FaultScore

Mercury Villager acceleration problems

192 of the 2,205 complaints filed about the Mercury Villager are about the throttle and cruise control — 9% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1999.

192

Complaints

9%

Share of all complaints

14

Crashes

2

Fires

Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year

1993 Villager 6 3.1%
1994 Villager 8 4.2%
1995 Villager 11 5.7%

Median failure at 36,500 miles

1996 Villager 11 5.7%
1997 Villager 10 5.2%

Median failure at 119,000 miles

1998 Villager 14 7.3%

Median failure at 82,473 miles

1999 Villager 92 47.9%

Median failure at 53,000 miles

2000 Villager 40 20.8%

Median failure at 40,000 miles

What owners said

1999 Mercury Villager at 40,000 miles Clarendon Hills, IL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHT, UPON ACCELERATING WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN, THE ACCELERATOR IS HARD TO PRESS. IT DOES NOT DEPRESS. YOU HAVE TO EITHER PRESS TOO HARD OR PUMP A FEW TIMES FOR IT TO GET GOING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ARE TAKING A LEFT TURN ON A SOLID GREEN LIGHT WITHOUT A GREEN ARROW. YOU MAY STALL AND THEN LUNGE FORWARD INTO AN ONCOMING CAR

NHTSA complaint #10680956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mercury Villager at 68,000 miles Youngstown, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TRIED TO SLIGHTLY DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR TO MOVE UP IN TRAFFIC BUT ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK AND HAD TO APPLY MORE FORCE TO DEPRESS ACCELERATOR CAUSING VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD NEARLY CAUSING A COLLISION WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US. REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT EXTEND TO ALLOW IT TO BE PUT ON.

NHTSA complaint #10535836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Mercury Villager at 188,000 miles Brainerd, MN Crash 1 killed

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DRIVER REPORTS HE MUST HAVE HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR AT THE SAME TIME (SEMI-PANIC BRAKE APPLICATION). POLICE REPORT STATES "TIRE MARKS" ON THE (DRY) PAVEMENT. ONE DOES NOT PRODUCE "TIRE MARKS" ON DRY PAVEMENT (NO TURNING INVOLVED) WITHOUT BRAKE APPLICATION. DRIVER HAD EPISODE OF MICROSLEEP: WHEN ALERTED BY THE EVENT TAKING PLACE, HE COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN TIME TO PREVENT HITTING AND FATALLY INJURING A PEDESTRIAN. UPON EXAMINATION OF ACCIDENT VEHICLE, INSPECTOR DISCOVERED UNUSUAL ARCHED ACCELERATOR PEDAL DESIGN WHEREIN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS LOCATED ONLY 1 5/8 INCH FROM THE ARCHED ACCELERATOR PEDAL ALLOWING BRAKE APPLICATION AND ACCELERATION CONCURRENTLY IF CERTAIN CONDITIONS PREVAIL. EXAMINATION DEMONSTRATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE PEDAL WENT SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. FURTHERMORE, WITH THE 4 5/8 INCH WIDE BOOT THE DRIVER (AND INSPECTOR) WORE, IT WAS EASY TO ACCIDENTALLY CATCH THE EDGE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CONSEQUENTLY ENABLING THE USER TO ACCIDENTALLY DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL (UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS) AT THE SAME TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10374963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mercury Villager at 140,000 miles Crossville, TN Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY VILLAGER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD WHENEVER IT CAME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

NHTSA complaint #10315176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mercury Villager at 50,000 miles Middletown, NJ

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I HAVE A 1999 MERCURY VILLAGER, PERIODICALLY THE GAS PEDAL WILL BE VERY HARD TO PUSH. IT ACTUALLY GOT STUCK ACCELERATING ONCE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SITUATION. I HAVE FOUND THAT MERCURY HAS RECALLED THE MOUNTAINEER (CAMPAIGN # 00V422000) FOR THIS "EXACT" ISSUE BUT HAS TAKEN NO ACTION WITH THE VILLAGER. I HAVE REPLACED THE WHOLE THROTTLE BODY ONCE, SOON AFTER I PURCHASED THE VAN, BUT AFTER THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. AS I RECALL IT WAS AT A $600 EXPENSE TO ME. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10312957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mercury Villager at 105,000 miles High Point, NC

