1996 Mercury Villager Problems

WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. DEALERSHIP DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

I NOTICED THERE WAS AN EXHAUST SMELL SEEPING INTO THE VAN, I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH QUEST'S AND VILLAGER'S SNAPPED EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS. I CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SURE ENOUGH THERE WERE 2 STUDS BROKEN AND MISSING. I CALLED SEVERAL DEALERS AND GOT QUOTES AND FOUND A NISSAN DEALER TO DO IT FOR $800 THEY SEEM TO HAVE MORE EXPERINCE DOING IT SINCE IT ALSO IS A PROBLEM WITH PATHFINDERS AND MAXIMAS. I CALLED FORD AND THEY FLAT OUT REFUSED TO HELP OUT AT ALL!

WHILE I AM DRIVING THE SLIDING DOOR WILL POP. CURRENTLY IT DOES NOT COMPLETELY OPEN, BUT IS DOES BECOME UNSECURED. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON AND WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT INHIBITS MY VISION AND MAKES DRIVING UNSAFE. MY CHILDREN ARE ALSO THE PASSENGERS NEAR THE DOOR AT THIS TIME AND I AM AFRAID THAT THE DOOR WILL FLY OPEN AND CAUSE HARM EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE IN SAFETY BELTS. I HAVE HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE LATCH AND HE SEES NOTHING THAT SHOULD BE CAUSING THIS TO MALFUNCTION. *NM

I HAD A LOW IMPACT ACCIDENT WHERE THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE HIT THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. (FORGOT TO PUT CAR IN PARK AND WAS ABOUT 4 FEET FROM BACK OF ANOTHER CAR ON SLIGHT GRADE, WELL YOU KNOW THE REST).*AK AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE SLIDING DOOR BEGAN TO "POP" ENOUGH FOR THE AJAR DOOR LIGHT TO COME ON BUT NOT ENOUGH FOR THE DOOR TO ACTUALLY OPEN. I HAVE CHECKED WITH THE PEOPLE THAT GAVE ESTIMATES ON REPAIRS AND WAS INFORMED BY EVERY ONE THAT IT WAS NOT A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. WHAT I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND IS WHY IT STARTED ONLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE LOCKS MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF WARE.

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

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

JUST PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE, IN GREAT SHAPE. HOWEVER THERE IS A VERY INTOXICATING GAS SMELL INSIDE CABIN OF VEHICLE, AFTER REFUELING AND WHEN TANK IS BETWEEN 1/4 AND 1/2 FULL I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE 4 DAYS, AND I TRAVEL FOR A LIVING AND IT IS EVERY TIME IT GETS TO THE 1/4 TO 1/3 FULL RANGE. I HAVE TWO OTHER FRIENDS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME MODEL.

WHEN VEHICLE IDLES FUEL FUMES SEEP THROUGH THE VENTS INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER STATES FUEL RAIL LEAKS.

SUN VISOR ASSEMBLY BREAKS AFTER SHORT PERIOD CAUSING IT TO DROP INTO DRIVERS VISION AND DRASTICALLY INTERFERE WITH ABILITY TO SEE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. REPLACEMENT COST IS $97.00 FOR ONE SUN VISOR. MERCURY VILLAGER OWNERS CLUB REPORTS THIS AS A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE.*JB

SIDE DOOR DOESN'T STAY CLOSED AFTER BEING LOCKED. CONTACTED DEALER. CANNOT FIND PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE TURNING FROM STREET INTO A SHORT STEEP DRIVEWAY APPROACH, FRONT LOWER BUMPER FACIA DRUG VERY SLIGHTLY ON THE STEEP APPROACH RAMP SETTING OFF THE AIRBAGS, WHICH BROKE THE WINDSHIELD, CRACKED THE DASH, SNAPPED ALL FOUR BACK SIDE WINDOW LATCHES, AND CAUSED BACK NECK AND SHOULDER INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. *TR

WHILE PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE AIR BAGS CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. *AK

WHILE DRIVING WOULDSTEP ON BRAKES PEDAL, AND THEY WILL NOT ACTIVATE. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER,AND BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. (PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION). *AK

