Corrosion of third row seat attachment. On 23 June 2016, removed interior panel to service auxiliary A/C unit and discovered severely rusted area around the third-row seat attachment. Both left and right sides of the vehicle are rusted; the left side is much worse than the right side at this time. Contacted local dealer and their representative body shop; both refused to repair the problem due to potential liability issues. Was referred to Ford customer relationship service. They noted there are no active recalls for my vehicle - and since I am not in a "high corrosion" state, recall 13S01 does not apply (NHTSA campaign number 13V081000). Have attached pictures of the affected areas. Am trying to determine what resources are available to repair this problem if the dealer and their representative body shop refuse to approach it.

- Rineyville, KY, USA

There is a recall on Mercury Monterey 2004 vehicles to replace the seat anchor mechanism on the third row seat due to corrosion. NHTSA campaign number 13V081000. My vehicle is not part of this recall by VIN number but my vehicle's seat anchor mechanism has become dislodged from the wheel well and moves freely causing my third row seat not to latch in place properly. I am asking for an investigation to be started into other Mercury Monterey 2004 vehicles outside of this recall notice to determine if they need to be included on this recall. My vehicle is currently registered in Virginia which is not listed on the recall but for the first 6+ years of its life was located in northern Virginia and driven on District of Columbia roads which is part of the recall notice. I believe Virginia should be added to the list of states in which this recall should apply.

- Salem, VA, USA

TL- the contact owns a 2004 Mercury Monterey. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 mph, the rear seat and rear tires made a loud noise on multiple occasions. The contact received a NHTSA campaign recall id number:13V081000 for the seats and the dealer was unable to repair the vehicle correctly or diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was notified multiple times of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 60,000. Rk updated 5/28/14

- Carmi, IL, USA

The vehicle was stopped at the time. My daughter had opened up the 3rd row rear bench seat from the floor. In the process of trying to adjust it, she noticed that it made a racheting sound and the seat back would not stay in position. A week later, after a close examination, I observed that the bracket that the front latch is mounted on at the drivers side is rusted and allows large amounts of vertical movement. After wiggling the bracket up and down, I observed about a tablespoon of rust flakes on the carpet. Not really sure what to do about this.

- Sterling Heights, MI, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Monterey. The contact stated that the safety latch on the third row seat attached to the wheel well and caused it to fracture. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000. The current mileage was approximately 130,000.

- Quincy, MI, USA

While driving down the highway the 3rd rear seat started vibrating violently followed by a load bang. Upon inspection I found the 3rd seat could not locked back in place because the lock down striker was gone and I could look through the hole in the side of the van and see the tire in the wheel well. The 3rd seat is now useless. This should never happen on any vehicle. Although the Ford representative stated it was "[xxx]" he said Ford would not fix it and I should file a complaint. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Mentor, OH, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Monterey. The contact stated that the rear seat lock mechanism was corroded. The contact mentioned that the part where the seat latched into the body of the vehicle was completely corroded and a piece had detached from it. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 124,900 and the current mileage was 125,000.

- Downers Grove, IL, USA

While driving I noticed my third row seat was bouncing some, when I stopped I found that the latch holding the seat down was unattached. When I took it into the dealer he said that it is rusted through. I had my special needs son in that seat, hit his head but nothing major. Unfortunately I now am unable to Transport my special needs son because he has to be in the third row seat. My drivers side wheel well is also totally rusted through and water is getting into the car. I am not sure if it is related but my traction control light is always off and on along with the tire pressure indicator. I already replaced the PCM last year when my car became un-drivable due to major electrical issues.

- Commerce Twp., MI, USA

When my 10 year old son was getting in the car today he noticed that the 3rd row seat was wobbly and moving around. We saw that the latch that holds the seat in place was no longer there! in its place was a hole to the outside of the car. I looked in the drivers-side rear wheel well and saw that the entire latch anchor plate had rusted completely off! thankfully I noticed this before we got on the road because the anchor plate was laying lodged between the wheel and the body of the car - who knows what type of accident or further damage could have occurred to our own vehicle or to others who could have been in the path of the falling, detached plate. I have 3 children and can no longer drive my van since the rear seat is not fully attached to the vehicle and my children are too young to ride in the front seat - not to mention the large, gaping hole in my car. It appears that the passenger-side plate is rusting through as well. This is a 2004 and should not be having such severe rust issues that entire pieces of the body are falling off.

- Etters, PA, USA

The backseat anchor, located in the rear driver's side wheel well, completely detached while driving down the road. The third row seat will now not lock in place and moves around.

- Lafayette, IN, USA

On June 17, 2012 my son went to sit in the rear seat and the seat dropped. Then we heard a noise from that same wheel. I took it to our mechanic the next day and they said that the latch for the rear seat and floor has rusted through and causing the floor to fall on the tire which now has a big chunk out of it. He said that we should no longer use the rear seats. He said that with the progression that rust moves that we will only be able to use this van for maybe another year. This van is only 8 years olds and has serious interior rust issues. I would only think that this is a safety issue since we can no longer safely put anyone in the rear seats and when this happened it could have caused a tire to blow out.

- Olathe, KS, USA

While driving car, the rear of vehicle started making loud grinding noise while making right turn. Result-rear wheel wells corroded causing the 3rd row seat anchor to completely detach from the vehicle resulting in exposing the interior of vehicle and rendering the third seat unsafe to use.

- Parma, OH, USA

Large section of driver side rear wheel well/underbody, broke off from vehicle including an anchor for the third row seat. This left the third row seat unsafe to use and the interior of the vehicle exposed to the elements. Piece was clearly rotted through. We are told it will cost $1200 to repair, parts are scarce and difficult to obtain. Unable to safely utilize third row seat until repaired. Water is trapped in the underbody and could be damaging to the electrical system. Pictures available upon request.

- Canton, MI, USA

After a rainstorm I opened the tailgate of my vehicle and was surprised to find that the rear wheel well was wet. I vacuumed the water out and brought it to the dealer almost 2 months later after finding moisture several other times. The dealer had a service tech try to recreate how the water got in and "determined" that I had cracked a panel. The only crack visible to me was in a trim piece around the license plate. They told me it would cost over $600 to repair. I told them nevermind. That much water could not come from that crack. Fast forward to a time near the present. Most recently, the "pull", a plastic and nylon piece on the back of the seat failed. Soon there after, one of the nylon straps used to retract the seat failed. I cannot get my seat back in to the "stowed" position. After removing the trim from the back of the seat I found all sorts of rust and corrosion to the seat base. I wouldn't feel comfortable driving with a passenger in my 3rd row seating anymore. I understand there may also be a recall on this car for some sort of leak in the wheel wells. I've been driving around with dampness in the back of my van for two plus years now and I feel like Ford Motor Co. Is passing the buck on to the consumer to save some money. I have no faith in american made vehicles between this and a separate transmission incident. I don't even want to get on the stereo.

- Wall, NJ, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Mercury Monterey. The contact stated while driving 60 mph the rear wheel well that secured the rear seat was covered with rust and broke away. The vehicle will be taken to the dealer to be repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and a claim was filed. They offered no additional assistance. The failure mileage was 123,000. Updated 09/02/11 updated 10/31/11

- Taylor, MI, USA