NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
85 reports170,000 miles · May 22, 2014
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
NHTSA ODI #10593445
123,000 miles · Mar 20, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control
WHEN DRIVING THE CAR COMES TO A SUDDEN STOP AND ONLY ALLOWS ME TO GO 20-25 MPH. VERY UNSAFE. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 65MPH AND THEN ENGINE LOST POWER - SPEED DROPPED TO 20 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER IN TIME AVOID A HIGH SPEED COLLISION. THE SUDDEN ENGINE POWER LOSS HAPPENS GOING AT DIFFERENT SPE…
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WHEN DRIVING THE CAR COMES TO A SUDDEN STOP AND ONLY ALLOWS ME TO GO 20-25 MPH. VERY UNSAFE. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 65MPH AND THEN ENGINE LOST POWER - SPEED DROPPED TO 20 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER IN TIME AVOID A HIGH SPEED COLLISION. THE SUDDEN ENGINE POWER LOSS HAPPENS GOING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS EVEN AS SLOW AS 30 MPH. THE RPM NEEDLE GOES UP AND DOWN. I HAVE HAD THE THE THROTTLE BODY CLEANED AT THE DEALER FROM A PREVIOUS RECALL, AND HAVE GOTTEN THE THROTTLE BODY CLEANED AGAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10573749
Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2013
Tires
2 YEARS AGO I PURCHASED 4 MICHELIN LATITUDE TIRES (65,000 MILE TIRES) FOR MY 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO. ON WEDNESDAY (9-25-13) I WENT TO THE DEALER (DISCOUNT TIRES) FOR A TIRE ROTATION. I WAS TOLD THE ROTATION COULD NOT BE DONE BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE UNSAFE. THE DEALERS DESCRIPTION WAS A CRACKING ISSUE. WHAT REALLY HAS HAPPENED IS TH…
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2 YEARS AGO I PURCHASED 4 MICHELIN LATITUDE TIRES (65,000 MILE TIRES) FOR MY 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO. ON WEDNESDAY (9-25-13) I WENT TO THE DEALER (DISCOUNT TIRES) FOR A TIRE ROTATION. I WAS TOLD THE ROTATION COULD NOT BE DONE BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE UNSAFE. THE DEALERS DESCRIPTION WAS A CRACKING ISSUE. WHAT REALLY HAS HAPPENED IS THE RUBBER THREAD IS COMING OFF THE CORE OF ALL 4 TIRES (24,000 MILES). BECAUSE OF THIS UNSAFE CONDITION, I PURCHASED 4 NEW TIRES AND THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE PRICE BASED ON THREAD WEAR. AS A CONSUMER I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR AN UNSAFE MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I NOTICED THAT MICHELIN HAS PREVIOUSLY RECALLED THE LATITUDE TIRES FOR SUV'S AND SMALL TRUCKS. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR PASSENGER CARS SINCE THIS IS AN UNSAFE SITUATION AND HAS OCCURRED ON ALL 4 OF MY TIRES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10545632
109,000 miles · Sep 26, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior LightingInterior Lighting
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, SUDDENLY THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GAUGES STOPPED WORKING AND WHEN TO ZERO VALUE. THEY FLICKERED MOMENTARILY AND CONTINUED THIS FOR ABOUT 1 MINUTE WHILE DRIVING. THE APPEARED TO HAVE RESET THEMSELVES. HOWEVER, TWO DAYS AFTER THE INITIAL INCIDENT THE GAUGES STOPPED WORKING AGAIN, AND HAVE CONTINUED TO NOT FUN…
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WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, SUDDENLY THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GAUGES STOPPED WORKING AND WHEN TO ZERO VALUE. THEY FLICKERED MOMENTARILY AND CONTINUED THIS FOR ABOUT 1 MINUTE WHILE DRIVING. THE APPEARED TO HAVE RESET THEMSELVES. HOWEVER, TWO DAYS AFTER THE INITIAL INCIDENT THE GAUGES STOPPED WORKING AGAIN, AND HAVE CONTINUED TO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE (I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT) IS THAT WHEN THE GAUGES DON'T WORK, THE REVERSE LIGHTS COME ON. THIS MAKES OTHER DRIVERS THINK I AM REVERSING WHEN I AM NOT. I HAVE DONE ADDITIONAL ONLINE RESEARCH AND FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN PUBLISHED BY FORD INDICATING THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THESE MODELS. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10545477
101,000 miles · Sep 7, 2013
Suspension
EXPERIENCING ODD INSIDE TIRE WEAR ON REAR TIRES OF MY MERCURY MONTEGO. HAD OIL CHANGED AT DEALERSHIP SERVICE REP FROM DEALERSHIP SAID FORD ISSUED TSB 10-2-13, SEEMS FORD SHOULD BE ISSUING A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT CAME FROM THE FACTORY WITH IT. UNDER NORMAL DRIVING IT WOULD SEEM AS IF THIS PROBLEM WOULD NOT HAPPE…
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EXPERIENCING ODD INSIDE TIRE WEAR ON REAR TIRES OF MY MERCURY MONTEGO. HAD OIL CHANGED AT DEALERSHIP SERVICE REP FROM DEALERSHIP SAID FORD ISSUED TSB 10-2-13, SEEMS FORD SHOULD BE ISSUING A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT CAME FROM THE FACTORY WITH IT. UNDER NORMAL DRIVING IT WOULD SEEM AS IF THIS PROBLEM WOULD NOT HAPPEN, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.
