2006 Mercury Montego: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2006 Mercury Montego
On the 2006 Mercury Montego, the failure owners report most often is other engine problem, and the reports cluster around 80,000 miles. The earliest to appear is other powertrain problem, reported by a median of 70,000 miles. Overall it scores 68 out of 100, high risk for a 2006.
High risk for a 2006 — 189th riskiest of the 343 2006 vehicles we can rate. 121 owner reports; fleet size borrowed from other years of the same model.
What owners report breaking
Owners have reported 31 named failure modes on the 2006 Mercury Montego, and the three most-reported carry 39% of everything filed.
Other engine problem leads with 18 reports, about 0.8 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 61k to 110,000 miles.
Other powertrain problem follows with 17 reports, usually reported between 60k to 105,000 miles.
Other speed control problem follows with 12 reports, usually reported between 56k to 100,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into transmission (27), engine (19) and adas (14).
The mileage the reports cluster at
100 of the reports on the 2006 Mercury Montego came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 71,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 35% by 50,000 miles, 75% by 100,000 miles and 96% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed.
The busiest stretch is between 30,000 and 40,000 miles, which alone holds 17% of the dated reports.
25% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
In the order they tend to show up: other powertrain problem around 72k, other engine problem around 79k and other speed control problem around 80k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 31. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
Severity, and what it costs
Across the named modes, 9 mention a crash, 1 a fire and 2 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.93, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other engine problem at $300–$4,000, other powertrain problem at $400–$4,500, other speed control problem at $250–$2,000 and other fuel system problem at $300–$2,200. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
41% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other engine problem | engine | 18 | 14 | 61k | 79k | 109k | 0.8 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 17 | 13 | 60k | 72k | 103k | 0.8 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 12 | 11 | 56k | 80k | 98k | 0.6 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 8 | 7 | — | 71k | — | 0.4 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 6 | 6 | — | 65k | — | 0.3 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 5 | 5 | — | 80k | — | 0.2 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 5 | 4 | — | 32k | — | 0.2 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 5 | 3 | — | 36k | — | 0.2 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| CVT failure | transmission | 4 | 4 | — | 32k | — | 0.2 | $3,000–$8,500 | Critical |
| Instrument cluster or gauge failure | infotainment | 4 | 4 | — | 109k | — | 0.2 | $350–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 4 | 4 | — | 40k | — | 0.2 | $200–$900 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 4 | 2 | — | 102k | — | 0.2 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 3 | 3 | — | 90k | — | 0.1 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 2 | 2 | — | 3k | — | 0.1 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 2 | 2 | — | 59k | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Steering column or shaft failure | steering | 2 | 2 | — | 60k | — | 0.1 | $600–$2,500 | Critical |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 2 | 2 | — | 105k | — | 0.1 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 49k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Overheating | cooling | 1 | 1 | — | 200 | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| CV axle or driveshaft failure | drivetrain | 1 | 1 | — | 33k | — | 0.0 | $450–$2,200 | High |
| Differential or transfer case failure | drivetrain | 1 | 1 | — | 98k | — | 0.0 | $900–$4,200 | High |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 3k | — | 0.0 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Premature brake pad or rotor wear | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 36k | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Loss of power steering | steering | 1 | 1 | — | 61k | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,800 | Critical |
| Strut, shock or spring failure | suspension | 1 | 1 | — | 1k | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| Alignment fault and uneven tire wear | suspension | 1 | 1 | — | 1k | — | 0.0 | $150–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Rust or structural corrosion | body | 1 | 1 | — | 8k | — | 0.0 | $500–$6,000 | High |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 1 | 1 | — | 36k | — | 0.0 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 3 | 1 | — | 39k | — | 0.1 | — | Moderate |
This year had no usable recall paperwork, so the fleet-size estimate is the median of other years of the same model. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2006 Mercury Montego draws about 5.7 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 83rd percentile of complaint rates among 2006 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. This year had no usable recall paperwork, so the fleet-size estimate is the median of other years of the same model.
The working figure is 21,270 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2006 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other engine problem
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
Purchased my 2006 mercury montego in 2007. Car has always seemed to idle too fast. Car will suddenly lurch forward or backward, seemingly without provocation. I am fearful of my safety, safety of others or of damage to surrounding vehicles/property. Mechanics I have contacted have reset the computer, but the car always returns to the same issue after a day or so. Mechanics are baffled over this issue. It is almost as if the car has a mind of its own. *tr
Other powertrain problem
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 mercury montego. While driving at 70 MPH up a hill, the vehicle suddenly shifted out of gear, and made a clunking noise. Prior to the failure, the transmission had been flushed. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the contact was informed that there was a harsh shifting failure within the transmission. The dealer stated that the contact would be responsible for repair costs as the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. The current mileage was 76,394. Updated 07/28/10. *lj updated 08/30/10*jb
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
Other speed control problem
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 25 MPH the vehicle became stuck at 3500 RPM's. The contact believes it was caused by the accelerator pedal sticking. The engine had to be turned off before the vehicle would stop. Three attempts were made at restarting the vehicle before it would idle normally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer both times and the problem could not be duplicated. Updated 08/25/06. *jb
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…
How it ranks in the 2006 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Where 2006 sits in the model line
High risk for a 2006 — 189th riskiest of the 343 2006 vehicles we can rate. Because the ranking is against the same model year only, age cancels out of it.
Across the 3 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2005 comes out best at 66 and 2007 worst at 70, with 2006 itself at 68.
No other year of this model scores meaningfully better than 2006, so if this generation is what you want, the year is not the lever.
Within the 2004–2007 generation specifically, 2005 is the strongest year at 66 and 2007 the weakest at 70.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2004-2007 generation, 2005 Mercury Montego scores best at 66 and 2007 Mercury Montego worst at 70.
What the numbers say to check
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other speed control problem from about 56k, other powertrain problem from about 60k and other engine problem from about 61k.
On a 2006 Mercury Montego with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other speed control problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
None of this is a diagnosis. It is a list of what other owners of the same model year reported, ordered by when they reported it, which is a good place to point an inspection and a poor place to stop.
Where these figures stop being useful
121 owner reports; fleet size borrowed from other years of the same model. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 121 reports, 100 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 83% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Mercury Montego?
The most-reported failures are other engine problem (18 reports, median 80,000 miles), other powertrain problem (17 reports, median 70,000 miles) and other speed control problem (12 reports, median 80,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2006 Mercury Montego problems start?
Other powertrain problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 70,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 60,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 71,000 miles.
Is the 2006 Mercury Montego reliable?
It scores 68 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 189th riskiest of the 343 2006 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2006 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Mercury Montego is best?
Within the 2004–2007 generation, 2005 scores best at 66 out of 100 and 2007 worst at 70. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed