1995 Mercury Villager

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 367 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling › engine. It has been recalled 3 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
95,000 milesMedian miles at failure

44 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 75,00090,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine28
010
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly22
000
Fuel System, Gasoline20
010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip19
304
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline14
111
Seat Belts12
102
Power Train › Automatic Transmission12
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery12
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe12
011
Air Bags › Frontal12
1005

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly00V419002
Filed Jan 2, 2001394,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS. THE FUEL TANK VENT HOSE ALLOWS AIR TO VENT FROM THE FUEL TANK DURING REFUELING. CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE VENT HOSE. IF (1) THE FUEL TANK IS OVERFILLED, NOT ALLOWING EXCESS FUEL IN THE VENT HOSE TO FLOW BACK INTO THE TANK, (2) THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ONLY A SHORT DISTANCE AFTER REFUELING AND, (3) THERE IS SUBSEQUENTLY SIGNIFICANT HEATING OF THE FUEL TANK, THE FUEL IN THE TANK CAN EXPAND INTO THE VENT HOSE AND LEAK FUEL.

Risk. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VENT HOSE.

Exterior Lighting › Tail Lights96V253003
Filed Aug 17, 199872,940 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. THE REAR LAMP SOCKET MAY NOT ILLUMINATE BECAUSE THE METAL CAN IN THE LAMP SOCKET MOVES OR SEPARATES FROM THE PLASTIC SOCKET HOUSING.

Risk. THIS CAN RESULT IN MALFUNCTION OF THE STOP OR REAR RUNNING LAMPS. CENTER HIGH MOUNT STOP LAMP FUNCTION IS UNAFFECTED. REAR LAMP MALFUNCTION CAN RESULT IN FOLLOWING DRIVERS NOT BEING ALERTED TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLE'S PRESENCE OR INTENDED ACTIONS, PARTICULARLY IN THE CASE IN WHICH BOTH LAMPS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED REAR LAMP SOCKET AND WIRING ASSEMBLIES.

Seats96V089001
Filed Jun 3, 19966,600 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION CONDITION IN THE SEAT CABLE ROLLER PULLEY ASSEMBLY CAN ALLOW THE CABLE THAT CONNECTS THE SEAT ADJUST LEVER TO THE LATCH TO BE PINCHED IN THE ROLLER ASSEMBLY.

Risk. CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THIS CONDITION CAN PREVENT THE LATCH ON THE LEFT SIDE FROM FULLY ENGAGING THE SEAT RAIL. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT OF FMVSS NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS."

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE A COMPONENT IN THE THIRD ROW SLIDING BENCH SEAT LATCH ASSEMBLY.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Dec 10, 2016198,000 milesTN

THERE IS A VERY BAD FUEL SMELL INSIDE THE VAN!

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Feb 13, 2015150,000 milesSC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY VILLAGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED STRONG FUEL FUMES FROM OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE SMELL WAS AFFECTING THE CONTACT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V419002 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Jun 10, 2008180,000 milesPA

I HAVE A 1995 MERCURY VILLAGER. ON 6/6/08 I HEARD A NOISE AND SAW AND PUFF OF SMOKE. I WENT TO CHECK IT AND SAW NOTHING. I DROVE IT HOME AND THE NEXT MORNING THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE PASSENGER DOOR WERE BURNED UP. THE ENTIRE INSIDE WAS COVERED IN SMOKE. THE CAR WOULD NOT START, AND THE MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS WOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR CONSIDERING IT'S AGE AND CONDITION. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Jan 9, 2008155,000 milesNJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY VILLAGER. WHILE IDLING, THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT COMING FROM THE FRONT VENTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 163,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000. UPDATED 02-14-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED IN 2001, FOR THE SAME PROBLEM SHE EXPERIENCED, HOWEVER HER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. UPDATED .

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Aug 15, 200743,441 milesFL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY VILLAGER. IN FEBRUARY OF 2001, THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING GASOLINE. ON AUGUST 8, 2007, SHE NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM HER VEHICLE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE LEAKING CONTINUED UNTIL THE FUEL LEVEL WAS LOWER THAN THE FILLER TUBE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. SAFETY RECALL NUMBER 00V419002 (FUEL SYSTEM: GASOLINE: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY) DOES NOT APPLY TO THE VEHICLE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,829 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,441.

Vehicle Speed ControlFire
Filed May 27, 200713,000 milesMI

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. *TR

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Mar 13, 2007129,434 milesWI

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING THE 1995 MERCURY VILLAGER HE ATTEMPTED TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF BUT COULD NOT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE KEYS OUT THE IGNITION, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN WITHOUT THE KEY BEING IN THE IGNITION. IN ORDER TURN OFF THE POWER OF THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT HAD TO DISCONNECT THE DISTRIBUTOR WIRE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE BOTH 129434.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Aug 29, 200692,000 milesKY

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART AFTER REVERSING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN DRIVE PRIOR TO THE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE END OF THE CRANKSHAFT SNAPPED OFF AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 9/20/2006 - *NM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Mar 1, 2006100,000 milesNY

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SMELL OF GASOLINE IS OFTEN PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 00V419002, REGARDING THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIR.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Feb 28, 2006139,580 milesFL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ODOR OF GAS IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THERE WERE CRACKS IN THE VENT HOSE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 00V419002, REGARDING THE TANK ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Feb 16, 2006144,110 milesMO

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED DURING A STATE INSPECTION THE BRAKE AND RUNNING LIGHTS CONTINUALLY FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. ALTHOUGH, THE BULBS WERE REPLACED SIX TIMES THE LIGHTS CONTINUED FAILING. THE FUSES WERE INSPECTED, BUT WERE NOT THE REASON FOR THE FAILURES. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 96V253003, REGARDING THE TAIL LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATE 3/9/2006 - *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Dec 13, 2005141,000 milesCA

EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS BROKEN. I FOUND IT WHEN I WANTED TO REPLACE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKET. IN CANADA, THEY HAVE WORKED AOUT A FIX FOR THE STUDS BROKING WITH FORD WHY CAN'T WE THIS FIXED FOR FREE. *NM

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Nov 23, 2005CO

STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. PROBLEM COMES AND GOES. MECHANICS DO NOT KNOW WHY. I CALLED THE DEALER BUT THEY (3037611560) STATED THAT MY VEHICLE'S VIN NUMBER WASN'T AMONG THOSE RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

Electrical System › WiringFire
Filed Sep 21, 2005153,000 milesIN

DT: THE CONTACT STATED ON 9-8-05 HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AT APPROXIMATELY 62 MPH AND SUDDENLY THE CAR STARTED COASTING. IT SLOWED DOWN. HE PULLED OVER AND STOPPED THE CAR. HE OPENED THE HOOD, AND THERE WAS A BIG FIRE ON THE DISTRIBUTOR AND IGNITION AREAS. ALL OF THE SIX WIRES MELTED. THE CONTACT HAD IT TOWED TO A WORKSHOP, AND THEY SAID HE SHOULD CALL THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE CONTACT CALLED FORD, AND FORD SAID SOMEONE WOULD GET IN TOUCH WITH HIM. THE MECHANIC AT THE WORKSHOP TOLD FORD THAT IT SEEMED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING MALFUNCTIONING. *AK THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS UNDER THE VEHICLE'S VIN/. *NM

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Sep 18, 200560,000 milesPA

WHILE PULLING IN TO OUR GARAGE, MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE GAS PEDAL, AND THE VAN ACCELERATED. I PUSHED THE BRAKE BUT THE VAN DID NOT STOP. THE VAN CRASHED IN TO THE BACK OF OUR GARAGE, MOVING THE HOUSE OFF OF THE CEMENT BLOCK. VAN IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THAT "IT WILL GO TO SERVICE ON MONDAY FOR DIAGNOSTICS". I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AGAIN. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ANYWHERE ELSE, THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE SEVERE/FATAL. I AM COMPLETING THIS REPORT IN HOPES THAT SOMEONE CAN LOOK IN TO THIS PROBLEM (I'VE READ OTHER CASES WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM) BECAUSE I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANY LONGER. I'M HOPING THAT SOMEONE CAN HELP BEFORE SOMETHING WORSE HAPPENS. *NM

Fuel System, Other
Filed Sep 18, 2005113,989 milesGA

IN VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES, MY VAN STALLS AND EVENTUALLY SPLATTERS AND QUITS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THREE OCASSIONS WITH MY WIFE AND ONCE WITH ME AND BECAUSE IT STALLS, THE STEERING GETS REALLY HARD AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO RUN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AT A STOP LIGHT.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Sep 6, 200596,000 milesNY

DT: CALLER SAID THERE IS A RECALL ON HER YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL BUT NOT ON HER VEHICLE. THE RECALL #00V419002, FUEL TANK VENT HOSE LEAKAGE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. MANUFACTURER SAID HER VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. CALLER HAS BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR. SHE SAID IT IS GETTING WORSE. CALLER WAS NEVER CONTACTED ABOUT RECALL.*AK *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
Filed Apr 4, 200575,246 milesOH

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.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Mar 10, 2005168,000 milesFL

DRIVER'S AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILED TO FUNCTION AS IT WAS DESIGNED. SEAT BELT HAD TO BE MANUALLY PLACED IN THE RELEASE AND RETRACT POSITION. THE SEAT BELT MOTOR MADE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THIS OCCURRED. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Jan 13, 200595,000 milesMO

THE CONSUMER BEGAN TO HEAR EXHAUST NOISES AND SMELLED EXHAUST GASES IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONSUMER THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUD(S) WERE BROKEN. THE TOTAL BILL WOULD HAVE BEEN APPROXIMATELY $1,000. THROUGH THE INTERNET, THE CONSUMER DETERMINED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. FORD INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT IT WASN'T THEIR PROBLEM AS THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WAS NOT A PART OF RECALL. *NM THE EXHAUST GASES LEAKED AT THE ENGINE. *SC *JB

20 of 367 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1993
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200218000Routine
200120100Routine
200071210Routine
1999185430Routine
199883200Routine
1997125311Fatalities reported
1996188270Routine
1995 — this page367373Fatalities reported
1994253360Above average
19934145300High concern
19921000Routine

Compare every Villager year →

Reading this record

3 deaths reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jan 2, 2001. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.