RoadVitals

1999 Mercury Villager Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering 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.
9
Latest Nov 21, 2005
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.
5%
of 185 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 steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Mercury Villager submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 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 steering

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

Steering
Filed Nov 21, 2005

FOR MORE TIMES THAN I CAN REMEMBER, I AGAIN TODAY HAD THE AGONIZING EXPERIENCE OF MY VEHICLE STEERING LOCKING UP WHILE TRYING TO STEER IT. I HAVE A 1999 MERCURY VILLAGER THAT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 1999. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE IN AT FORD DEALERSHIPS WITH THE COMPLAINT OF THE STEERING LOCKING UP. THIS CAN OCCUR AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT WHEN MAKING A TURN. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WEATHER IS DAMP. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS. EVERY TIME I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN THEY NEVER FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING. AFTER ANOTHER NEAR MISHAP TODAY I AM VERY RELUCTANT TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER. I AM EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED THAT THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING EVERY SINCE I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE AND NO ONE SEEMS TO LISTEN. AS STUPID AS THIS MAY SOUND, I HAVE TOLD SEVERAL FAMILY MEMBERS, CLOSE FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS ABOUT MY ORDEAL. I HAVE INSTRUCTED THEM TO PURSUE LEGAL ACTION IN THE EVENT THAT I AM EITHER KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED IN A ACCIDENT INVOLVING THIS VEHICLE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10143385
Incident
Nov 21, 2005
Mileage
30,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 15, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 55-65 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. *AK THERE WAS A LOOSENESS AT HIGH SPEEDS ACCOMPANIED BY EXTENSIVE VIBRATION. THE WHEEL IMBALANCE WAS EXCLUDED AFTER SEVERAL RE-BALANCING JOBS. THE SYMPTOMS MATCHED THE STEERING GEAR RECALL# 00V292001. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS AND REFUSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10079363
Incident
Jun 1, 2003
Mileage
48,000 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 15, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING DURING RAIN OR OVER PUDDLES, POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL. THIS CONDITION IS INTERMITTENT, DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK UPON PURCHASE OF VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, AFTER SEVERAL INSPECTIONS, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL, DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE, CONSUMER STATES THAT NOISE IS INTERMITTENT, MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *TT

NHTSA ID
8004104
BrakesDriver assistanceInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Aug 24, 2001

THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID
785475
Steering
Filed May 10, 2001

CONSUMER EXPLAINS THAT PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE, WHILE DRIVING HE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO HIS STEERING CAUSING CONSUMER TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD AND CRASH, IN NOVEMBER CONSUMER RECEIVES SAID RECALL LETTER EXPLAINING OF FAULTY STEERING GEAR, REIMBURSMENT IS REQUESTED. *JG

NHTSA ID
561159
Incident
Sep 17, 2000
Steering
Filed May 9, 2001

STEERING PROBLEMS WHEN TRAVELING AT 50 MPH OR ABOVE, IT BECOMES HARD TO STEER.*AK

NHTSA ID
887810
Incident
Nov 1, 2000
BrakesElectricalInterior & seats+2 more
Filed Feb 19, 2001

TO DATE NO ONE WILL FIX THESE PROBLEMS THEY SAY THEY DONT HAVE THOSE PARTS TO DO SO. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID
741171
Incident
Sep 15, 1999
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Dec 18, 2000

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE GAS PEDAL FREEZING, THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO WEAVE AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. *SLC

NHTSA ID
558512
Steering
Filed Dec 4, 2000

CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD AFTER RECEIVING RECALL OOV2920001 FOR STEERING GEAR BOX. THOMAS LINCOLN FORD MERCURY DEALERSHIP DENIED CONSUMER REPAIR SERVICE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED & WAS OF NO HELP. SAID THEY COULD REFUSE THEM IF THEY LIKE. *AK

NHTSA ID
875892
Incident
Dec 4, 2000

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 .