YearToAvoid

2005 Mercury Montego Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 3 Montego years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2005 Mercury Montego has 135 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 100 out of 100 — the highest of 3 Montego model years. The most reported problem area is transmission & powertrain (49 complaints, 36% of the total). Complaints report 10 crashes, 2 fires, and 6 injuries.

Complaints
135
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
10 / 2
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20
18 city / 25 hwy

Top 2005 Mercury Montego problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain49 (36%)
  2. Engine35 (26%)
  3. Electrical System28 (21%)
  4. Brakes19 (14%)
  5. Structure & Body13 (10%)
  6. Fuel System12 (9%)
  7. Other7 (5%)
  8. Airbags5 (4%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (2%)
  10. Seat Belts2 (1%)
2005 Mercury Montego complaints: complaints filed per quarter92005 Q22007 Q22009 Q32011 Q22013 Q12015 Q12016 Q42019 Q1
176 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2005 Q2 to 2025 Q1; peak 2010 Q3 (9).

2005 Mercury Montego recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 06V383000Oct 5, 2006Structure & Body139,537 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

    On certain passenger vehicles currently registered in the following states: alaska, colorado, connecticut, delaware, idaho, illinois, indiana, iowa, kansas, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, montana, nebraska, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, north dakota, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, south dakota, utah, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and wyoming. The side door latch mechanisms may experience water intrusion allowing the latch mechanism to freeze in cold weather.

    Risk: As a result, the door latch pawl may not return to the latch position when the door is closed, and the door could open while the vehicle is moving.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a shield over the front latches; seal a drain hole in the rear window trim molding on the freestyle rear side doors; and apply grease to all front and rear side-door latch mechanisms free of charge. The recall began on november 8, 2006. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.

  2. NHTSA 05V515000Nov 9, 2005Fuel System123,206 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:mounting

    On certain passenger vehicles, the straps that secure the fuel tank to the vehicle body may break, causing the fuel tank and fuel tank heat shield to drop on the driveshaft (all wheel drive vehicles) or exhaust system (front wheel drive vehicles).

    Risk: If this happens, drivers may notice a noise or a fuel leak. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace both fuel tank straps. The recall began on december 1, 2005. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.

2005 Mercury Montego fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
25 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,250
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2005 compared with other Montego years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100200520062007
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005No verdict100135220
2006No verdict5085020
2007No verdict036120

All Mercury Montego years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 Mercury Montego a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2005 Mercury Montego ranks worst among Montego model years (Complaint Index 100/100). It has 135 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Mercury Montego?
The most reported problem areas are transmission & powertrain (49 complaints), engine (35 complaints), and electrical system (28 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 70,000 miles.
Does the 2005 Mercury Montego have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2005 Mercury Montego, most recently reported 2006, covering structure & body and fuel system.
What is the fuel economy of the 2005 Mercury Montego?
EPA rates the 2005 Mercury Montego at 20 MPG combined (18 city / 25 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,250. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.