1998 Mercury Villager

PERIODIC EXPOSURE TO LIQUID GASOLINE MAY RESULT IN EXTRACTION OF ANTIDEGRADANTS FROM THE SUBJECT FUEL TANK VENT HOSE.HOSES WHICH HAVE SUFFERED LOSS OF ANTIDEGRADANTS CAN DEVELOP CRACKS IN AREAS OF HIGH STRAIN.FUEL MAY SPRAY OR DRIP FROM CRACKED VENT HOSES FOLLOWING TANK FILL.STARTING AT JOB#1 1998 MY (CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS VEHICLES) AND JOB#1 1999 MY (FEDERAL EMISSIONS VEHICLES), THE SUBJECT VENT HOSE COMPOSITION CHANGED FROM NITRILE RUBBER HOSES WITH CHLOROPRENE RUBBER COVERS (NBR/CR) TO FLUOROCARBON RUBBER HOSES WITH AN OUTER LAYER BLEND OF NBR/PVC.THE CHANGES WERE MADE TO IMPROVE HYDRACARBON RESISTANCE FOR COMPLAINCE WITH NEW EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS REGULATIONS.THE MODIFIED HOSES ARE ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY MORE RESISTANT TO DEGRADATION AND CRACKING.IN A LETTER DATED JANUARY 2, 2001, FORD NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE SUBJECT VENT HOSE IN AFFACTED VEHICLES.FORD WILL BEGIN NOTIFYING CUSTOMERS OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ON OR ABOUT THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 12, 2001 TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO DEALERS FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK VENT HOSE WITH THE LATEST DESIGN LEVER PART.

FUEL LEAK UNDER THE HOOD

NHTSA ID

11079440

Incident

Mar 14, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY VILLAGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A STRONG FUEL ODOR IN THE CABIN. THE ODOR WAS PRIMARILY OBSERVED NEAR THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AT ALL TIMES. WHEN THE HEAT IN THE VEHICLE WAS ACTIVATED, THE ODOR INTENSIFIED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A CERTIFIED MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT THE FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V419002 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 202,000.

NHTSA ID

10865161

Incident

Feb 1, 2015

Mileage

202,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY VILLAGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND FAILED TO TURN OFF ALTHOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE AND CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHINGS LOCATED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAINST THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH WERE CRACKED INTO PIECES CAUSING THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE PLASTIC BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED BY THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000...UPDATED 09/30/14 *BF UPDATED 2/27/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10615095

Incident

Jun 4, 2014

Mileage

116,000 mi

I PARKED MY VAN, 1998 MERCURY VILLAGER ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF MY HOME. TWO DAYS LATER, I NOTICED THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS FLAT. I HAD FOUR NEW TIRES SINCE JAN 2011. WHEN I LIFTED UP THE FRONT RIGHT AND TRIED TO REMOVE THE FR TIRE, IT WOULD NOT COME OFF. AFTER A WHILE, I NOTICED THE STRUT COIL SPRING GOT BROKE, AND THE SHAPE END OF BROKEN COIL SPRING PIERCED THRU. THE INSIDE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VAN,AND BOUGHT NEW. IT HAS `150,000 MILES ON IT. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN TURNED OUT BE A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 70MPG. I DO A LOT OF HIGHWAY DRIVING. BOTH FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT COMPLETE STRUT ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED AND THE FLAT TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH NEW ONE. I TOOK SOME PICTURES AND HAVE THE SHARP END OF BROKEN COIL SPRING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10389919

