Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1995 Mercury Villager submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 95 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 95, in the owner's own words
I HAVE A 1995 MERCURY VILLAGER. ON 6/6/08 I HEARD A NOISE AND SAW AND PUFF OF SMOKE. I WENT TO CHECK IT AND SAW NOTHING. I DROVE IT HOME AND THE NEXT MORNING THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE PASSENGER DOOR WERE BURNED UP. THE ENTIRE INSIDE WAS COVERED IN SMOKE. THE CAR WOULD NOT START, AND THE MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS WOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR CONSIDERING IT'S AGE AND CONDITION. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART AFTER REVERSING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN DRIVE PRIOR TO THE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE END OF THE CRANKSHAFT SNAPPED OFF AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 9/20/2006 - *NM
EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS BROKEN. I FOUND IT WHEN I WANTED TO REPLACE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKET. IN CANADA, THEY HAVE WORKED AOUT A FIX FOR THE STUDS BROKING WITH FORD WHY CAN'T WE THIS FIXED FOR FREE. *NM
THE CONSUMER BEGAN TO HEAR EXHAUST NOISES AND SMELLED EXHAUST GASES IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONSUMER THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUD(S) WERE BROKEN. THE TOTAL BILL WOULD HAVE BEEN APPROXIMATELY $1,000. THROUGH THE INTERNET, THE CONSUMER DETERMINED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. FORD INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT IT WASN'T THEIR PROBLEM AS THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WAS NOT A PART OF RECALL. *NM THE EXHAUST GASES LEAKED AT THE ENGINE. *SC *JB
1995 MERCURY VILLAGER BOUGHT USED IN JULY 2004, WITH 70,000 MILES. EXHAUST NOISE STARTED 2 MONTHS LATER. MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT IT'S A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THESE VEHICLES -- THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BREAK. SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM AND SO WELL KNOWN, YET THERE'S NO RECALL???!?!??! WHO IS LOOKING OUT FOR THE CONSUMER? *JB
ALWAYS HAVE A GAS ODOR IN THE CAR
MY 1995 MERCURY VILLAGER VAN THAT I PURCHASED 02-08-2004 (USED, AS IS) FROM ACE AUTO SALES IN MOBILE AL. CAUGHT ON FIRE ON A LONG BRIDGE GOING OVER WATER TO TAKE MY FRIEND TO WORK IT SHUT DOWN ON US WHILE WE WERE GOING AT LEAST 65MPH THE VAN STARTED SMOKING WE PULLED OVER JUMPED OUT AND IT EXPLODED 3 TIMES FIRE WAS SHOOTING FROM UP UNDER THE HOOD MY FRIEND STRUGGLED TO MY BABY OUT OF THE VAN BY THAT TIME IT EXPLODED AGAIN, THEY HAD TO DUCK DOWN BECAUSE MOTER OIL WAS SHOOTING OUT THEY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED, THEY COULD HAVE FELL OVER THE BRIDGE!!!! WE HAD TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMEN BY THE TIME THEY GOT THERE THE FIRE WAS OUT MY FRIEND GOT BURNT TRYING TO PUT IT OUT WE HAD TO BECAUSE THE FIRE HAD SPREAD UNDER THE VAN BECAUSE OF THE OIL, THE GROUND WAS ON FIRE , I PAYED $1500 DWN AND $200 A MONTH FOR 2 1/2 MONTHS AND I HAVE NO CAR THE DEALER DOESN'T CARE THAT WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND HE DOESN'T CARE THAT IM A SINGLE PARENT WITH 5 CHILDREN AGES 9 MONTHS TO 14YRS AND ONE IS DISABLED THEY OFFERD NO HELP THEY TOOK MY MONEY THATS NOT EASY TO COME UP WITH WHEN YOU HAVE KIDS AND RAN WITH IT IM A POOR YOUNG WOMAN TRYING TO MAKE IT AND BECAUSE OF THE AS IS LAW I GET SHAFTED WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO DO I CANT EVEN TAKE MY SICK DAUGHTER TO THE DOCTOR SHE HAD A STROKE WHEN SHE WAS 7YRS SHES 10 NOW AND SHES HAS A TRACHE AND IS IN AND OUT OF A WHEEL CHAIR SHE CANT USE HER LEFT SIDE OF HER BODY. I SEEN ON THE INTERNET THAT THE MERCURY VILLARGER HAD SOME RECALLS WHAT IM I GOING TO DO LIKE I SAID IM A STRUGGLING WOMAN .TRYING TO RAISE HER KIDS HOW AM I GOING TO GET THEM TO SCHOOL .*AK
