2005 Mercury Monterey
Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2005 Mercury Monterey is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 4 on record.
2005 Mercury Monterey at a glance
Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.
2005 Mercury Monterey recalls 4
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,…
Fix: 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.
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 FORD FREESTAR AND MERCURY MONTEREY VEHICLES. THE TORQUE CONVERTER OUTPUT SHAFT MAY FAIL.
Fix: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 9, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE CONNECTION MAY BELIEVE THAT THE QUICK CONNECTOR IS FULLY ATTACHED.
Fix: UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.
ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH THE POWER LIFTGATE OPTION, THE POWER LIFTGATE MOTOR AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGES AFTER THE LIFTGATE IS POWERED OPEN.
Fix: 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.
Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.
2005 Mercury Monterey common problems
The most-reported problem areas across all 119 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.
2005 Mercury Monterey safety ratings
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2005 Mercury Monterey. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.
2005 Mercury Monterey MPG & running costs
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov.
Estimated 5-year cost to own
A rough guide to what running a 2005 Mercury Monterey costs over five years and 75,000 miles.
How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.
Investigations & service bulletins
NHTSA defect investigations 6
Stabilus Rear Liftgate Struts Failing Closed
Please see the attached closing resume summary. It has been attached to this document as a PDF.
NHTSA #EQ12010 · Structure · opened Sep 2012 · closed Dec 2012Corrosion of Third-Row Seat Attachment Closed
Ford is conducting a safety recall to repair the third-row seat's latch mechanisms in approximately 196,667 model year (MY) 2004 through 2007 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey vehicles (see NHTSA recall 13V-081 for more details). The recall covers vehicles originally sold, or currently registered, in the "salt belt" states or high corrosion areas of the United States: Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia,…
NHTSA #EA12003 · Structure, Seats · opened Apr 2012 · closed May 2013Service Jack Failure Closed
The subject vehicles (SV) are all automatic transmission, front wheel drive vehicles with hand actuated mechanical park brakes. The investigation focused on allegations that the service jack failed and caused the vehicles to fall. The subject scissors-type jack appears to fail at the slotted hinge joints where the jack screw is located (bends at mid-point). The failures occur while the jack is in use, and vehicle mov…
NHTSA #PE11033 · Equipment · opened Sep 2011 · closed Dec 2012Engine Stalling Closed
The subject vehicles suffered from a design issue whereby water could run down onto the cowling under the hood and located in the area of the windshield wipers and then drip onto a computer module, the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), which could be manifested in a variety of symptoms depending on which part of the circuit board became wet or which of the connector pins shorted out. In addition to causing an engine t…
NHTSA #PE10033 · Vehicle Speed Control, Power Train · opened Aug 2010 · closed Jul 2011Transmission Torque Converter Failure Closed
On January 4, 2012 Ford Motor Company submitted a Defect Information Report (NHTSA Recall No. 12V-006) to NHTSA regarding a defect in the performance of the transmission torque converter for approximately 205,896 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey vehicles. The supplier of the torque converter manufactured converters containing a pump shaft spline that did not consistently meet the specified heat treatment requiremen…
NHTSA #EA09016 · Power Train · opened Nov 2009 · closed Feb 2012TORQUE CONVERTER OUTPUT SHAFT FAILURE Closed
ODI HAS RECEIVED 227 OWNER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING A SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER DUE TO AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. OF THOSE COMPLAINTS, 124 CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER OUTPUT SHAFT SPLINES STRIPPING CAUSING A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER TO THE DRIVETRAIN. THE REMAINING 103 COMPLAINTS EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER BUT THE SPECIFIC INTERNAL FAILURE CAUSE WITHIN THE…
NHTSA #PE09033 · Power Train · opened Jul 2009 · closed Nov 2009An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.
Manufacturer service bulletins 41
Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 41.
The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to diagnose possible ETB concerns. The IDS has a limited refresh rate when reading these P…
Bulletin SSM 46085 · Engine And Engine Cooling, Engine · Sep 2016Safety recall 13S01 - Corrosion on sheet metal that supports 3rd row seat latch strikeers - requests for recall service action
Bulletin TSB160069 · Seats · Apr 2016For 2004-2007 Freestar or Monterey vehicles Safety Recall 13S01 has been issued for vehicles that are operated in high corrosion areas for an extended period, where the sheet metal that supports the folding 3rd row seat latch strikers could experience corrosio…
Bulletin 16-0069 · Seats · Apr 2016FORD/MERCURY: SAFETY RECALL REGARDING SHEET METAL SUPPORT FOR FOLDING 3RD ROW SEAT LATCH STRIKERS CAN EXPERIENCE CORROSION AND WILL COMPROMISE MOUNTING POINT CAUSING SEAT TO MOVE. MODEL 2004-07 FREESTAR, MONTEREY. *PE
Bulletin TSB-14-0166 · Seats, Equipment Adaptive/mobility, Equipment · Sep 2014FORD/MERCURY: SHEET METAL SUPPORTING FOLDING 3RD ROW SEAT LATCH STRIKERS WILL EXPERIENCE CORROSION AND COMPROMISE MOUNTING POINT FOR FORWARD PORTION OF 3RD ROW SEAT, IF VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN HIGH CORROSION AREAS FOR EXTENDED PERIOD. MODEL 2004-2007 FREESTAR,…
Bulletin TSB-14-0144 · Equipment Adaptive/mobility, Seats · Aug 2014REAR CLIMATE CONTROL NOISES - SERVICE TIP. *TT
Bulletin 19004 · Equipment · Jan 2006RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE B2296 - SERVICE TIP. *TT
Bulletin 18834 · Air Bags · Sep 2005SAFETY BELT RETRACTION SPEED. *TT
Bulletin 042421 · Seat Belts · Jun 2005SERVICE WIRING HARNESS REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES - SERVICE TIPS. *TT
Bulletin 04147 · Electrical System · Jun 2005INABILITY TO PLAY HOME MADE CD ON SINGLE CD AUDIO SYSTEM WITHOUT MP3 CAPABILITY. *EH
Bulletin 18448 · Equipment · Mar 2005Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the MONTEREY. Model-year data, not specific to one car.
About the Mercury Monterey
The Mercury Monterey is a series of full-size cars that were manufactured and marketed by the Mercury division of Ford from 1950 to 1974. Deriving its name from Monterey Bay, the initial Mercury Monterey served as the top-of-the-line two-door sedan model for 1950 and 1951 to compete with the hardtop models of Oldsmobile and Buick. It came with a vinyl roof covering, upgraded upholstery, and other features. The hardtop was introduced for 1952. During its production, the Monterey would be offered in multiple body styles, ranging from coupes, convertibles, sedans, hardtops, and station wagons.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.