IllustrationTHE CAR HAS BEEN LURCHING FORWARD AND DECELERATING RANDOMLY. KEEPS GOING INTO "FAILSAFE ENGINE MODE" AND THE WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON BUT ONLY FOR A FEW MOMENTS, THEN RUNS NORMALLY AGAIN AFTER RESTARTING. HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THE LIGHT ON LONG ENOUGH TO GET DIAGNOSTICS DONE. HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING OR WHEN STARTING OCCASIONALLY.
2005 Mercury Montego
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Montego years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
140–25K
1625–50K
3650–75K
2175–100K
25100–150K
11150K+
123 reports with mileage · 12 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports
Fuel/propulsion System complaints
5 reportsMY 2005 MERCURY MONTEGO SHUTS OFF WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. I HAVE PAID AROUND $4000 TO TRY AND HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED AND IT HAS NEVER STOPPED. THE REVERSE GEAR IS UNUSABLE, AS SOON AS YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE IT SHUTS THE CAR OFF. THE TRANSMISSION JERKS AND WILL NOT STEADILY ACCELERATE AT RANDOM TIMES. THE CAR WILL RANDOMLY S…
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MY 2005 MERCURY MONTEGO SHUTS OFF WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. I HAVE PAID AROUND $4000 TO TRY AND HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED AND IT HAS NEVER STOPPED. THE REVERSE GEAR IS UNUSABLE, AS SOON AS YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE IT SHUTS THE CAR OFF. THE TRANSMISSION JERKS AND WILL NOT STEADILY ACCELERATE AT RANDOM TIMES. THE CAR WILL RANDOMLY SHUT OFF WHEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD LOSING ALL POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKING ABILITY. THIS IS PARTICULARLY A PROBLEM CONSIDERING I HAVE AN INFANT IN THE BACKSEAT MOST EVERY TRIP. I SAW THIS LAWSUIT AND EVERY SINGLE THING LISTED ABOUT THE CVT TRANSMISSIONS HAS HAPPENED AND IS STILL HAPPENING TO MY 2005 MONTEGO.
I WAS IN THE MEDDLE LANE OF A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY WHEN I LOST ALL MY ACCELERATION. THE MOTOR WAS STILL RUNNING BUT I COULD NOT GO ANYWHERE. WHEN I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY I RESTARTED THE CAR BUT EVERY FEW MILES IT WOULD DO THE SAME THING. AM TOLD THAT IT IS A BAD THROTTLE BODY AND FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT IT FOR YEARS BUT IS NOT …
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I WAS IN THE MEDDLE LANE OF A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY WHEN I LOST ALL MY ACCELERATION. THE MOTOR WAS STILL RUNNING BUT I COULD NOT GO ANYWHERE. WHEN I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY I RESTARTED THE CAR BUT EVERY FEW MILES IT WOULD DO THE SAME THING. AM TOLD THAT IT IS A BAD THROTTLE BODY AND FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT IT FOR YEARS BUT IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT IS GOING TO GET PEOPLE KILLED ! MY PART COST OVER 600.00 SO IT SETS IN THE DRIVE. *TR
ON 2/27/13 THROTTLE WAS CLEANED NOT REPLACED PER FORD RECALL 12NO3. ON 5/18/13 BEING STUCK IN CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC AT A STAND STILL, FOOT ON BRAKE ENGINE PROCEEDED LIKE A 747 GETTING READY TO TAKE OFF. CAR MOVED FORWARD SOME 1 TO 2 FT.. KILLED ENGINE, TURNED IT ON AGAIN WITH FOOT ON BRAKE CAR PROCEEDED TO MOVE. KILLED ENGINE, …
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ON 2/27/13 THROTTLE WAS CLEANED NOT REPLACED PER FORD RECALL 12NO3. ON 5/18/13 BEING STUCK IN CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC AT A STAND STILL, FOOT ON BRAKE ENGINE PROCEEDED LIKE A 747 GETTING READY TO TAKE OFF. CAR MOVED FORWARD SOME 1 TO 2 FT.. KILLED ENGINE, TURNED IT ON AGAIN WITH FOOT ON BRAKE CAR PROCEEDED TO MOVE. KILLED ENGINE, TURNED BACK ON. NO OTHER PROBLEM UNTIL I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT ON WAY TO DESTINATION. AGAIN ENGINE BEGIN TO WHINE AT HIGH RATE AS IF I WAS IN NEUTRAL AND HAD FOOT A GAS. KILLED ENGINE AND WAS ABLE TO PROCEED TO DESTINATION WITHOUT PROBLEM. TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD DEALERSHIP ON 5/9/13. DEALERSHIP DID DIAGNOSTIC, FOUND THROTTLE BODY BAD. HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS ON OR ABOUT 3500 MILES ON VEHICLE SINCE TIME OF CLEANING TO REPAIR. OF THE 3500 MILES, 2000 WAS ON OUR TRIP. TALKED WITH FORD CORPORATE STATED DEALERSHIP PROBLEM NOT THEIRS. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS CHOSEN TO CLEAN RATHER THEN REPLACE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS THROTTLE CONTROL TIES INTO THE TRANSMISSION IN WHICH FORD HAS HAD THEIR SHARE OF PROBLEMS. *TR
THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN MAY OF 2011. AUGUST 2011, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO VIOLENTLY JERK AND ACT AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. WHEN GRADUALLY APPLYING THE BREAKS, THE CAR WOULD BEGIN TO SHUDDER. THIS WOULD HAPPEN ONLY IF THE ENGINE WAS WARM. BY MARCH 2012, THE SHUDDERING TRANSMISSION AND JERK WAS CONSTANT. I TOOK IT IN TO B…
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THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN MAY OF 2011. AUGUST 2011, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO VIOLENTLY JERK AND ACT AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. WHEN GRADUALLY APPLYING THE BREAKS, THE CAR WOULD BEGIN TO SHUDDER. THIS WOULD HAPPEN ONLY IF THE ENGINE WAS WARM. BY MARCH 2012, THE SHUDDERING TRANSMISSION AND JERK WAS CONSTANT. I TOOK IT IN TO BE LOOKED AT IN APRIL OF 2012. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED, DUE TO WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS A BAD BATTERY. THE MECHANIC BELIEVED THIS CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO JERK. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED. JUNE 2012 THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR 5,000. JULY 2012 THE CAR WENT INTO FAIL ENGINE SAFE MODE, THE CODES POINTING TO THE THROTTLE BODY. A MECHANIC CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY SAYING IT MIGHT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. 2 DAYS LATER THE CAR WENT INTO FAIL ENGINE SAFE MODE AGAIN WITH THE SAME CODES WITH AN ESTIMATE OF $900. THE CAR HAS 72000K ON IT AND HAS HAD THREE MAJOR PROBLEMS IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. *TR
Official recalls
206V383000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Oct 5, 2006
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.
05V515000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting
Nov 9, 2005
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
1PE11018 · 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