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE 1999 THROUGH 2000 MERCURY VILLAGER VANS HAVE A DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. MY GAS PETAL STARTED STICKING ON MY VILLAGER VAN LATE LAST YEAR. I FINALLY HAD THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY CLEANED AND THROTTLE CONTROL SENSOR REPLACED IN JANUARY, AFTER SEVERAL FAILED ATTEMPTS BY THE MERCURY DEALERSHIP TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM. I HAD ANOTHER MECHANIC REPLACE THE FAILED THROTTLE BODY CONTROL SENSOR (IN MAY)AFTER ONLY 4 MONTHS (PART WAS GUARANTEED FOR 12 MONTHS) AND THE THROTTLE BODY WAS OK FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND NOW IT'S STICKING AND THE GAS PETAL IS HARD TO DEPRESS. IT IS A MAJOR ACCIDENT HAZARD BECAUSE YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT YOU CAN PULL OUT SAFELY FROM AN INTERSECTION OR ACCELERATE WHEN ENTERING A RAMP ON THE INTERSTATE. WITH THIS PROBLEM YOU HAVE TO PRESS THE GAS PETAL HARDER THAN NORMAL AND THEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE GETTING WHIPLASH BECAUSE THE PETAL WILL UNSTICK AND YOU SHOOT FORWARD. OUR CAR HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT CAME ON AND IT WAS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROBLEM. FROM THE CONTENTS OF THIS ARTICLE, I BELIEVE THAT MERCURY AND NISSAN ARE COMPLETELY AWARE THIS DANGER. HTTP://WWW.ENQUIRER.COM/EDITIONS/2004/08/20/BIZ_VILLAGERSUIT20.HTML PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND FORCE MERCURY & NISSAN TO RECALL ALL OF THESE VEHICLES AND AGREE TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. WHEN YOU HAVE TAKEN CARE OF YOUR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE WISE AND THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS THERE IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND DOES NOTHING, THEN THEY SHOULD BEAR THE BRUNT OF THEIR FAULTY DESIGN AND BE LIABLE FOR ANY INJURIES OR DEATHS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ISSUE. MORE LINKS BELOW HTTP://WWW.ALLWORLDAUTO.COM/COMMENTS/MERCURY_VILLAGER_COMMENTS_AND_COMPLAINTS_101-573-1.HTML.

NHTSA complaint #10292916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mercury Villager Danville, KY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1999 MERCURY VILLAGER ESTATE MINI-VAN. PURCHASED NEW IN 1999. OWNED BRIEFLY WHEN GAS PEDAL STUCK, BUT IF KICKED DOWN ON RELEASED. OF COURSE, THE VEHICLE WOULD JUMP FORWARD FROM THE HARD KICK ON THE ACCELERATOR. THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED BY REPLACING THE THROTTLE BODY...ONLY FOR A SHORT TIME THOUGH. WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN AFTER THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY PERIOD A QUICK 20 MINUTE CLEANING OF THE INSIDE OF THE THROTTLE BODY FIXED THE PROBLEM...AGAIN FOR A WHILE. THIS STICKING OR THE THROTTLE MOST OFTEN CAUSES A DELAY IN THE FORWARD MOTION OF THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED WHEN I WAS TRYING TO STOP AND IN ORDER NOT TO RUN INTO ANOTHER STOPPED VEHICLE THE IGNITION HAD TO BE TURNED OFF OR PLACED IN NEUTRAL. I THOUGHT OF REPORTING THIS WHEN I SAW ON A MERCURY BLOG PAGE THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10260066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mercury Villager at 93,000 miles Queen Creek, AZ

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

PURCHASED VEHICLE ONE WEEK AGO, SINCE THEN WHENEVER I AM GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN REVVING THE ENGINE AT 5,000 RPMS MAKING IT VERY HARD TO STOP VEHICLE WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. YOU HAVE TO SHUT VEHICLE OFF AND THEN PUT IT IN PARK, THEN TRY IT AGAIN. SOMETIMES IT WORKS AND OTHER TIMES ITS WORSE!!! THIS VEHICLE IS VERY UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE STREETS, OR FIXED PROPERLY BY THE MANUFACTURER!!! I AM VERY SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WITH MY KIDS IN IT, FOR WE MIGHT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERYDAY SINCE WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE!!!!

NHTSA complaint #10219036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Mercury Villager at 144,946 miles Delran, NJ

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1998 MERCURY VILLAGER PURCHASED USED IN 2003. IDLE THROTTLE BODY FAILED IN 2006, MERCURY DEALER TOOK TWO WEEKS TO FIND THE PART AND REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. IDLE THROTTLE BODY FAILED AGAIN IN EARLY 2007. DEALER TOOK TWO WEEKS AGAIN TO FIND PART AND DID NOT CHARGE ME BUT I HAD TO RENT A CAR AT MY EXPENSE. TODAY 9/30/07 THE SAME SYMPTOM OF THE CAR ACCELERATING TO 1500 RPM INTERMITTENTLY WHILE SITTING STOPPED AT A LIGHT HAS BEGUN AGAIN INSTEAD OF CONSTANT 800 RPM WHEN THIS PART IS WORKING CORRECTLY. I WILL HAVE TO WAIT ON THE DEALER TO FIND A PART AND REPAIR IT AGAIN AT MY INCONVENIENCE AND EXPENSE. HAVE OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE ENGINE EXPERIENCED THE SAME REPEATED SAFETY AND WASTE OF FUEL ISSUE?

