RoadVitals

1997 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.
21
Latest Jan 8, 2015
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.
17%
of 125 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.
0

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 1997 Mercury Villager submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 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 Jan 8, 2015

I WAS DRIVING ALONG AFTER SHOPPING AND I STARTED TO HEAR THIS DRAGGING OR BOTTOMING OUT SOUND SO I PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND TO MY SURPRISE THE FRONT FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT HOLDS UP THE ENGINE WAS BROKEN I THEN OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW THAT THE ENGINE WAS SITTING SIDEWAYS TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE. I LIMPED THE VAN HOME AND HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HE SAID THAT IT WAS ON FIXABLE AND THEN I CALLED FIVE BODY SHOPS TO SEE IF THEY COULD FIX IT AND THEY SAID NO AND THAT MERCURY VILLAGERS WAS KNOWN TO DO THIS AND THAT THEY WERE RECALLED FOR THIS BEFORE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10671108
Incident
Dec 3, 2014
Mileage
190,000 mi
Body & structureInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Feb 25, 2004

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK PROBLEM. THE DOORS LOCKED WITHOUT NOTICE. CURRENTLY, HATCHBACK WILL NOT OPEN. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10059825
Mileage
20,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 20, 2002

SLIDING DOOR POPS OPEN. DT

NHTSA ID
769918
Incident
Nov 19, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Oct 22, 2002

DOOR LOCKS CONTINUALLY LOCK AND UNLOCK THEMSELVES WHETER DRIVING OR PARKED

NHTSA ID
566344
Body & structure
Filed Apr 22, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DOOR LOCKS BY ITSELF AFTER THE DOOR IS SHUT. *YD

NHTSA ID
785960
Incident
Apr 19, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Sep 24, 2001

ALL OF THE DOORS LOCK BY THEMSELVES. IT HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. WE CAN BE OUT OF THE CAR OR IN IT. THE KEYS CAN BE OUT OF THE IGNITION. IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE PARKED BUT IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE DRIVING. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUR TIMES WHENWE HAVE TRIED TO UNLOCK THE CAR WITH THE REMOTE AND IT "QUICKLY" LOCKS ITSELF BACK UP; THIS MAY REPEAT ITSELF FOR OR FIVE TIMES BEFORE WE CAN GET INTO THE CAR.*AK

NHTSA ID
752525
Incident
Sep 24, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Sep 8, 2001

POWER LOCKS LOCK ON THEIR OWN, W/OR W/O KEY IN IGNITION, SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAD TO JIMMY TO GET MY 2 YEAR OLD OUT. SHE WAS RESTRAINED BY CAR SET. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO GET REPAIRED BY DEALER. ONLY FIXED AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED AND US CHARGED $265.07. CLAIMED IT TO BE "DIFFERENT PROBLEM" THOUGH RECORDS SHOW SAME COMPAINT. WANT REFUND. RE: HTTP://CBSNEWS.COM/NOW/STORY/0,1597,310231-412,00.SHTML REGARDING SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
751941
Incident
Jun 30, 1999
Body & structureEngineInterior & seats
Filed Mar 12, 2001

WHILE TRAVELING DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK OUT OF CONTROL. ALSO WHILE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. *AK POWER LOCK SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING OR SHUT DOWN, CONSUMER STATES LOCKS ARE INOPERABLE, DEALER REFUSES TO REPLACE SYSTEM AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR IT. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAD ENGINE PROBLEMS TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
882675
Body & structure
Filed Feb 26, 2001

WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED OR WHILE DRIVING POWER LOCKS OPERATE ERRATICALLY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
881397
Body & structure
Filed Sep 11, 2000

THE POWER LOCKS HAVE SELF-ACTIVATED ON 20+ OCCASSIONS. IT IS NOT ON A REGULAR BASIS, BUT IS INTERMITTENT. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURING FOR THE LAST MONTH OR SIX WEEKS. THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS.*AK

NHTSA ID
731088
Incident
Jul 2, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Aug 29, 2000

DOOR LOCKS LOCK INDEPENDENTLY MAKING ENTRY AND EXIT DIFFICULT- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 9823-6, PRESENTS DANGER OF BEING LOCKED IN CAR FOR SMALL CHILDREN IN DANGEROUSLY HOT SUMMER WEATHER IN ARIZONA

NHTSA ID
729470
Incident
Oct 1, 1997
Body & structure
Filed Aug 23, 2000

POWER LOCKS ON ALL DOORS INADVERTENTLY LOCK WITHOUT MANUAL OPERATION DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITH THE LOCK ACTUATOR. *AK ALL DOORS LOCKS WHILE DRIVING ,WHEN ENGINE IS OFF AND DOOR IS CLOSED. *YH

NHTSA ID
868456
Body & structure
Filed Dec 22, 1999

SLIDING DOOR POPS OPEN, CREATING AN APPROXIMATE 12" OPENING. THIS OCCURS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS,WITH DOOR UNLOCKED OR LOCKED. THE DOOR DOESN'T HAVE REMOTE ELECTRCIC OPENING,, I SUSPECT THE PROBLEM TO BE PURELY MECHANICAL,THIS HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES OVER THE LAST 6 MONTHS.MRE OFTEN DURING WARM WEATHER. *AK

