28 of the
550 complaints filed about the Mercury Monterey
are about the body and structure —
5% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2004.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11256944 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11176569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11122949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10876443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10760797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10760281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT BOTH REAR SEAT LATCHES FRACTURED AND CORRODED. AS A RESULT, THERE WERE TWO LARGE HOLES IN THE AREA OF THE CORROSION CAUSING WATER DAMAGE TO THE CARPETS. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT BOTH REAR WHEEL WELLS WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V081000 (SEATS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10681147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY SON AND I WERE PUTTING GROCERIES IN THE BACK OF THE VAN AND THE TAILGATE FELL ON HIS HEAD. THE AUTOMATIC LIFT WOULDN'T LIFT UP. MY SON HAD TO PHYSICALLY LIFT IT UP. I CALLED THE COMPANY (MERCURY) AND REPORTED WHAT HAPPENED AND THE GENTLEMAN SAID THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND HE WAS SORRY THIS HAPPENED AND HUNG UP. HE WOULDN'T LET ME ASK ANY QUESTIONS. THE TAIL GATE DOESN'T OPEN AT ALL NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10644557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY AND A LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATING THE REAR DOOR OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000.
NHTSA complaint #10630390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS WELDED IMPROPERLY AND THE WEATHER STRIPPING WAS FAULTY ALLOWING WATER TO POUR DOWN INTO THE CAR AND ONTO THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) AT ANY TIME AFTER IT RAINS CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE POWER AND THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THIS IS A KNOWN AND COMMON PROBLEM AMONG '04 MONTEREY AND FORD FREESTARS. WHEN THE PCM IS WET IT SHORTS OUT ALL TRANSMISSION SHIFTING AND ENGINE REGULATION. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED THE CAR WOULD NOT START OR RUN PROPERLY, HAD IRREGULAR ENGINE POWER, AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT. THE ENGINE WAS TRYING ACCELERATE EVEN IN PARK. THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED OVERNIGHT AND RAN FINE THE DAY BEFORE, BUT CAUSED TROUBLE THE NEXT DAY. IT HAD RAINED DURING THE NIGHT. WHEN THE PCM DRIED OUT THE CAR RAN NORMALLY AGAIN. THE SECOND TIME HOWEVER, THE PCM COMPLETELY SHORTED OUT AND IS IRREPARABLE. THE ENGINE RUNS SPORADICALLY AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR CREATING A DRIVING HAZARD. THE CAR SEEMED ALRIGHT UNTIL I WAS ON THE ROAD TEST DRIVING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, CAUSING ME TO BE STUCK GOING A MAX OF 15 MPH IN TRAFFIC. THE CAR THEN LOST POWER, FORCING ME TO PULL OF TO THE SIDE.
NHTSA complaint #10578770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED FOR UN UNRELATED ISSUE, HE WAS INFORMED THT THE SUB FRAME ENGINE CRADLE WAS SUFFERING FROM MASSIVE RUST AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,000.
NHTSA complaint #10504834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SAFETY ANCHOR PLATE THAT HELD THE THIRD ROW SEAT SECURELY IN PLACE HAD RUSTED AND DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 127,000.
NHTSA complaint #10500495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME OF THE THIRD ROW SEAT WAS CORRODED AND FRACTURED INTO SEVERAL PIECES. IN ADDITION, THE UNDER CARRIAGE FRAME WAS ALSO CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
NHTSA complaint #10497976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR FLOORBOARD WAS RUSTED AND CAUSING THE REAR SEAT TO BECOME DISLODGED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
NHTSA complaint #10490744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED MY THIRD ROW SEAT WAS BOUNCING SOME, WHEN I STOPPED I FOUND THAT THE LATCH HOLDING THE SEAT DOWN WAS UNATTACHED. WHEN I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER HE SAID THAT IT IS RUSTED THROUGH. I HAD MY SPECIAL NEEDS SON IN THAT SEAT, HIT HIS HEAD BUT NOTHING MAJOR. UNFORTUNATELY I NOW AM UNABLE TO TRANSPORT MY SPECIAL NEEDS SON BECAUSE HE HAS TO BE IN THE THIRD ROW SEAT. MY DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL WELL IS ALSO TOTALLY RUSTED THROUGH AND WATER IS GETTING INTO THE CAR. I AM NOT SURE IF IT IS RELATED BUT MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS ALWAYS OFF AND ON ALONG WITH THE TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR. I ALREADY REPLACED THE PCM LAST YEAR WHEN MY CAR BECAME UN-DRIVABLE DUE TO MAJOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES.
NHTSA complaint #10482620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN MY 10 YEAR OLD SON WAS GETTING IN THE CAR TODAY HE NOTICED THAT THE 3RD ROW SEAT WAS WOBBLY AND MOVING AROUND. WE SAW THAT THE LATCH THAT HOLDS THE SEAT IN PLACE WAS NO LONGER THERE! IN ITS PLACE WAS A HOLE TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. I LOOKED IN THE DRIVERS-SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL AND SAW THAT THE ENTIRE LATCH ANCHOR PLATE HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY OFF! THANKFULLY I NOTICED THIS BEFORE WE GOT ON THE ROAD BECAUSE THE ANCHOR PLATE WAS LAYING LODGED BETWEEN THE WHEEL AND THE BODY OF THE CAR - WHO KNOWS WHAT TYPE OF ACCIDENT OR FURTHER DAMAGE COULD HAVE OCCURRED TO OUR OWN VEHICLE OR TO OTHERS WHO COULD HAVE BEEN IN THE PATH OF THE FALLING, DETACHED PLATE. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN AND CAN NO LONGER DRIVE MY VAN SINCE THE REAR SEAT IS NOT FULLY ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE AND MY CHILDREN ARE TOO YOUNG TO RIDE IN THE FRONT SEAT - NOT TO MENTION THE LARGE, GAPING HOLE IN MY CAR. IT APPEARS THAT THE PASSENGER-SIDE PLATE IS RUSTING THROUGH AS WELL. THIS IS A 2004 AND SHOULD NOT BE HAVING SUCH SEVERE RUST ISSUES THAT ENTIRE PIECES OF THE BODY ARE FALLING OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10470216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING CAR, THE REAR OF VEHICLE STARTED MAKING LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHILE MAKING RIGHT TURN. RESULT-REAR WHEEL WELLS CORRODED CAUSING THE 3RD ROW SEAT ANCHOR TO COMPLETELY DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN EXPOSING THE INTERIOR OF VEHICLE AND RENDERING THE THIRD SEAT UNSAFE TO USE.
NHTSA complaint #10463262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S PERSONAL MECHANIC AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, A CHILD PASSENGER NOTICED THAT THEY COULD SEE THE ROADWAY FROM THE THIRD ROW SEAT. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD RUST ALONG THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES OF THE FRAME WHERE THE THIRD ROW SEAT WAS CONNECTED. TWO MONTHS LATER THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S PERSONAL MECHANIC BUT THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,306 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 173,476.
NHTSA complaint #10460511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWERTRAIN: FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WENT OUT (SQUEELING SOUND) IN 2006 WITH 8K MILES ON VEHICLE. A TSB WAS OUT FOR THAT ISSUE AND THE WHEEL BEARINGS(2) WERE REPLACED. THE FRONT BEARINGS WENT OUT AGAIN IN 2009 AT ABOUT 27K MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS COVERED BY A FORD ESP. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T HEAR THE NOISE - THE NOISE WOULD COME AND GO - SO NO REPAIR WAS DONE AT THAT TIME. I HAVE THE REPAIR ORDER STATING "NO PROBLEM FOUND". NOW AT 35K MILES THE BEARING NOISE HAS BECOME MUCH WORSE AND MUCH MORE FREQUENT BUT NOW THE WARRANTY IS OVER AND IT WILL COST ABOUT $700 TO REPAIR. WHAT KIND OF POORLY MADE BEARINGS ARE THESE? BODY: IN 2009 I NOTICED RUST AT THE LEFT REAR WHEEL WELL AREA AND IT IS NOW COMING THROUGH THE LEFT QUARTER PANEL. THERE IS ALSO RUST AT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL AREA ALTHOUGH IT HAS NOT GONE THROUGH THE RIGHT QUARTER PANEL. LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT DOORS ALSO RUSTING AT THE BOTTOM FACING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10457423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.