2006 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
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.
What owners actually said
85 reports1. ANY TIME THE ENGINE IS ON, BUT ESPECIALLY WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON. 2. WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR (DRIVE OR REVERSE), THE ENGINE REVS UP TO APPROXIMATELY 1300 RPM FOR APPROXIMATELY A SECOND. IF THE BRAKE IS NOT FIRMLY APPLIED, THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD OR BACKWARD 3. NOTHING YET; THROTTLE BODY CLEANING OR REPLACEMENT IS SUG…
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1. ANY TIME THE ENGINE IS ON, BUT ESPECIALLY WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON. 2. WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR (DRIVE OR REVERSE), THE ENGINE REVS UP TO APPROXIMATELY 1300 RPM FOR APPROXIMATELY A SECOND. IF THE BRAKE IS NOT FIRMLY APPLIED, THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD OR BACKWARD 3. NOTHING YET; THROTTLE BODY CLEANING OR REPLACEMENT IS SUGGESTED
TRANSMISSION 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
2006 MERCURY MONTEGO WAS ISSUED A RECALL RELATED TO REAR BRAKES. THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. 12,000 MILES LATER THE REAR BRAKES NEED TO BE DONE AGAIN FORD ISSUED TSB 07-5-9 FOR PREMATURE PAD WEAR AND RECOMMEND REPLACING FRONT BRAKES AS WELL TO ENSURE PROPER BRAKING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE MANY WHO ARE UNAWARE WILL JUST REPLA…
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2006 MERCURY MONTEGO WAS ISSUED A RECALL RELATED TO REAR BRAKES. THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. 12,000 MILES LATER THE REAR BRAKES NEED TO BE DONE AGAIN FORD ISSUED TSB 07-5-9 FOR PREMATURE PAD WEAR AND RECOMMEND REPLACING FRONT BRAKES AS WELL TO ENSURE PROPER BRAKING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE MANY WHO ARE UNAWARE WILL JUST REPLACE THE REAR BRAKES CREATING UNEVEN BRAKING PERFORMANCE. SPOKE WITH DEALERSHIP AND FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. NONE WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR FIXING THIS BRAKING PROBLEM CORRECTLY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE SEAT BELT AND WAS STUCK IN THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO CLIMB OUT OF THE SEAT WHILE THE SEAT BELT REMAINED BUCKLED. THE VEHICLE HAD …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE SEAT BELT AND WAS STUCK IN THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO CLIMB OUT OF THE SEAT WHILE THE SEAT BELT REMAINED BUCKLED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,753 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,756.
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
WE OWN A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO AND WE HAVE AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING MORE AND MORE. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED AND I SHIFT IN REVERSE, THE ENGINE WILL REV UP AND TRY TO FORCE THE CAR TO MOVE SO I APPLY MT BRAKES EVEN HARDER. THIS ONLY LASTS A FEW SECONDS. THEN I SHIFT INTO "DRIVE" …
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WE OWN A 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO AND WE HAVE AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING MORE AND MORE. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED AND I SHIFT IN REVERSE, THE ENGINE WILL REV UP AND TRY TO FORCE THE CAR TO MOVE SO I APPLY MT BRAKES EVEN HARDER. THIS ONLY LASTS A FEW SECONDS. THEN I SHIFT INTO "DRIVE" AND WITH THE BRAKE STILL APPLIED, IT MAY DO IT AGAIN AND TRY TO TAKE OFF WHEN IN FACT I WAS NOT YET READY TO PRESS ON MY ACCELERATOR AND IT JUST WANTS TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE MONTEGO AS WELL AS OTHER FORD PRODUCT'S AND HERE IS AN EXAMPLE HTTP://WWW.FORDTAURUS.NET/FORUMS/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=5&T=4399&VIEW=NEXT THAT IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT OUR CAR DOES AND IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS!!! HOW OFTEN DOES THIS HAPPEN? ALMOST DAILY BUT NOT ALL THE TIME AND THAT'S THE SCARY PART BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BE READY FOR IT OR IT MAY CATCH YOU OFF-GUARD AND YOU VERY WELL COULD RUN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OR BACK OF YOU OR POSSIBLY MAYBE INJURE OR KILL SOMEONE. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO....PLEASE!!! THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE THAT I CAN FIND BUT THERE SURE NEEDS TO BE. SIMILAR FORD PRODUCT'S HAVE THIS ISSUE AND WE NEED SOMEONE WITH SOME AUTHORITY AND ABILITY TO RESEARCH THE ISSUES ON THESE MONTEGO'S! *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
RECENTLY HAD TO PAY A FORD DEALER $385 TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES AT 27,000 MILES ON MY 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO PURCHASED NEW IN JULY 2006. FRONT BRAKES IN FINE SHAPE. EVIDENTLY THE DESIGNED REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES ARE SUBSTANDARD FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE REAR BRAKES HAD NOT FAILED YET BUT WERE WITHIN A FEW MILES OF DOING S…
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RECENTLY HAD TO PAY A FORD DEALER $385 TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES AT 27,000 MILES ON MY 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO PURCHASED NEW IN JULY 2006. FRONT BRAKES IN FINE SHAPE. EVIDENTLY THE DESIGNED REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES ARE SUBSTANDARD FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE REAR BRAKES HAD NOT FAILED YET BUT WERE WITHIN A FEW MILES OF DOING SO, ACCORDING TO A FORD SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. *TR
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
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