NHTSA ID
716341
Incident
Dec 12, 1999
Body & structureBrakesElectrical
Filed Oct 19, 1999

WE STARTED REPORTING THE PROBLEM WITH THE SLIDING DOOR ON 7/15/99. THE LOCK DID NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK CONSISTENTLY WHETHER USING THE REMOTE OR THE INSIDE AUTOMATIC BUTTON AND THE DOOR RATTLED LIKE SOMETHING WAS LOOSE INSIDE. THE SERVICE DEPT AT CAPITOL LINCOLN MERCURY(RICHMOND, VA) DECIDED TO REPLACE THE ANTENNA ON 8/16. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ON 10/4, I TOOK IT BACK AGAIN AND THEY REPLACED THE SLIDING DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR. THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR LOCKING/UNLOCKING BUT NOW, THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK IS STUCK AND THE DOOR STILL RATTLES.****I INITIALLY REPORTED A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL SHIMMEYING AND THE BRAKES GRABBING ON 8/16. THEY REPORTED THE BRAKES WERE OKAY - 5MM. I HAD THE TIRES REPLACED AND ALIGNED WHICH TOOK 3 DAYS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THEY ONLY HAD 3 TIRES. THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TO SHIMMEY SO I TOOK IT BACK ON 10/13. THE WEIGHTS HAD FALLEN OFF SO THEY HAD TO REBALANCE THE TIRES. THEY ALSO STATED THE THE VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING WOULD BE FIXED BY TURNING THE FRONT ROTORS WHICH THEY DID. THEY STATED THAT WITH THE TURNING OF THE ROTORS THAT I SHOULD REPLACE MY BRAKES WHICH I DID...FOR $55.83. THE NEXT DAY, 10/14, I TOOK THE VAN BACK BECAUSE IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING WAS RUBBING UNDER THE CAR. THIS PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED BY REPLACING THE ROTORS THAT THEY TURNED THE PREVIOUS DAY. CURRENTLY, THE STEERING WHEEL STILL SHIMMIES JUST NOT TO THE EXTENT AS BEFORE. I'M TAKING IT BACK AGAIN ON 10/20.*AK

NHTSA ID
713556
Incident
Aug 16, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Aug 19, 1999

DOORS LOCK AUTOMATICALLY WHEN CONSUMER IS OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THEY HAD NO CORRECTIVE ACTION FOR THIS MATTER. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
845456
Incident
Mar 3, 1999
Body & structure
Filed May 25, 1999

INTERMITTENT SELF ACTIVATION OF THE POWER DOOR LOCKS. IT LOCKED OUR 22 MONTH OLD IN VEHICLE AFTER CHILD WAS STRAPPED INTO CAR SEAT AND VAN DOOR WAS CLOSED. MY WIFE, LUCKILY, HAD REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION BEFORE SHE PICKED UP BABY. IN HOT WEATHER MY WIFE WOULD HAVE LEFT THE VAN RUNNING WITH THE A/C ON AND OUR DAUGHTER WOULD HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN AN AUTOMOBILE THAT WAS RUNNING AND THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION. THERE ARE 3 TSB'S COVERING THIS DEFECT, BUT FORD WILL NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM AT THEIR COST. I HAVE A FRIEND WITH A 1993 VILLAGER THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD TO HIDE A KEY ON VEHICLE IN CASE WE ARE LOCKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND OUR DAUGHTER IS LOCKED IN. *AK

NHTSA ID
706867
Incident
May 24, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Feb 1, 1999

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK FAILED, WHEN CLOSING THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR ALL THE DOORS LOCK. REPAIRS WERE DONE ON TWO OCCASIONS. PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *YC

NHTSA ID
607064
Body & structure
Filed Jan 12, 1999

I HAVE CONTACTED YOU BEFORE & TALKED TO PEGGY ABOUT THE SIDE DOOR OF THE VILLAGER OPENING. THE VECHICAL IS LEASED AND BEING RETURNED 12/14/98 I SENT YOU PICS OF THE INNER WORKINGS OF THE DOOR- TOUCHING THE STYROFORM ALSO MAKES THE DOOR OPEN & A LITTLE ROUND THING DOES TOO OTHER THAN JUST THE ROD THAT I TOLD YOU ALREADY. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX PANEL SAYING I "ABUSED THE VECHICAL" IFEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFTEY ISSUE SINCE THE VECHICAL IS DESIGNED FOR FAMILIES. THANK YOU

NHTSA ID
701279
Incident
Sep 18, 1997
Body & structure
Filed Jan 2, 1999

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK FAILED; CONTINUALLY LOCKS ALL DOORS BY ITSELF.

NHTSA ID
781766
AirbagsBody & structureTires & wheels
Filed Oct 7, 1998

SLIDING DOOR PANEL FALLS OFF, THERE IS A SPOT ON THE DOOR, AND IF ONE TOUCHES IT THE DOOR POPS OPEN. ALSO TIRES ARE BALD, AND AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES.

NHTSA ID
780973
AirbagsBody & structureTires & wheels
Filed Oct 7, 1998

SLIDING DOOR PANEL FALLS OFF, THERE IS A SPOT ON THE DOOR IF CONSUMER TOUCHES IT THE DOOR POPS OPEN. TIRES ARE BALD, AND AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES.

NHTSA ID
780793

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 .