2001 Mercury Villager Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2001 Mercury Villager, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags314.3%
- Brakes314.3%
- Seat belts314.3%
- Suspension314.3%
- Tires & wheels314.3%
- Interior & seats14.8%
- Other / unspecified14.8%
- Body & structure14.8%
- Powertrain (other)14.8%
- Heating & air conditioning14.8%
- Engine14.8%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
IN DECEMBER OF 2007 I WAS DRIVING WITH MY THREE KIDS AND I WAS PREGNANT WITH TWINS. IT HAD BEEN RAINING FOR A FEW DAYS I SLOWED TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN MY CAR SLIDE AND I WENT INTO A POLL HEAD ON MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T OPEN MY CAR WAS LATER TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR
CONSUMER VEHICLE T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 45 MPH, AND NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER AND THE FIVE PASSENGERS WERE ALL RESTRAINED WITH THE SEAT BELTS. EVERYONE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES FROM THE SEAT BELTS. NO ONE NEEDED TO BE TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH INFORMED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT LEFT REAR WHEEL LOCKING UP AND DAMAGING THE TIRE. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH AND THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OUT OF CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH ABS BRAKE SYSTEM. *AK
CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE WHEN BRAKING, AND THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AT 13,780. CONSUMER STATED THAT AT 28,000 THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEAT BELTS PLASTIC COVERS HAVE BROKEN AND FALLEN OFF, WHICH HAS MADE THE LOCKING MECHANISM USELESS. THE SEAT BELTS ARE NOW INOPERABLE, WHICH HAS LEFT US WITH FIVE AVAILABLE SEATS IN A SEVEN-PASSENGER VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE 2001 VILLAGE SEATS BELTS, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT MY VAN DID NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL. THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT REFERRED ME TO FORD LINCOLN MERCURY COOPERATE OFFICES. THEY WERE CONTACTED, AND ONCE AGAIN, I WAS NOT OFFERED ASSISTANCE. *TR
CONSUMER VEHICLE T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 45 MPH, AND NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER AND THE FIVE PASSENGERS WERE ALL RESTRAINED WITH THE SEAT BELTS. EVERYONE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES FROM THE SEAT BELTS. NO ONE NEEDED TO BE TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH INFORMED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS IS MY SECOND VILLAGER, THE FIRST WAS A 1993 AND NOW OWN A 2001. THE BASE STRUCTURE WHERE THE RACK AND PINION GETS BOLTED-IN CRACKS, WHILE THE ALIGNMENT AND WHOLE RACK & PINION HAS SHIFTED. THE CRACK OCCURRED WHEN I WAS TURNING ONTO A RAMP TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY.
WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED 50-60 MILES MPH THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY VIBRATED. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
A LOCAL SEARS AUTO CENTER SOLD ME A SET OF BF GOODRICH TIRES IN OCTOBER, 2004 THAT HAVE SHOWN EXTREME PRE-MATURE WEAR. THE SEARS OUTLET HAS REFUSED TO TAKE ANY ACTION TO CORRECT THIS. UPON CONSULTATION WITH THE OEM, B.F. GOODRICH, I SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN SOLD THE TIRE TO BEGIN WITH. IT IS NOT THE RECOMMENDED TIRE FOR MY VEHICLE PER GOODRICH AND THIS IS BACKED UP WHEN DOING A WEB PAGE TIRE SELECTION SEARCH ON THE BF GOODRICH WEB PAGE. THESE TIRES HAVE WORN 50 % AT 15000 MILES OF USE ON TIRES RATED FOR 60,000 MILES TREAD LIFE. THEY ARE AN "H" RATED PERFORMANCE TIRE THAT SEARS SOLD FOR MY WIFE'S MERCURY VILLAGER MINI VAN...NOT EXACTLY A HIGH PERFORMANCE VEHICLE. DOES THE NHTSA HAVE ANY RECORDS ON FILE FOR APPLICATION OF A BF GOODRICH TA TIRE TO A MERCURY VILLAGER MINI VAN WHERE A SAFETY OCCURENCE HAS HAPPENED ? HOW CAN A RETAIL OUTLET BE ALLOWED TO SELL TIRES THAT ARE NOT RECOMMENDED BY THE OEM FOR THE VEHICLE THEY ARE BEING PLACED ON. ARE THERE GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS MEANT TO PROTECT THE CONSUMER AGAINST THESE UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES ? WHAT CAN I DO TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA TO PREVENT THIS KIND OF MISBEHAVIOR FROM OCCURING TO OTHER CONSUMERS IN THE FUTURE
DEFECTIVE TIRES MANUFACTURED BY GENERAL TIRE, REQUESTING A DEFECT INVESTIGATION. *BF WHILE DRIVING ONE OF THE VEHICLE TIRE EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE (GENERAL AMPERE G560). *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
CENTER ROW SLIDING BUCKET SEAT (PASSENGER SIDE) DOES NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM 6 TIMES (2 TIMES TO SALINAS DEALERSHIP AND 4 TIMES TO SEASIDE DEALERSHIP) W/O HAVING IT SUCCESSFULLY REPAIRED. THE SEAT WILL APPEAR LATCHED, BUT IS NOT TRULY ENGAGED. WITH AN OCCUPANT IN THE SEAT IT WILL SLIDE FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE CENTER SEAT OCCUPANT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER. THIS DEFECT WAS THERE FROM THE BEGINNING, NOTICED AFTER WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. IT DID NOT DEVELOP OVER TIME, SO THE INCIDENT DATE WILL REFLECT THE PURCHASE DATE OF THE VEHICLE. *NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE CHANGING A TIRE, THE JACK BENT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE CONTACT HAD USED THE JACK. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE HOOD AND DOOR CONTAINED A LOT OF SPACE ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
GERMAIN LINCOLN MERCURY REFUSED TO REPLACE WORN MOTOR MOUNTS WHILE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARANTY. I HAD THE MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED BY NAPLES NISSAN AT MY OWN EXPENSE OF APROXIMATELY $400 BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS A NISSAN POWER TRAIN. *LA
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULDN'T COOL, THERE IS FREON LEAKING OUT SOMEWHERE. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG UNTILL THE WARRANTY RAN OUT, NOW THEY SAID THERE IS A LEAK.*AK WE HAD A WELL KNOWN NAMED GARAGE LOOK AT THE MERCURY VILLAGER AND SAID THAT FORD HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER LEAKAGE FROM LINES UNDER THE VEHICLE. THEREFORE FORD SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM SINCE ITS A PROBLEM FROM THE FACTORY. THE MERCURY IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD, MY OTHER VEHICLE IS 5 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT. THIS SHOULD BE FIXED UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY SINCE THEY KNOWN THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND ITS ONE REASON FORD STOPPED MAKING THE VILLAGER SINCE THEY WERE HAVING FAILURES. ALSO WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER WINDOW ROLLING UP AND DOWN, HAVE IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED AND THE PROBLEM HAS WORSENED . NOW THE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL DOWN OR UP.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
BOUGHT CAR SEPT 01 AND AIRCONDITIONING FAILED BEFORE THE SECOND SUMMER AFTER PURCHASE. I CALLED DEALER JAN 03 AND WAS TOLD AIR WOULDN'T WORK IF OUTSIDE TEMP WAS BELOW 60. RETURNED IN APRIL WITH SAME COMPLAINT, BUT MILEAGE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. COST TO REPAIR WILL BR $669. PLUS TAX.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .