2006 Mercury Monterey Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
No verdict The 2006 Mercury Monterey has 44 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 50, ranking it 2nd-worst of 3 model years. Transmission & powertrain issues dominate at 77% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 85,889 miles, and the car carries 2 recall campaigns.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 50/100
- #2 of 3 Monterey years
- Verdict
- No verdict
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 44
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Transmission & Powertrain
- Best nearby year
- —
- no alternative with data
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 17
- 15 city / 21 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
Top 2006 Mercury Monterey problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain34 (77%)
- Engine6 (14%)
- Brakes5 (11%)
- Electrical System2 (5%)
- Other2 (5%)
- Structure & Body2 (5%)
- Fuel System1 (2%)
- Steering1 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Vehicles suddenly refuse to move in any gear, including reverse, after a torque converter failure, sometimes while stopped at intersections or on highways.
- Drivers report loss of power, hesitation, or stalling accompanied by illuminated ABS or traction control warning lights, with normal operation returning after restarting the vehicle.
- Power liftgates have unexpectedly closed or collapsed on their own, in one case causing minor injury to the owner.
- Light brake application in dry conditions has triggered the traction control system without an apparent cause.
- Steering and braking assistance have reportedly failed simultaneously alongside a stall, requiring the vehicle to be restarted before it would drive normally again.
2006 Mercury Monterey recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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.
- 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
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2006 Mercury Monterey reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2006 Monterey a complaint index of 50 with 44 complaints, ranking it 2nd worst among the 3 model years with data. Transmission & powertrain problems, mainly torque converter failures, make up 77% of the complaints.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2006 Mercury Monterey?
- Transmission & powertrain issues account for 77% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 85,889 miles, and several owners describe complete loss of drive power including torque converter failure.
- Does the 2006 Mercury Monterey have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2006 Monterey: one for a power liftgate motor that could allow the liftgate to fall, and one for third-row seat latch brackets. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
- How does the 2006 Monterey compare to other years?
- The 2006 model's complaint index of 50 is worse than the 2007 model's index of 0 but better than the 2005 model's index of 100, the highest of the three years tracked.