NHTSA complaint #10204465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Mercury Villager at 13,000 miles Pontiac, MI Fire

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

MY MERCURY VILLAGER WHILE LOCK IN MY GARAGE AND DOOR LOCK WE SMELL SMOKE OUTSIDE OF GARAGE WE HAD NOT USED THE GARAGE EXCEPT WEEK AGO WE FOUND THE WINDOW CRACK FRONT ALSO VENTS FRONT WERE ALL MELTED MOST DAMAGE IS LOCATED BEHIND THE HEATER AND RADIO ALSO NEAR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THAT PART OF THE DASH WAS ALSO BURNT ALL THE WINDOWS WERE ALSO FULLY CLOSED! WE CALLED THE POLICE THEY HAD NO SIGNS OF FORCE ENTRY THEY ALSO DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED INSIDE DASH BETWEEN THE HEATER CONTROL AND THE RADIO. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN SERVICE OR HAD ANY ITEM REPAIR OR REPLACED AS LONG AS WE OWN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10191813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mercury Villager at 88,168 miles Broken Arrow, OK

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

STICKY ACCELERATOR PEDAL ON 2000 MERCURY VILLAGER. STICKS ABOUT HALF THE TIME CAUSING ABRUPT SURGE INTO TRAFFIC AND DISLODGING OF OCCUPANTS.

NHTSA complaint #10182895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mercury Villager at 42,000 miles Milwaukee, WI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

GAS PEDAL GETTING STUCK. ALMOST HITTING A PEDESTRIAN. TOOK IT TO DEALER. DEALER MECHANIC CLEANS THE THROTTLE BODY IT WORKS FOR FEW DAYS BUT THE PROBLEM KEEPS RECURRING.

NHTSA complaint #10182107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mercury Villager Muskegon, MI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER 2000 MERCURY VILLAGER HAS ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP OR AT A LOW SPEED, WHEN SHE TRIED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE AS EXPECTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAS TO PUT THE FOOT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR FOR THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. SHE HAS REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY TWICE SINCE SHE OWNED THE VEHICLE. SHE STATED THAT SHE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS, ALMOST RESULTING IN SEVERAL CRASHES. ALSO, THE STABILIZING LINK WAS CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING. WHEN SHE TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. IF SHE HIT A HOLE THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD CLUNKY NOISE. THE CONTACT HAD THE STABILIZER BAR REPAIRED 2/1/07, AND SHE HAS HAD THREE TIRES REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DEALERSHIP SAID THE STABILIZER BAR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE TIRES WEARING OUT SO QUICKLY. THERE HAVE BEEN 6 OCCURENCES OF THIS FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10181341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mercury Villager at 45,000 miles Tinton Falls, NJ

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

2000 MERCURY VILLAGER HAS COMMON PROBLEM OF GAS PEDAL STICKING AND SPEEDOMETER OUTAGE. BOTH OF THESE ARE SAFETY ISSUES AND NEED TO BE CORRECTED.

NHTSA complaint #10178643 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mercury Villager at 7,000 miles Hoffman, IL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK WHEN DEPRESSED, AND WHEN IT UNSTUCK, THE ADDED PRESSURE CAUSED THE VAN TO LURCH FORWARD. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH LUBRICANT ON THE ACCELERATOR PARTS. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AFTER VISITING THE SERVICE DEALER. UPDATED 12/5/2006 - THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW.

NHTSA complaint #10173321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mercury Villager at 56,000 miles Deerfield, MI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS.

NHTSA complaint #10152832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mercury Villager Lebanon, PA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

ACCELERATOR PEDAL FREQUENTLY STICKS IN UP-POSITION ON 1999 MERCURY VILLAGER; MOSTLY WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED. PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE PURCHASE TWO YEARS AGO.

NHTSA complaint #10152517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mercury Villager at 46,559 miles North Richland Hills, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS. ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

NHTSA complaint #10152428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mercury Villager at 15,000 miles Nazareth, PA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

GAS PEDAL STICKS ON 2000 MERCURY VILLAGER. HAD VEHICLE SINCE 2000. PROBLEM STARTED IN 2002 AND GOT WORSE. WE DEALT WITH IT BUT SINCE MY WIFE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH MS IN 2003, SHE FOUND IT HARD TO DEAL WITH. I DEAL WITH IT, BUT FIND IT VERY ANNOYING. THE PROBLEM IS JUST AS OTHERS DESCRIBE WHERE MOSTLY WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP, THE PEDAL STICKS AND REQUIRES A LOT OF PRESSURE TO RELEASE IT CAUSE HARD STARTS AND BREAKING TRACTION. IT SOMETIMES OCCURS WHILE DRIVING. PROBLEMS OCCURS ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10149618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mercury Villager Canton, MI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

1999 MERCURY VILLAGER- GAS PEDAL STICKS. CAR ALSO SMELLS LIKE ROTTEN EGGS AFTER IT HAS WARMED UP. SOMETIMES THE SMELL GOES AWAY.

NHTSA complaint #10149164 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Mercury Villager problems