NHTSA ODI #10542463
60,540 miles · Aug 12, 2013
EngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, HE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND UPON RESTARTING, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS FRACTURED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, HE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND UPON RESTARTING, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE AIR COMPRESSOR SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60, 540.
NHTSA ODI #10534941
Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2013
Visibility
NO CRASH HAS OCCURRED SO FAR. DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD MATERIAL MAY CAUSE A CRASH IN THE FUTURE. CHEMICAL CHANGES INSIDE THE WINDSHIELD (OR POSSIBLE DELAMINATION OF INTERNAL PLASTIC MATERIAL) IS CAUSING A SPREADING AREA OF THE WINDSHIELD TO BE NOT CLEAR. THE PROBLEM IS ONLY NOTICEABLE IF I AM DRIVING INTO THE SUN. THE SUN SHINING ON…
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NO CRASH HAS OCCURRED SO FAR. DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD MATERIAL MAY CAUSE A CRASH IN THE FUTURE. CHEMICAL CHANGES INSIDE THE WINDSHIELD (OR POSSIBLE DELAMINATION OF INTERNAL PLASTIC MATERIAL) IS CAUSING A SPREADING AREA OF THE WINDSHIELD TO BE NOT CLEAR. THE PROBLEM IS ONLY NOTICEABLE IF I AM DRIVING INTO THE SUN. THE SUN SHINING ON THE DEFECTIVE AREA REDUCES THE VISIBILITY THROUGH THAT PORTION OF THE GLASS TO AN UNSAFE DEGREE. THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTICED ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO AND AFFECTED ONLY A SMALL PORTION OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE PROBLEM HAS STEADILY GROWN WORSE UNTIL ABOUT 15 TO 20% OF THE WINDSHIELD IS AFFECTED. THE PROBLEM WAS DISCUSSED WITH A FORD DEALER AND A FORD AREA REPRESENTATIVE. THEY ADVISED ME TO CHANGE THE WINDSHIELD AND SAVE THE RECEIPT IN THE EVENT A RECALL NOTICE IS ISSUED. I CURRENTLY HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH AN INDEPENDENT AUTO GLASS SUPPLIER TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10525471
36,000 miles · Jul 4, 2013
EngineExterior LightingStructureCrash
AS I BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE CAR SURGED & I HIT ANOTHER PARKED CAR BEHIND ME. EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED FOR A FEW SECONDS. I THEN PLACED THE OTHER FOOT ON TOP OF THE RIGHT FOOT & PUT THE GEAR INTO PARK & THE CAR STOPPED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10523202
62,000 miles · Jun 17, 2013
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO PREMIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO PREMIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10520255
98,000 miles · May 2, 2013
Power Train
I AM ALSO IN THE GROUP OF BAMBOOZLED PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE UNFORTUNATE EXPERIENCE OF OWNING A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO. RECENTLY ON A 90 MILE TRIP ABOUT 40 MILES IN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 GOING UP A HILL I ACCELERATED TO PASS A VEHICLE AND MY CAR SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY JERKED AND LOST SPEED DOWN TO A ABOUT 45 AND WOULD NOT ACCE…
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I AM ALSO IN THE GROUP OF BAMBOOZLED PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE UNFORTUNATE EXPERIENCE OF OWNING A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO. RECENTLY ON A 90 MILE TRIP ABOUT 40 MILES IN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 GOING UP A HILL I ACCELERATED TO PASS A VEHICLE AND MY CAR SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY JERKED AND LOST SPEED DOWN TO A ABOUT 45 AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CARS BEHIND ME HAD TO SLOW DOWN ABRUPTLY AND WERE NONE TO HAPPY AT MY INCONVENIENCE. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE REPEATEDLY EACH TIME GETTING WORSE. I CAN NOW FEEL THE TRANSMISSION GETTING WEEK WHEN I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY AND ITS ONLY A MATTER TIME BEFORE IT GOES OUT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS THE YOU ARE NOT AWARE OF WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN AND THE VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WHEN JERKING ABRUPTLY. FORD NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING. MY CAR DOES HAVE 116000 MILES ON IT AND I KNOW CARS ARE NOT MEANT TO LAST FOREVER BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS THERE IS NO REASON A PROPERLY MAINTAINED TRANSMISSION. SHOULD BE HAVING PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. I AM CERTAIN THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I WENT AGAINST MY BETTER JUDGMENT AND BOUGHT A FORD BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE MONTEGO WAS A NICE CAR. I SHOULD HAVE STUCK WITH MY 97 FIREBIRD THAT HAD 167000 MILES ON IT, LOST WAY LESS OIL, AND RAN WAY SMOOTHER ON IT'S ORIGINAL DRIVETRAIN AND GOT 10 MPG BETTER THAN THIS CAR. NEVER AGAIN FORD! YOU SHOULD STAND BEHIND YOUR PRODUCTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10510371
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