I PURCHASED A USED VAN, THERE SEEM TO BE SEVERAL RECALLS EITHER NOT IDENITFIED OR NOT KNOW ABOUT, EITHER WAY THEY WERE NOT FIXED. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FINE A DEALER WHOM WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALLS AND REPAIR THEM.*AK

SHOULDER BELT ON PASSENGER 'S SIDE IN THE MIDDLE ROW OF SEATS WILL NOT PULL OUT SO THAT A PASSENGER CAN BE RESTRAINED. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PART WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND THEY WERE NOT GOING TO TOUCH IT. *AK *JB

INTERMITTENTLY THE THROTTLE WILL STICK NOT ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO ACCCELERATE WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE. MORE THAN NORMAL PRESSURE HAS TO TO BE APPLIED, WHICH MAKES VEHICLE ACCELERATE WITH MORE SPEED THAN INTENDED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT STOP LIGHT ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK. ENGINE REVVED, AND VEHICLE BUMPED INTO THE ONE IN FRONT. VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED LIKE THIS TWICE. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THIS.*AK

THE TILT WHEEL ASSEMBLY MOVES SIDEWAYS AS YOU ARE MAKING TURNS TO THE LEFT. ON COLD DAYS THE RACK AND PINION WORKS FINE ON THE LEFT SIDE BUT TAKES A WHILE TO WORK ON THE RIGHT SIDE. IT'S AS IF IT NEEDS TO WARM UP, FIRST.

HEAD CONTROL MODULE WIRE HARNESS IN BACK OF THE DASH PANEL BURNED UP. WIRES WERE COMPLETELY MELTED. *AK SEVERAL ELECTRICAL RELATED PROBLEMS: BATTERY FAILURE, OPEN CIRCUIT IN MAIN ENGINE HARNESS TO EGR SOLENOID, OVERHEAD LIGHT FAILED, POWER DOOR LOCKS WERE OPERATING BY THEMSELVES, POWER LOCKS WOULD NOT LOCK WITH THE SWITCH, REAR WINDSHILED WIPER SWITCH FAILED AND REAR WIPERS WOULD NOT STOP EVEN AFTER FUSE WAS REMOVED, SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN WITH REMOTE OR SWITCH. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. POWER STEERING PUMP NOISY AND WAS REPLACED. AIR CONDITIONER MOTOR FAILED. WHEN LOCKING VEHICLE WITH KEY, HORN WOULD OPERATE, KEYLESS ENTRY HAD JUST BEEN INSTALLED. *SLC

I PURCHASED A USED VAN, THERE SEEM TO BE SEVERAL RECALLS EITHER NOT IDENITFIED OR NOT KNOW ABOUT, EITHER WAY THEY WERE NOT FIXED. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FINE A DEALER WHOM WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALLS AND REPAIR THEM.*AK

WHILE SLOWLY PULLING OUT MY TRANSMISSION'S MAIN SHAFT SNAPPED. LUCKILY I WAS NOT PULLING OUT IN TO TRAFFIC, SINCE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

DT: CONSUMER STATED: IT WAS NIGHT, COLD OUTSIDE, AND WHILE DRIVING SMELLED BURNING RUBBER. PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, OPENED HOOD BEDORE HOOD WAS COMPLETED OPENED, CONSUMER COULD SEE FLAMES BURNING AND THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR PULLEY WAS SO HOT THAT IT WAS GLOWING RED. THE BELT ATTACHED TO THE COMPRESSOR WAS BURNING. *AK THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DAMAGING THE COMPRESSOR AND BELT(S) AND LIKELY OTHER A/C COMPONENTS. *NM CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT FIRE. THE A/C COMRESSOR FAILED CAUSING THE FIRE. *TT

THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL WHEN STARTING VEHICLE. A NOISE CAN BE HEARD FROM FUEL TANK AREA. DEALER STATED FUEL PUMP FAILED. HOWEVER THERE IS A RECALL CAMPAIGN 00V419002 REGARDING FUEL LEAKAGE OF THE FUEL TANK. *TT

