The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Monterey. The contact stated that while driving through a drive thru, the vehicle independently shifted into neutral and was unable to shift into the intended gear. The automatic transmission warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. A dealer was contacted back in 2012 who confirmed that the VIN was included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 12V006000 (Power Train); however, parts were not available. The contact called that same dealer in 2015 who confirmed that parts were available for the recall repair however, there was no available appointment and advised the contact to bring in the vehicle to be repaired only if a failure was experienced. The vehicle was not repaired. After the most recent failure, the contact called the same dealer and was informed that the system was indicating that the recall repair was completed; however, the vehicle was never scheduled for the recall repair. The contact confirmed that the recall repair was not performed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.
2004 Mercury Monterey transmission problems
203 complaints (72% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 77,650. 1 crash reported.
- owner complaints
- 203
- of this car's complaints
- 72%
- typical mileage
- 77,650
- crashes
- 1
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
- Automatic transmission130
- Automatic transmission: torque converter12
- Manual transmission2
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Mercury Monterey transmission problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2004 Mercury Monterey transmission
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter
- What is wrong
- Ford is recalling certain model year 2004 and 2005 ford freestar and mercury monterey vehicles. The torque converter output shaft may fail.
- Risk
- This condition results in a sudden loss of motive power with no warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the torque converter free of charge. The safety recall began on august 9, 2012. Owners may contact the ford motor company customer relationship center at 1‑866‑436‑7332.
Recall number 12V006000 · Recall details
Related investigations
Engine Stalling
The subject vehicles suffered from a design issue whereby water could run down onto the cowling under the hood and located in the area of the windshield wipers and then drip onto a computer module, the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), which could be manifested in a variety of symptoms depending on which part of the circuit board became wet or which of the connector pins shorted out.In addition to causing an engine to stall, which may or may not then restart, the water intrusion could also cause the transmission to shift poorly, the vehicle to have erratic power, a malfunction indicator light to come on, or result in an inability to start the vehicle, an inability to shift the vehicle into either forward or reverse. Also the problem could cause a higher than normal idle RPM in Park, or for the radio to malfunction, or the interior lights to stay on.During this investigation ODI was concerned with the effect of the engine stalling or a drastic and sudden loss of power either of which may create a safety risk.In reviewing the actual number of these types of incidents, collectively referred to here as engine stalls, the number was found to be below what would be considered a defect trend.For example, the number of engine stalls identified in Ford's warranty claims for the model year (MY) 2004 subject vehicles, the MY with the most failures, was 200 out of population of 125,865, for a failure rate of 0.16%.The one crash recorded by a complainant to the federal safety agency, VOQ 10311522, alleged that the engine stalled, due to water intrusion into the PCM, while the road was turning causing her to go off the road and according to the police report the vehicle then hit an embankment and a tree stump. Ford reported in their response that there were three alleged crashes but none of these were validated as being caused by a problem with water intrusion into the PCM causing a stall.Accordingly this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.
PE10033
Transmission Torque Converter Failure
On January 4, 2012 Ford Motor Company submitted a Defect Information Report (the federal safety agency Recall No. 12V‑006) to the federal safety agency regarding a defect in the performance of the transmission torque converter for approximately 205,896 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey vehicles.The supplier of the torque converter manufactured converters containing a pump shaft spline that did not consistently meet the specified heat treatment requirements.In normal use, the spline may wear excessively and eventually fails without warning.If a torque converter malfunctions due to a sheared pump drive spline, the vehicle will abruptly lose motive power.This problem affected model year 2004 and 2005 Freestar and Monterey minivans.During the investigation the federal safety agency identified 532 complaints alleging incidents of vehicle stall while driving due to torque converter failure.These failures were sudden and without any prior warning.Of the 490 complaints that reported the speed at the time of the failure:218 (44%) occurred at or above 55 mph; and 344 (70%) occurred at or above 40 mph.Of the 382 complaints that reported the position of the vehicle relative to traffic after it came to a stop following the loss of motive power: 122 (32%) alleged that the vehicle came to a stop in the flow of traffic and remained in the flow of traffic until pushed or towed out of the way; 225 (59%) reported that the vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the roadway and remained there until towed; and 35 (9%) reported that they were able to maneuver to a location away from the flow of traffic, such as a parking lot.Two crashes were allegedly caused by torque converter failure, including an incident in which a Freestar suddenly lost power in 65 mph traffic in an area where there was no shoulder available.As a result, the Freestar stopped in a travel lane and when trailing traffic maneuvered to avoid the stalled vehicle, a four vehicle collision occurred.In these types of circumstances the federal safety agency believes the defect presents an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety and so advised Ford.In its Defect Information Report, Ford refers to its response to the federal safety agency's Preliminary Evaluation information request, which stated that a vehicle that loses motive power due to torque converter malfunction remains readily controllable; the vehicle will coast during which it can be safely maneuvered and stopped because the engine continues to run.Because the engine continues to run, steering and braking are unaffected, and the vehicle's electrical system and directional signals remain functional.In view of the foregoing, the federal safety agency does not agree with this statement.This investigation is closed based on Ford's recall.
EA09016
Torque converter output shaft failure
Odi has received 227 owner complaints alleging a sudden and unexpected loss of motive power due to an internal transmission failure in the subject vehicles.of those complaints, 124 can be attributed to the torque converter output shaft splines stripping causing a sudden loss of power to the drivetrain.the remaining 103 complaints experienced a loss of motive power but the specific internal failure cause within the transmission is not known.odi has upgraded the investigation to an engineering analysis (ea09-016) to continue its assessment of the scope, frequency and safety-related consequences of the alleged defect.
PE09033
What 2004 Mercury Monterey owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 mercury monterey. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled upon depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine light was illuminated on the instrument panel prior to the failure. Due to the failure, the vehicle was initially towed to an independent mechanic and then to newton ford south (2010 n main st, shelbyville, tn 37160) where the vehicle was diagnosed with transmission failure. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v006000 (power train) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.
Well I didnt know how to go about this but around august 2020 my grandson just got out of knee surgery we was driving up to limestone new york when all of a sudden my vehicle started smoking and it stopped moving so I costed off the road we was on the highway when it happened so we sat there and there was alot of transmission fluid everywhere so a man stopped took my boyfriend to a store to get transmission fluid while me my daughter n grandson waited in the vehicle he puts the fluid in we got it to move to the next exit where the fluid just kept drained out so we had to sit there and wait for a ride and a tow which the ppl picked us up and brought us home the next day my bf rented a car dolly and we ran back up to grab and tow it back to my place and it has been sitting here ever since can someone help please I need my vehicle fixed I don't know what happened to it it was driving fine and all of a sudden it just completely stopped
Thursday may 23 2019. Driving down the road and my van just cut off. I was able to restart the van and get into a parking lot. I sat for a bit and tried it again. It started. But I had no power to go forward or reverse the transmission was just gone. Absolutely no warning or anything like this had happened. No service engine light .. I was on a city street. I had just pulled forward from waiting for a red light.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 mercury monterey. While driving 65 MPH, the rpms increased, but the vehicle decelerated to approximately 20 MPH. Also, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 mercury monterey. While driving 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled and the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the failure. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v006000 (power train) as a possible cause of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
I purchased the 2004 mercury monterey van VIN [xxx] from good friends, while driving down the highway with my family the torque converter and outputshaft failed, upon telling my friends about this they gave me a letter from ford stating there was a recall on these parts, so I call sheehy ford in richmond va, they tell me there is no recall on this part......then I call richmond ford and they tell me sheehy ford performed the recall...so I call sheehy ford and try to get an explanation, then they tell me it was performed 18,000 miles ago, my friends that sold me the van said that the recall was never performed, can someone please look into this? It sounds to me the dealer does not want to perform the work to fix the recalled parts, there must be paperwork where the work was completed and signed off on....and according to ford only 18,000 miles ago, they said the recall was performed at 92,000 miles, the van currently has 110,000 miles...can someone please help me? Thanks information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
I was driving on the highway when the vehicle started slowing down and the gas pedal did nothing but rev, w/out any acceleration. I towed it to my house and now the transmission will not engage in any of the gears. My problem is a ford recall and they told me it has already been done on my vehicle, what can I do?
As of today, january 22, 2018, I had to have the van towed to a transmission shop as yesterday, january 21, 2018, the transmission locked up while in light traffic. Praise god was able to get it to a nearby parking lot until the wrecker came. After researching online it has become clear this vehicle has had several incidents and repeat incidents with ford motor company torque converters. The shop I've taking mine to actually rebuilds them. As for the incident which occurred on the 21st, was driving when a sudden loss of power and once van was pulled off road and parked, car was still running; however, no matter what gear I would put it in, there was no movement, just revving.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 mercury monterey. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the vehicle failed to move forward. The contact was able to move the vehicle over to the side of the roadway. He placed the vehicle in reverse and then drive, but the vehicle still failed to move. The vehicle was towed to his home where he called kinsel ford (3355 eastex fwy, beaumont, tx 77706 (409) 899-4000). Since the vehicle was serviced in march of 2016 per the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v006000 (power train), the dealer stated that they could not assist. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but did not offer any assistance for the same reason as the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.
Questions about the 2004 Mercury Monterey transmission
Does the 2004 Mercury Monterey have transmission problems?
Owners have filed 203 complaints about the transmission of the 2004 Mercury Monterey, 72% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2004 Mercury Monterey transmission problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 77,650 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2004 Mercury Monterey transmission?
Yes, 1 recall: 12V006000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Mercury Monterey have bad transmission?
The Mercury Monterey model years with the most transmission complaints are 2004 (203 complaints), 2005 (97 complaints) and 2006 (34 complaints).
Other 2004 Mercury Monterey problems
Body 19Seats 16Engine 14Acceleration 11Electrical 11Fuel system 10Brakes 8Steering 8Wheels 7Suspension 6Driver assistance 4Visibility 3Lights 2Locks 2Seat belts 2Tires 2Airbags 1
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