2004 Mercury Monterey: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Mar 17, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 100,100 miles · KS

Brake pressure switch triggers traction control off light, and cruise control will no longer work.

Filed Jul 20, 2012 · Transmission · 98,000 miles · VA

Traveling on cruise control @ 70 MPH in left lane of 4 lane divided hwy....vehicle started to slow down and RPM increased. Coasted to a stop to the shoulder across heavy traffic. Engine ran normally but vehicle would not move forward or aft on its own power. Dealership ideed problem as sheared shaft in transmission. Tranny was replaced at my cost with a ford rebuilt (has same shaft part that sheared in the original). Have received initial recall notification but nothing else. Bottomline: no luck to date on recall.

Filed Jun 18, 2012 · Transmission · 118,000 miles · MO

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 mercury monterey. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH with the cruise control engaged, there was a rapid increase in the engine rpms but the vehicle did not accelerate further. The contact disengaged the cruise control and applied pressure to the accelerator pedal. The vehicle did not accelerate when the contact applied the accelerator pedal, but there was an increase in the engine rpms. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer and was in the process of having the failure diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified and the contact was informed that the vehicle was included in the recall associated with the federal safety agency campaign id number 12v006000 (power train:automatic transmission:torque converter). The failure mileage was 118,000. The consumer stated the vehicle lost all forward acceleration on the interstate while driving 70 MPH. The consumer stated when he arrived home, there was a recall letter in the mail. However, there were no parts available. Updated 07/31/12

Filed Sep 26, 2011 · Acceleration, Transmission · 124,800 miles · MN

It is a well cared for 2004 that all of a sudden started to have a little shake when accelerating. Once I got up past 50-55ish it almost went away. I assumed I had a wheel out of balance so when I had it in for an oil change a few days later, I had them do a rotation and balance. That really didn't fix anything and it got worse. If I was accelerating up hill(which I have to do a lot since I live at the bottom of a hill) then it was like I was driving over hundreds of broomsticks that someone had lay across the road. I took it to a shop (not my usual one, but it was very close to home) to see what they thought. They looked and said cv shaft. When I was able to get it into my regular shop two days later, they looked at it and said 'found transaxle output shaft bearing on right side axle very loose causing excessive movement with right axle.' he said the right axle was basically loose where it attached to the transmission. They said they would have to research if it was actually a bushing or a bearing in order to tell me the repair cost. Monday morning I get a call saying basically I need a new transmission. Now the vibration isn't as bad, but is still there. It also feels like it is wanting to take off while I am driving at a constant speed. Not chugging out, but like all of a sudden it gets a little surge of power then stops. Almost as if someone else is tapping on the gas pedal, then letting off. This happens whether I am using the cruise control or not.

Filed Sep 17, 2011 · Transmission · 95,000 miles · OH

Our family of five was traveling in the middle lane of a three-lane highway with the cruise control set at 60 MPH. We encountered a hill and -'' without warning -'' the vehicle tachometer violently increased RPM and we began to slow down. Fortunately the traffic was light and despite the road construction, there was a shoulder to safely pull onto. While we are grateful that there was no accident and that everybody escaped any harm (especially our three kids in car seats), I would hate to think about what could have happened during "''rush hour"' with a tractor trailer behind me.

Filed Mar 30, 2011 · Transmission · 40,000 miles · MO

2004 mercury monterey driving on highway on cruise control at 67mph when vehicle lost power drifted to lane that was closed to traffic due to highway construction and avoided being hit by traffic traveling behind me had to be towed to a ford/mercury dealership. Was informed that it was the transmission and needed to be replaced at a cost of $3500.00 I am an 80yr. Old women with no other driver and have less than 40,000 miles on this van and feel that this should not have happened. Also feel that there should be some warranty but was told that there is not st.louis,missouri.

Filed Aug 30, 2010 · Transmission · 62,000 miles · MI

Driving home from west side of state to east sideof state and had cruise control on. Had my 2 year old, 4 year old and 5 year old and wife in car. Engine was at 2300rpm and around 65mph. Cruise control was engaging power to maintain 65mph and then RPM flared up to 4000rpm and all loss of power. I was on freeway and barely was able to pull over. Was half on shoulder and part on white lane marker. Could not get car to drive off lane. People were honking and was worried that we would get hit. Could not get kids out of car because of dangerous objects from moving car tires passing by. I have no power in reverse drive, second or 1st. Its like being in neutral with engine revving and no movement. Please advise.

Filed Aug 8, 2010 · Driver assistance, Transmission · 41,600 miles · VA

Incident first occurred on 6/20/2010, on I-64. I was driving our 2004 mercury monterey when I realized that the transmission had slipped from d3 to d2. I stopped van and it worked fine after restarting, but was afraid to use it; only used several times for short trips in the interim - no problems, however, with the transmission. Took to dealer on 7/30 - 41,779 miles - extended warranty (esp) expired 2/5/10. Dealer replaced transmission range sensor and brake pressure switch at a cost of $325.22, including diagnostic check. Dealer also flushed and filled transmission - twice to remove water - cost: $184.87. I asked for the old parts - dealer did not return them. Picked up vehicle on 8/1/10; transmission worked fine, but the traction control system (tcs) light turned on and stayed on. Did not drive until 8/6 when I took it tire shop to have tires replaced - no cruise control and the tcs light was on. The service manager at the tire shop checked alldatapro.com and found a tsb that indicated that ford had learned that some 2004-2007 freestar and monterey transmissions had water/moisture problems causing problems with the tcs, among other things. Also, in checking other complaints reported to the federal safety agency, found one where a ford dealer noted that a transmission seal had failed allowing water to enter computer (transmission range sensor?) causing both computer and transmission to fail. On 8/7, found that dealer had not reconnected cruise control, and noticed that the tcs light turned on after depressing the brake twice. Then noticed that the transmission would not shift to drive 3 - stayed in d2 - back to the original problem from 6/20! Stopped and started van again, no change in the transmission, and the tcs light turned on after pressing brake twice. Have not tried to drive the car today, and now, after reading many of the complaints regarding transmission failures in 2004 montereys, I'm not sure if I should even attempt to drive it the 38 miles back to the dealer.

Filed Apr 24, 2010 · Transmission · 77,450 miles · AZ

Going up a hill (56 MPH zone) on a clear sunny day, light traffic. On the way down our 2004 mercury monterey van was placed into cruise control. After a minute RPM shot up and lost momentum, coasted to right shoulder, all of the transmission fluid spilled over the road and into other vehicles. First occurrence, no warning, no accident due to light traffic. Stranded about 40 miles away from home vehicle towed to a dealership. Transmission replaced.

Filed Sep 22, 2009 · Transmission · 91,000 miles · VA

Was on my way home late at night with my three children and had the vehicle on cruise control and suddenly without warning, the RPM needle went all the way over and I realized that pushing on the gas pedal was not making the vehicle speed increase and I was losing speed. I had an 18 wheeler on my bumper and was fortunate to have been able to get to the side of the road. Stopped the vehicle and checked under the hood. The vehicle would not go into drive, 3rd gear, low or reverse. I had to have the vehicle towed over 80 miles.