MY 1995 MERCURY VILLAGER HAS A CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD DUE TO FAULTY STUDS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. WHERE IS THE RECALL? TO FIX PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN QUOTED $1,500 FROM A DEALER! *AK
SIDE SLIDING DOOR STICKS,SLIDING DOOR WINDOW DOESNT STAY SHUT,LOCKS WILL LOCK THEMSELVES ,BACK WIPER MALFUNCTIONS,GRINDING AND SQUEAKING FROM BRAKES,SMELL OF FUEL FROM PASSENGER SIDE AND PASSENGER P/W STICKS SOMETIMES
THE PAINT IS CRACKED ON THE HOOD, UNKNOWN WHAT MONTH, ABOUT 1997. WE NEVER HAD IT FIXED. DRIVERS DOOR SEATBELT STAYS IN THE RUNNING POSITION, IT WON'T MOVE FORWARD, BUT IT MAKES A LOUD MOTOR NOISE, UNKNOWN WHAT MONTH, SINCE ABOUT 1999. WE NEVER HAD IT FIXED. THE SEAT BELT ON THE RIGHT NEXT TO THE MIDDLE SEAT FELL OFF. WE TOLD THE DEALER. THEY ORDERED ONE. WE WENT BACK ABOUT A MONTH LATER THEY SAID IT WAS TOO LATE TO FIX IT. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN ABOUT MAY OF 1998, AT ABOUT 120,000 MILES. WE HAD IT REBUILT. IT WENT OUT AGAIN ABOUT A YR LATER. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT REBUILT AGAIN RIGHT NOW. SO IT SITS. IN JUL OR AUG OF 1998, THE MOTOR WENT OUT. WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, AND IT STARTED KNOCKING, THEN QUIT. ALSO ON CHRISTMAS EVE OF 1997, WE WERE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE THING SOUNDED LIKE ALL THE RODS WERE KNOCKING. THE TEMP GAUGE SAID IT WAS OVER HEATING. WE PAID A GUY $100 TO BRING IT FROM EDMORE, MI TO BATTLE CREEK, MI. THE NEXT DAY WE WENT OUT AND STARTED IT, AND IT WAS FINE. OUR TAIL LIGHTS ALSO WENT OUT, THE FORD DEALER FIXED THEM. SO NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WILL NEVER BUY A MERCURY AGAIN. IF I HAD WANTED A NISSAN, I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT A NISSAN. I HAVE A 1976 FORD CHATEAU CLUB WAGON, OVER 250,000 MILES. IT HAS ONLY HAD TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION AT ABOUT 240,000 MILES. SO I GUESS I AM SAYING THIS VILLAGER IS A LEMON. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, DAWN GREEN
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT INTERMITTENT GAS FUMES SINCE JANUARY 2001. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM AND VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. YET, VEHICLE WAS STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH HEARD ENGINE RATTLING NOISE. ENGINE QUIT RUNNING AND FAILED TO RESTART. TOWED TO MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED CRANKSHAFT WAS BROKEN. MECHANIC SAID HE HAS HAD 3 OTHER BROKEN CRANKSHAFTS ON SAME MODEL VEHICLE WITH FRONT WHEEL DRIVE, TRANSVERSELY MOUNTED ENGINE, BUT NO SUCH PROBLEMS SEEN WHEN SAME ENGINE IS MOUNTED WITH DRIVESHAFT TO REAR WHEELS.*AK
THE WATER PUMP FAILED. *JB...*AK
THE CRANKSHAFT BROKE, WITHOUT WARNING.*JB
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*JB
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH SPEED, THE ENGINE WENT DEAD WITHOUT WARNING. TOWED THE CAR TO A SERVICE GARAGE, SOUTH RIVER AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR LLC, 178 HILLSIDE AVE., SOTH RIVER, NJ 08882. THE MECHANIC FOUND CRANKCASE SNAPPED OFF AT THE HARMONIC BALANCER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY THIS COULD HAPPEN IS DUE TO FAULTY AND DEFECTIVE MATERIALS.
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL FILTER BOX REPLACED TWICE, BUT VEHICLE STILL HAS ODOR . TS
HAVE HAD SEVERAL WATER PUMPS REPLACED IN OUR 1995 MERCURY VILLAGER. BEGINS LEAKING AFTER TWO TO FOUR WEEKS DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER. 4 REPLACED LAST WINTER, DROVE FINE DURING SUMMER, RECENTLY REPLACED AGAIN BY SAME REPAIR SHOP. EACH TIME THE WATER PUMP LEAKS BY THE SEALS IN THE PUMP. DEFECTIVE DESIGN?
MY 1995 MERCURY VILLAGER''S CRANKSHAFT BROKE SUDDENLY UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION. IT WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE WE TRAVELED WITH TWO YOUNG CHILDREN ON A 2-WAY ROAD WITHOUT SHOULDER THAT NIGHT. WE NOTICED THAT A COMMON PROBLEM EXISTED ON BOTH NISSAN QUEST AND MERCURY VILLAGER (1993-1995) DUE TO NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINS ON INTERNET. WE BELIEVE IT IS A DEFECT CAUSED BY IMPROPER DESIGN BY MANUFACTURE. SINCE IT IS A POTENTIAL LIFE-THREATEN DEFECT, THE AUTO MAKER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTING THE PROBLEM.
WHILE DRIVING AUTOMOBILE AT 55 MPH, LOST ALL POWER SUDDENLY. AUTOMOBILE TOWED TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT HAD BROKEN.*AK
THERE ARE PIECES OF CARBON, CLOGGING UP THE MOTOR, AND CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUTDOWN WHILE DRIVING.*AK
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ONE EVENING IN THE RAIN. THE ENGINE STARTED SPUTTERING AND THEN STALLED. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY POWER FOR THE STEERING OR BRAKES. I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THEN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THOUGHT I OVERHEATED THE ENGINE UNTIL I COULD SMELL THE SMOKE ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I LEFT THE VAN AND GOT ABOUT 50 YARDS BEFORE CALLING THE POLICE. BY THE TIME THE EMERGENCY CREWS ARRIVED, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY ESTIMATED THE DAMAGE AT $13000 BUT PAID SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THAT TO WRITE OFF THE VEHICLE AS A TOTAL LOSS. I AM STILL WITHOUT EXPLANATION ABOUT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD RECENTLY SINCE I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY BE A SAFETY ISSUE FOR OTHER MERCURY VILLAGER OWNERS.*AK
DRIVERS SEATBELT HAS STOPPED WORKING FOR THE 3RD TIME, IT WAS REPLACED IN FEBRUARY AND APRIL OF 2001, IT WAS REPLACED TWICE IN MAY 2001 AND IS BEING REPLACED AGAIN AT THIS TIME. BURNED OUT MOTOR IS THE CAUSE.*AK CONSUMER STATES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AT TIME WHEN DRIVING BUT DOES NOT STAY ON AND MOLDING ON DRIVER SIDE IS LOOSE. *YD
THE REAR FIRESTONE SI TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND WRAPPED AROUND THE AXLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID AND CRASH. (TIRE SIZE, P205/75SR15).THE CONSUMER WAS ASKING REIMBURSEMENT. *YH
CRANKSHAFT BROKE, AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER.*AK VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT THE TIME OF INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER AND A KNOCKING SOUND WAS HEARD INDICATING THE CRANKSHAFT HAD BROKEN. *JG
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .