I PARKED MY VAN, 1998 MERCURY VILLAGER ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF MY HOME. TWO DAYS LATER, I NOTICED THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS FLAT. I HAD FOUR NEW TIRES SINCE JAN 2011. WHEN I LIFTED UP THE FRONT RIGHT AND TRIED TO REMOVE THE FR TIRE, IT WOULD NOT COME OFF. AFTER A WHILE, I NOTICED THE STRUT COIL SPRING GOT BROKE, AND THE SHA…
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I PARKED MY VAN, 1998 MERCURY VILLAGER ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF MY HOME. TWO DAYS LATER, I NOTICED THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS FLAT. I HAD FOUR NEW TIRES SINCE JAN 2011. WHEN I LIFTED UP THE FRONT RIGHT AND TRIED TO REMOVE THE FR TIRE, IT WOULD NOT COME OFF. AFTER A WHILE, I NOTICED THE STRUT COIL SPRING GOT BROKE, AND THE SHAPE END OF BROKEN COIL SPRING PIERCED THRU. THE INSIDE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VAN,AND BOUGHT NEW. IT HAS `150,000 MILES ON IT. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN TURNED OUT BE A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 70MPG. I DO A LOT OF HIGHWAY DRIVING. BOTH FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT COMPLETE STRUT ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED AND THE FLAT TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH NEW ONE. I TOOK SOME PICTURES AND HAVE THE SHARP END OF BROKEN COIL SPRING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10389919
Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 1998
EquipmentPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE BLOWER MOTOR, HOWEVER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS.
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.
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
1
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.
1998 Mercury Villager Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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