2002 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 2002 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
- Suspension315.8%
- Steering315.8%
- Brakes210.5%
- Electrical210.5%
- Engine210.5%
- Tires & wheels210.5%
- Body & structure210.5%
- Airbags210.5%
- Other / unspecified15.3%
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
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
PROBLEMS WITH VIBRATION IN REAR AND RIGHT FRONT OF VEHICLE. *MR THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE REAR AND THE RIGHT FRONT. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE VIBRATION REMAINED WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE SEATS TO VIBRATE. *SCC *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING 55 TO 60 MPH STEERING WHEEL FEELS LOOSE, AND MAKES A LOUD NOISE. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BU TPROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
2002 MERCURY VILLAGER HAS VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL AT SPEEDS ABOVE 10MPH. DEALER HAS TRIED 3 TIMES TO FIX AND EVEN REPLACED 2 OF THE 4 TIRES. STILL THE VIBRATION. REPAIR SHOP OTHER THAN THE DEALER SUGGESTED SWITCHING BRANDS OF TIRES BECAUSE AFTER THEY ALIGNED THE FRONT END THEY ROTATED THE TIRES TO TRY TO ISOLATE THE VIBRATION PROBLEM ONLY TO FIND THAT THE ROTATION NULLIFIED THE ALIGNMENT. HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE THAT WITH ALL THE VILLAGERS MANUFACTURED I'M THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM.
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
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
THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE 15000 MILE CHECK UP AND BECAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON. WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE DEALER REPLACED PARTS BUT THE CONSUMER DOES NOT KNOW WHICH PARTS WERE REPLACED. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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. .
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
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
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
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
PROBLEMS WITH VIBRATION IN REAR AND RIGHT FRONT OF VEHICLE. *MR THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE REAR AND THE RIGHT FRONT. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE VIBRATION REMAINED WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE SEATS TO VIBRATE. *SCC *JB
2002 MERCURY VILLAGER HAS VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL AT SPEEDS ABOVE 10MPH. DEALER HAS TRIED 3 TIMES TO FIX AND EVEN REPLACED 2 OF THE 4 TIRES. STILL THE VIBRATION. REPAIR SHOP OTHER THAN THE DEALER SUGGESTED SWITCHING BRANDS OF TIRES BECAUSE AFTER THEY ALIGNED THE FRONT END THEY ROTATED THE TIRES TO TRY TO ISOLATE THE VIBRATION PROBLEM ONLY TO FIND THAT THE ROTATION NULLIFIED THE ALIGNMENT. HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE THAT WITH ALL THE VILLAGERS MANUFACTURED I'M THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM.
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
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
CONSUMER STATES WHEN REACH A SPEED OF 60MPH THE VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED REPAIRED PROBLEM REOCCURED. TS *DT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON A NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE EXITING A PARKING LOT. A POLICE REPORT WAS PROCESSED AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO PRESENT BUT NO EVACUATION WAS REQUIRED FOR THE MINOR INJRIES INCURRED. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY HOWEVER THE SEATBELTS DID RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANTS. THE VEHICLE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS.
CONTACTS WIFE HIT A CAR AT ABOUT 45 MPH, THERE WERE NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AND VERY LITTLE BRAKING BEFORE IMPACT. VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE FRONT AND THE OCCUPANT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. THERE WERE PICTURES TAKEN, POLICE REPORT MADE, AND THERE WILL BE REPAIR INVOICES. *AK *SB *NM
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
WHILE DRIVING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME USING CRUISE CONTROL, THE SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY FAILED AT AN APPROXIMATE ODOMETER READING OF 61,000 MILES. THE SPEEDOMETER HAD ALSO FAILED ON MY PREVIOUSLY OWNED '93 VILLAGER FOR SHORT PERIODS BUT THE CURRENT FAILURE ON MY '02 VILLAGER CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE FOLLOWING 7 HOURS OF MY TRIP HOME. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" INDICATOR LIT UP AND THE ENGINE NOW BRIEFLY LOSES POWER UPON STARTUP AND INITIAL ACCELERATION. I WILL CALL DEALERSHIP IN THE MORNING TO SEE IF THIS PROBLEM IS COVERED. I AM VERY UPSET THAT MY RELATIVELY YOUNG VAN HAS NOW LOST VALUE DUE TO UNCERTIFIED MILEAGE ON THE TITLE WHEN I WANT TO SELL IT. BECAUSE IT HAPPENED IN THE MIDST OF MY TRIP, I WAS DELAYED WHILE CHECKING THE SOURCE OF THE INDICATOR LIGHT AND HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITHOUT KNOWING MY TRUE SPEED. *JB
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 .