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2004 Mercury Monterey seats problems

16 complaints (6% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 120,000.

owner complaints
16
of this car's complaints
6%
typical mileage
120,000
crashes
0
recalls
1

Which part fails

  • Mid/rear assembly
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Mercury Monterey seats problems in other years

200420052006

Related recalls

SeatsReported March 7, 2013 · 196,667 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford is recalling certain model year 2004-2007 Freestar and Mercury Monterey vehicles manufactured from March 24, 2003, through November 7, 2006, equipped with a third row seat and originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. The third row stowable seat can experience corrosion and structural degradation at the seat anchor mechanism mounted to the rear wheel wells. As a result of the corrosion, the third row seat may not fully latch into its seating position.
Risk
In the event that the vehicle is crashed into from the rear, an unlatched seat may increase the risk of personal injury.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install new third row seat latch striker mounting brackets, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1‑866‑436‑7332.

Recall number 13V081000 · Recall details

Related investigations

Corrosion of Third-Row Seat AttachmentOpened April 23, 2012, closed May 2, 2013

Ford is conducting a safety recall to repair the third-row seat's latch mechanisms in approximately 196,667 model year (MY) 2004 through 2007 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey vehicles (see the federal safety agency recall 13V‑081 for more details).The recall covers vehicles originally sold, or currently registered, in the salt belt states or high corrosion areas of the United States: Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.Approximately 100,000 remaining MY 2004-2007 Freestar and Monterey vehicles--those vehicles that were not originally sold, or are not currently registered, in salt belt states--are not included in the recall action. Although these vehicles are the same as the ones described above, they experience significantly lower failure rates because of reduced road salt exposure.ODI is currently aware of only one complaint on vehicle outside of the recall scope.ODI will monitor complaints and take further action if warranted by the circumstances.For owners of vehicles that are outside of the recall scope but exhibit the defect condition, owners (and affected Ford dealers) can contact Ford to request the recall repair.This Engineering Analysis is closed.See attached report and associated recall file for additional information.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.the federal safety agency.dot.gov/owners/Searchreference under the following identification numbers: 10399896, 10410491, 10420028, 10424850, 10433928, 10436592, 10438529, 10440616, 10441489, 10441641, 10442809, 10446564, 10450295, 10450559, 10450587, 10452933, 10453826, 10454977, 10455545, 10456985, 10457423, 10457910, 10458738, 10459042, 10460511, 10461074, 10462910, 10463126, 10463262, 10463366, 10463600, 10464243, 10467003, 10467680, 10468429, 10469188, 10469200, 10470216, 10470510, 10471280, 10471520, 10471813, 10471978, 10472514, 10473087, 10473159, 10477025, 10477387, 10477954, 10478449, 10479247, 10479758, 10480611, 10480665, 10481054, 10481412, 10482213, 10482236, 10482613, 10482620, 10487872, 10489445, 10490515, 10490641, 10490663, 10490744, 10491495, 10492220, 10493470, 10493572, 10496348, 10497631, 10497976, 10498310, 10498433, 10499681, 10499861, 10500495.

EA12003

What 2004 Mercury Monterey owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Jun 24, 2016 · Body, Seats · 249,950 miles · KY

Corrosion of third row seat attachment. On 23 june 2016, removed interior panel to service auxiliary A/C unit and discovered severely rusted area around the third-row seat attachment. Both left and right sides of the vehicle are rusted; the left side is much worse than the right side at this time. Contacted local dealer and their representative body shop; both refused to repair the problem due to potential liability issues. Was referred to ford customer relationship service. They noted there are no active recalls for my vehicle - and since I am not in a "high corrosion" state, recall 13s01 does not apply (the federal safety agency campaign number 13v081000). Have attached pictures of the affected areas. Am trying to determine what resources are available to repair this problem if the dealer and their representative body shop refuse to approach it.

Filed Sep 30, 2015 · Seats · 120,000 miles · VA

There is a recall on mercury monterey 2004 vehicles to replace the seat anchor mechanism on the third row seat due to corrosion. The federal safety agency campaign number 13v081000. My vehicle is not part of this recall by VIN number but my vehicle's seat anchor mechanism has become dislodged from the wheel well and moves freely causing my third row seat not to latch in place properly. I am asking for an investigation to be started into other mercury monterey 2004 vehicles outside of this recall notice to determine if they need to be included on this recall. My vehicle is currently registered in virginia which is not listed on the recall but for the first 6+ years of its life was located in northern virginia and driven on district of columbia roads which is part of the recall notice. I believe virginia should be added to the list of states in which this recall should apply.

