2004 Mercury Monterey complaints

THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL ON THE MERCURY MONTEREY ID 03V457000. THIS RECALL SAYS THE POWERSTEERING PRESSURE LINE MAY BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE PINION GEAR CAUSING POTENTIAL FOR THE DRIPPING FLUID TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST CAUSING A FIRE. RECENTLY, WE BY A FORD DEALER SERVICE CENTER THAT ALTHOUGH THE PRESSURE LINE IN OUR MONTEREY HAS NOT BECOME SEPARATED IS DOES HAVE A LEAK AND IS ALSO A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. WE HAVE THREE SMALL CHILDREN AND KNOW OUR CONCERNS ARE VALID. OUR VIN IS NOT ONE OF THE CARS COVERED IN THE RECALL OF OVER 23000 VANS. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE QUITE SURE THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE RECALL. THIS RECALL SHOULD PROBABLY COVER THE DEFECT OF THE WHOLE POWER STEERING PRESSURE LINE AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED FOR OTHERS SAFETY AS WELL AS OUR OWN. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY PREMIERE MINIVAN AND THE TIRES ARE GOODYEAR INTEGRITY P235/60R16'S . THE FRONT TIRES ALWAYS WORE OUT AROUND 10,000~12,000 MILES. SEND BACK TO DEALER TO CHECK. THEY SAID NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SUSPENSION AND THEY CAN NOT HELP ME TO REPLACE THE TIRES EVEN MY CAR STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND GOOD YEAR ALSO WILL NOT TO HELP ME. BOTH SIDE WILL NOT TO TAKE CARE OF IT AND I HAVE TO REPLACE NEW TIRES EVERY YEAR. WHAT CAN I DO? *TR

2004 MERCURY MONTEREY VAN WITH SUDDEN FAILURE OF (?) TRANSMISSION WITHOUT WARNING. VAN WENT DEAD IN THE ROAD IN TRAFFIC AND DID NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATION/CHANGING GEARS. DEALER SAID THERE WAS A NEED TO REPLACE TORQUE CONVERTER AND PUMP. INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED THAT THIS IS AN ALMOST UNHEARD OF REPAIR, BUT FREQUENT WITH THIS MODEL AND MAKE. *TR

2004 MERCURY MONTEREY VAN WITH 64,408 MILES, DRIVEN LESS THAN FOUR YEARS, LOST ITS TRANSMISSION AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I COULD ONLY COAST TO THE SHOULDER. LUCKILY I WAS NOT INJURED.... *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. TRANSMISSION REFUSED TO ENGAGE WHILE IN TRAFFIC. PARKED VEHICLE. HAVE NOT REPAIRED YET. THIS IS A MERCURY MONTEREY WITH ONLY 38,500 MILES. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR ON DRIVERS SIDE. THERE ARE MANY OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. FORD SHOULD RECALL OR FIX FOR FREE. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT WITH AND FOR MY 4 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER WHEN AS SHE WAS ACCELERATING FROM A HIGHWAY STOP LIGHT, THE VAN SEEMED TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. SHE LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND INTO A PARKING LOT. THE GEARS DON'T SHIFT AND THERE IS NO MOVEMENT FORWARD OR BACKWARD. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY INSPECTED IT, SAYING IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THERE WERE NO SIGNS THERE WAS AN ISSUE PRIOR TO THIS (LIGHTS, WARNINGS, ETC.). I HAVEN'T SPOKEN WITH FORD YET, BUT FROM WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING THEY ARE TURNING A BLIND EYE TO. SEEING AS HOW NO ONE HAS HAD A COMPLAINT YET INVOLVING AN INJURY OR DEATH, I WONDER WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN SOMEONE DOES... FORD WILL BE GETTING A NICE LAWSUIT WITH ALL THESE RECORDS. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY VAN SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING LET GO AS I WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY IN FLORIDA. THANK GOD I HAD THE SENSE TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD AND SPARE A POTENTIAL DISASTER WITH MY FIVE CHILDREN IN THE VAN. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGNS PRIOR TO THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND IT'S VERY UPSETTING THINKING OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. *TR

FULL TRANSMISSION FAILURE COAST TO STOP ON MAJOR HIGHWAY NO NOTICE WARNING OR LIGHTS. *TR

I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, PUT MY CAR INTO DRIVE TO GO FORWARD, AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. IT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD AND BACKWARD. MY CAR NEVER SHOWED ANY SIGNS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TOOK IT APART. THEY STATED THAT IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER. *TR

DRIVING AT 40 MPH WHEN MY TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY COMPLETELY FAILED. CAR WILL NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR AT ALL. THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING EITHER IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE FAILURE OR IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS LEADING UP TO IT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS OPERATING WITH NO PROBLEMS OR ABERRANT SOUNDS. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS CHANGED ACCORDING TO SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 3-5 MPH OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED MOVING. THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIVE IN REVERSE, BUT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. IN ADDITION, BOTH SLIDING DOORS ON THE VEHICLE FAILED TO CLOSE PROPERLY. THE DOORS WOULD PIN AN ADULT OR BOUNCE BACK OPEN INSTEAD OF CLOSING AS THEY SHOULD. THE DOORS WERE REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 52,000.

2004 MERCURY MONTEREY CAUGHT A FIRE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FIRE STARTED WHILE THE ENGINE WAS COLD AND WANTS AN EXPLANATION WHY. *NJ THE CONSUMER FIRST THOUGHT THAT A LIQUID HAD BEEN POURED OVER THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS ENOUGH FUEL UNDER PRESSURE TO EXPLODED INTO FLAMES 5 FEET HIGH AND ENOUGH PRESSURE TO COAT THE HOOD WITH FUEL. *JB

MY WIFE AND KIDS WERE DRIVING OUR 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY WITH 52,000 MILES ON IT. TRAVELING AT 45 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WITH NO PRIOR WARNINGS OR PROBLEMS. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THE ROAD IS VERY NARROW WITH FEW PLACES TO PULL OVER. HAD THIS HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC OR AT HIGHWAY SPEED THEY MAY HAVE BEEN REARENDED. THE TRANSMISSION HAD LET GO. TORQUE CONVERTER SHOT AND A TOTAL REBUILD NEEDED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT IS OCCURRING AT AN ALARMING RATE AS I FIND MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME SITUATION. I PULLED THE TRANSMISSION MYSELF AND HAD SOMEONE REBUILD IT FOR ME. I THEN REINSTALLED THE TRANSMISSION. THIS WAS THE ONLY WAY I COULD AFFORD TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON A VEHICLE MY FAMILY REQUIRES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC, BUT THE RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 78,000.

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 HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD CAUSES THE CARS BEHIND ME TO HIT THEIR BRAKES AND GO AROUND ME TO KEEP FROM HITTING EACH OTHER. *TR

DRIVING HOME FROM A FAMILY ROAD TRIP, CAR BEGAN SLIPPING AND WENT INTO NEUTRAL. WILL NOT GO INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. NO ACCIDENT, BUT VERY CLOSE CALLS DURING STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON THE WAY HOME. VERY STRESSFUL SITUATION FOR A 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY WITH 69,000 MILES ON IT.*TR

AT 44,000 MILES, WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING, MY TRANSMISSION SIMPLY QUIT WORKING. LUCKILY I WAS ON A SMALL STREET AND NOT A MAJOR HIGHWAY. I HAD MY VAN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. TURNS OUT THE TORQUE CONVERTER HAD DISINTEGRATED INTO LUMPS OF METAL. SINCE I HAD PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I WASN'T WORRIED. WHAT A DREAMER! THE FORD PEOPLE SAID SINCE I HAD NOT HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED AT 30,000 MILES (WOULD NOT HAVE PREVENTED THIS PROBLEM) THEY DIDN'T AND WOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I HAD IT TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THE SAME THING. BOTH DEALERSHIPS CLAIMED THAT THEY HAD NEVER ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT IT IS A WIDELY KNOWN PROBLEM. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AAMCO (I WILL GIVE FORD NO MORE OF MY MONEY). THE MECHANIC THERE TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION FORD PUT INTO THESE VANS IS TOO SMALL FOR THE ENGINE. THAT IS WHY THEY ARE ALL GOING OUT. IT IS TRULY A DESIGN FLAW BY FORD. UNFORTUNATELY NO ONE IS HOLDING THEM RESPONSIBLE. THE REPAIR COST ME ALMOST $3500. SOMEBODY SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM FAILURE, MULTIPLE TIMES HAD FIXED KEEPS FAILING IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD, DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY VAN NEW IN JUNE 2004. IT HAS 69K MILES. I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 44 AT MILEPOST 46 IN MISSOURI AT 70 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE REVS UP AND THE VAN IS NOT ENGAGED IN GEAR. IT WAS A SCARY EXPERIENCE TRYING TO GET THE VEHICLE FROM THE PASSING LANE TO THE SHOULDER WHEN TRAFFIC IS HEAVY AND YOU ONLY CAN COAST TO THE SHOULDER. I AM EXTREMELY HAPPY THAT WE WERE NOT INJURED AND WE DID NOT INJURE ANYONE ELSE. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A NEARBY FORD DEALER. THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED IN 8 DAYS. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THERE WAS A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE OF THE PART. THE SERVICE WRITER ALSO INDICATED TO ME THAT HE HAS PERSONALLY HAS WRITTEN REPAIR ORDERS ON THREE SIMILAR MODELS WITHIN THE PAST YEAR WITH LESS MILES THAN MY VAN. MY INTERNET SEARCH ALSO INDICATED PAGES OF SIMILAR BREAKDOWN ON THE FORD PRODUCT. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY DO NOT PLAN ON ANY RECALL OR RESTITUTION. ALTHOUGH I HAVE BEEN INCONVENIENCED AND RESPONSIBLE FOR THE $1,800 IN RELATED REPAIR COST, I HOPE AND PRAY THAT NO ONE WILL BE KILLED WITH THIS PARTS FAILURE THAT GIVES YOU NO ADVANCE WARNING. *TR

2004 MERCURY MONTEREY 4.2 LITER ENGINE, 4 SPEED AUTOMATIC- NO WARRANTY 38,960 MILES WITHOUT WARNING, THE VAN STOPPED ACCELERATING ON FREEWAY ON-RAMP AND THE DRIVER HAD TO COAST TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY CLOVERLEAF. WHEN VEHICLE WAS SAFE FROM MERGING TRAFFIC BUT STILL ON FREEWAY SHOULDER THE ACCELERATOR WAS PUSHED AND THE VAN WOULD REV IT'S ENGINE IN ALL GEARS, FORWARD AND REVERSE WITHOUT MOVING FORWARD OR REVERSE. SINCE THE VAN WOULD NOT MOVE UNDER IT'S POWER ' THE VAN WAS TOWED TO A LINCOLN MERCURY DEALER. MY WIFE AND 1 YEAR OLD CHILD GOT A RIDE FROM FAMILY. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND SAID WE WOULD NEED AN ENTIRE REBUILT TRANSMISSION FROM FORD, PARTS AND LABOR WAS $3500 (3YR WARRANTY). THEY SHOWED ME THE TRANSMISSION FLUID PAN WITH MANY METAL SHAVINGS STUCK TO THE MAGNET. I SPOKE WITH FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS THREE TIMES AND AFTER A TWO DAY DELAY (THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEM HAD PROBLEMS) THEY GOT BACK WITH ME TO SAY FORD WOULD PROVIDE NO ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. I NEVER COMPLAINED TO ANYONE AT FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, I ONLY ASKED FOR THE ABILITY TO PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY POST-BREAKDOWN OR A DISCOUNT IN THE REPAIR COST. THIS VAN OPERATED, LOOKED, AND DROVE LIKE NEW BEFORE THE BREAKDOWN ' AND WE'VE ONLY HAD IT FOR ONE OIL CHANGE SINCE WE BOUGHT IT USED FROM THE DEALER. MY WIFE IS UNEASY WITH THE IDEA OF DRIVING IT AGAIN WITH SMALL CHILDREN FOR FEAR OF BECOMING STUCK IN AN UNSAFE LOCATION WITHOUT WARNING. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND DESIGN DEFECT ' PLEASE LOOK UND

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE SPEED DECREASED AND THE RPMS INCREASED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 33,800.

I WAS DRIVING ALONG AT ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN MY 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY SUDDENLY SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND BEGAN SLOWING DOWN. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE MAIN ROAD ONTO A SIDE STREET SO THE CAR COULD COAST TO A STOP. ACCORDING TO TWO SEPERATE FORD DEALERSHIPS THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. BOTH DEALERSHIPS CLAIM THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE FOR A COST OF $3500. THE CAR ONLY HAS 46,000 MILES ON IT. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR SOME TIME AND THEY REFUSE TO ISSUE A RECALL. THE REASON THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED IS DUE TO THE THOUSANDS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES THERE ARE NO PARTS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE OWNER. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BY FORD TO REPAIR THESE TRANSMISSIONS. *CN DUPLICATE TO 10231864 *SMCH

2004 MERCURY MONTEREY WITH MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDOWS NOT FUNCTIONING AND BRAKE PROBLEMS. *KB THE LAST TIME THE WINDOW MALFUNCTIONED, A NEW WINDOW MOTOR HAD TO BE INSTALLED. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR CALIPERS HAD BECAME STUCK AND RUINED THE BRAKE PADS. *JB

VEHICLE HAS 35,000 MILES. HEARD A GRINDING TYPE NOISE IN THE BRAKES. TOOK TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THAT THE BRAKE PADS WHERE WORN, THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE TURNED, THE CALIPER AND BRAKE BOOSTER WERE BAD. THE CALIPER WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE BRAKE BOOSTER AS A WARRANTY ITEM AS WE WERE ORIGINALLY TOLD, THEY LUBED A BUSHING AND SAID IF WE HAVE ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS, THEN THEY WOULD REPLACE IT. BRAKE AND ROTORS WERE AT MY EXPENSE. I ALSO FOUND IT STRANGE THAT WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR ITS 30,000 MILE SERVICING, NO ONE NOTED ANY SIGNIFICANT WEAR IN THE BRAKES, BUT 5,000 MILES LATER ALL OF THIS FELL APART. AT 35,000 THERE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. CONSIDERING THERE IS ANOTHER COMPLAINT ON RECORD FOR THE SAME THING, THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME SORT OF PROBLEM WITH THESE COMPONENTS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A HIGH-PITCHED WHISTLING SOUND. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO REFERENCED RECALL # 04V446000 (WHEELS:CAP/COVER/HUB). THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,600.

THE REAR LIFT GATE HYDRAULIC LIFT SUPPORT GAVE OUT (PASSENGER SIDE) INSTEAD OF A STEADY FAILURE, IT JUST GAVE, AND WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR, IT SLAMMED BACK SHUT FROM THE FULL OPEN POSITION, ALMOST LANDING ON TOP OF MY 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. *TR

MY 3 YEAR OLD WAS IN MY MERCURY MONTEREY WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF LEAVING . SHE TURNED THE KEY 1 SPOT ON THE IGNITION AND PULLED ON THE GEAR SELECTOR. MY VAN WITH MY CHILD ROLLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. HITTING 2 MAIL BOXES AND A CABLE ROUTER BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER GANLEY MERCURY IN BRUNSWICK ,OHIO. THEY TOLD ME THE CAR WAS MADE THIS WAY. I HAVE TRIED EVERY TYPE OF VEHICLE AND HAD FRIENDS TRY THIS IN THEIRS. NOT 1 VEHICLE WILL GO INTO GEAR WITH OUT THE BRAKE DEPRESSED OR WILL NOT GO AT ALL. I THINK THERE IS A DEFECT IN THIS VEHICLE. NOBODY AT FORD OR THE DEALER SHIP WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THIS,ALL THEY SAY IS ITS SUPPOSED TO DO THAT. I DON'T THINK IT IS. IF YOU COULD CONTACT ME I WOULD BE GRATEFUL. THANK YOU. *JB

PASSENGER "AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS EMPTY, THOUGH IT LIGHTS BRIEFLY AFTER THE ENGINE IS CRANKED AND THEN TURNS OFF. *JB

I HAD MY 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY PREMIERE MINIVAN IN FOR WARRANTY WORK ON THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM AND AT THE SAME TIME HAD AN OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION. VEHICLE HAS 17,890 MILES. UPON DOING THE TIRE ROTATION THE FORD DEALERSHIP CONTACTED ME TO ADVISE I HAD A DANGEROUS TIRE ON THE FRONT LEFT-SIDE. THEY SAID IT WAS CALLED TIRE SEPARATION OR SPLITTING. (I SAW IT MYSELF, LOOKS LIKE A LACERATION ON THE INSIDE WALL ABOUT 2 INCHES UP FROM THE RIM). THE TIRES ARE GOODYEAR INTEGRITY P235/60R16'S. THEY SAID THEY CANNOT HELP ME REPLACE IT UNDER WARRANTY. GOODYEAR ALSO WILL NOT HELP. I FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE THE TIRE WHEN IT IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE TIRE. WHAT ELSE CAN I DO? *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING THERE WAS ALWAYS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEELS. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN GRADUALLY WORSENING. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED ON BOTH SIDES ON JUNE 23, 2006. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL # 04V446000, REGARDING THE WHEELS:CAP/COVER/HUB. HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RACALL.

