2006 Mercury Montego Problems
- Complaints
- 85filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 66,000miles, 69 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 21 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl FWD · 19 city / 26 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2006 Mercury Montego (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this model year most often describe transmission problems: harsh or erratic shifting, clunking, slipping and in some cases complete failure, reported from low mileage up into the 180,000s. A second, very common theme is unexpected surging or lunging at low speed and at stops, which owners frequently attribute to the electronic throttle body. Engine stalls, instrument-cluster failures and rear brake wear round out the list.
- Transmission and drivetrain
Harsh shifting, clunking and transmission failure
- 29 complaints (34%)
- median 61,756 mi at 5.8 yrs old (26 state mileage)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2005–2024
Complaints describe jerking or clunking during upshifts and downshifts, a hard jolt under acceleration onto a highway, hesitation on tip-in, and in some cases the vehicle dropping out of gear or slipping into neutral. Several owners report the transmission stopped moving the car entirely, with dealers quoting repairs or replacement; one bulletin text addresses harsh shifting without trouble codes and another covers continuously variable transaxle noise. Reported from roughly 30,000 miles upward, with most sample complaints between about 50,000 and 130,000 miles.
What to check: Test drive from a cold start through several stop-and-go cycles and highway merges, listening for clunks or a jolt between shifts. Ask for transmission service records and whether any harsh-shift bulletin was applied.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I like my car except, except for being scared of driving on the freeway or trying to go up a hill and don't even think about passing someone. When the car's engine need to shift it will shift so hard it almost throw me into the back seat of another car or that is how I feel if I don't hold on to the steering wheel tightly. Their is something wrong with the transmission drive shaft or trans system and it needs to be recall. …”
NHTSA complaint #10397608, filed 2011-04, 33,000 miles“My 2006 Montego jerks and clunks feels like it is going to drop out. It also slips into neutral from drive . The trans jerks so hard it feels like it is going to drop on the street . First noted this with less than32000 miller. Also had to replace front engine mount $475 , full instrument cluster $1100 36000million. There is a lot of people complaining to ford but nothing is being done.if not taken care of this will be my langford product.3ford's inmyimmediatefamily now. …”
NHTSA complaint #10703774, filed 2015-04, 32,000 miles - Vehicle speed control
Unexpected surging or lunging at stops and low speed
- 18 complaints (21%)
- median 68,500 mi at 5.8 yrs old (16 state mileage)
- 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2010–2024
Owners describe the engine revving up and the car lurching forward or backward when shifting into drive or reverse, while braking at a stop, or while parking, sometimes with the engine then stalling. Several complaints attribute it to the electronic throttle body and report that dealers cleaned or replaced it, reset software, or could not duplicate the concern. Reported across a wide range, from near-new vehicles to over 100,000 miles, often at parking-lot speeds or during braking.
What to check: While parked with the brake firmly applied, shift between drive and reverse and watch the tachometer for a rise of several hundred RPM. Ask whether throttle-body cleaning or the idle-surge service bulletin has been performed.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“As I backed out of a parking space, the car surged & I hit another parked car behind me. Even though I had my foot on the brake, the car accelerated for a few seconds. I then placed the other foot on top of the right foot & put the gear into park & the car stopped.”
NHTSA complaint #10523202, filed 2013-07, 36,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10450392, filed 2012-03, 45,000 miles - Engine
Engine stalls and loss of power while driving
- 10 complaints (12%)
- median 89,803 mi at 8.8 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2013–2019
Complaints describe the engine shutting off without warning at highway or in-town speeds, sometimes with the check engine light on and an engine-failure message, and in other cases a stall that keeps the vehicle from restarting. Some owners report the throttle body was diagnosed or replaced, and in other cases the throttle body was diagnosed or replaced, and in other cases the cause was traced to a tail light circuit. Reported from about 48,000 to 170,000 miles, at a mix of city and highway speeds.
What to check: Ask whether the throttle body has been replaced and whether the check engine light has been on recently. Have a mechanic scan stored codes before buying and confirm the tail light circuits work.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“While traveling home from church, my car suddenly shut down with no warning. I was in traffic and able to pull off with no power at all. When I stopped and put it in park, the car would not allow you to take it out. It would not crank even after replacing the battery. I found out the next day that I had a blown passenger side tail light. This caused my car to cut off and ford stated that this is what happens. This is a very dangerous wiring issue. …”
NHTSA complaint #10706585, filed 2015-04, 99,000 miles“The contact owns a 2006 Mercury Montego. While driving approximately 10 MPH, the vehicle stalled and would not restart. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The mechanic stated that the tail light needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 89,803.”
NHTSA complaint #10622102, filed 2014-08, 89,803 miles - Electrical system
Instrument cluster gauges drop to zero or reset
Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints
Owners describe all gauges suddenly dropping to zero, flickering, and then returning, with warning lights and seat-belt chimes going off at the same time. Several note that the reverse lights come on while driving when the cluster acts up, and some report the cluster had to be replaced. Mostly reported between about 35,000 and 130,000 miles; bulletin text notes it applies to vehicles built before February 2006.
What to check: During the test drive, watch for gauges sweeping or flickering and check whether the reverse lights stay on. Ask whether the instrument cluster has been replaced or a cluster bulletin applied.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“While driving at night, suddenly the instrument cluster gauges stopped working and when to zero value. They flickered momentarily and continued this for about 1 minute while driving. The appeared to have reset themselves. However, two days after the initial incident the gauges stopped working again, and have continued to not function properly. The major safety issue (I almost got into an accident) is that when the gauges don't work, the reverse lights come on. This makes other drivers think I am reversing when I am not. …”
NHTSA complaint #10545477, filed 2013-09, 109,000 miles“... We own a Mercury Montego 2006 two wheel drive v6, first time we. Bought it from a used car dealership I took it home it drove fine at the time it had 80000 miles on it went to my daughter's at night was coming home all the bells and whistles of the car went off acted like it was possessed scared me to death I pulled over shut the car off back on and went down the road fine, when I got home and park the car the car started to accelerate headed right to our house, I put both my feet on the brake to stop car from moving forward threw it into …”
NHTSA complaint #11120394, filed 2018-08, 80,000 miles
Buying note. A thorough test drive covering cold starts, repeated low-speed stop-and-go, and a highway merge will surface most of what owners describe here. Records of transmission service and any throttle-body or instrument-cluster repairs are worth requesting before purchase.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 85 consumer complaints for the 2006 Mercury Montego. 69 of the complaints include a mileage, and 35% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 66,000 miles. Of all complaints, 5 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 23 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Engine18 21%
- Vehicle speed control14 16%
- Fuel system9 11%
- Electrical system7 8.2%
- Brakes6 7.1%
- Engine cooling6 7.1%
- Body and structure5 5.9%
- Suspension5 5.9%
- Air bags4 4.7%
Also reported: Exterior lighting (4), Seat belts (3), Tires (3), Other or unknown (2), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (2), Electronic stability control (1), Equipment (1), Interior lighting (1), Steering (1).
Example complaints
Transmission and drivetrain: “I have owned this car for 4 years. I still owe more than its worth. My 3rd transmission just went out this morning! Cvt transmissions are garbage. I was quoted 6000 for another used transmission. 4 transmissions in 4 years is insane!”
NHTSA complaint #10983631, filed 2017-05, 11,700 milesEngine: “Driving down road car just stopped in the middle road was running just would not go.transmission trouble I guess ford new about this I still owe 3000 on this car. Lots of peuple with is trouble.”
NHTSA complaint #10506069, filed 2013-04, 72,000 milesVehicle speed control: “I experience a sudden acceleration when I am pulling into or backing out of a parking space and pulling into my driveway. I purchased this car used two years ago, so it might not be the first occurrence.”
NHTSA complaint #10465332, filed 2012-07, 92,903 milesFuel system: “My 2006 Mercury monteago lunges forward when put in drive,and lunges back when put in reverse,wrecking my rear bumper and garage. Ford is very aware of this problem and does nothing about it.”
NHTSA complaint #10420837, filed 2011-08, 103,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
35% of the 69 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 36,000 and 98,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2006 Mercury Montego. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montego · sedan (side air bags) FWD/AWD | not rated | 5 / 5 | — | — | — |
| Montego · sedan FWD/AWD | not rated | 5 / 5 | — | — | — |
Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2006 Mercury Montego version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montego AWD | 3.0L 6-cyl | CVT | 17 | 23 | 19 | $3,550 |
| Montego FWD | 3.0L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 19 | 26 | 21 | $3,200 |
| Montego FWD | 3.0L 6-cyl | CVT | 18 | 25 | 20 | $3,350 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2006 Mercury Montego in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 23 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10109070Sep 21, 2016Engine cooling, Engine. The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to diagnose possible ETB…
- 10051815Nov 29, 2012Engine. Ford: see document search button for owner letter. Momentary engine idle rpm surge may be intermittent and may occur, due to deposits buildup in throttle body, at low speeds, while parking or…
- 10024829Mar 1, 2008Brakes. Traction control lamp on--no dtc's present, or dtc p1889 in differential electronic module (dem).
- 10023294Nov 28, 2007Brakes. Ford mercury service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. Certain 2005 through 2007 fwd and awd ford five hundred, freestyle and mercury montego vehicles - rear brake wear. Also…
- 10022294Jul 25, 2007Transmission and drivetrain. Transmission harsh shifting - no dtc's - mileage over 20,000 miles.
- 10021463Apr 27, 2007Brakes. Rear brake drag, noise, dust, and/or premature pad wear.
- 10021444Apr 26, 2007Fuel system. Mil on with dtc p0191 - fuel rail pressure sensor circuit performance.
- 10022241Apr 1, 2007Engine cooling. Mil with dtc p0106 and/or p0109.
- 10021220Mar 23, 2007Transmission and drivetrain. Transmission shifter binding / high effort bezel replacement.
- 10021037Feb 26, 2007Electrical system. Intermittent instrument cluster operation - including gauges sweep/reset - multiple warning lights illuminated and/or reverse lights stay on. This applies to vehicles built before 02-17-06.
Other model years of the Mercury Montego
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 36 | 68,250 | 1 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2006 | 85 | 66,000 | 0 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 135 | 69,590 | 2 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
All Mercury Montego model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Mercury Montego?
Owners of this model year most often describe transmission problems: harsh or erratic shifting, clunking, slipping and in some cases complete failure, reported from low mileage up into the 180,000s. The issues reported most often: Harsh shifting, clunking and transmission failure; Unexpected surging or lunging at stops and low speed; Engine stalls and loss of power while driving.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2006 Mercury Montego have?
NHTSA recorded 85 consumer complaints for the 2006 Mercury Montego as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2006 Mercury Montego is reported most often?
Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 28 complaints (33% of the total), followed by engine with 18.
Has the 2006 Mercury Montego been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2006 Mercury Montego get?
The EPA rates the 2006 Mercury Montego (Montego FWD, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 19 city and 26 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2006 Mercury Montego reported?
Among the 69 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 66,000 miles and the middle half falls between 36,000 and 98,000 miles; 35% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.