98 of the
2,205 complaints filed about the Mercury Villager
are about the transmission —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1993.
98
Complaints
4%
Share of all complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
1998 VILLAGER-4 RAPID ACCELERATION SITUATIONS-STARTING TO BRAKE THE ENGINE STARTS REVVING UP TO THE POINT YOU CANNOT HOLD THE CAR WITH THE BRAKE, ONLY BY SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL. SEPT.2005,10/2006, 8/2010 & 12/09/10. CAUSED ACCIDENT ON 12/09 AND TOTALED VEHICLE. FORTUNATE NO INJURIES BUT A VERY SHOOK UP DRIVER TRYING TO GET IT STOPPED. IT DRAGGED HER ACROSS THE INTERSECTION UP ONTO A SIDEWALK AND TOOK HER SEVERAL FEET DOWN THE SIDEWALK BARELY MISSING HOUSES & TREES. ALL THE TIME SHE WAS PUSHING ON THE BRAKE & THE ENGINE WAS RACING & THE TIRES WERE DIGGING UP THE DIRT DRAGGING THE VEHICLE. RAN OVER A TWO FOOT STUMP & THE VAN FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE DRIVER WAS VERY SHOOK AND THIS ALL HAPPENED THROUGH NO FAULT OF HERS. THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO NHTSA WHEN THE 9/2005 INCIDENT HAPPENED. THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 4 OR 5 OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 98 VILLAGER. THE POWER TRAINS IN THE VILLAGER ARE BUILT BY NISSAN. VERY FORTUNATE THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED OR THAT NO ONE WAS ON THE SIDEWALK AT THE TIME. SOMETHING DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE CHECKED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR KILLED. I HAVE SEVERAL PICTURES OF THIS LAST INCIDENT IF SOMEONE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING WHAT HAPPENED.
NHTSA complaint #10370299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SOMETIMES WHEN I GO FROM A STOP POSITION OR SLOW DOWN AND YOU WANT TO ACCELERATE, YOU PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN AND GET NOTHING, WHEN TAP HARDER ON IT, IT WILL LURCH FORWARD, AND WHIP BACK YOUR PASSENGERS (CHILDREN). IT SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN HUMIDITY IS HIGHER, REGARDLESS OF SEASON.
NHTSA complaint #10315469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVE WHEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AND REVERTED BACK TO FIRST GEAR. AFTER STOPPING, TURNING OFF ENGINE, AND RESTARTING, VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF FIRST GEAR WHEN BEING DRIVEN. VEHICLE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TOWED TO DEALERSHIP , CARMAN FORD IN NEW CASTLE DE), BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP REPORTED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE. VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP BY OWNER AND BEGAN TO DRIVE IT HOME WHEN PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED. VEHICLE IS NOW AT COTTMAN TRANSMISSION IN WEST CHESTER PA WHO DIAGNOSE METAL SHAVINGS IN THE TRANSMISSION WELL (MINUTE FRAGMENTS) THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10195389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT: CONTACT PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND EXITED THE VEHICLE AND IT ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE DOOR PULLED THE CONTACT UNDER THE VEHICLE, AND BOTH SETS OF TIRES RAN HER OVER. SHE SUSTAINED A BROKEN PELVIC BONE, A BROKEN HIP, A BROKEN FEMUR, A BROKEN KNEE, A BROKEN ANKLE, AND A BROKEN BACK FROM L1-5. AS A RESULT, SHE SPENT THE SUMMER IN A NURSING HOME. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A MECHANIC FOR THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10142425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1993 MERCURY VILLAGER DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND OFF WHEN IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND ROLLED OVER THE CONSUMER'S LEG CAUSING RESIDUAL NERVE DAMAGE AFTER THE INITIAL COMPOUND FRACTURE TO HER TIBIA BONE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY.
NHTSA complaint #10135626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEGAN TO STICK IN THE UP POSITION. WHEN HE TRIED TO GO SLOW FROM THE STOP POSITION IT WOULD NOT WORK, CAUSING HIM TO PLACE MORE PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LURCH. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEALER, AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT HE PLACE A FUEL INJECTION CLEANER IN THE AIR FILTER, WHICH HELPED, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10125646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
VEHICLE GEAR SHIFT APPEARS TO GO INTO PARK, HOWEVER THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT REALLY IN PARK, THUS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL, POSSIBLY WHEN NO ONE IS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE DRIVER TO BE STRANDED BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT RESTART DUE TO IT NOT BEING ENGAGED IN THE PARK POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #10116315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
VEHICLE GEAR SHIFT APPEARS TO GO INTO PARK, HOWEVER THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT REALLY IN PARK, THUS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL, POSSIBLY WHEN NO ONE IS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE DRIVER TO BE STRANDED BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT RESTART DUE TO IT NOT BEING ENGAGED IN THE PARK POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #10116315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE OWNED A 1996 AND 1998 MERCURY VILLAGER. BOTH VEHICLES HAD A FAILURE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE CV BOOT WITH THE EVENTUAL FAILURE OF THE TRANS AXLE CV JOINT. EACH TIME THE TRANSAXLE HAD TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10093226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
VERY STRONG SMELLING GAS FUMES INSIDE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN HEATER IS TURNED ON. WHILE DRIVING THE SPEED GAUGE WILL STOP WORKING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON. BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING NOISE EVEN AFTER BEING REPLACED. CV BOOT IS LEAKING AND CRACKED. DRIVER SIDE AUTO-SEAT BELT SOMETIMES FAILS TO GO UP AND DOWN. REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER GETS STUCK IN UP POSITIONS WHEN TRING TO USE IT.
