IllustrationWHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE AUTOMOBILE WILL NOT KEEP RUNNING AFTER IT IS PUT IN GEAR. WHEN IT IS FINALLY IN GEAR, IT HAS NO POWER. FRONT BRAKES ARE NOISY,BELTS REPLACED, VEHICLE SCREECHES WHEN RUNNING. DESPITE REPLACEMENTS AND REPAIRS FOR ALL THESE PROBLEMS, THEY STILL EXIST. *AK *ML
1995 Mercury Villager
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Villager years
Owner complaints for the 1995 Mercury Villager are substantially higher than the model-year median of 125.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Villager years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 44 of 367 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 95 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 72 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
26 crash reports7 fire reports19 injury reports
Power Train complaints
20 reportsI BELIEVE THAT THE TRANSMISSIONS INSTALLED IN MANY OF THE FORD AND MERCURY MINIVANS ARE UNSAFE. AFTER SPEAKING TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENTS AND TRANSMISSION REPAIR FACILITIES I WAS TOLD OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT IT WAS SURPRISING IF THE TRANSMISSIONS (OF FOREIGN MFG) LASTED FOR 80,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD BY MY LOCAL DEALER THAT TO REP…
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I BELIEVE THAT THE TRANSMISSIONS INSTALLED IN MANY OF THE FORD AND MERCURY MINIVANS ARE UNSAFE. AFTER SPEAKING TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENTS AND TRANSMISSION REPAIR FACILITIES I WAS TOLD OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT IT WAS SURPRISING IF THE TRANSMISSIONS (OF FOREIGN MFG) LASTED FOR 80,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD BY MY LOCAL DEALER THAT TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD COST $4,200.00!! I THOUGHT THEY WERE KIDDING! BUT HE WAS DEAD SERIOUS AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. THE CHEAPEST PRICE I HAVE BEEN "QUOTED" IS $3,000.00. SURELY THAT WILL ESCALATE WHEN THE FINAL REPAIR BILL IS PREPARED. I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALSO BEEN VICTIMS OF THESE SUB-STANDARD COMPONENTS. I WOULD LIKE FORD MOTOR TO BE NOTIFIED AND IF POSSIBLE A FULL SCALE INVESTIGATION TO SEE IF AS MANY PEOPLE AS I THINK HAVE BEEN HORRIFIED TO LEARN ABOUT THE PREMATURE FAILURE AND SUBSEQUENT COST ARE OUT THERE! *AK
INTERMITTENT SPEEDOMETER PROBLEM REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SPEED SENSOR AND DROPPING THE TRANSMISSION TO REPLACE THE GEAR THAT DRIVES THE SPEED SENSOR WITH NO NOTICEABLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. APPEARENTLY, THERE WAS A MISALIGNMENT IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT HAD TO BE CORRECTED TO FUNCTION WITH NEW SPEED SENSOR. THE CONCERN…
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INTERMITTENT SPEEDOMETER PROBLEM REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SPEED SENSOR AND DROPPING THE TRANSMISSION TO REPLACE THE GEAR THAT DRIVES THE SPEED SENSOR WITH NO NOTICEABLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. APPEARENTLY, THERE WAS A MISALIGNMENT IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT HAD TO BE CORRECTED TO FUNCTION WITH NEW SPEED SENSOR. THE CONCERN IS THAT THE CORRECT SPEED IS NOT MEASURED. 30 DAYS AFTER THIS REPAIR, A DEALERSHIP HAS DIAGNOSED THE CURRENT PROBLEM AS BEING THE TRANSMISSION WITH THE FIX BEING A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE VAN IS LESS THAN 5YRS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 48,000 MILES. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION OR PROBLEM WITH THE PREVIOUS REPAIR. THE CURRENT PROBLEM WAS EXPERIENCED WHILE DRIVING THE VAN ON 10/02/99. THE VAN WAS COMING TO A STOP FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHILE THE VAN WAS STOPPED, THE ENGINE RACED, DROPPED AS THOUGH IT WAS GOING TO DIE , AND RACED BACK TO WHERE IT SHOULD BE. THE RPM GAUGE NORMALLY SITS BETWEEN 1 AND .5 WHILE THE VAN IS IDLEING. WHILE AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT THE GAUGE RACED ABOVE 1, DROPPED AS THOUGH IT WAS GOING TO 0, AND RACED BACK TO WHERE IT SHOULD BE. THE CONCERN IS THAT WHILE THE TRAFFIC LIGHT CHANGED TO GREEN AT THE SAME TIME THE ENGINE RACED, I SIMULTANEOUSLY RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS CAUSED THE TIRES TO SQUEAL, GRAB, JERK, AND THRUST THE VAN FORWARD. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE VAN TO BE THRUST FORWARD INTO THE REAR OF A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE VAN. THE VAN WOULD DO THIS AT EVERY STOP. ALSO, THE WIFE AND TWO SMALL CHILDREN WERE STRANDED IN THE LEFT TURN LANE OF A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION AND HEAVILY TRAVELED ROUTE IN THE TYSONS CORNER AREA OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA/DC AREA. THIS PRODUCED A DANGEROUS SITUATION UNTIL THE WIFE WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION, RESTART THE VAN, PLACE THE VAN IN DRIVE, AND DRIVE THE VAN HOME EVENTUALLY. AT THE INTERSECTION WHILE ENCOUNTERING THE PROBLEM, THE WIFE PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR CAUSING THE ENGINE TO RACE, BUT THE VAN WOULD NOT MOVE.
