11 of the 323 complaints about the 1994 Mercury Villager are about the electrical system — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 92,000 miles.
11
Complaints
1
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
ELECTRICAL FIRE, VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AT TIME OF FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10184130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY WIFE AND KIDS WHERE PULLING OUT OF THE GARAGE WHEN SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE VEHICLE. SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND TOOK THE KIDS OUT OF THE VEHICLE. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE CAR WAS IN AN INFERNO. I SPOKE TO FORD AND THEY INITIALLY DENIED ANY RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE BUT I FOUND A COUPLE ON MY OWN THROUGH YOUR WEB SITE. ONCE THAT WAS MADE KNOWN TO FORD THEY SIMPLY STATED THAT I WAS SENT LETTERS TO HAVE THE REPAIRS MADE SO THEY HAVE NO LIABILITY. THIS IS WRONG I'M SURE. MY WIFE AND TWO SMALL CHILDREN COULD HAVE BURNED TO DEATH! WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE IN THIS CASE? *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10017130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED WHEN FIRE BROKE OUT AND DASH ILLUMINATED, VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, FIRE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION STATED THAT FIRE WAS CAUSED BY FAULTY WIRING OR BATTERY EXPLODED. *AK CONSUMER STATED DASH ILLUMINATED OFF AND ON PRIOR.*SLC
NHTSA complaint #8002512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
2 FRONT ENGINE MANIFOLD BOLTS SHEARED OFF, CAUSING EXHAUST LEAK INTO VEHICLE AND POSSIBLE HEAD WARPING PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE.THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS HAVE BLOWN BULBS ON AN AVERAGE OF 4 A YEAR ,ONCE RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION. MY IGNITION SWITCH IS SO SCREWED UP, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE KEY SAFELY SO I AM FORCED TO LEAVE IT IN AT ALL TIMES.MY WIPER/TURNSIGNAL SWITCH HAS BEEN A JOKE FROM DAY 1, THE TECHS COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT UNTIL THE WARRANTEE WAS OVER AND TRIED TO CHARGE ME FOR IT.
NHTSA complaint #755740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC VEHICLE DIED. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, MECHANIC STATED THAT CRANKSHAFT WAS BROKEN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK INJECTORS AND FUEL PUMP RUNNING ALL THE TIME, THE SPARK LEADING UP ALL THE TIME , TIMING BELT APPEAR BROKE, DISTRIBUTORS NOT MOVING, TIMING BELT FAILED, THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIMING BELT AND FOUND CRANKSHAFT BROKEN. NLM
NHTSA complaint #893553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
ELECTRICAL:NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH DOOR LOCKS ACTIVATION/WINDSHIELD SPRAYER FRONT AND REAR INOPERATIVE/INTERIOR LIGHTING CONTROLS FOR VENTILATION INOP., RADIO&CD PLAYER OPERATION INTERMITTENT AT ALL TIMES AND REPLACED RADIO BUT STILL HAD PROBLEMS GETTING POWER TO THE UNIT ON A REGULAR BASIS; HYDRAULIC BRAKES: FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS NOT FUNCTIONING FULLY/REAR BRAKES MAKE GRINDING NOISES. EXHAUST SYSTEM: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AT DIFFERENT INTERVALS DUE TO BROKEN HOSE BETWEEN EGR VALVE ASSEMBLY AND INTAKE MANIFOLD/O2 SENSOR REPLACED DUE TO TROUBLE CODES.
NHTSA complaint #738433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
PROBLEM #1. A/C STOPPED WORKING. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM TO LEAKING TUBING TO REAR A/C UNIT; REPLACED 05/23/00. PROBLEM #2. SMELLING ODOR LIKE FROM ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT SHORT/OVERHEATING WIRES IN DASHBOARD 08/26/00. REAR A/C UNIT STOPPED WORKING.
NHTSA complaint #729304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHENEVER VEHICLE IS STARTD, THE ABS LIGHT WOULD BE FLASHING & FINALLY STAY ON. HAS TAKEN TO DEALER & INFORMED BY MECHANIC NOT TO DRIVE DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT IN WIRING SYSTEM. DOES NOT KNOW IF AIR BAG WOULD WORK PREMATURELY OR NOT.
NHTSA complaint #847424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH KEY/IGNITION SWITCH. VEHICLE WILL STILL OPERATE WITHOUT THE USE OF THE KEY IN THE IGNTION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #830884 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
VEHICLES BATTERY EXPLODED WHEN CAR WAS PARKED AND DRIVER ATTEMPTING TO TURN IT ON.
NHTSA complaint #800950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY
STARTER RELAY FAILED. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #479544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.