NHTSA complaint #10080599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE BACK HEATER NOT WORKING AT ALL. TRANSMISSION HAS A SLOW SHIFT AND WILL SHIFT HARD WHEN DOWN SHIFTING, STERRING WHEEL GET HARD WHEN TEMP. ARE IN THE TEEN,S. CLUCK NOISES WHEN HITTING LIGHT BUMPS. BRAKES GRIND WHEN BRAKES ARE COLD. RADIO WILL LOOSE MEMORY. HEATER SWITCH WHEN ONE 1, MAKES A TICKING NOISE. SLIDING DOOR GETS HARD TO CLOSE. GAS TANK, HAVE TO TURN CAP SLOWLY SO GAS AIR WILL LEAK OUT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS THEN GOES OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10070101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE PAINT IS CRACKED ON THE HOOD, UNKNOWN WHAT MONTH, ABOUT 1997. WE NEVER HAD IT FIXED. DRIVERS DOOR SEATBELT STAYS IN THE RUNNING POSITION, IT WON'T MOVE FORWARD, BUT IT MAKES A LOUD MOTOR NOISE, UNKNOWN WHAT MONTH, SINCE ABOUT 1999. WE NEVER HAD IT FIXED. THE SEAT BELT ON THE RIGHT NEXT TO THE MIDDLE SEAT FELL OFF. WE TOLD THE DEALER. THEY ORDERED ONE. WE WENT BACK ABOUT A MONTH LATER THEY SAID IT WAS TOO LATE TO FIX IT. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN ABOUT MAY OF 1998, AT ABOUT 120,000 MILES. WE HAD IT REBUILT. IT WENT OUT AGAIN ABOUT A YR LATER. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT REBUILT AGAIN RIGHT NOW. SO IT SITS. IN JUL OR AUG OF 1998, THE MOTOR WENT OUT. WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, AND IT STARTED KNOCKING, THEN QUIT. ALSO ON CHRISTMAS EVE OF 1997, WE WERE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE THING SOUNDED LIKE ALL THE RODS WERE KNOCKING. THE TEMP GAUGE SAID IT WAS OVER HEATING. WE PAID A GUY $100 TO BRING IT FROM EDMORE, MI TO BATTLE CREEK, MI. THE NEXT DAY WE WENT OUT AND STARTED IT, AND IT WAS FINE. OUR TAIL LIGHTS ALSO WENT OUT, THE FORD DEALER FIXED THEM. SO NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WILL NEVER BUY A MERCURY AGAIN. IF I HAD WANTED A NISSAN, I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT A NISSAN. I HAVE A 1976 FORD CHATEAU CLUB WAGON, OVER 250,000 MILES. IT HAS ONLY HAD TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION AT ABOUT 240,000 MILES. SO I GUESS I AM SAYING THIS VILLAGER IS A LEMON. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, DAWN GREEN
NHTSA complaint #10070382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
I PURCHASED A USED VAN, THERE SEEM TO BE SEVERAL RECALLS EITHER NOT IDENITFIED OR NOT KNOW ABOUT, EITHER WAY THEY WERE NOT FIXED. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FINE A DEALER WHOM WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALLS AND REPAIR THEM.
NHTSA complaint #10066378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH HEARD ENGINE RATTLING NOISE. ENGINE QUIT RUNNING AND FAILED TO RESTART. TOWED TO MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED CRANKSHAFT WAS BROKEN. MECHANIC SAID HE HAS HAD 3 OTHER BROKEN CRANKSHAFTS ON SAME MODEL VEHICLE WITH FRONT WHEEL DRIVE, TRANSVERSELY MOUNTED ENGINE, BUT NO SUCH PROBLEMS SEEN WHEN SAME ENGINE IS MOUNTED WITH DRIVESHAFT TO REAR WHEELS.
NHTSA complaint #10047724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WHEN A SMALL CHILD MISTAKENLY KNOCKED GEAR SHIFTER TO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS ONTO THE GRASS WHICH HELPED IT COME TO A STOP. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10042284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
IF THE IGNITION IS LEFT IN A POSITION BETWEEN "LOCK" AND "ON" THE GEAR SHIFT INTERLOCK MECHANISM DOESNT WORK AND THE VECHCLE CAN BE PULLED OUT OF GEAR. NORMALLY, THE SERVICE BRAKE HAS TO BE APPLIED IN ORDER TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY APPROX 6 MONTHS AGO VIA EMAIL- NO RESPONSE.
NHTSA complaint #764548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.