2004 MERCURY MONTEREY Complaints

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 OF WARRANTY. I THEN CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE REPLACEMENTS OF THE ROTORS, ONLY TURNING. I FEEL THE PULSATING BRAKES ARE A SAFELY ISSUE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP THIS VEHICLE AT SPEEDS OF OVER 50MPH AND THAT FORD IS NOT ADDRESSING THIS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF ITS CUSTOMERS.

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