FaultScore

FaultScore report

2001 Mercury Villager problems

Owners have filed 21 complaints about the 2001 Mercury Villager with NHTSA between 2000 and 2019. The largest single group is the airbags. Across this model's run it ranks 5 of 10 worst.

C

FaultScore 53/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Mercury Villager.

How this is worked out

The numbers

21

Complaints

4

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

4

Injuries reported

32,076 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

73%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 5 vs 50 Severity 100 vs 50 Early failure 100 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 5
Against the median year of the Mercury Villager. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
38.1% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 100
73% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2001 compares with every other Mercury Villager

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2001 Mercury Villager

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Seat Belts 3 14.3%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 62,000 mi

Tires 3 14.3%

Median failure at 5,500 miles

Suspension 3 14.3%

Median failure at 28,100 miles

Brakes 3 14.3%

Median failure at 20,890 miles

Airbags 3 14.3%

3 crashes, 0 fires · median 62,000 mi

Equipment & Accessories 2 9.5%

Median failure at 42,000 miles

Seats 1 4.8%
Body & Structure 1 4.8%
Transmission & Drivetrain 1 4.8%

Median failure at 32,076 miles

Engine & Cooling 1 4.8%

Median failure at 35,000 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

1,000 – 9,999 miles 2 18.2%
10,000 – 24,999 miles 1 9.1%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 6 54.5%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 2 18.2%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Dec 2000 peak 2 Feb 2019

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Louisville, KY Crash 4 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

IN DECEMBER OF 2007 I WAS DRIVING WITH MY THREE KIDS AND I WAS PREGNANT WITH TWINS. IT HAD BEEN RAINING FOR A FEW DAYS I SLOWED TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN MY CAR SLIDE AND I WENT INTO A POLL HEAD ON MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T OPEN MY CAR WAS LATER TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY.

NHTSA complaint #10241115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,000 miles Canton, MI Crash 6 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER VEHICLE T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 45 MPH, AND NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER AND THE FIVE PASSENGERS WERE ALL RESTRAINED WITH THE SEAT BELTS. EVERYONE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES FROM THE SEAT BELTS. NO ONE NEEDED TO BE TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH INFORMED.

NHTSA complaint #10108896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,000 miles Canton, MI Crash 6 injured

SEAT BELTS

CONSUMER VEHICLE T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 45 MPH, AND NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER AND THE FIVE PASSENGERS WERE ALL RESTRAINED WITH THE SEAT BELTS. EVERYONE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES FROM THE SEAT BELTS. NO ONE NEEDED TO BE TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH INFORMED.

NHTSA complaint #10108896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mount Union, PA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE DRIVER COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #10096872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 28,100 miles LOS Angeles, CA

SUSPENSION

THIS IS MY SECOND VILLAGER, THE FIRST WAS A 1993 AND NOW OWN A 2001. THE BASE STRUCTURE WHERE THE RACK AND PINION GETS BOLTED-IN CRACKS, WHILE THE ALIGNMENT AND WHOLE RACK & PINION HAS SHIFTED. THE CRACK OCCURRED WHEN I WAS TURNING ONTO A RAMP TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY.

NHTSA complaint #11176120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Louisville, KY Crash 4 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

IN DECEMBER OF 2007 I WAS DRIVING WITH MY THREE KIDS AND I WAS PREGNANT WITH TWINS. IT HAD BEEN RAINING FOR A FEW DAYS I SLOWED TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN MY CAR SLIDE AND I WENT INTO A POLL HEAD ON MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T OPEN MY CAR WAS LATER TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY.

NHTSA complaint #10241115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Columbia, MO

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

SEAT BELTS PLASTIC COVERS HAVE BROKEN AND FALLEN OFF, WHICH HAS MADE THE LOCKING MECHANISM USELESS. THE SEAT BELTS ARE NOW INOPERABLE, WHICH HAS LEFT US WITH FIVE AVAILABLE SEATS IN A SEVEN-PASSENGER VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE 2001 VILLAGE SEATS BELTS, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT MY VAN DID NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL. THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT REFERRED ME TO FORD LINCOLN MERCURY COOPERATE OFFICES. THEY WERE CONTACTED, AND ONCE AGAIN, I WAS NOT OFFERED ASSISTANCE.

