Illustration2006 MERCURY MONTEGO NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. IT IS A CVT TRANSMISSION. DEALER STATED THAT NOW THEY KNOW THEY HAVE PROBLEMS BUT THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED TO SELL THEM.
2006 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
100–25K
1425–50K
1450–75K
1575–100K
12100–150K
4150K+
69 reports with mileage · 16 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 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports
Power Train complaints
28 reportsTRANSMISSION ON 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO PREMIER AWD/ CVT TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITH ONLY 78429 MILES ON IT. *TR
I HAVE A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO AWD. AT SLOW SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO LURCH IN BOTH DRIVE AND REVERSE. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE BRAND NEW. IT HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT NOW AND IT SEEMS TO BE WORSENING WITH AGE. ON OCTOBER 20TH, 2010 THE SLOW SPEED LURCH IN REVERSE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BACK INTO A POLE CAUSING BODY DAMAGE…
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I HAVE A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO AWD. AT SLOW SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO LURCH IN BOTH DRIVE AND REVERSE. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE BRAND NEW. IT HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT NOW AND IT SEEMS TO BE WORSENING WITH AGE. ON OCTOBER 20TH, 2010 THE SLOW SPEED LURCH IN REVERSE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BACK INTO A POLE CAUSING BODY DAMAGE TO THE DECKLID AND BUMPER. *TR
1. NORMAL DRIVING. CAR STOPPED MOVING. STRANDED XMAS EVENING IN RAIN STORM. 2. RT. FROND AXLE CAME OUT OF TRANS-AXLE TOWED TO DEALER. 3. FOUND DEFECTIVE MIDSHIP BEARING HAD TO CUT DUE TO EXCESSIVE PRESSURE ON AXLE. PER DEALER INVOICE. *TR
TRANSMISSION-ENGINE INTERFACE / PROGRAM ON MY 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO IS 'WACKY' -- TO USE A TECHNICAL TERM..... PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN JULY 2006 AND IMMEDIATELY EXPERIENCED THE BIG PROBLEM. IT NOW HAS ABOUT 28,000 MILES. DEALER THINKS I'M WACKY FOR REPORTING IT AND SUPPOSEDLY CHANGED THE PROGRAM THE SECOND OR THIRD TIME I…
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TRANSMISSION-ENGINE INTERFACE / PROGRAM ON MY 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO IS 'WACKY' -- TO USE A TECHNICAL TERM..... PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN JULY 2006 AND IMMEDIATELY EXPERIENCED THE BIG PROBLEM. IT NOW HAS ABOUT 28,000 MILES. DEALER THINKS I'M WACKY FOR REPORTING IT AND SUPPOSEDLY CHANGED THE PROGRAM THE SECOND OR THIRD TIME I REPORTED THE PROBLEM BUT IT STILL EXISTS. THE PROBLEM: WITH ALL PREVIOUS CARS I'VE DRIVEN, TO GO FASTER YOU PUSH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DOWN. TO SPEED UP A LITTLE YOU PRESS A LITTLE; TO SPEED UP A LOT YOU PRESS HARDER. WITH THIS CAR YOU PRESS A LITTLE: NOTHING HAPPENS. YOU PRESS A LITTLE HARDER: NOTHING HAPPENS. YOU PRESS A LITTLE HARDER: NOTHING HAPPENS. SUDDENLY AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS TWO OR THREE GEARS AND JUMPS FORWARD -- WITH TREMENDOUS TORQUE STEER. FORTUNATELY, THE TORQUE STEER IS TO THE RIGHT, SO I HAVE NOT AS YET VEERED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I'VE BEEN ABLE TO ANTICIPATE THE PROBLEM AND CONTROL THE VEHICLE SO FAR, BUT I FEAR THAT I OR ANOTHER DRIVER MAY NOT ALWAYS BE SO ATTENTIVE. ITS POTENTIALLY EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO ME AND OTHERS ON OR NEAR ROADS..... *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH UP A HILL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR, AND MADE A CLUNKING NOISE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN FLUSHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A HARSH SHIFTING FAILURE WITH…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH UP A HILL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR, AND MADE A CLUNKING NOISE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN FLUSHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A HARSH SHIFTING FAILURE WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR COSTS AS THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,394. UPDATED 07/28/10. *LJ UPDATED 08/30/10*JB
2 PROBLEMS WITH CAR 1) TRANSMISSION FAILED AT LESS THAN 20,000 MILES AND 2) CYLINDER 5 FAILED AT 30,000 MILES. *TR
I PURCHASED A NEW MERCURY MONTEGO PREMIER WITH A 6 SPEED ELECTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT IS AN EXCELLENT VEHICLE WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT WHILE TRAVELING DOWN STEEP GRADES THERE IS NO WAY TO DOWNSHIFT TO A LOWER GEAR TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. I HAVE TO RELY ON THE BRAKES ONLY AND THEY OVERHEAT ON LONG MOUNTAINOUS GRADES. SO…
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I PURCHASED A NEW MERCURY MONTEGO PREMIER WITH A 6 SPEED ELECTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT IS AN EXCELLENT VEHICLE WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT WHILE TRAVELING DOWN STEEP GRADES THERE IS NO WAY TO DOWNSHIFT TO A LOWER GEAR TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. I HAVE TO RELY ON THE BRAKES ONLY AND THEY OVERHEAT ON LONG MOUNTAINOUS GRADES. SOME ARE 7% TO 9.5% GRADES IN WEATERN N.C. ,NORTHERN GA. , AND EASTERN TN. WITH NO WAY OF GOING TO A LOWER GEAR TO HELP SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN , THE BRAKES TAKE EXTREME ABUSE AND COULD FAIL FROM OVERHEATING. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE LIVING IN THE WESTERN STATES AND HAVING THIS PROBLEM. ON A RECENT TRIP, MY SPOKE ALUMINUM WHEELS WERE BLACK WITH RESIDUE FROM BRAKE DUST. I FEEL THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ACCUSTOMED TO DRIVING IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN COULD HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM WHERE I LIVE AND TRAVEL A LOT. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *JB
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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