AT 42000 MILES, I HEARD GRINDING IN THE REAR BRAKES. I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I WAS SHOWN THAT THE DRIVER REAR BRAKES PADS WERE COMPLETELY GROUND INTO THE ROTOR. THE PASSENGER REAR BRAKES WERE ALMOST AS WORN. ROTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN THE REAR. THE FRONT BRAKES LOOK GREAT, AS IF THEY WERE NOT USED. I THEN HAD IT TAKEN IN FOR A SECOND OPINION. IT SEEMS THAT FOR HALF THE COST, I COULD GET THE BRAKES DONE WITH NEW CALIPERS THAT HAD GONE BAD. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. AT THE MILEAGE ON THE VAN, THE CALIPERS, BRAKES, AND ROTORS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED. I KEEP WONDERING IF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE PROBLEM OF ABOUT 50 TO 55 MPH THE VAN SEEMS TO ACT UP. IT IS LIKE I AM SLIDING ON ICE OR HYDROPLANING. WITH ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS THIS VAN HAS HAD, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT IS NEXT. *JB

I AM IN POSSESSION OF A MERCURY MONTERY 2004 PURCHASED NEW AUGUST 2004. WHEN THIS VEHICLE HAD 4000 MILES AND DURING THE FIRST LENGHTHY HIGHWAY TRIP IN MARCH 2005, I BECAME AWARE OF PULSATING BRAKES BEGINNING AT A SPEED OF 50MPH AND HIGHER. THIS PULSATING MADE ME UNABLE TO SAFELY BRAKE AT A SPEED OF OVER 50MPH. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE MERCURY DEALER IN APRIL WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND WAS INFORMED THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE AND DID NOT HAVE A SOLUTION. IT WAS THEN SUGGESTED TO ME THAT I HAVE THEM TURN THE ROTORS AND SEE IF THAT WOULD HELP. DUE TO NEWNESS OF THE VEHICLE, LOW MILEAGE OF THE CAR AND THE FACT THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, I EXPECT THEM TO REPLACE THE ROTORS, (IF INDEED FORD BELIEVES THE ROTORS ARE THE PROBLEM) NOT TURN THEM IN HOPES THAT WILL RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I REFUSED TO AGREE TO HAVING THE ROTORS TURNED AND WAS TOLD TO CONTINUE TO BRING THE CAR IN AND MAYBE THE DEALERSHIP WILL HAVE RECEIVED SOMETHING FROM FORD CONCERNING A SOLUTION OR RECALL. I THEN RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP MAY 26 AND AGAIN ASKED THAT THE BRAKES BE LOOKED AT FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS AGAIN ADVISED TO TURN THE ROTORS. I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE FORD SHOULD AUTHORIZE REPLACEMENT. IT IS A FACT THAT IF THE ROTORS ARE TURNED AT NOW 9700 MILES, I WILL NOT HAVE THE OPTION OF TURNING THE ROTORS AT THE TIME OF NORMAL WEAR WHICH WOULD BE AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000. I WOULD THEN HAVE TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AT MY OWN EXPENSE AS THE CAR WILL BE OUT O

THE FRONT WHEEL OF THE 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY FELL OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD 1030 MILES ON IT WHEN IT HAPPENED. IT WAS IN FOR A SAFETY/COURTESY/NEW CAR CHECK AT 600 MILES WHERE THE DEALER SAID HE RETORQUED THE WHEELS. 400 MILES LATER WE HAD A NOISE IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM -- THE TECH SAID THERE WAS A TSB ON IT AND THEY ORDERED THE PARTS. 30 MILES LATER, THE FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF AND DAMAGED THE FENDER, DOOR, SUSPENSION, BUMPER FASCIA, ETC. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE TECH DID NOT TAKE THE WHEELS OFF THE VEHICLE BUT DID TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE. WHEN WE PICKED UP THE VAN, MY WIFE ASKED THE SERVICE MGR IF THE VAN WAS OKAY TO DRIVE, HE SAID THE NOISE WAS A NUISANCE BUT SAFE. 30 MILES LATER THE WHELL CAME LOOSE. 2 LUG NUTS CAME OFF, STUDS REMAINED ON VAN. TWO OTHER LUGNUTS HAD THE STUDS WITH THEM AND SHEARED OFF. THE 5TH LUG NUT AND STUD ARE NOT TO BE SEEN OR FOUND. THE ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEELS HAVE OVAL NOT ROUND HOLES IN 4 OF THE 5 BOLT HOLES. IF THE TECH DID NOT TAKE THE WHEEL OFF AT THE 1000 MILE SERVICE BUT DID RETIGHTEN AT 600 MILES, THEN IN 400 MILES THE WHEEL WORKED LOOSE. THUS WE MAY HAVE A DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THESE WHEELS AND LUGNUTS. THE FEAR IS, HOW DO I KNOW IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN AFTER IT IS REPAIRED. *JB