HAVE A 2005 MERCURY MONTEGO,ON MANY OCCASIONS THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SURGES AND THE RPM INCREASE. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND I QUICKLY HAVE TO STOMP ON THE BRAKES. HAPPENS IN BOTH. DRIVE AND REVERSE. AFRAID I WILL HIT SOMEONE OR SOMETHING WHEN I PULL OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. HAVE BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER 3 TIMES AND THEY SAY THEY CANNOT REP…
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HAVE A 2005 MERCURY MONTEGO,ON MANY OCCASIONS THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SURGES AND THE RPM INCREASE. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND I QUICKLY HAVE TO STOMP ON THE BRAKES. HAPPENS IN BOTH. DRIVE AND REVERSE. AFRAID I WILL HIT SOMEONE OR SOMETHING WHEN I PULL OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. HAVE BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER 3 TIMES AND THEY SAY THEY CANNOT REPLICATE AND CHECKED COMPUTER CODES AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10411477
Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
ENGINE REVS UP, AND CAR LURCHES, TYPICALLY WHEN: - SHIFTING INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE AND/OR MOVING AWAY FROM IDLE; - ALMOST ALWAYS WHEN THE WHEELS ARE CRANKED ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AND THE CAR IS MOVING AWAY FROM IDLE. THE LURCHING IS SUDDEN AND "VIOLENT" ENOUGH THAT IT CAN CATCH A DRIVER UNPREPARED - MY WIFE AND I A…
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ENGINE REVS UP, AND CAR LURCHES, TYPICALLY WHEN: - SHIFTING INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE AND/OR MOVING AWAY FROM IDLE; - ALMOST ALWAYS WHEN THE WHEELS ARE CRANKED ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AND THE CAR IS MOVING AWAY FROM IDLE. THE LURCHING IS SUDDEN AND "VIOLENT" ENOUGH THAT IT CAN CATCH A DRIVER UNPREPARED - MY WIFE AND I ARE USED TO IT AND ABLE TO COMPENSATE, BUT WE AREN'T LETTING OUR 17 YEAR-OLD DRIVE THE CAR FOR NOW UNLESS ONE OF US IS WITH HER. ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW. THIS HAS BEEN AN OCCASIONAL PROBLEM FOR YEARS - COMPLAINT WAS EVEN MADE WHILE CAR WAS STILL UNDER ITS 3 YEAR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY (NOTHING FOUND). PROBLEM HAS BEEN GETTING MORE FREQUENT OVER THE PAST YEAR OR SO.
NHTSA ODI #10411292
79,000 miles · Sep 25, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
MY 2005 MERCURY MONTEGO (79,000MI.) HAS UNEXPECTEDLY LURCHED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY IN A PARKING LOT, AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND LUNGED FORWARD. BRAKING HELPED, BUT THE LUNGING OCCURRED AGAIN EACH TIME I TRIED TO DRIVE FORWARD. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE INTO A PARKING SPACE AND TURN THE CAR…
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MY 2005 MERCURY MONTEGO (79,000MI.) HAS UNEXPECTEDLY LURCHED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY IN A PARKING LOT, AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND LUNGED FORWARD. BRAKING HELPED, BUT THE LUNGING OCCURRED AGAIN EACH TIME I TRIED TO DRIVE FORWARD. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE INTO A PARKING SPACE AND TURN THE CAR OFF WHICH STOPPED THE LURCHING MOVEMENT. I SAT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, RESTARTED THE CAR AND DROVE AWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN FOR SEVERAL MONTHS UNTIL A SIMILAR OCCURRENCE YESTERDAY. THIS TIME I WAS READY TO BACK OUT AF A PARKING SPACE, PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND IT SURGED BACKWARD. I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AND SHUT IT OFF. ONCE AGAIN I WAITED SEVERAL MINUTES AND DROVE AWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO THE CAR WHEN IT LUNGED, OR I COULD HAVE BEEN IN TRAFFIC. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WITH BOTH OF THESE OCCURRENCES THE " FAIL SAFE MODE" MESSAGE APPEARED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10357637
55,000 miles · Feb 16, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
CAR SHOWED "FAILSAFE ENGINE MODE" ON THE DISPLAY PANEL AND DID NOT RESPOND WHEN I HIT THE GAS ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AS I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES. ENGINE RESPONSE WAS INTERMITTENT AFTER THIS AND THEN THE "WRENCH" SYMBOL SHOWED UP. I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND TURNED OFF THE CAR TO TRY AND LOOK AT THE OWNER'S MANUAL TO…
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CAR SHOWED "FAILSAFE ENGINE MODE" ON THE DISPLAY PANEL AND DID NOT RESPOND WHEN I HIT THE GAS ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AS I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES. ENGINE RESPONSE WAS INTERMITTENT AFTER THIS AND THEN THE "WRENCH" SYMBOL SHOWED UP. I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND TURNED OFF THE CAR TO TRY AND LOOK AT THE OWNER'S MANUAL TO SEE WHAT THIS MEANT. COULD NOT FIND DETAILS. TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND THE "WRENCH" WAS GONE AND THE "FAILSAFE ENGINE MODE" DISPLAY WAS NO LONGER SHOWING. WORRIED THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN... *TR
NHTSA ODI #10310769
27,000 miles · Feb 14, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
WHILE IDLING WHEN STOPPED OR WHEN MOVING SLOWLY, THE ENGINE SPEED SUDDENLY ACCELERATES TO ABOVE 3500 RPM CAUSING THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD UNLESS THE BRAKE IS FIRMLY APPLIED. THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION LASTS 3 TO 5 SECONDS. PLACING THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL HAS NO EFFECT ON THE ENGINE SPEED. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICALLY. IN THE LAST 3 …
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WHILE IDLING WHEN STOPPED OR WHEN MOVING SLOWLY, THE ENGINE SPEED SUDDENLY ACCELERATES TO ABOVE 3500 RPM CAUSING THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD UNLESS THE BRAKE IS FIRMLY APPLIED. THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION LASTS 3 TO 5 SECONDS. PLACING THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL HAS NO EFFECT ON THE ENGINE SPEED. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICALLY. IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS IT HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 7 TIMES. DEALER SAYS THE CAR'S COMPUTER SYSTEM REPORTS NOTHING UNUSUAL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10310294
5,000 miles · May 16, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MONTEGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE. HE HAS TAKEN HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOURTEEN TIMES AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PERMANENTLY REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER CURRENTLY HAS THE VEHICLE AND HAVE HAD IT SINCE MAY 2, 2007. THE VIN, PURCHASE …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MONTEGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE. HE HAS TAKEN HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOURTEEN TIMES AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PERMANENTLY REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER CURRENTLY HAS THE VEHICLE AND HAVE HAD IT SINCE MAY 2, 2007. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 19,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.
