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: 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
What owners actually said
125 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 1999
Structure
I HAVE CONTACTED YOU BEFORE & TALKED TO PEGGY ABOUT THE SIDE DOOR OF THE VILLAGER OPENING. THE VECHICAL IS LEASED AND BEING RETURNED 12/14/98 I SENT YOU PICS OF THE INNER WORKINGS OF THE DOOR- TOUCHING THE STYROFORM ALSO MAKES THE DOOR OPEN & A LITTLE ROUND THING DOES TOO OTHER THAN JUST THE ROD THAT I TOLD YOU ALREADY. DEALERS…
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I HAVE CONTACTED YOU BEFORE & TALKED TO PEGGY ABOUT THE SIDE DOOR OF THE VILLAGER OPENING. THE VECHICAL IS LEASED AND BEING RETURNED 12/14/98 I SENT YOU PICS OF THE INNER WORKINGS OF THE DOOR- TOUCHING THE STYROFORM ALSO MAKES THE DOOR OPEN & A LITTLE ROUND THING DOES TOO OTHER THAN JUST THE ROD THAT I TOLD YOU ALREADY. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX PANEL SAYING I "ABUSED THE VECHICAL" IFEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFTEY ISSUE SINCE THE VECHICAL IS DESIGNED FOR FAMILIES. THANK YOU
NHTSA ODI #701279
Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 1999
Structure
AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK FAILED; CONTINUALLY LOCKS ALL DOORS BY ITSELF.
NHTSA ODI #781766
Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN DRIVING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE IS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, AND CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKES ARE RUBBING METAL TO METAL AND THE NOISE COMES AND GOES AT TIMES. DEALERGROUND THE BRAKE ROTORS AND REPLACED THE PADS. ALSO, THE BRAKES ARE GRINDING, AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS FOUR TIMES,…
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WHEN DRIVING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE IS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, AND CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKES ARE RUBBING METAL TO METAL AND THE NOISE COMES AND GOES AT TIMES. DEALERGROUND THE BRAKE ROTORS AND REPLACED THE PADS. ALSO, THE BRAKES ARE GRINDING, AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS FOUR TIMES, AND THEY CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML
NHTSA ODI #831693
Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 1998
Fuel System, Other
VEHICLES FUEL LINE FAILED CAUSING A STRONG GAS ODOR TO ENTER THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #542692
Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
GASOLINE FUMES ARE FILLING UP THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AT ANY GIVEN TIME WITHOUT ANY WARNING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME GAS LEAK. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #830173
Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 1998
Air BagsStructureTires
SLIDING DOOR PANEL FALLS OFF, THERE IS A SPOT ON THE DOOR, AND IF ONE TOUCHES IT THE DOOR POPS OPEN. ALSO TIRES ARE BALD, AND AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES.
NHTSA ODI #780973
Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 1998
Air BagsStructureTires
SLIDING DOOR PANEL FALLS OFF, THERE IS A SPOT ON THE DOOR IF CONSUMER TOUCHES IT THE DOOR POPS OPEN. TIRES ARE BALD, AND AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES.
NHTSA ODI #780793
Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 1998
Unknown Or Other
NONE PROVIDED.
NHTSA ODI #541742
Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 1998
Steering
STEERING COLUMN CRACKED FROM FACTORY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE SEVERE ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS AND INSTABILITY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
NHTSA ODI #540606
Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 1998
Latches/locks/linkages
PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR LOCKS. WILL NOT UNLOCK IN MANUAL MODE OR AUTOMATIC MODE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. DELAERS CANNOT CORRECT PROBLEM. *AK
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.
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.
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.
1997 Mercury Villager Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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