IllustrationDOORS LOCKS DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. DOORS WOULD LOCK WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN CONSUMER STEPPED OUT OF VEHICLE DOORS WOULD LOCK ON THEIR OWN, EVEN WITH THE KEY STILL IN THE IGNITION SWITCH.
1996 Mercury Villager
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Mercury Villager do not stand out strongly from 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: 16 of 188 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 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports7 fire reports5 injury reports
Unknown Or Other complaints
7 reportsNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING OIL LIGHT CAME ON, AND THEN AL LOUD NOISE CAME FROM ENGINE, CAUSING ENGINE TO DRAG. CONSUMER HAD OIL CHANGE TWICE, AND FIXED PROBLEM TEMPORARILY. *AK
REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY LOCKS DOORS WITHOUT WARNING, LOCKING PASSENGERS IN VEHICLE WITH NO ESCAPE.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
REMOTE CONTROL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LOCK UP BY ITSELF BEFORE LETTING CONSUMER OUT OF VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED, SERVICE BULLETIN ALLOWED DEALER TO REPAIR VEHICLE. *AK *ML
ENGINE OIL LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY FLASHING WHEN ENGINE IS COLD (AFTER STARTING). OIL LIGHT GOES OFF AFTER ENGINE IS WARMED UP. INTERMITTENT EXCESSIVE "ENGINE NOISE" WHEN ENGINE IS COLD (AFTER STARTING). MERCURY DEALERSHIP INDICATES "SLUDGE" IN ENGINE, RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE. LAST OIL CHANGE AT 29000 MILES AND PREVIOU…
Read full complaint
ENGINE OIL LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY FLASHING WHEN ENGINE IS COLD (AFTER STARTING). OIL LIGHT GOES OFF AFTER ENGINE IS WARMED UP. INTERMITTENT EXCESSIVE "ENGINE NOISE" WHEN ENGINE IS COLD (AFTER STARTING). MERCURY DEALERSHIP INDICATES "SLUDGE" IN ENGINE, RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE. LAST OIL CHANGE AT 29000 MILES AND PREVIOUSLY AT 24600 MILES. DEALERSHIP IS INDICATING ENGINE DAMAGE IS DUE TO INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE (I.E. OIL CHANGE FREQUENCY). FORD ISSUED A LETTER JANUARY 1997 (RECALL 96M89) WHICH DESCRIBES "PISTON SLAP" NOISE PROBLEM AND OFFERED TO EXTEND ENGINE WARRANTY TO 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP IS CONTENDING THAT THE ENGINE DAMAGE IS NOT DUE TO THIS RECALL BUT OWNER MAINTENANCE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DETAIL ON THE 96M89 RECALL NOTICE AND WHETHER OR NOT THE ENGINE DEFECT COVERED BY THE RECALL COULD PRECIPITATE THE ENGINE DAMAGE I AM EXPERIENCING AT 40,700 MILES. WHILE I UNDERSTAND THIS ISSUE IS NOT SAFETY RELATED ANY ASSISTANCE YOU COULD PROVIDE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *AK
Official recalls
200V419002 · 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.
98V012001 · Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls
Mar 23, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH POWER WINDOWS THAT CAN BE CLOSED AFTER THE IGNITION KEY IS TURNED TO THE "OFF" POSITION AND THE RIGHT FRONT (PASSENGER) DOOR IS OPENED. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 118, "POWER-OPERATED WINDOW SYSTEMS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR UNSUPERVISED CHILDREN TO OPERATE THE POWER WINDOWS, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO THE CHILD.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A LABEL REMINDING OWNERS NOT TO LEAVE CHILDREN UNATTENDED BECAUSE THE POWER WINDOWS CAN OPERATE FOR 15 MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE IGNITION HAS BEEN TURNED OFF UNLESS THE DRIVER'S DOOR IS OPENED. ALSO INCLUDED ARE INSTRUCTIONS DESCRIBING HOW AND WHERE THIS LABEL IS TO BE INSTALLED. IF AN OWNER PREFERS, THEIR DEALER CAN INSTALL THIS LABEL FOR THEM.
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
4EA00014 · 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
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.
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.