NHTSA ODI #10190946
423 miles · Aug 19, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline
PURCHASED VEHICLE IN JAN.05 SEAT BELT REPLACED IN JAN TRANSMISSION REPLACED IN FEB. 05 AND A VALVE REPLACED DUE TO CHECK ENGINE WARNING FUEL PUMP REPLACED IN AUG.05, NOW HAVE TROUBLE STARTING CAR
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. THE SIDE DOOR LATCH MECHANISMS MAY EXPERIENCE WATER INTRUSION ALLOWING THE LATCH MECHANISM TO FREEZE IN COLD WEATHER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AS A RESULT, THE DOOR LATCH PAWL MAY NOT RETURN TO THE LATCH POSITION WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED, AND THE DOOR COULD OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SHIELD OVER THE FRONT LATCHES; SEAL A DRAIN HOLE IN THE REAR WINDOW TRIM MOLDING ON THE FREESTYLE REAR SIDE DOORS; AND APPLY GREASE TO ALL FRONT AND REAR SIDE-DOOR LATCH MECHANISMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 8, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE STRAPS THAT SECURE THE FUEL TANK TO THE VEHICLE BODY MAY BREAK, CAUSING THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL TANK HEAT SHIELD TO DROP ON THE DRIVESHAFT (ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES) OR EXHAUST SYSTEM (FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES).
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, DRIVERS MAY NOTICE A NOISE OR A FUEL LEAK. A FUEL LEAK IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FUEL TANK STRAPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 1, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
PE11018 · Idle Instability
Opened May 11, 2011 · Closed Feb 7, 2013
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
On November 29, 2012, Ford Motor Company (Ford) initiated Customer Satisfaction Program 12N03 to extend warranty coverage terms for repair of engine idle RPM surge caused by throttle body deposits in all model year (MY) 2005 through 2007 Ford Freestyle, Five Hundred and Mercury Montego vehicles.The program extends the coverage for up to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle (all vehicles are eligible for the program through May 31, 2013, regardless of mileage).Dealers will repair vehicles exhibiting the condition by removing and cleaning the throttle body and reprogramming the PCM with software containing an updated idle speed control strategy.According to Ford, some of the affected vehicles may experience momentary, intermittent engine idle RPM surge (idle flare) when stopped or during low speed driving maneuvers such as in a parking lot or driveway.Unstable idle speed control (dips and flares) around the target engine speed (700 rpm) can occur in vehicles with deposit build-up in the throttle body when the system adjusts engine speed in response to changes in engine load, typically from power steering application or air-conditioner compressor cycling.Idle speed control logic is only active at vehicle speeds below 3.5 mph and when the accelerator pedal is not applied.Ford testing of a vehicle with a worst case throttle body measured a maximum idle flare of 1360 RPM lasting approximately 1 second, which Ford indicated was consistent with system design to limit vehicle speed and acceleration in idle control mode.Ford indicated that the test vehicle was held in place with normal brake effort and that vehicle speed remained under 4 mph without the brake pedal applied.In addition to throttle body deposit accumulation, symptoms associated with the condition may include Check Engine lamp illumination and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0505, P0506 or P061B.Ford attributed the surge condition to changes in idle air flow resulting from the progressive buildup of deposits in the throttle body from normal Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) system operation.This condition was not adequately compensated for in the original Powertrain Control Module (PCM) calibration.Ford issued a technical service bulletin on August 15, 2011 (TSB 11-8-5), releasing an updated powertrain control calibration for vehicles with CVT transmissions.On October 19, 2011, Ford issued a second bulletin (TSB 11-10-21) superseding TSB 11-8-5 and including updated powertrain control calibration for vehicles with 6-speed transmissions.Prior to Ford issuing the TSB?s, owner?s experiencing the alleged defect either received no repairs, if dealers could not duplicate the condition, or had the throttle body cleaned or replaced, which only provided temporary correction until the throttle deposit build-up returned.Ford?s revised powertrain calibrations appear to be effective remedies for the idle instability caused by build-up of throttle body deposits.However, even after the TSB?s were released, many owners experiencing the condition continued to have difficulty with proper diagnosis and repair as dealers were often either unable to duplicate the condition or were unfamiliar with the new repair procedures.Ford's new program addresses those concerns.NHTSA's testing and complaint analysis indicate that the idle speed control issue in the subject vehicles can only occur at very low speeds, are very brief events, are easily controlled by moderate brake pedal forces and result in minor increases in vehicle speed even with no braking.This investigation is closed.The closing of this in
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