SLIDING DOOR WINDOW HAS POPPED OUT, FALLING INWARD ,HITTING CHILD ON TOP OF HEAD WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJUIRES. DEALER HAS REPLACED LATCH AND FITTING, BUT DEFECT KEEPS REOCCURRING. ALSO, TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 49,818 MILES. *AK
NO SUMMARY. *MJS
TRANSMISSION FAILED FOR FOLLOWING GEARS: REVERSE, 2ND GEAR, AND OVERDRIVE. ALSO THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE NISSAN QUEST VAN FOR THE CYLINODES HOWEVER, MERCURY-FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL AND THE MERCURY VILLAGER AND THE NISSAN QUEST ARE BOTH MANUFACTURED BY FORD. PLEASE CHECK TO SEE IF THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSIO…
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TRANSMISSION FAILED FOR FOLLOWING GEARS: REVERSE, 2ND GEAR, AND OVERDRIVE. ALSO THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE NISSAN QUEST VAN FOR THE CYLINODES HOWEVER, MERCURY-FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL AND THE MERCURY VILLAGER AND THE NISSAN QUEST ARE BOTH MANUFACTURED BY FORD. PLEASE CHECK TO SEE IF THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION FOR THIS VAN AS WELL AS THE CYLINODES.
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SHIFTING INTO DIFFERENT GEARS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK
DEFECTIVE PART WITHIN TRANSMISSION IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERATIVE, WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR,WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN THE PARK POSITION, AND TAKING THE KEY OUT OF IGNITION AND GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE HAD JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN ROLLING FORWARD. THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED TWICE. *AK
ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.
Official recalls
300V419002 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Jan 2, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS. THE FUEL TANK VENT HOSE ALLOWS AIR TO VENT FROM THE FUEL TANK DURING REFUELING. CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE VENT HOSE. IF (1) THE FUEL TANK IS OVERFILLED, NOT ALLOWING EXCESS FUEL IN THE VENT HOSE TO FLOW BACK INTO THE TANK, (2) THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ONLY A SHORT DISTANCE AFTER REFUELING AND, (3) THERE IS SUBSEQUENTLY SIGNIFICANT HEATING OF THE FUEL TANK, THE FUEL IN THE TANK CAN EXPAND INTO THE VENT HOSE AND LEAK FUEL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VENT HOSE.
96V253003 · Exterior Lighting:tail Lights
Aug 17, 1998
THE REAR LAMP SOCKET MAY NOT ILLUMINATE BECAUSE THE METAL CAN IN THE LAMP SOCKET MOVES OR SEPARATES FROM THE PLASTIC SOCKET HOUSING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN MALFUNCTION OF THE STOP OR REAR RUNNING LAMPS. CENTER HIGH MOUNT STOP LAMP FUNCTION IS UNAFFECTED. REAR LAMP MALFUNCTION CAN RESULT IN FOLLOWING DRIVERS NOT BEING ALERTED TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLE'S PRESENCE OR INTENDED ACTIONS, PARTICULARLY IN THE CASE IN WHICH BOTH LAMPS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED REAR LAMP SOCKET AND WIRING ASSEMBLIES.
96V089001 · Seats
Jun 3, 1996
AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION CONDITION IN THE SEAT CABLE ROLLER PULLEY ASSEMBLY CAN ALLOW THE CABLE THAT CONNECTS THE SEAT ADJUST LEVER TO THE LATCH TO BE PINCHED IN THE ROLLER ASSEMBLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THIS CONDITION CAN PREVENT THE LATCH ON THE LEFT SIDE FROM FULLY ENGAGING THE SEAT RAIL. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT OF FMVSS NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS."
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE A COMPONENT IN THE THIRD ROW SLIDING BENCH SEAT LATCH ASSEMBLY.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
6EA00014 · Fuel Tank Vent Hose Leakage
Opened May 22, 2000 · Closed Jan 4, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
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.
SQ00008 · Unexpected Opening On Sliding Door
Opened May 12, 2000 · Closed Apr 1, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
PE99077 · Fuel Tank Vent Hose Leakage
Opened Dec 28, 1999 · Closed May 22, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA99015 · Fuel Rail Hose Fitting Leakage
Opened Jun 29, 1999 · Closed Apr 18, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT COVERS 1993-1998 MERCURY VILLAGER AND NISSAN QUEST MINIVANS.THESE TWO MINIVANS SHARE A COMMON BODY PLATFORM AND POWER TRAIN.BASED ON THE LOW NUMBER OF REPORTED INCIDENTS AND THE ABSENCE OF A DEMONSTRABLE FAILURE TREND, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ENGINEERING CLOSING REPORT EA99-015 FOR DETAILS.
PE99013 · Fuel Rail Hose Fitting Leakage
Opened Feb 9, 1999 · Closed Jun 29, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
SINCE SEPTEMBER 1998, ODI HAS RECEIVED SEVEN COMPLAINTS OF FUEL ODOR OR LEAKAGE IN 1994 THROUGH 1995 MERCURY VILLAGER VEHICLES.FOUR OF THE LEAKS HAVE BEEN TRACED TO A SHORT SECTION OF HOSE THAT CONNECTS THE FUEL SUPPLY TUBE TO THE REAR OF THE FUEL RAIL.INFORMAITON CONTAINED IN THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE, WITH SEVERAL OWNERS ALLEGING MULTIPLE DEALER SERVICE REPAIRS.ADVANCED COMPRESSION SET IS EVIDENT IN A HOSE REMOVED FROM THE MOST RECENT COMPLAINT VEHICLE.
EA96005 · Battery Explosions
Opened May 30, 1996 · Closed May 29, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT IS INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC FILE.