FaultScore

2004 Mercury Monterey fuel system problems

10 of the 346 complaints about the 2004 Mercury Monterey are about the fuel system — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 102,454 miles.

C

10

Complaints

0

Crashes

2

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Fuel/Propulsion System 6 60.0%
Fuel System, Gasoline 4 40.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 180,000 miles Lock Haven, PA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WELL I DIDNT KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT THIS BUT AROUND AUGUST 2020 MY GRANDSON JUST GOT OUT OF KNEE SURGERY WE WAS DRIVING UP TO LIMESTONE NEW YORK WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING AND IT STOPPED MOVING SO I COSTED OFF THE ROAD WE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED SO WE SAT THERE AND THERE WAS ALOT OF TRANSMISSION FLUID EVERYWHERE SO A MAN STOPPED TOOK MY BOYFRIEND TO A STORE TO GET TRANSMISSION FLUID WHILE ME MY DAUGHTER N GRANDSON WAITED IN THE VEHICLE HE PUTS THE FLUID IN WE GOT IT TO MOVE TO THE NEXT EXIT WHERE THE FLUID JUST KEPT DRAINED OUT SO WE HAD TO SIT THERE AND WAIT FOR A RIDE AND A TOW WHICH THE PPL PICKED US UP AND BROUGHT US HOME THE NEXT DAY MY BF RENTED A CAR DOLLY AND WE RAN BACK UP TO GRAB AND TOW IT BACK TO MY PLACE AND IT HAS BEEN SITTING HERE EVER SINCE CAN SOMEONE HELP PLEASE I NEED MY VEHICLE FIXED I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO IT IT WAS DRIVING FINE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT JUST COMPLETELY STOPPED

NHTSA complaint #11377203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 185,467 miles Hattiesburg, MS

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE VEHICLE STALLED ON ME THIS MORNING AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON A BUSY STREET. I ATTEMPTED TO CRANK IT BACK UP BUT THE OIL LIGHT AS WELL AS THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. I LEFT THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR 8 HRS, WHEN I RETURNED I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT FOR APPROX. 15 MILES AND IT STALLED AGAIN ONCE I MADE IT TO MY DESTINATION. VEHICLE ALSO BACKFIRES NOW AND HAS A VERY STRONG GAS SMELL COMING FROM IT. STARTED STALLING AFTER I DROVE THROUGH STANDING WATER PUDDLES ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA complaint #10786175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 102,454 miles Chicago, IL Fire

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

SPOUSE [XXX] WAS DRIVING THE FAMILY AND ME OUT TO DINNER ON MAY 9, 2014 FOR MOTHER'S DAY.THE GAS TANK WAS ON ONE-FOURTH A TANK SO BEFORE ON TO THE EXPRESSWAY WE STOP TO GET SOME GAS. [XXX] MADE A STATEMENT HE SAID, "HE SAID THE GAS HAND STILL HASN'T MOVED MUCH AFTER WE PUT $40.00 TOGETHER OF GAS IN THE VAN. WE PUT GAS IN THE VAN AT THE GAS STATION AT 63RD AND CALIFORNIA. AFTER GETTING GAS WE PROCEED TOWARD WESTERN AVE. ON WESTER AVE. [XXX] DROVE FROM71ST AND WESTERN TO 111 & WESTERN WHEN WE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. WE THOUGHT THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM A VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF US. WE MADE NO BIG DEAL ABOUT IT UNTIL THE VAN BEGIN TO SMOKE TREMENDOUS. [XXX] STOP THE CAR AN PULLED OVER. THE SMOKE INCREASED IN FRONT OF THE CAR ON THE DRIVERS AS [XXX] STOOD THERE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING ON, I SAW A BLAZE OF FIRE. I BEGIN SCREAMING THE VAN IS ON FIRE, THE VAN IS ON FIRE. I JUMP OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE BLAZE GOT LARGER. MY DAUGHTER AND MY BROTHER-IN-LAW WHO IS MENTALLY CHALLENGED WAS IN THE SECOND ROW OF SEATS BUCKLED UP. I GOT BACK IN THE CAR TO TURN ON THE EMERGENCY SIGNAL TO LET THE OTHER DRIVERS KNOW THAT WE NEEDED HELP. I YELLED AT MY FAMILY ON THE SECOND ROW AGAIN, GET OUT THE VAN THE VAN IS ON FIRE. THEY BEHAVE AS IF THEY COULD NOT HEAR ME OR UNDERSTAND WHAT I WA SAYING. SO, I BEGIN TO BANG ON THE WINDOW GET OUT GET OUT THE VAN IS ON FIRE.AFTER THE VAN WAS FULL BLAZED AND THE EMERGENCY WAS ON THE BANGING GOT THEM OUT. THERE WAS REDDISH BROWN LIQUID ALL IN THE SURROUNDING AREA WHERE THE VAN WAS PARK. MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH CALLED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME WITH TWO TOW TRUCKS. I GOT MY FAMILY TO SAFETY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRAIN TRACKS BY 111 & MARSHFIELD WHILE [XXX] TALKED TO FIRE FIGHTERS AND THE TOW MEN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10587960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 118,000 miles Taylor, MI

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

IN EARLY 2012 BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS ON DASH WOULD COME ON SPORADICALLY WHILE DRIVING.THEN CAME ON MORE FREQUENTLY. SOON THE BATTERY LIGHT STARTED TO COME ON AT STOPS OR LOW IDLES. 8/2012 DEALER COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE BRAKE LIGHTS COMING ON, BUT REPLACED ALTERNATOR. 11/2012 STILL PROBLEM WITH BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE DASH COMING ON NOW PLUS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. VEHICLE SPUTTERING AND STALLING (COULD NOT STOP WITHOUT VEHICLE TOTALLY STALLING AND HAD TO HAVE FOOT ON GAS AT ALL TIME, EVEN WHEN BRAKING, OR WOULD STALL.) 2ND DEALER STILL COULD NOT VERIFY THE DASH BRAKE LIGHTS BUT RESEALED CONNECTOR, REPLACED SPARK PLUGS, CLEAN MASS AIRFLOW, RESET KAM, REPLACED HEATED PCV HOSE. COULD DRIVE VEHICLE BUT BRAKE LIGHTS WERE BOTH STILL SPORADICALLY COMING ON WHILE DRIVING. 7/2013 STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BOTH DASH BRAKE LIGHTS COMING ON ONLY NOW THE RADIO DIES WHEN THEY COME ON, WHEN THEY GO OFF, THE RADIO COMES BACK ON. IF THE RADIO DIDN'T GO OFF, SOMETIMES SHUTTING IT OFF WOULD RESULT IN THE BRAKE LIGHTS GOING OFF. DEALER STILL UNABLE TO VERIFY. THIS PROGRESSED TO THE BATTERY LIGHT COMING ON SPORADICALLY (AROUND TIME BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON) AND USUALLY GOING OFF IF THE AC WAS TURNED UP ON HIGH. THE VEHICLE ALSO STARTED TO LOSE POWER WHEN PASSING, FELT LIKE A DOWN SHIFT. THE DASH LIGHT ISSUE OCCURS DAILY, BUT THERE IS NO PATTERN. IT CAN BE WET, DRY, HOT, COLD, AFTER 5 MILES, AFTER 30 MILE, SIDE STREETS, EXPRESSWAY, MORNING, EVENING THERE IS NO CONSTANT. 10/2013 VEHICLE BACK AT DEALER SINCE THE PROBLEM HAPPENS EVERY DAY. THEY CAN'T REPRODUCE. ONLY CODE THEY GET IS THE ALTERNATOR, WHICH WAS REPLACED LAST YEAR AND DIDN'T HELP THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE RESEALED THE CPU AND THAT DOESN'T HELP.THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN PLAGUED BY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE DAY ONE (HEATER, SEAT HEATER, CIGARETTE LIGHTERS, DOOR LOCKS ETC) CONCERNED ELECTRICAL ISSUES COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER OR FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10549811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 64,000 miles SAN Antiono, TX

