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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

16 reports

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24,000 miles · Jan 20, 2007

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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EXCESSIVE REAR BRAKE WEAR. OUR 2005 MONTEGO, PURCHASED NEW IN JAN. 2006 EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE REAR BRAKE WEAR WITH LESS THAN 24K MILES OF NORMAL DRIVING. THIS REQUIRED NEW PADS AND ROTORS BE REPLACED. WE GENERALLY GET 50K TO 60K MILES OF WEAR ON THE BRAKES OF THE OTHER FORD PRODUCTS WE HAVE OWNED OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS. FORD OFFERED NO EXPLANATION OTHER THAN BRAKE WEAR IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AFTER 12K MILES. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT BILL UTTER FORD IN DENTON, TX SAID HE HAS SEEN THE SAME EXCESSIVE WEAR PATTERN IN AS LITTLE AS 20K MILES ON SIMILAR MODELS. FORD REFUSED TO ASSUME ANY OF THE COST FOR REPLACEMENT. CLEARLY THIS IS BOTH A DESIGN FAILURE AND A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. NEEDLESS TO SAY, IF FORD CHOOSES TO CONTINUE TO IGNORE THIS SAFETY ISSUE I WILL NOT BE BUYING ANYMORE OF THEIR PRODUCTS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10179240

29,000 miles · Jan 5, 2007

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

REAR BAKES WEARING OUT EXTREMELY FAST. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AT 17K MILES AND AT 12K MILES. BRAKES WEARING OUT AT RATES FASTER THAN CUSTOMARY MAY LEAD TO UNREASONABLE EXPECTATION OF TIMELY REPAIR IN TIME, AND BRAKE FAILURE IN SERVICE. DEALER SERVICE IS OFFERING TO INSTALL CERAMIC BRAKE PADS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10177931

19,749 miles · Dec 17, 2006

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE NECESSITY TO REPLACE REAR BRAKES ON A 2005 MERCURY MONTEGO WITH ONLY 19,749 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10176353

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2006

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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REAR BRAKES ARE EXCESSIVELY WORN. THE FIRST INCIDENT OF GRINDING NOISE HAPPENED AT 100 MILES. AT 196 MILES THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS AND PADS. SQUEAKING, GRINDING NOISES AND EXCESSIVE REAR BRAKE DUST CONTINUED. CURRENTLY AT 18,846 MILES THE GRINDING IS EXTREMELY LOUD. THE DEALER CLAIMS I NEED NEW BRAKE PADS AND ONE RIGHT REAR ROTOR. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS INCIDENT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. THIS IS ABNORMAL BRAKE WEAR AND THE OWNERS OF FORD FIVE HUNDRED AND MERCURY MONTEGO SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. POTENTIAL BUYERS BEWARE! FORD AND THE DEALER WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS AS THEY CLAIM THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS COVERED FOR 12 MONTHS. THIS IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE!!!! *JB

NHTSA ODI #10167673

22,649 miles · Jun 20, 2006

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

REAR BRAKES DUST BADLY AND HAVE EXCESSIVE WEAR. DOCUMENTED THIS COMPLAINT ON FIRST TRIP TO DEALER AFTER BUYING CAR. SINCE THEN I HAVE MADE COMPLAINTS TO ANOTHER MERCURY DEALER. TODAY THEY TELL ME FORD HAS RE-ENGINEERED THE REAR BRAKE PADS TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT BECAUSE THE CAR IS MORE THAN A YEAR OLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE …

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NHTSA ODI #10160267

2,000 miles · Jun 6, 2005

Fuel System, OtherPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS BRAKE FAILURE, GAS CAP WARNING COMING ON AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE ALL UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE CAR IS 7 WEEKS OLD

NHTSA ODI #10124276

Official recalls

06V383000 · 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

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