YearToAvoid

2006 Mercury Monterey Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

50/100

#2 most-complained of 3 Monterey years

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

The 2006 Mercury Monterey has 44 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 50 out of 100 — #2 highest of 3 Monterey model years. The most reported problem area is transmission & powertrain (34 complaints, 77% of the total). Complaints report 1 injury.

Complaints
44
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
17
15 city / 21 hwy

Top 2006 Mercury Monterey problems

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

  1. Transmission & Powertrain34 (77%)
  2. Engine6 (14%)
  3. Brakes5 (11%)
  4. Electrical System2 (5%)
  5. Other2 (5%)
  6. Structure & Body2 (5%)
  7. Fuel System1 (2%)
  8. Steering1 (2%)
2006 Mercury Monterey complaints: complaints filed per month5Feb 2008Sep 2011Mar 2013Nov 2013Aug 2015Jun 2016Jun 2017Dec 2019
53 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2008 to Nov 2020; peak Jul 2008 (5).

2006 Mercury Monterey recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 13V081000Mar 7, 2013Structure & Body196,667 vehicles

    Seats

    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.

    Risk: In the event that the vehicle is crashed into from the rear, an unlatched seat may increase the risk of personal injury.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install new third row seat latch striker mounting brackets, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.

  2. NHTSA 06V069000Mar 9, 2006Structure & Body12,728 vehicles

    Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate

    On certain vans equipped with the power liftgate option, the power liftgate motor automatically disengages after the liftgate is powered open.

    Risk: In the event of a liftgate strut malfunction, the liftgate can fall freely with no prior warning. Anyone standing beneath the liftgate may be injured if the liftgate falls.

    Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the power liftgate module to reduce the likelihood that the liftgate could fall free of charge. The recall began on march 15, 2006. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.

2006 Mercury Monterey fuel economy and fuel cost

City
15 MPG
Highway
21 MPG
Combined
17 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,800
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.

2006 compared with other Monterey 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 verdict100119318
2006No verdict5044217
2007No verdict07117

All Mercury Monterey years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 Mercury Monterey a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 Mercury Monterey ranks #2 of 3 among Monterey model years (Complaint Index 50/100). It has 44 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 2006 Mercury Monterey?
The most reported problem areas are transmission & powertrain (34 complaints), engine (6 complaints), and brakes (5 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 81,000 miles.
Does the 2006 Mercury Monterey have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2006 Mercury Monterey, most recently reported 2013, covering structure & body.
What is the fuel economy of the 2006 Mercury Monterey?
EPA rates the 2006 Mercury Monterey at 17 MPG combined (15 city / 21 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,800. 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.