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1997 Mercury Villager

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Mercury Villager do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 125.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 19 of 125 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.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

16 reports
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81,000 miles · Jun 21, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

I AM ONE OF TONS OF PEOPLE WITH THE NOTORIOUS EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS BREAKING ISSUE! WHICH CAUSES THE CHECK ENGINE LIKE TO COME ON, AND DANGEROUS FUMES TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. WITH 4 CHILDREN, THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING...AND THE PRICE IS MORE THEN A FAMILY OF 4 CHILDREN CAN AFFORD AT $1500-3000 DEPENDING ON THE DAMAGE AND NOW I CAN…

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I AM ONE OF TONS OF PEOPLE WITH THE NOTORIOUS EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS BREAKING ISSUE! WHICH CAUSES THE CHECK ENGINE LIKE TO COME ON, AND DANGEROUS FUMES TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. WITH 4 CHILDREN, THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING...AND THE PRICE IS MORE THEN A FAMILY OF 4 CHILDREN CAN AFFORD AT $1500-3000 DEPENDING ON THE DAMAGE AND NOW I CANNOT HAVE MY VEHICLE SAFELY INSPECTED DUE TO THIS ISSUE. PLEASE HAVE THEM ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS AND PROTECT OUR FAMILIES.

NHTSA ODI #10078559

Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT ILLUMINATING. *PH WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THE DEALER RESET IT BUT IT KEPT COMING BACK ON. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE SPEED SENSOR. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10064768

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. *AK *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10031650

Mileage unknown · Jul 4, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

DESIGN OF EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS DEFECTIVE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #763828

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

NHTSA RECALL 00-V-419-002/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 00S59 VEHICLE DIDN'T START HAVING PROBLEMS UNTIL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. FUEL LEAKS FROM FUEL PUMP, WHICH WOULD NORMALLY RECEIVE THE CONNECTION TO FLOW OF GAS. CONSUMER HAS GONE TO TWO DEALER TO CONFIRM THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8007403

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #759259

Mileage unknown · Nov 2, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKEN OFF IN ENGINE CAUSING A SERIOUS EXHAUST LEAK. WAS QUOTED $1,100 MIN. TO FIX IT AT MANTECA FORD. LATER FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A HIDDEN MANUFACTUERS WARRANTY ON THIS DEFECTIVE PART AND NEITHER MANTECA FORD OR FORD MOTOR WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THIS OR HELP WITH THE LIABLITY OF THE REPAIRS THAT WERE DONE. …

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EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKEN OFF IN ENGINE CAUSING A SERIOUS EXHAUST LEAK. WAS QUOTED $1,100 MIN. TO FIX IT AT MANTECA FORD. LATER FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A HIDDEN MANUFACTUERS WARRANTY ON THIS DEFECTIVE PART AND NEITHER MANTECA FORD OR FORD MOTOR WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THIS OR HELP WITH THE LIABLITY OF THE REPAIRS THAT WERE DONE. I HAVE CONTACTED OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY WERE TAKEN CARE OF OR IGNORED LIKE I WAS. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE BOLTS AND ALL ENGINES SHOULD BE REPAIRED. THESE ARE FAMILY VEHICLES THAT ALOT OF US WORK HARD AND RELY ON THESE VANS TO GET OUR CHILDREN AROUND AND OURSELVES TO WORK. WHAT HAPPENED TO TRUTH AND HONESTY?*AK

NHTSA ODI #754008

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY, AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, VEHICLE SHUT OFF. LOST POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. SHE PAID TO HAVE VEHICLE PUT ON A MACHINE, BUT PROBLEM COULDN'T DOUBLE ITSELF.*AK

NHTSA ODI #894768

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

PLEASE REFER TO VOQ ODI NUMBER 741337 FROM FEB/01 THIS WAS WHEN THE FRONT EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUD BOLTS BROKE. I MADE A MISTAKE PLEASE RELEASE THIS INFORMATION TO FLM. THANK YOU THIS NEW INCIDENT REPORT IS FOR THE REAR MANIFOLD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #748893

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL 00V419002, AND HAS BEEN INFORMED REPEATEDLY THAT PART WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #891808

Official recalls

3

00V419002 · 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.

97V184001 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery

Oct 29, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMOTIVE BATTERIES SUPPLIED BY GNB TECHNOLOGIES. THESE BATTERIES HAVE A DEFECTIVE NEGATIVE POST THAT CAN CAUSE ACID LEAKAGE AND RELATED CORROSION DAMAGE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE BATTERY WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN ENGINE FIRE OR BATTERY EXPLOSION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE BATTERIES. UNTIL A NEW BATTERY IS OBTAINED, OWNERS SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT TO "JUMP START" THESE BATTERIES.

96V203000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting

Oct 17, 1996

THE FOUR RUBBER FUEL LINE CONNECTOR HOSES THAT ARE SUPPLIED TO FORD WITH THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. THESE HOSES CAN DEVELOP CRACKS OR SPLITS RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY FOR THE SUSPECT DATE CODES AND REPLACE THE FOUR RUBBER FUEL CONNECTOR HOSES IF NECESSARY.

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

3

EA00014 · 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.