NHTSA complaint #10207768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 49,000 miles Germantown, MD

EQUIPMENT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE CHANGING A TIRE, THE JACK BENT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE CONTACT HAD USED THE JACK. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #10168346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baton Rouge, LA

TIRES

A LOCAL SEARS AUTO CENTER SOLD ME A SET OF BF GOODRICH TIRES IN OCTOBER, 2004 THAT HAVE SHOWN EXTREME PRE-MATURE WEAR. THE SEARS OUTLET HAS REFUSED TO TAKE ANY ACTION TO CORRECT THIS. UPON CONSULTATION WITH THE OEM, B.F. GOODRICH, I SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN SOLD THE TIRE TO BEGIN WITH. IT IS NOT THE RECOMMENDED TIRE FOR MY VEHICLE PER GOODRICH AND THIS IS BACKED UP WHEN DOING A WEB PAGE TIRE SELECTION SEARCH ON THE BF GOODRICH WEB PAGE. THESE TIRES HAVE WORN 50 % AT 15000 MILES OF USE ON TIRES RATED FOR 60,000 MILES TREAD LIFE. THEY ARE AN "H" RATED PERFORMANCE TIRE THAT SEARS SOLD FOR MY WIFE'S MERCURY VILLAGER MINI VAN...NOT EXACTLY A HIGH PERFORMANCE VEHICLE. DOES THE NHTSA HAVE ANY RECORDS ON FILE FOR APPLICATION OF A BF GOODRICH TA TIRE TO A MERCURY VILLAGER MINI VAN WHERE A SAFETY OCCURENCE HAS HAPPENED ? HOW CAN A RETAIL OUTLET BE ALLOWED TO SELL TIRES THAT ARE NOT RECOMMENDED BY THE OEM FOR THE VEHICLE THEY ARE BEING PLACED ON. ARE THERE GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS MEANT TO PROTECT THE CONSUMER AGAINST THESE UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES ? WHAT CAN I DO TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA TO PREVENT THIS KIND OF MISBEHAVIOR FROM OCCURING TO OTHER CONSUMERS IN THE FUTURE

NHTSA complaint #10126149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,000 miles Canton, MI Crash 6 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER VEHICLE T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 45 MPH, AND NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER AND THE FIVE PASSENGERS WERE ALL RESTRAINED WITH THE SEAT BELTS. EVERYONE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES FROM THE SEAT BELTS. NO ONE NEEDED TO BE TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH INFORMED.

NHTSA complaint #10108896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,000 miles Canton, MI Crash 6 injured

SEAT BELTS

CONSUMER VEHICLE T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 45 MPH, AND NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER AND THE FIVE PASSENGERS WERE ALL RESTRAINED WITH THE SEAT BELTS. EVERYONE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES FROM THE SEAT BELTS. NO ONE NEEDED TO BE TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH INFORMED.

NHTSA complaint #10108896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,500 miles Port Tobacco, MD

TIRES

DEFECTIVE TIRES MANUFACTURED BY GENERAL TIRE, REQUESTING A DEFECT INVESTIGATION. *BF WHILE DRIVING ONE OF THE VEHICLE TIRE EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE (GENERAL AMPERE G560).

NHTSA complaint #10099747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,500 miles Port Tobacco, MD

TIRES

DEFECTIVE TIRES (P215/70R15) MANUFACTURED BY GENERAL TIRE, REQUESTING A DEFECT INVESTIGATION. *BF WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S TIRE HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE (GENERAL AMPERE G560 DK-66370-33255).