THE CAR CONTINUALLY LOCKS ITSELF (POWER LOCKS). IF I'M OUTSIDE THE CAR I HAVE TO REPEATEDLY TRY TO UNLOCK IT WHILE AT THE SAME TIME IT RELOCKS ITSELF. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS IT WILL STOP AND LET ME IN. SAME IS TRUE IF I'M IN THE CAR EXCEPT NOW I CAN'T GET OUT. IT'S USUALLY MUCH WORSE DURING THE DAY THAN AT NIGHT. DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE IN THE CAR, TRYING TO GET IN OR NEARBY (I DON'T HAVE A REMOTE NOR IS IT AN OPTION). THE CAR CAN BE SITTING IDLE FOR HOURS AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTS LOCKING AND UNLOCKING ITSELF IN RAPID SUCCESSION. RARELY IF EVER DOES IT END UP UNLOCKED. WILL OCCASIONALLY GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCEDURE WHILE DRIVING. IT DOESN'T EFFECT ANYTHING BUT ALL THE DOOR LOCKS (AT LEAST THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ASCERTAIN). IF IT MATTERS I COULD SEND A VIDEO OF THIS PROBLEM. THE QUESTION BELOW OF WHEN DOES THIS HAPPEN IS MOOT. IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY AT ANYTIME. I'VE TRIED NUMEROUS WORKAROUNDS WITH LITTLE SUCCESS BECAUSE THE CAR SEEMS TO ADAPT AND THEN BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT. ( BELIEVE ME, I KNOW WHAT THIS SOUNDS LIKE.)

I PURCHASED A USED VAN, THERE SEEM TO BE SEVERAL RECALLS EITHER NOT IDENITFIED OR NOT KNOW ABOUT, EITHER WAY THEY WERE NOT FIXED. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FINE A DEALER WHOM WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALLS AND REPAIR THEM.*AK

LEFT FRONT TIE ROD HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT PROBABLY HAD BEEN BAD FOR SOME TIME, BUT WAS NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARANTY WHEN VEHICLE ONLY HAD MILEAGE IN THE UPPER 20,000S. THIS IS VERY LOW MILAGE FOR SUCH FRONT END COMPONENTS TO GO BAD. CONTACTED DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY SAID VILLAGERS ARE NOT KNOWN FOR WEARING OUT OF FRONT END PARTS AT LOW MIELAGE, SO THESE MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE PARTS FROM THE FACTORY. THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME THOUGH ON THE TIE ROD BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. HAD TO REPLACE AT MY OWN EXPENSE. *AK

AREA IN SHOCK TOWERS WHERE STRUT ROD IS SECURED TO STRUCTURE WITH A NUT APPEARS EXTREMELY CORRODED FOR A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 39000 MILES. IT IS NOT JUST SURFACE RUST, BUT FLAKING AS WELL. THERE IS MUCH MORE CORROSION IN THIS AREA THEN I HAVE SEEN ON OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED WITH OVER 100,000 MILES. I FEAR THAT IN COMING YEARS A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM MAY DEVELOP. CONTACTED SERVICE DEPARTMENT WERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I DISCRIBED THE SITUATION TO THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN. HE SAID THIS WAS "NORMAL" AND I HAD NOTHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT.

THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON ON THE HUB OF THE STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T ALWAYS FUNCTION. NLM

NOTICED SIMILAR VILLAGERS IN DEALER LOT WITH SAME FAILURE OF HEADLIGHT REFLECTOR MATERIAL. RESULT WAS FAILED STATE SAFETY INSPECTION, PARTS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING MOTOR PROBLEMS. *JB

VEHICLE STALLING DUE TO FAULTY FUEL PUMP.

CONSUMER HAD NOTICED THAT SET OF TIRES WERE NOT IN A NORMAL USE. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE FOUR SETS OF TIRES TO AVOID LONGER CONSECUENCES. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE STALLING DUE TO FAULTY FUEL PUMP.

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE, LUG NUT WRENCH BROKE. *SLC

POWER WINDOWS FAILED CAUSING JAMMING.