PERFORMED DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIRS ACCORDING TO FORD'S TSB 06-14-10 WHICH INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON ALL 1999-2007 FORD VANS. IF THEY'VE KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR 7 YEARS, AND IT AFFECTS NEARLY A MILLION VEHICLES, WHY HASN'T IT BEEN RECALLED? SURELY NHTSA HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAD THIS HAPPEN ON HER 2004 FORD VAN WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. SHE ALSO LOST REVERSE AND THE CAR WOULD LIMP IN DRIVE JUST LIKE MINE DID. THE REPAIR SHOP KNEW…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 30, 2013Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 10546254
All 2005 Monterey problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

1 version rated by the EPA
EPA class
Minivan - 2WD
Engines
4.2L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 4-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 9, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Monterey Wagon FWD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 4.2 L · Front-Wheel Drive
162118$3,450494
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 9, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2005 Mercury Monterey as of Nov 9, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 9, 2026Vehicle 1628
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2005 Monterey questions

How many recalls does the 2005 Mercury Monterey have?

4 safety recalls as of Nov 9, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2005 Mercury Monterey problems?

Owners filed 119 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (97), structure (8), electrical system (6). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2005 Mercury Monterey get?

The EPA rates the 2005 Mercury Monterey at 18 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (1 version rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 9, 2026