NHTSA complaint #10097909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mount Union, PA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE DRIVER COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #10096872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 32,076 miles Naples, FL

POWER TRAIN

GERMAIN LINCOLN MERCURY REFUSED TO REPLACE WORN MOTOR MOUNTS WHILE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARANTY. I HAD THE MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED BY NAPLES NISSAN AT MY OWN EXPENSE OF APROXIMATELY $400 BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS A NISSAN POWER TRAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10082387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 35,000 miles Lincolnton, NC

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULDN'T COOL, THERE IS FREON LEAKING OUT SOMEWHERE. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG UNTILL THE WARRANTY RAN OUT, NOW THEY SAID THERE IS A LEAK.*AK WE HAD A WELL KNOWN NAMED GARAGE LOOK AT THE MERCURY VILLAGER AND SAID THAT FORD HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER LEAKAGE FROM LINES UNDER THE VEHICLE. THEREFORE FORD SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM SINCE ITS A PROBLEM FROM THE FACTORY. THE MERCURY IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD, MY OTHER VEHICLE IS 5 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT. THIS SHOULD BE FIXED UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY SINCE THEY KNOWN THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND ITS ONE REASON FORD STOPPED MAKING THE VILLAGER SINCE THEY WERE HAVING FAILURES. ALSO WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER WINDOW ROLLING UP AND DOWN, HAVE IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED AND THE PROBLEM HAS WORSENED . NOW THE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL DOWN OR UP.

NHTSA complaint #10068505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 35,000 miles Bridgeport, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

BOUGHT CAR SEPT 01 AND AIRCONDITIONING FAILED BEFORE THE SECOND SUMMER AFTER PURCHASE. I CALLED DEALER JAN 03 AND WAS TOLD AIR WOULDN'T WORK IF OUTSIDE TEMP WAS BELOW 60. RETURNED IN APRIL WITH SAME COMPLAINT, BUT MILEAGE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. COST TO REPAIR WILL BR $669. PLUS TAX.

NHTSA complaint #10069522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 28,000 miles Grants, NM

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT LEFT REAR WHEEL LOCKING UP AND DAMAGING THE TIRE. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH AND THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OUT OF CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH ABS BRAKE SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #10060965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 13,780 miles Tacoma, WA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE WHEN BRAKING, AND THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AT 13,780. CONSUMER STATED THAT AT 28,000 THE PROBLEM RECURRED.

NHTSA complaint #10047938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marina, CA

SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

CENTER ROW SLIDING BUCKET SEAT (PASSENGER SIDE) DOES NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM 6 TIMES (2 TIMES TO SALINAS DEALERSHIP AND 4 TIMES TO SEASIDE DEALERSHIP) W/O HAVING IT SUCCESSFULLY REPAIRED. THE SEAT WILL APPEAR LATCHED, BUT IS NOT TRULY ENGAGED. WITH AN OCCUPANT IN THE SEAT IT WILL SLIDE FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE CENTER SEAT OCCUPANT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER. THIS DEFECT WAS THERE FROM THE BEGINNING, NOTICED AFTER WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. IT DID NOT DEVELOP OVER TIME, SO THE INCIDENT DATE WILL REFLECT THE PURCHASE DATE OF THE VEHICLE. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10021028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lodi, CA

STRUCTURE

THE HOOD AND DOOR CONTAINED A LOT OF SPACE ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10020514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Knoxville, TN

SUSPENSION

WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED 50-60 MILES MPH THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY VIBRATED.

NHTSA complaint #10012072 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wyandotte, MI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO FLOOR MOMENTARILY AND POP BACK UP. ALSO LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID IS OCCURRING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND IS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. *AK WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, THERE WILL BE NO BRAKE, BUT IN A MATTER OF SECONDS THE PEDAL POPS UP AND THE VEHICLE GOES ON ABS MODE.

NHTSA complaint #8006941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Charlotte, TN

SUSPENSION

WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN BETWEEN 50-70 MPH EXTREME VIBRATION OCCURS, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF VEHICLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #8000844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Redford, MI

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

WHILE TAKING SEATBELT OFF BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. *AK BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY WHILE REMOVING.

NHTSA complaint #876955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.