Is the 2004 Mercury Monterey a bad year?
283 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 203.
Consider selling
Half of all transmission complaints about the 2004 Mercury Monterey were filed between 59k and 100k miles. You're at 77,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2004 Monterey owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 77,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 203 (72%) | 59k–100k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Body structure | 19 (7%) | 69k–139k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seats | 16 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Engine | 13 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 11 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 11 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 10 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 8 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 8 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 77,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 283 complaints: 2 mention a crash · 6 mention a fire · 1 reports an injury · 5 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Feb 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I was pulling out of an intersection on to a state route and just as I got into the lane my transmission popped into neutral.
I was traveling down 78 ( A major road in town and my van (04 Mercury Monterey) just quit going. I had to coast into a turn lane to get out of the main road.
10 months ago, in december or 2012, we received a recall notice (11S25) for the torque converter to be replaced on our 2004 Mercury monterey.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 77,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2004 Mercury Monterey: 5
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. In the event that the vehicle is crashed into from the rear, an unlatched seat may increase the risk of personal injury.
The torque converter output shaft may fail. This condition results in a sudden loss of motive power with no warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Certain aftermarket fuel filters sold under the purolator brand name, p/n F65277, shipped from january 16 through june 2, 2006, for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Failure of this connection could lead to fuel spillage and, in the presence of an ignition source, a fire could occur.
Certain minivans may have been produced with front wheel hub assemblies that were not heat treated correctly. This condition may lead to the development of small cracks in the hub. If the cracks were to progress, this could eventually result in wheel separation. Wheel separation may lead to loss of vehicle control, and potentially result in a vehicle crash.
On certain minivans, the power steering low-pressure line may not be fully seated at the rack and pinion steering gear. If this line becomes disconnected, it may create the potential for fluid to come into contact with the exhaust system, which could result in smoke or fire.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Mercury: 5
Repair instructions Mercury sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2004 Mercury Monterey. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
NHTSA defect investigations: 7
Stabilus Rear Liftgate Struts Failing
Corrosion of Third-Row Seat Attachment
Corrosion of Third-Row Seat Attachment
Service Jack Failure
Engine Stalling
Neighbouring years
2005 Monterey: 119 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Mercury Monterey year
2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · All Monterey years side by side
Other Mercury models: Mercury Cougar · Mercury Grand Marquis · Mercury Mariner · Mercury Mariner Hybrid · Mercury Milan · Mercury Montego · Mercury Mountaineer · Mercury Sable. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2004 Mercury Monterey a bad year?
283 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 203. At 77,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all transmission complaints about the 2004 Mercury Monterey were filed between 59k and 100k miles. You're at 77,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Mercury Monterey?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (203), body structure (19), seats (16), engine (13), electrical system (11). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 59k–100k miles.
How many recalls does the 2004 Mercury Monterey have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Seats (NHTSA 13V-081), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 12V-006), Fuel system (NHTSA 06E056000), Wheels (NHTSA 04V-446) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.