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 2005 Mercury Monterey owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact's fianc e owns a 2005 Mercury Monterey. The contact stated while his fianc e was driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the vehicle failed to respond and inadvertently stopped. The contact's fianc e pushed the vehicle over the third of a mile by herself until she received assistance to push the vehicle to a parking lot. The vehicle was hauled to the contact's residence. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and shifting into gear, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact, who is an independent mechanic diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,357.
You'll be driving down the street or highway and it all of sudden it loses power and the light that means transaxle problem has been detected and shifting May be restricted. Have system services immediately if light remains on. I looked it up with my VIN number and I know there is a recall due to this problem. I looked it up on a site and it said it hadn't been fixed and I called one dealership and they said they don't see where it had been fixed either. Then all of sudden when I discover another dealership that is closer to me a couple days later and decided to call them to see if they could get me in instead of the first dealership cause it was closer to my house they all of sudden say it was already had been fixed back in 2012. …
I submitted a complaint on this vehicle about two weeks ago. I wanted to add some additional information. Just to recap: this 2005 Mercury Monterey was recalled in 2012 for the torque convertor. The job was completed at a dealership by the previous owner when it had less than 30000 miles. The transmission went out again at 70000 miles. Traveling down a busy road I lost power and could not accelerate over 30mph and the RPM's jumped erratically and the transaxle light came on. Towed it to the dealer that confirmed it was the transmission and then towed it to a transmission specialist. They said the transmission was shot and replaced the following parts: master oh kit, band, piston, servo, torque convertor. The total cost was $1814.00. The mechanic confirmed that this should not have happened at 70000 miles and just a few years after the recall. …
For about 3 weeks the car shuttered between 40 and 50 MPH. Then, while driving on a busy road traveling about 45 miles per hour, I began to lose power, the RPM's jumped erratically, and the transaxle light started flashing. I took the car to wiiliamsburg Ford (dealership) and they did a diagnostic that indicated a transmission problem 3rd and 4th gear. I contacted Ford as there was a torque convertor recall because of a faulty part causing damage to the transmission. They said the torque convertor was replaced in aug. Of 2012 by the previous owner under the recall. If that corrected the problem the transmission should not have failed at 70000 miles. The torque convertor most likely damaged the transmission before it was replaced and shortened the life. …
Vehicle had sudden loss of motive power while driving straight and accelerating to 60mph highway speeds, almost causing multi-car accident. After coasting to shoulder, the transmission would not engage in any forward or reverse gear. This serious safety defect could have lead to the death of myself and my family of five. Towed vehicle to the local dealership who told us they were aware of a recall for the 2005 Mercury Monterey regarding that issue and Ford's recall campaign number is 11s25. The recall described this exact failure. ("summary: Ford is recalling certain model year 2004 and 2005 Ford freestar and Mercury Monterey vehicles. The torque converter output shaft May fail.") however, after they entered the VIN number for my vehicle, they said the recall was not extended to that vehicle. That is wrong since this is a serious safety issue and would cause injury or death.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Mercury Monterey. The contact stated that the gears failed to shift into drive and reverse without warning. The wheels spun when the failure occurred. In addition, the transmission was replaced prior to the failure by bill estes Ford (450 n northfield dr, brownsburg, in 46112, [phone]). The failure continued and was taken back to the dealer for further diagnostic testing. The dealer stated that a manufacturer recall had been performed and provided no solution other than stating that the torque converter May need to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, indicated that a recall had already been performed, and recommended the vehicle be taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing and repair. The vehicle was unable to be driven. The approximate failure mileage was 145,000.
While driving on a busy road I started to lose power and could not go over 30 MPH. I coasted home and had to call a tow to the dealership, williamsburg Ford. The dealer confirmed that the transmission needed to be replaced. There had been a recall on this vehicle in 2012 for the torque converter which was replaced by the previous owner. However, it is obvious that the damage was already done and the transmission went out at 70000 miles which should not happen on any car. I sent you an email previously on this issue and have not heard back. I called Ford and they said they wouldn't do anything about it. This is not right and something should be done. They should stand behind their product when it comes to safety.
I was stopped at a four way stop sign in my 2005 Mercury Monterey. Just as I pressed on the gas to move through the intersection, the transmission let go. I was fortunate that I could coast out of harms way. The car is now immoblie. This is the second catastrophic transmission failure on this vehicle. Transmission failed in July 2012 at 109K miles. Car was repaired according to Ford specifications. Second failure on 11-8-2016 at 170K miles. Without warning the transmission disengages and the car does not move forward. A second failure related to the same issue 60K miles after the defect was allegedly corrected is unacceptable.
Transmission would not go into reverse in driveway. Turned vehicle off and restarted and it went into reverese. I then put in forward gear and as I am driving down road the vehicle dies. No issue with shifting before today. If I put the vehicle in neutral the RPM goes up to 2000. I called Ford today with VIN # and they told me this vehicle has been fixed per safety recall 11s25 supplement #1. Vehicle is full of fluid and fluid does not have a burnt smell.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Mercury Monterey. The contact stated that while slowing down the vehicle would not accelerate when pressing the accelerator pedal and while switching gears the vehicle would lunge forward. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and the local dealer forsom lake Ford (12755 folsom blvd, forsom lake ca.) was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 124,000.
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 2005 Mercury Monterey?
NHTSA has 97 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2005 Mercury Monterey, 82% of the model year's 119 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (50 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 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 2005 Mercury Monterey transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
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.