Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 18 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Mercury Villager, most frequently naming the suspension, steering and brakes categories. 27 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 2002 | 1 | 1 |
| Dec 2002 | 2 | 3 |
| Apr 2003 | 1 | 4 |
| Oct 2003 | 1 | 5 |
| Nov 2003 | 1 | 6 |
| Aug 2004 | 1 | 7 |
| Jun 2005 | 1 | 8 |
| Apr 2006 | 1 | 9 |
| Jun 2006 | 1 | 10 |
| Sep 2006 | 1 | 11 |
| Nov 2006 | 1 | 12 |
| Dec 2006 | 2 | 14 |
| Nov 2007 | 1 | 15 |
| Nov 2008 | 1 | 16 |
| Sep 2014 | 1 | 17 |
| Aug 2015 | 1 | 18 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
I TOOK MY CAR TO ALLAN VIGIL FORD IN FAYETTVILLE GA FOR SERVICE AND I NOT HAPPY WITH THE REPAIRS . FIRST , THE ALARM IS GOING OFF ALONG WITH THE HORN AT RANDOM .SECOND ,THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS DO NOT WORK . I HAVE TO USE A FLASHLIGHT AT NIGHR TO SEE WHAT SPEED I AM GOING .THIRD , I AM DRIVING WITH NO HORN . AND FINALLY ,THE IGNITION KEY DOES NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DRIVER DOOR. .
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY VILLAGER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH MAKING A TURN, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO SUDDEN LOSS OF OIL. *TR
MOTOR MOUNT MUST BE REPLACED DO TO FAILURE. ANY ACCELERATION OR SHIFTING CAUSES THE ENGINE TO SHAKE. THIS SHAKING CAUSES A STRONG VIBRATION THROUGHOUT THE VAN. I WAS QUOTED $200 TO REPLACE THE MOUNT. *TR
DURING A VACATION TRIP ON NOVEMBER 21, 2006, THE "PROPORTIONAL VALVE" ON OUR 2002 MERCURY VILLAGER BEGAN TO APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE WE WERE ON THE INTERSTATE. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT, JUST A GRADUAL INCREASE IN THE POWER NECESSARY TO KEEP GOING. BY THE TIME WE REALIZED IT, THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM HAD OVERHEATED, RESULTING IN OVER $1,000 IN DEALER REPAIRS. OUR CONTENTION IS THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THE VEHICLE SHOULD AT LEAST HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED FOR SOME FORM OF REIMBURSEMENT. WE ALSO WANTED TO MAKE THE NHTSA AWARE OF THIS IN CASE OTHER CONSUMERS ENCOUNTER SIMILAR PROBLEMS. AS IT WAS, THE ENTIRE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS FOR OUR ACCOUNT. *NM
WE PURCHASED A USED (28K MILES) 2002 MERCURY VILLAGER IN 8'06. AS I LATER FOUND OUT THIS IS A SISTER TO THE NISSAN QUEST. WITHIN 2 MONTHS IT STARTED TO HAVE PERIODIC STARTING PROBLEMS - MEANING ALL POWER SEEMED OK, BUT WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED, ONLY A CLICKING SOUND WAS HEARD. WE DISCOVERED SOMETIMES THIS COULD BE CORRECTED BY OPENING & CLOSING THE DOORS, OR CYCLING THE LOCKS. AFTER SEARCHING THE WEB I FOUND OTHERS WITH WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND WHAT OTHERS CLAIMED THE FIX WAS. IT SEEMS AN ANTI-THEFT IGNITION INHIBIT RELAY IS THE CULPRIT. IT SEEMS TO ME FAILURE OF THIS RELAY SHOULD BE BE IN A FAIL-SAFE FASHION. NONETHELESS, IS THERE A FACTORY TSB FOR THIS ISSUE FROM MERCURY OR NISSAN? IS THERE A PART AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM? ALREADY MY WIFE AND KIDS HAVE BEEN STRANDED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND I IMAGINE SOMEONE SOMEWHERE MAY HAVE AN ACTUAL EMERGENCY. *NM
FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINTS ARE PRONE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR AND FAILURE. JOINTS REPLACED AT 28,000 MILES ARE NOW FAILING AGAIN AT 68,000 MILES. THERE IS NO SERVICE REQUIRED ON THESE JOINTS. WEAR CAUSES EXCESSIVE TIRE LIFE LOSS, VIBRATION IN THE STEERING AND POTENTIAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *NM
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (NVS-211) 400 7TH STREET, SW WASHINGTON, DC 20590 SEPTEMBER 1, 2006 I OWN A 2002 MERCURY VILLAGER ESTATE MINI VAN WITH 54,840 MILES AND THE PAINT IS PEELING AND IN SOME PLACES SHOWING CORROSION. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE COURTESY FORD LINCOLN MERCURY DEALERSHIP THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENTS TELL ME THE SAME THING AND ONLY A DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE CAN MAKE THE DETERMINATION. UNFORTUNATELY, NEITHER THE DEALERSHIP OR FORD CUSTOMER SEEN TO KNOW HOW TO LOCATE HIM. I CAN FURNISH PHOTOS OF THE VEHICLE HOOD WITH PAINT PEELING OFF AND THE BACK WHERE THERE IS RUST NEAR THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER. FORD AND THE DEALERSHIP ARE NOT RESPONDING TO MY ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY TELL ME THAT ONLY THE FIELD REPRESENTATIVE CAN MAKE THE DECISION, BUT THEY WILL NOT TELL ME HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH HIM. IT HAS BEEN OVER A MONTH. *JB
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW
REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER GRID/INTEGRAL ANTENNA DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR - TERMINAL TAB REPAIR. *TT
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
GENERAL POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER GRID/INTEGRAL ANTENNA DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR - TERMINAL TAB REPAIR. *TT
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
INOPERATIVE ELECTRIC REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER (HEATED BACKLITE) GRID LINES, INTEGRAL ANTENNA CONCERNS. *TT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
UPDATE WIRING HARNESS WHEN REPLACING FUEL INJECTOR. *TT
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.