RoadVitals

1996 Mercury Villager Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
25
Latest Apr 3, 2003
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
13%
of 188 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Mercury Villager submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 25 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.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structure
Filed Apr 3, 2003
1 injury reported

WHEN THE CONSUMER TRIED TO CLOSE THE DOOR, THE SENSOR FAILED AND THE SLIDING DOOR CLOSED ON THE CONSUMER HAND. *JB

NHTSA ID
10015149
Incident
Oct 1, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Nov 30, 2001

SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT STAY LATCHED WHILE DRIVING, DOOR WOULD COME OPEN INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNINGTHIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ID
899733
Incident
Nov 23, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Sep 17, 2001

THE POWER DOOR LOCK SYSTEM ENGAGES ON ITS OWN AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES AND OCCASIONS WHEN THE ENGAGE BUTTON HAS NOT BEEN TOUCHED. FOR EXAMPLE, THE LOCKS HAVE FREQUENTLY ENGAGED RIGHT AFTER THE DOORS HAVE BEEN CLOSED AND EVEN IF THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING AND THE IGNITION IS NOT ON; AT THE SAME MOMENT THE FRONT DOOR ACCESS LATCHES ARE PULLED; AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND NO ONE IS IN IT AND IT IS NOT RUNNING. OUR PROBLEM IS IDENTICAL TO THE PROBLEM REPORTED BY CBS EVENING NEWS ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2001 (NETWORK TELEVISION NEWS). ACCORDING TO THE NEWS REPORT, THIS PROBLEM OCCURS NOT ONLY WITH THE MERCURY VILLAGER, BUT ALSO THE NISSAN QUEST.*AK

NHTSA ID
752279
Incident
Jul 11, 1997
Body & structure
Filed Sep 13, 2001

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS SINCE WE HAVE HAD IT (3 YEARS). DOOR'S WILL LOCK AT ANY TIME RUNNING,OFF,OR NO KEYLESS (KEY FOB) OPPERATION. AFTER ABOUT $500 IN REPAIR CHARGES I WENT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER ONLY TO FIND THAT A TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED AND HAVE IT FIXED NOW WITH REPLACING THE MASTER SWITCH ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. FROM TALKING TO THE SEVICE MANAGER THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON MANY VANS LIKE THIS, THIS IS A SMALL TOWN DEALER. TO BAD THE OTHER DEALERSHIPS THAT WE TRIED DIDN'T KEEP UP WITH THE TSB'S IT TOOK LONGER FOR RESOLUTION AND THE WARRANTY IS LONG GONE. THIS PROBLEM HAS MADE THE LOCAL NEWS BUT THEY SAY THAT THEIR HAS NOT BEEN ANY REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM SO I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD FILL OUT THIS FORM.

NHTSA ID
752172
Body & structure
Filed Sep 7, 2001

DOORS LOCK ON THEIR WHEN DRIVING, STANDING STILL, WHEN I SHUT THE DOORS. NO WARNING. KEYS MUST BE IN SOMEONES HANDS AT ALL TIMES TO KEEP FROM BEING LOCKED OUT. ALSO WHEN UNLOCKING THE DOOR IT TAKES AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES OF CONTINUIOUS OPERATION TO GET IT TO STAY UNLOCKED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES. AUG 2001 A FIX SHEET HAD ARRIVED AT THE DEALER - MOISTURE IN WINDOW SWITCH. REPAIR COST - PART $300 PLUS LABOR.*AK

NHTSA ID
751888
Incident
Jan 1, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Aug 3, 2001

DOOR LOCKS WILL LOCK AUTOMATICALLY. THIS CAN HAPPEN WHEN ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW/ OPENING DOORS OR CLOSING DOORS. CONSUMER DOES NOT KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER.*AK *JB

NHTSA ID
893394
Incident
Jun 1, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Aug 3, 2001

WHEN EXITING VEHICLE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WITHOUT OWNER MANUALLY LOCKING THE DOORS. ALSO, WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVING DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED OCCUPANTS TO BE EITHER LOCKED INSIDE VEHICLE OR LOCKED OUTSIDE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
893347
Body & structure
Filed Aug 3, 2001

WHEN EXITING VEHICLE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WITHOUT OWNER MANUALLY LOCKING THE DOORS. ALSO, WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED OCCUPANTS TO BE EITHER LOCKED INSIDE VEHICLE OR LOCKED OUTSIDE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
893337
Body & structure
Filed Aug 2, 2001

THE LOCKS ON MY VILLAGER OPERATE ERRATICALLY. THEY WILL LOCK AUTOMATICALLY, WHEN THEY ARE UNLOCKED THEY MAY IMMEDIATLY RELOCK THEMSELVES AND SOMETIMES THE CAUSE THE DOOR TO JAM. I SAW THIS INFORMATION REPORTED ON CBS 11 TV IN DALLAS JUST THIS WEEK AND MY VAN DOES EXACTLY AS THE VANS THEY WERE SHOWING ON THE REPORT. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT A YEAR, AND IS WORSE DURING WARM WEATHER.*AK

NHTSA ID
749666
Body & structure
Filed Apr 8, 2001

PASSENGER AND SLIDING DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE WITH OR WITHOUT KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM OR INTERNAL LOCKING SYSTEM USED. I HAVE HAD THE SLIDING DOOR LOCKS ACTUATOR CHANGED AT MY EXPENSE. THE PASSENGER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ALSO. ACTUATORS EMIT A GRINDING SOUND WHEN KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM OR INTERNAL LOCKING SYSTEM IS ENGAGED AND TAKES SEVERAL (5) TIMES TO ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE.

NHTSA ID
743713
Incident
Aug 1, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Feb 26, 2001

INTERMITTENTLY DOOR LOCKS OPEN AND CLOSE AUTOMATICALLY. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND COULD NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
881453
Body & structure
Filed Oct 16, 2000

CONSUMER STATE WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE SLIDING DOOR BECOME UNLOCK. DOOR INDICATION LIGHT COME ON. PLEASE PROVDE FURTHER INFORMATIN.

NHTSA ID
873021
Body & structure
Filed Aug 1, 2000

THE DOORS WILL LOCK AUTOMATICALLY WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION OR NOT. WE HAD A BABY IN THE CAR AND THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE 35,000 MILES RECENTLY FORD TOLD US THEIR WAS A RECOMMEND FIX - SERVICE MESSAGE 11243 BECAUSE OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BUT IT IS NOT A RECALL. AS A SAFETY PROFESSIONAL I THINK THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS - POTENTIAL ENTRAPMENT OF SMALL CHILDREN WITHOUT ADEQUATE ESCAPE MECHANISM ( NOT BREAKING THE WINDOW) IS A CONCERN.

NHTSA ID
726381
Incident
Aug 1, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Feb 1, 2000

VEHICLES POWER DOOR LOCKS WILL ACTIVATE AND LOCK DOORS ON ITS OWN. THE DOORS HAVE LOCKED WITH CHILDREN IN CAR AND WHEN NO ONE WAS IN CAR.MAINLY DOES IT WHEN THE DRIVERS DOOR HAS JUST BEEN SHUT. *AK

NHTSA ID
718168
Incident
Jan 30, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Dec 31, 1999

MY MERCURY VILLAGER HAS A PROBLEM IN WHICH THE SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR POPS OPEN IF I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THIS OCCURS EVEN IF THE DOORS ARE LOCKED. *AK

NHTSA ID
716703
Incident
Dec 22, 1999
Body & structureEngine
Filed Nov 22, 1999

WHILE TRAVELING 75MPH VEHICLE MADE GRAVE NOISES & THEN DIED OUT. MANEUVERED TO SIDE OF ROAD. COULD NOT CHECK ENGINE OIL DUE TO DIP STICK NOT REMOVABLE. TOWED TO MECHANIC & INFORMED CONSUMER THA T UNDER HOOD FROZE UP DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
850507
Incident
Sep 11, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Sep 29, 1999

THE REAR SIDE DOOR UNLATCHES WHEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD. IT DOESN'T UNLATCH ALL THE WAY. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO ADJUST THE DOOR, BUT IT STILL HAPPENS. WE DO NOT HAVE TO HIT A BUMP FOR IT TO UNLATCH. THEY ARE GOING TO PUT ON A NEW DOOR LATCH.

NHTSA ID
712476
Body & structure
Filed Sep 23, 1999

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER'S CHILD WAS LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE, AND THEY COULDN'T GET THE CHILD OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID
848552
Incident
Aug 25, 1999
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Sep 3, 1999

ALL DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK ON THEIR OWN. CANNOT GET IN OR OUT UNLESS KEY IS USED. ALSO WOULD BEEP & HONK ON ITS OWN. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD ALSO COME ON. HAD TAKEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC CAN NOT REPAIR PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
846751
Incident
Jul 25, 1999
Body & structureEngine
Filed Aug 31, 1999

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 15MPH ENGINE STALLS. ALSO WHEN OPENING PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR SOMETHING TRIGGERS INSIDE THE LOCK MECHANISM, WHICH CAUSES THE DOOR TO AUTOMATICALLY LOCK. *AK

NHTSA ID
846235
Incident
Feb 8, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Aug 4, 1999

ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED WHEN CLOSING THE DOOR. AFTER INSTALLING CSS AND COMING TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR, ALL THE DOOR LOCKS WERE IN LOCKED POSITION WITH THE CHILDREN INSIDE. COMMON PROBLEM. DEALER SAID THAT THE SEAMS WERE NOT ADEQUATELY CLOSED AROUND THE DOOR LOCKS, CAUSING WATER TO ENTER, AND RESULTING IN A SHORT CIRCUIT. A TSB BULLETIN WAS ISSUED ON THIS REOCCURRING PROBLEM. DEALER IMPROVED THE SEAL AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK

NHTSA ID
844290
Incident
Dec 1, 1998
Body & structure
Filed Jun 28, 1999
1 injury reported

WHILE PARKED ON AN INCLINE SLIDING DOOR CAME DOWN, CAUSING INJURIES TO OCCUPANT COMING IN OR OUT OF VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
841254
Incident
Jun 27, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Jan 15, 1999

THE DOORS WOULD AUTOMATICALLY LOCK ON THEIR OWN AFTER GETTING IN OR OUT OF VEHICLE. THERE IS NO REMOTE LOCK RELEASE. HAPPENED AT LEAST 7 DIFFERENT TIMES. MANUFACTURER ADMITS A PROBLEM EXISTS, BUT DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO CORRECT IT. *AK

NHTSA ID
833650
Incident
Nov 27, 1998
Body & structure
Filed Sep 14, 1998

POWER DOOR LOCK IS LOCKING BY ITSELF,CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO BE TRAPPED WITHIN VEHICLE OR LOCKED OUTSIDE VEHICLE. DEALER NEEDS TO REPLACE DOOR LOCK SWITCH IN DOOR AND A PART WITHIN PANEL TO CORRECT DEFECT. *AK

NHTSA ID
827873
Body & structureFuel systemInterior & seats+4 more
Filed Aug 26, 1998

POWER WINDOWS FAILED CAUSING JAMMING.

NHTSA ID
539373
Incident
Oct 15, 1997

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .