2005 MERCURY MONTEGO AWD REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE, NEEDING REPLACEMENT. *TR
2005 Mercury Montego powertrain problems
severe 43 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
43
Recalls
0
Crashes
3
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MONTEGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN UNUSUAL CLICKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BECAME HESITANT TO ACCELERATE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.
I OWN A 2005 MERCURY MONTEGO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES WOULD ILLUMINATE AND DROP TO ZERO AND THE SEAT BELT INDICATORS WOULD ILLUMINATE AND CHIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MONTEGO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP VIOLENTLY IN A JERKING MOTION. IN ADDITION, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NINETEEN DIFFERENT TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO STATED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFAC…
PURCHASED CAR ON 10/3/2011 FROM DRIVETIME MOTORS. ON THE WAY HOME, CAR HAD OBVIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. TOOK IN FOR SERVICE ON 10/5/2011, AND TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. UPON TESTING, PRIOR TO PICK UP, THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT TRANSMISSION TO BE A BAD ONE. REPLACED WITH ANOTHER LKQ TRANSMISSION. PICKED UP CAR ON 10/27/11. ON 10/29/2011, THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT ALERTED IN CAR. PARKED CAR…
MY 2005 MERCURY MONTEGO WITH JUST OVER 18, 000 MILES SUDDENLY WENT DEAD, WHILE PARTIALLY PULLED OUT IN TRAFFIC. IT WAS TRACED TO THE CVT TRANSMISSION. NO HARM OCCURRED, BUT I AM GOING TO GET RID OF THE CAR. I ALSO NOTICED INFO ON THE INTERNET WITH CVT PROBLEMS. I SEE TOO THAT FORD PULLED OUT THE CVT TRANSMISSIONS ON ITS NEW MODELS FOR THE SABLE (WHICH WAS THE MONTEGO) AND TAURUS. I HAD TO PAY JUST…
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 50 MPH I WENT TO ACCELERATE AND THE TRANSMISSION SPUTTERED AND THEN TRIED TO DOWNSHIFT BUT INSTEAD LOCKED UP AND CAUSED THE CARS FRONT TIRES TO SQUEAL AND A RAPID SLOW DOWN. THIS FAILURE OCCURS ANYTIME I TRY TO ACCELERATE TO PASS A VEHICLE. WITH CAREFUL DRIVING I CAN MINIMIZE IT BUT AM NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE VERY WELL. DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME TO REPLACE T…
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2005 Mercury Montego?
It's a meaningful issue. 43 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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