IllustrationWHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THEY LOCKED UP AND CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NLM BOTH FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP WITHIN LESS THAN A MONTH APART. THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH BOTH REAR BRAKES AND THE LEFT FRONT CALIPER LOCKED UP. *SCC *JB
1998 Mercury Villager
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 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: 18 of 83 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.
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 9 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 reports0 fire reports3 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
9 reportsCONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP AT INTERSECTION, PEDAL FELT HARD, AND VEHICLE WENT THROUGH INTERSECTION. DEALER STATED BOTH REAR CALIPERS WERE FROZEN, AND ONE FRONT ROTOR WAS RUSTED. ALL PARTS WERE REPLACED. ON JULY 26, 2002 CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AT 10 MPH, PEDAL FELT HARD, NO BRAKING ACTION. VEHICLE AT DEALER AT TH…
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CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP AT INTERSECTION, PEDAL FELT HARD, AND VEHICLE WENT THROUGH INTERSECTION. DEALER STATED BOTH REAR CALIPERS WERE FROZEN, AND ONE FRONT ROTOR WAS RUSTED. ALL PARTS WERE REPLACED. ON JULY 26, 2002 CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AT 10 MPH, PEDAL FELT HARD, NO BRAKING ACTION. VEHICLE AT DEALER AT THIS TIME. *AK THE BOOSTER WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER IT IS UNCERTAIN AS TO IF THIS WILL REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *SLC
WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A LOW SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE KEPT GOING. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE. ALSO, HEIGHT OF BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARE THE SAME WHICH CAUSED PEDAL MISAPPLICATION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
WHILE MAKING A SUDDEN STOP BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, VEHICLE WENT INTO A SUDDEN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO DEPRESS BRAKES AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK
WHILE MAKING A SUDDEN STOP CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMAION. *AK
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE BLOWER MOTOR, HOWEVER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS.
BRAKES, STEERING, BODY, AND ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS.
DESIGN PROBLEM; THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARE THE SAME HEIGHT. IF DRIVER HAS PART OF FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL HE STEPS ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME. DRIVER WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH ON JUNE 1, 1988 BECAUSE OF PROBLEM. *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.
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.
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
1EA00014 · 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.