1994 Mercury Villager complaints

THIS VEHICLE HAD SEVEN (7) OF TWELVE (12)EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS SHEAR. I WAS INFORMED BY THE QUEEN CITY SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, THAT THIS CONDITION HAS BEEN A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH 1993 AND 1994 YEAR MODEL MERCURY VILLAGERS. I WAS FURTHER INFORMED THAT ALL TWELVE (12) STUDS WERE REPLACED WITH NEW STUDS THAT MERCURY IS NOW INSTALLING IN ALL VILLAGERS MANUFACTURED SUBSEQUENT TO THE 1993 AND 1994 YEAR MODELS. THE TECHNICIAN AT QUEEN CITY MERCURY STATED THAT MERCURY IS NO LONGER USING THE ORIGINAL STUDS DUE TO THE ORIGINAL STUD'S FAILURE RATE. QUEEN CITY FURTHER INFORMED ME THAT THEY ARE ROUTINELY CHECKING ALL 1993 AND 1994 VILLAGERS THAT COME IN FOR ANY SERVICE FOR SIGNS OF THE STUD FAILURE. I WAS INFORMED THAT FAILING TO MAKE THIS REPAIR COULD RESULT IN CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE REPAIR COST ASSOCIATED WITH THIS MANIFOLD STUD FAILURE WAS $641.30. FORD/MERCURY DENIED MY REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF THE REPAIR EXPENSE STATING THAT, TO DATE, THERE HAD BEEN NO MANDATED RECALL TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD APPRECIATE NHTSA'S REVIEW, IF IN FACT, MERCURY HAS EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT FAILURE RATES RESULTING FROM DEFECTIVE STUDS.

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. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN FILLING WITH GAS, LEAKS WHEN FULL.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS SAFETY DEFECT INVOLVES A SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED FAILURE OF AIR CONDITION PIPES/HOSES. THIS CAN CAUSE A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR CONDITIONER IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE DEFROSTER AND ITS FAILURE MAY AND COULD LEAD TO ZERO OR NO VISIBILITY VERY QUICKLY. THE AIR CONDITIONER IN MANY VEHICLES IS A NECESSITY FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE OPERATOR AND PASSENGERS. IN MY SITUATION, MY WIFE HAS A VERY SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING MEDICAL CONDITION. THE LACK OF AIR CONDITIONING MAY EXACERBATE THAT SITUATION. I BELIEVE THAT THE FAILURE OF AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS NOT LIMITED TO JUST MY VEHICLE. IN FACT THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM THAT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE. IN FACT THE DEALERSHIP CAN NOT STATE WHEN THEY CAN APPRORIATELY FIX THE CAR, THEY STATE THAT IT COULD TAKE FROM 1 MONTH TO AT LEAST A YEAR FOR PARTS. THIS PROBLEM IS ALSO PREVELENT IN THE NISSAN QUEST, THE EXACT SAME VEHICLE.

VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE WAITING AT STOP LIGHT DUE TO CRANKSHAFT FAILURE. VEHICLE AT DEALER SHOP. VEHICLE AT DEALER'S . SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER.*AK

SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT STAY OPEN WHILE PARKED ON ANY DOWNWARD SLOPE. DANGEROUS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN OR MOTHERS WITH BABIES DURING INGRESS/EGRESS. DEALER MENTIONS REPLACING SLIDING DOOR TRACK WHICH IS A WELDED/PAINTED FRAME COMPONENT AND REQUIRES BODY WORK TO FIX.

CRANK SHAFT BROKEN. DAMAGED HEADS. DEALER SUGGESTS ENGINE REPLACEMENT. CAR ONLY HAS 75000 MILES ON IT AND THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT BE FREEZING UP. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT AN ASPIRE OR ANOTHER 8000 DOLLAR VEHICLE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A 30000 DOLLAR VEHICLE. NO CAR ESPECIALLY AN EXPENSIVE ONE SHOULD LOSE IT'S ENGINE AT 75000 MILES. IT SHOW POOR QUALITY AND MANUFACTURING. THE MECHANIC AT GLEN BURNIE LINCOLN MERCURY STATED THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND NOT PREVENTABLE ON MY PART. FORD SHOWED NO INTEREST IN HELPING ME WITH THE REPAIRS NOR DID THEY SEEM TO CARE THAT ONE OF THEIR VEHICLES HAD SUCH A MAJOR MECHANICAL FLAW AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE. I WILL ALSO BE CONTACTING THE BBB AND CONSUMER REPORTS AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF NEWSPAPERS. THANK-YOU MICHAEL G. DRISCOLL

THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE COOLANT TUBE. THE OEM TUBE IS INSULATED WITH FOAM, BUT THE ENDS ARE NOT ENCLOSED. THIS ALLOWS WATER, ROAD SALT AND THE ELEMENTS TO WORK BETWEEN THE FOAM INSULATION AND THE METAL TUBE AND CORRODE THE TUBE. IT IS NOT A CHEAP ITEM TO REPLACE. THE TUBE ITSELF HAS A COST OF $220+ DOLLARS, NOT INCLUDING THE LABOR TO REPLACE IT AND THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT FREON. THE PROBLEM IS THE REPLACEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER HAS THE SAME DESIGN FLAW WHICH MEANS IT SHOULD NOT LAST LONGER THAN 4 YEARS EITHER. MERCURY AND FORD WERE CONTACTED AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THANK YOU. BUT YOUR VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY.

CRANKSHAFT BROKE APART IMMEDIATELY BEHIND TIMING GEAR. VEHICLE IDLING AT A STOP SIGN AT TIME OF FAILURE. TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. / ELECTRIC LOCKS LOCK THEMSELVES INTERMITTENTLY, WITHOUT HUMAN ASSISTANCE. MUST ALWAYS HAVE KEY IN HAND WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE. FAILURES ARE ONGOING AND UNPREDICTABLE. *AK

FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL RAIL. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THESE PARTS. I FEEL THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REIMBURSE ME. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

REAR BRAKE FAILURES OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AT AN INCLINE AND THE PARKING BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. RELEASING OF THE PARKING BRAKE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED CAUSES ONE OF THE REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS TO EXTEND BEYOND THEIR NORMAL OPERATIONAL RANGE, RESULTING IN FAILURE OF THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDER. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS. PROCEDURALLY THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT PARKED ON AN INCLINE. *AK

THERE IS A HOLE WITHIN THE VENT HOSE FROM WHICH GAS IS LEAKING OUT OF THE CRACK ONTO THE FLOOR OF VEHICLE. WHEN CONSUMER PUTS GAS INTO VEHICLE, GAS WILL LEAK OUT ONTO THE GROUND, AND CONSUMER CAN SMELL GAS WITHIN VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE EITHER STARTING THE ENGINE OR SHUTTING THE ENGINE DOWN (THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY), THE CRANKSHAFT BROKE AND THE DAMPER PULLEY WAS INJURED. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE PARTY ONLY 4 WEEKS EARLIER AND HAD LESS THAN 1500 MILES ON IT. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE??

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. ALSO, BRAKES TO FAILED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN REPAIR SHOP TIME AFTER TIME, AND DEALERS CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS WILL NOT WORK/LAP BELTS STUCK AND WILL NOT EXTEND/VEHICLE HAS BEEN KEPT IN GREAT SHAPE AND HAS HAD ALL REQUIRED MAINTANANCE PERFORMED. *AK

4 TO 5 TIMES A MONTH AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WILL LOCK AUTOMATICALLY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

PE99013, WHEN COLD STARTED VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A GASOLINE SMELL FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES. ALSO, CONSUMER CAN SEE A LEAK UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ON MARCH 25TH I WAS INFORMED THAT THE RIGHT SIDE ENGINE CAMSHAFT HAD LOCKED UP AND THERE WAS NO COMPRESSION; A MAJOR REPAIR. NEW HEAD MAY BE NEEDED. MY CAR WAS MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES. THERE WAS NO UNUSUAL SOUNDS OR INDICATIONS. IT WAS A NISSAN ENGINE. PLEASE REVIEW AND LET ME KNOW. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AFTER 4 YEARS. *AK

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING RESULTING IN LOSE OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL.

WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. WIPERS USUALLY WORKS WHEN FIRST TURNED ON BUT QUIT WITHOUT WARNING. SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH RECENT REPORTS ON FORD TAURUS/MERCURY SABLE?

MY WIFE DROVE THE VEHICLE ON THAT DAY. ACCORDING TO MY WIFE, SHE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT FOR A WHILE, AND WHEN SHE DEPARTED ON GREEN LIGHT, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE WITH A LOUD NOISE. AFTER THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL IN IDLE WITH HESITATION. THE VAN WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY GAS STATION. MECHANICS AT THAT GAS STATION COULD NOT FIND OUT THE PROBLEM. 1 DAY LATER, THE VAN WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND AT THIS TIME, EVERYTHING WENT DEAD. TWO DAYS LATER, A MECHANIC IN THE DEALER SERVICE CALLED AND REPORTED OF BROKEN CRANKSHAFT. THE DEALER ASKED FOR $4500 (PARTS+LABOR) TO REPLACE A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE.

WHILE CARRYING THE CAR SEAT BY THE CARRYING HANDLE, THE HANDLE BECOMES UNLOCKED, CAUSING THE CAR SEAT TO TILT FORWARDS. MODEL # 2032A6P2, DOM 6/27/97. PARENT WILL CONTACT EVENFLO ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT. *AK

SCREW FELL OUT OF STEERING COLUMN CAUSING THE SHIFTER TO SHOW INACCURATE READINGS.

MY VEHICLE JUST LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. HOWEVER, THE VAN WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER THE DEALER HAD THE VAN FOR THREE DAYS, THEY CONCLUDED THE CRANKSHAFT BROKE. NOW THIS MINI-VAN, ALTHOUGH A MERCURY, HAS A NISSAN 3.0 6 CYLINDER ENGINE. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED WITH PROPER OIL CHANGES AND WE HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS OVER THE 37,000 MILES WE HAVE DRIVEN IT. WHEN WE APPROACHED FORD ABOUT ANY HELP IN REPAIR, THE DOOR WAS SHUT. NO, THEY SAID. A CRANKSHAFT JUST DOESN'T BREAK AT 60,000 MILES ON THIS TYPE OF ENGINE. THIS IS A FAMILY VAN DRIVEN FOR FAMILY PURPOSES. WHEN YOU ARE TALKING A $4000.00 + REPAIR BILL, IT WOULD BE NICE IF SOMEONE ACTED AS IF THEY CARED AND WENT BEYOND A COMPUTER RESPONSE, THAT THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM FORD WILL HELP US WITH. WE PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND HAD WARRANTY UNTIL 60,000 MILES. WE WERE ONLY 1600 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. IS THERE ANY WAY TO GET FORD TO RELOOK AT THIS AND SOMEHOW GET SOME HELP? *AK

AS MY WIFE WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION IN KNOXVILLE, SHE REALIZED THAT SHE HAD LOST SOME TYPE OF POWER AND THE TACHOMETER REGISTERED A MINIMAL RPM READING. AT THIS POINT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ANY PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR. SHE WAS BLOCKING TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC AND COULD MOVE NEITHER FORWARD NOR BACKWARDS. LUCKILY, SHE WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN ASSISTANCE QUICKLY FROM THE ATTENDANTS AT A NEARBY SERVICE STATION. THE NEXT DAY WE HAD THE VAN TOWED TO A MERCURY DEALER. THEY PINPOINTED THE PROBLEM AS A CRACKED CRANKSHAFT. THROUGH MY OWN RESEARCH AND CONTACTS WITH LOCAL MECHANICS, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PART, THAT THERE WAS NO REASON FOR A CRANKSHAFT TO FAIL ON A 5-YEAR-OLD VAN WITH 75,000 MILES. ANOTHER MERCURY SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED TO ME THAT THE VILLAGER VAN HAD A HISTORY OF CRANKSHAFT PROBLEMS. THIS WAS CONFIRMED WHEN I CONSULTED YOUR SERVICE BULLETINS DATABASE. THERE WERE SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS REGARDING CRANKSHAFT FAILURES IN THE 93-95 VILLAGERS. THE BULLETINS SUMMARIZED THIS FAILURE AS A "DRIVEABILITY CONCERN." I BELIEVE THIS DRASTICALLY UNDERSTATES THE PROBLEM. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN ON ONE OF OUR LOCAL HIGHWAYS, TRAVELING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED , I BELIEVE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS FAILURE WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH HARSHER, POSSIBLY EVEN DEADLY. I WOULD URGE YOU TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM WITH THE '94 VILLAGER AND ITS REPERCUSSIONS ON PASSENGER SAFETY. *AK