Filed Feb 4, 2015 · Body, Seats · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 mercury monterey. While driving 35 MPH, the contact heard a loud noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. Upon further inspection, the contact noticed that both rear seat latches fractured and corroded. As a result, there were two large holes in the area of the corrosion causing water damage to the carpets. In addition, the contact mentioned that both rear wheel wells were corroded. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 13v081000 (seats). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Feb 26, 2014 · Seats · 60,000 miles · IL

Tl- the contact owns a 2004 mercury monterey. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the rear seat and rear tires made a loud noise on multiple occasions. The contact received a the federal safety agency campaign recall id number:13v081000 for the seats and the dealer was unable to repair the vehicle correctly or diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was notified multiple times of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 60,000. Rk updated 5/28/14

Filed Mar 28, 2013 · Seats · 115,500 miles · MI

The vehicle was stopped at the time. My daughter had opened up the 3rd row rear bench seat from the floor. In the process of trying to adjust it, she noticed that it made a racheting sound and the seat back would not stay in position. A week later, after a close examination, I observed that the bracket that the front latch is mounted on at the drivers side is rusted and allows large amounts of vertical movement. After wiggling the bracket up and down, I observed about a tablespoon of rust flakes on the carpet. Not really sure what to do about this.

Filed Mar 4, 2013 · Seats · 129,000 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 mercury monterey. The contact stated that the safety latch on the third row seat attached to the wheel well and caused it to fracture. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000. The current mileage was approximately 130,000.

Filed Feb 17, 2013 · Seats · 112,000 miles · OH

While driving down the highway the 3rd rear seat started vibrating violently followed by a load bang . Upon inspection I found the 3rd seat could not locked back in place because the lock down striker was gone and I could look through the hole in the side of the van and see the tire in the wheel well. The 3rd seat is now useless. This should never happen on any vehicle. Although the ford representative stated it was "[xxx]" he said ford would not fix it and I should file a complaint. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Dec 10, 2012 · Seats · 124,900 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 mercury monterey. The contact stated that the rear seat lock mechanism was corroded. The contact mentioned that the part where the seat latched into the body of the vehicle was completely corroded and a piece had detached from it. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 124,900 and the current mileage was 125,000.

Filed Oct 30, 2012 · Body, Seats · 178,000 miles · MI · 1 injury

While driving I noticed my third row seat was bouncing some, when I stopped I found that the latch holding the seat down was unattached. When I took it into the dealer he said that it is rusted through. I had my special needs son in that seat, hit his head but nothing major. Unfortunately I now am unable to transport my special needs son because he has to be in the third row seat. My drivers side wheel well is also totally rusted through and water is getting into the car. I am not sure if it is related but my traction control light is always off and on along with the tire pressure indicator. I already replaced the PCM last year when my car became un-drivable due to major electrical issues.

Filed Aug 11, 2012 · Body, Seats · 115,170 miles · PA

When my 10 year old son was getting in the car today he noticed that the 3rd row seat was wobbly and moving around. We saw that the latch that holds the seat in place was no longer there! In its place was a hole to the outside of the car. I looked in the drivers-side rear wheel well and saw that the entire latch anchor plate had rusted completely off! Thankfully I noticed this before we got on the road because the anchor plate was laying lodged between the wheel and the body of the car - who knows what type of accident or further damage could have occurred to our own vehicle or to others who could have been in the path of the falling, detached plate. I have 3 children and can no longer drive my van since the rear seat is not fully attached to the vehicle and my children are too young to ride in the front seat - not to mention the large, gaping hole in my car. It appears that the passenger-side plate is rusting through as well. This is a 2004 and should not be having such severe rust issues that entire pieces of the body are falling off.

Questions about the 2004 Mercury Monterey seats

Does the 2004 Mercury Monterey have seats problems?

Owners have filed 16 complaints about the seats of the 2004 Mercury Monterey, 6% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2004 Mercury Monterey seats problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 120,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2004 Mercury Monterey seats?

Yes, 1 recall: 13V081000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

Other 2004 Mercury Monterey problems

Transmission 203Body 19Engine 14Acceleration 11Electrical 11Fuel system 10Brakes 8Steering 8Wheels 7Suspension 6Driver assistance 4Visibility 3Lights 2Locks 2Seat belts 2Tires 2Airbags 1

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