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE CONTACT DROVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10520118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,238 miles Homer, LA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I PURCHASED THIS VAN FROM A ONE OWNER ELDERLY COUPLE-AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE HAD 47,000 MILES ON IT. WORKED GREAT FOR FIRST 8 MONTHS THEN THE PROBLEMS STARTED. HAD TO REPLACE SPARK PLUGS THEN COIL ASSEMBLY, THEN FUEL INJECTORS, VALUE EXHAUST GAS, RECALL OF THE TORQUE CONVERTOR(DEALERSHIP HAD MY VAN 3 DAYS SHY OF 1 MONTH) ABS SENSOR REPLACED, REPLACED CALLOPSED PCV HOSE, WATER IN THE COMPUTER MODELE THIS HAD TO BE CLEANED OUT. VAN WAS IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP 8 OF 12 MONTHS IN THE YEAR 2012. I HAD THE VAN BACK FOR NOT EVEN 2 MONTHS AND IT STARTED RUNNING ROUGH AND IDLING HIGH AGAIN THE ENGINE LIGHT BLINKING. I REALLY NEED SOME HELP WITH THIS-BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP I HAVE BEEN TAKEN IT TOO CANNOT SEEM TO GET IT FIXED!!! I HAVE SPENT WAY TO MUCH MONEY ON A VECHILE THAT DOES NOT WORK!!!

NHTSA complaint #10499571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 53,504 miles Quebradillas, PR

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE ON SEP 2011. DURING THE FIRST REFUELING GAS STARTED SPILL OVER AS I REFUELED. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I REFUEL. I RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT I CAN REFUEL VERY SLOW AND NO SPILL WILL OCCUR. THIS IS NICE, BUT IT TAKES ABOUT 20 - 25 MINUTES TO REFUEL.

NHTSA complaint #10464767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 162,000 miles Cookeville, TN

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

VEHICLE STALLS LEAVING FAMILY STRANDED IN TRAFFIC (NUMEROUS EVENTS). DEALER TESTED AND REPLACED FUEL RAIL PRESSURE SENSOR AND VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME, APPROX 8 MILES. VEHICLE FAILED TO START FOLLOWING MORNING. BASED ON ARTICLES AND TESTING PROCEDURES FOUND ONLINE, OWNER REPLACED CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, VEHICLE STARTED AND RAN FOR ABOUT 5 MIN. ENGINE DIED AND PRODUCED ERROR CODE P0320. EVIDENCE OF WATER HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE PCM CONNECTOR AND FAULT HAS NOT YET BEEN CORRECTED. OTHER ITEMS REPLACED ON VEHICLE; TRANSMISSION, EGR, FUEL FILTER, PLUG WIRES AND PLUGS.

NHTSA complaint #10454084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 89,251 miles Garden City, MI

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE ENGINE DIED WITHOUT WARNING, NO POWER. IT HAD NO POWER STEERING, IT HAD SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. IT WAS HARD TO RESTART AND THEN AFTER GOING AGAIN IT DIED AGAIN AS I WAS TRYING TO PULL OVER.

NHTSA complaint #10434426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Franklin, NC Fire

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

2004 MERCURY MONTEREY CAUGHT A FIRE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FIRE STARTED WHILE THE ENGINE WAS COLD AND WANTS AN EXPLANATION WHY. *NJ THE CONSUMER FIRST THOUGHT THAT A LIQUID HAD BEEN POURED OVER THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS ENOUGH FUEL UNDER PRESSURE TO EXPLODED INTO FLAMES 5 FEET HIGH AND ENOUGH PRESSURE TO COAT THE HOOD WITH FUEL.

NHTSA complaint #10238288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2004 Mercury Monterey problems

← Full 2004 Mercury Monterey report