Incident

Mar 6, 2011

1998 VILLAGER-4 RAPID ACCELERATION SITUATIONS-STARTING TO BRAKE THE ENGINE STARTS REVVING UP TO THE POINT YOU CANNOT HOLD THE CAR WITH THE BRAKE, ONLY BY SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL. SEPT.2005,10/2006, 8/2010 & 12/09/10. CAUSED ACCIDENT ON 12/09 AND TOTALED VEHICLE. FORTUNATE NO INJURIES BUT A VERY SHOOK UP DRIVER TRYING TO GET IT STOPPED. IT DRAGGED HER ACROSS THE INTERSECTION UP ONTO A SIDEWALK AND TOOK HER SEVERAL FEET DOWN THE SIDEWALK BARELY MISSING HOUSES & TREES. ALL THE TIME SHE WAS PUSHING ON THE BRAKE & THE ENGINE WAS RACING & THE TIRES WERE DIGGING UP THE DIRT DRAGGING THE VEHICLE. RAN OVER A TWO FOOT STUMP & THE VAN FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE DRIVER WAS VERY SHOOK AND THIS ALL HAPPENED THROUGH NO FAULT OF HERS. THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO NHTSA WHEN THE 9/2005 INCIDENT HAPPENED. THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 4 OR 5 OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 98 VILLAGER. THE POWER TRAINS IN THE VILLAGER ARE BUILT BY NISSAN. VERY FORTUNATE THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED OR THAT NO ONE WAS ON THE SIDEWALK AT THE TIME. SOMETHING DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE CHECKED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR KILLED. I HAVE SEVERAL PICTURES OF THIS LAST INCIDENT IF SOMEONE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING WHAT HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10370299

Incident

Dec 9, 2010

Mileage

115,000 mi

MY HUSBAND USES OUR MERCURY VILLAGER VAN FOR HIS WORK. HE WAS GOING TO A JOB AND WAS TRAVELING WHEN HE STATED THE VAN LOST POWER, THE ENGINE ACTUALLY TURNED ITSELF OFF. HE WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD BEFORE HE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. HE PROCEEDED TO TRY RESTARTING THE VAN. IT DID NOT WORK, SO WE HAD THE VAN TOWED TO OUR HOME. HE CHECK TO SEE IF THE MOTOR WAS TIED UP BUT IT WAS FINE.HE CHANGED BATTERIES, BECAUSE DURING THE EVENT, THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED. AFTER ABOUT 3 HOURS, THE VAN MIRACULOUSLY STARTED. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO A COUPLE THAT HAD THIS HAPPEN TO THEM. THEY STATED THAT IF THE OIL GETS CLOSE TO 1 QUART BELOW LEVEL, THE SENSORS AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THIS IS DANGEROUS. MY HUSBAND COULD OF BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHEN THE ENGINE TURNED ITSELF OFF. THERE WERE NO ENGINE LIGHTS SIGNIFYING LOW OIL. PLEASE CHECK AND ADVISE. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10342853

Incident

Jul 12, 2010

Mileage

180,000 mi

SOMETIMES WHEN I GO FROM A STOP POSITION OR SLOW DOWN AND YOU WANT TO ACCELERATE, YOU PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN AND GET NOTHING, WHEN TAP HARDER ON IT, IT WILL LURCH FORWARD, AND WHIP BACK YOUR PASSENGERS (CHILDREN). IT SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN HUMIDITY IS HIGHER, REGARDLESS OF SEASON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10315469

Incident

Apr 1, 2004

Mileage

40,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY VILLAGER WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN 2007. SHE STATED THAT THE FUEL FILLER HOSE HAD SEVERAL CRACKS IN IT. THE CRACKS IN THE HOSE CAUSED MAJOR GASOLINE FUMES TO ENTER THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER, 00V419002, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE STORAGE TANK ASSEMBLY HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER HOME WHERE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SUB-FRAME ON THE VEHICLE WAS CRACKED. NO REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE TO DATE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 189,732.

NHTSA ID

10299634

Incident

Jul 1, 2009

Mileage

189,732 mi

GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT

GENERAL POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT

NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER - SERVICE TIPS. 2003 ESCORT AND SUPER DUTY F SERIES INCLUDED. *TT

CLIMATE CONTROL A/C SERVICE TECH TIPS. *EH

LAMP-BRAKE-INVADVERTENT DISABLING OF BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK. *MJ

INFORMATION REGARDING DISCHARGED BATTERY CHARGING SERVICE TIPS AND GUIDELINES. *TT