MercuryMontego2006Overview/mercury/montego/2006/base/

2006 Mercury Montego

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2006 Montego.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (variable gear ratios)

The 2006 Mercury Montego is a passenger car paired with an automatic transmission utilizing variable gear ratios, an engine requiring 6.0 quarts of 5W-20 API oil, and EPA ratings of 17 city, 23 highway, and 19 combined mpg. Across the model's 2004–2007 lifespan, this year sits as a middle tier in reliability: its 85 total owner complaints — concentrated heavily in the power train area with zero recalls — mark a retreat from the 2005 peak of 135 complaints yet remain well above the 2004 launch year's remarkably low three. For researchers, that trajectory suggests Mercury made meaningful corrections after a troubled sophomore year but still left powertrain concerns unresolved enough to keep complaint volumes elevated heading into the model's final production year.

Model year200720062005197619751974197319721971

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/23/19 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 36R · 600 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 36R · 600 CCAOEM · verified
High beam bulb2OEM · verified
Tire sizeP225-55R18OEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 23 / 19 mpg
Drivetrain4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume108 cu ft
Cargo volume21 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.0 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity10.1
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity6.0 qt
Power Steering FluidATF
Transfer Case Fluid75W-90 · GL-5
Transfer Case Fluid Capacity1.9 pints

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts15 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill PlugPTU: 36 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub184 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub148 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-4-2-5-3-6
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug Gap0.042-0.046 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant CapacityLess auxiliary climate control, 1.81. With auxiliary climate control, 2.38. lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil CapacityLess auxiliary climate control, 7.00. With auxiliary climate control, 9.00. oz
Standard BCI Group Number36R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test13-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief13-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature180-203 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)39.7
Injector Primary Resistance11-18 DOHC ohms
Engine Oil Pressure11 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM1500 rpm
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket44 ft-lbs / 23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle74 ft-lbs / 81 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.118; Rear: 0.118 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0004 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.003 in
Rotor Minimum Machining1.067 in / 0.417 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.043 in / 0.394 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Coat bolt threads with clean engine oil.

137.0 ft. lbs.37 ft. lbs
2Loosen 360 degrees360 degrees
322.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
490 degrees90 degrees
590 degrees90 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Temperature Controlled Seat Air Filter (replace)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miTransmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · PCV Valve (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miDrive Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2006 Mercury Montego sits on the downward slope of its generation's federal record, following a dramatic spike in issues during the 2005 model year which saw 135 complaints and 2 recalls. For 2006, complaints dropped to 85 with zero recalls and 23 TSBs, indicating a partial resolution of the prior year's widespread issues, though it remains the second-most problematic year of the generation. Power train concerns lead the 2006 complaints at 15, followed by vehicle speed control (9) and engine categories (7 and 5), though the data does not specify the root causes for these failures. Additionally, the 2006 model logged five crash complaints and one fire complaint, warranting caution regarding the potential severity of these mechanical failures. While the 2006 model benefits from the elimination of the recalls seen in 2005, its relatively high complaint volume and safety-related reports make it a less desirable choice than the much-improved 2007 model year.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
23
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
85
Owner complaints
5 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 85 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train15
Vehicle Speed Control9
Engine7
Engine & Engine Cooling5
Power Train,Engine3
Fuel System, Gasoline3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Structure3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 23 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SSM 460852016-09-21Engine And Engine CoolingThe Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing…
CSP-12N032012-11-29EngineFORD: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. MOMENTARY ENGINE IDLE RPM SURGE MAY BE…
08-4-112008-03-01Service Brakes, HydraulicTRACTION CONTROL LAMP ON--NO DTC'S PRESENT, OR DTC P1889 IN DIFFERENTIAL ELECTRONIC…
07102007-11-28Service Brakes, AirFORD\MERCURY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. CERTAIN 2005…
197222007-04-01Engine And Engine CoolingMIL WITH DTC P0106 AND/OR P0109. *KB

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

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VIN
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Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2006 Montego take?

6.0 qt of 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2006 Montego have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Montego get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 23 highway / 19 combined mpg.