Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Mercury Monterey owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Monterey. The contact stated that while driving through a drive thru, the vehicle independently shifted into neutral and was unable to shift into the intended gear. The automatic transmission warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. A dealer was contacted back in 2012 who confirmed that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V006000 (Power Train); however, parts were not available. The contact called that same dealer in 2015 who confirmed that parts were available for the recall repair however, there was no available appointment and advised the contact to bring in the vehicle to be repaired only if a failure was experienced. The vehicle was not repaired. …
Tamara recall. On 5/26/15 the man I bought my 04 Mercury Monterey van 4.2l had problems with it surging when stopping or barely moving. Found bad trans,had it rebuilt, found motor mount, trans range sensor bad also torque converter and over haul kit,3 shift sol and reverse boost valve. 6 months later I bought it.on dec7,2016 my van didn't seem right to me I could tell it had a skip and seemed slugeshed when it would shift. My check engine,and transaxle light came on as long as I keep it in 1,3or drive it don't come on or blink so I looked in the owners guide to see if I could find something. Seen where it has to do with the transmission, transaxle, and alot more. So I got on the fords website seen a list of recalls so I put my VIN# in and sure enough there I was.I have almost got hit when I was trying to get back home. …
While driving my daughter to school this morning, I felt like the accelerator seemed to slip, I had to stop for a bus stop as this happened. When the bus moved and I could go I pushed the gas and the engine revved but the car wouldn't move. There were numerous cars behind me on a narrow two lane road. Fortunately a gentleman offered to push me off the road, I thought I was going to have to have a twelve year old boy get behind the wheel so I could push the van off the road. I had to have the van towed home, and am currently trying to figure out what to do. I just had to have the compressor and fan replaced on this vehicle. This is just one more problem in a long line of problems I have had with this van. This is the worst car I have ever owned. …
I purchased the 2004 Mercury Monterey van VIN [redacted] from good friends, while driving down the highway with my family the torque converter and outputshaft failed, upon telling my friends about this they gave me a letter from Ford stating there was a recall on these parts, so I call sheehy Ford in richmond va, they tell me there is no recall on this part......then I call richmond Ford and they tell me sheehy Ford performed the recall...so I call sheehy Ford and try to get an explanation, then they tell me it was performed 18,000 miles ago, my friends that sold me the van said that the recall was never performed, can someone please look into this? …
Well I didnt know how to go about this but around August 2020 my grandson just got out of knee surgery we was driving up to limestone new york when all of a sudden my vehicle started smoking and it stopped moving so I costed off the road we was on the highway when it happened so we sat there and there was alot of transmission fluid everywhere so a man stopped took my boyfriend to a store to get transmission fluid while me my daughter n grandson waited in the vehicle he puts the fluid in we got it to move to the next exit where the fluid just kept drained out so we had to sit there and wait for a ride and a tow which the ppl picked us up and brought us home the next day my bf rented a car dolly and we ran back up to grab and tow it back to my place and it has been sitting here ever since can someone help please I need my vehicle fixed I don't know what happened to it it was driving fine …
My 3 year old was in my Mercury Monterey we were in the process of leaving . She turned the key 1 spot on the ignition and pulled on the gear selector. My van with my child rolled out of my driveway. Hitting 2 mail boxes and a cable router before coming to a stop. I took the vehicle back to the dealer ganley Mercury in brunswick ,ohio. They told me the car was made this way. I have tried every type of vehicle and had friends try this in theirs. Not 1 vehicle will go into gear with out the brake depressed or will not go at all. I think there is a defect in this vehicle. Nobody at Ford or the dealer ship wants to talk about this,all they say is its supposed to do that. I don't think it is. If you could contact me I would be grateful. Thank you.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Mercury Monterey. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the vehicle failed to move forward. The contact was able to move the vehicle over to the side of the roadway. He placed the vehicle in reverse and then drive, but the vehicle still failed to move. The vehicle was towed to his home where he called kinsel Ford (3355 eastex fwy, beaumont, tx 77706 [phone]). Since the vehicle was serviced in March of 2016 per NHTSA campaign number: 12V006000 (power train), the dealer stated that they could not assist. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but did not offer any assistance for the same reason as the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Mercury Monterey. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled upon depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine light was illuminated on the instrument panel prior to the failure. Due to the failure, the vehicle was initially towed to an independent mechanic and then to newton Ford south (2010 n main st, shelbyville, tn 37160) where the vehicle was diagnosed with transmission failure. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 12V006000 (power train) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.
As of today, January 22, 2018, I had to have the van towed to a transmission shop as yesterday, January 21, 2018, the transmission locked up while in light traffic. Praise god was able to get it to a nearby parking lot until the wrecker came. After researching online it has become clear this vehicle has had several incidents and repeat incidents with Ford motor company torque converters. The shop I've taking mine to actually rebuilds them. As for the incident which occurred on the 21st, was driving when a sudden loss of power and once van was pulled off road and parked, car was still running; however, no matter what gear I would put it in, there was no movement, just revving.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Mercury Monterey. While driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to multiple dealers and independent mechanics who were unable to diagnose the failure. The failure persisted and the vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic who diagnosed that the PCM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
Related recalls
Power train › Automatic transmission › Torque converter
Ford is recalling certain model year 2004 and 2005 Ford freestar and Mercury monterey vehicles. The torque converter output shaft May fail.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA investigations
Engine Stalling
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…
Torque converter output shaft failure
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…
Transmission Torque Converter Failure
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…
Transmission complaints in other Monterey years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2004 Mercury Monterey?
NHTSA has 203 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2004 Mercury Monterey, 72% of the model year's 283 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (130 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Mercury Monterey transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 12V-006 (torque converter, Jan 9, 2012). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Mercury Monterey transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 77,000 miles, and 1% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 0 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.