THE LOCKS ONCE ENGAGED AUTOMATICALLY ARE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN AS THE SOLENOID/MOTOR FIGHTS BACK WHEN TRYING TO OPEN MANUALLY. *AK

A LEAK WAS NOTICED IN THE FUEL LINE BY THE ENGINE MANIFOLD, AND FUMES WERE VERY STRONG IN THE GARAGE WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE TIME. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

OWNER SMELLS A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE. OWNER BELIEVES THAT FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL HOSE. VAN WILL BE CHECKED BY DEALER TODAY. *AK

THE CAR SMELLS OF GAS. THE DEALER SAID MERCURY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE ODOR IS OVERWHELMING AND HAS CAUSED ME TO BECOME ILL IN THE VECHICLE. I FEEL THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND DO NOT KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT GETTING A RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEM. HAS THIS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN A 1994 MERCURY VILLAGER.

CRANKSHAFT BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE AND ENGINE COMPONENTS

WHENEVER IT RAINED OUTSIDE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK. SOMETIMES THEY WOULD WORK FOR AWHILE AND THEN CUT OFF. SWITCHES THAT WERE REPLACED DID NOT REPAIR, FINAL REPAIR OF THE WIPER GOVERNOR REPAIRED UNIT. *AK

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. *AK

CRANKSHAFT BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE COMPONENTS.

DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT MFR. RECALL NOTICE DID NOT CONCERN HIS VEHICLE AFTER APPOINTMENT WAS GIVEN AND THE PART WAS ORDERED A WEEK BEFORE INITIAL APPOINTMENT WAS MADE. A SECOND NOTICE WAS RECEIVED ON 09 NOV 98. MFR. # 96S-61 AND NHTSA # 96V-253 003. *AK

FUEL HOSE/LINE CORRODED FROM RUST RESULTING IN FUEL LEAK.

CONSUMER STATES WHEN DRIVING THE AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY MAKE ALOT OF NOISE. ALSO, TRANMISSION IS GOING OUT. CONSUMER HAD TO KEEP PUTTING BULBS IN THE TAIL LIGHTS, AND THE DEALER CAN'T FOUND THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE VEHICLE LEAKS GAS EXCESSIVELY FROM OUT OF A FUEL LINE. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK

OIL LEAKS FROM OIL PAN GASKET.

BRAKES MAKE UNNECESSARY GRINDING & SQUEAKING NOISE WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT CONDITION WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK

OIL LEAKING FROM CRANKSHAFT. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON THREE OCCASIONS AND CONDITION REOCCURS. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK

VEHICLE WOULD RUN ROUGH AND LOUD ( VALVES/PISTONS) IN COLD WEATHER ONLY. VEHICLE IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP, AND DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

HEATER FAN WAS REPLACED BY DEALER, AND FAN IS STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK, AND DEALER INFOMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK

CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BROKE AND TIMING BELT BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE.

FUEL PUMP FAILURE.

CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO CRANKSHAFT SNAPPING AT THE BALANCER. CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS CANNOT BE CONSIDERED A NORMAL WEAR FOR VEHICLE WITH 67000 MILES. DEALER NOTIFIED AND WILL NOT REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO THE CONSUMER. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING BETWEEN 15 TO 20 MPH THE VEHICLE CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING DUE TO BROKEN CRANKSHAFT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, PARTS HAVE YET TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

HEAD GASKET BLEW DUE TO OVERHEATING CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE.

CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING BRAKE FAILURE AT RANDOM. WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP OR AT A STOP, VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP PROPERLY OR COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS CONDITION ONLY OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED AND COULD NOT FIND ANY THING WRONG. *AK