1995 Mercury Villager complaints

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*JB

THE HEADLIGHT LENS FOGGED UP AND DO NOT PROVIDE PROPER LIGHTING AT NIGHT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH SPEED, THE ENGINE WENT DEAD WITHOUT WARNING. TOWED THE CAR TO A SERVICE GARAGE, SOUTH RIVER AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR LLC, 178 HILLSIDE AVE., SOTH RIVER, NJ 08882. THE MECHANIC FOUND CRANKCASE SNAPPED OFF AT THE HARMONIC BALANCER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY THIS COULD HAPPEN IS DUE TO FAULTY AND DEFECTIVE MATERIALS.

THE VAN STARTED TO SPUTTER AND THE ENGINE CUT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH. I MANAGED TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND NOTICE SMOKE ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE SMOKE DIDN'T SMELL LIKE STEAM FROM OVERHEATING BUT A THICK BLACK SMOKE. I MOVED A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE VAN AND CONTACTED THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURST INTO FLAMES BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. THE VAN WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND THE ESTIMATED DAMAGE WAS $13000. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WROTE OFF THE VEHICLE AND ONLY PAID $9000. I SUSPECT THE PROBLEM OF FUEL VAPOURS (APPEARS TO BE COMMON IN THE MERCURY VILLAGER) IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WERE IGNITED BY A SPARK FROM THE PLUG WIRES FROM RAIN ENTERING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE DEALER HAD REPLACED THE FUEL FILLER GASKET UNDER A RECALL A MONTH EARLIER.

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL FILTER BOX REPLACED TWICE, BUT VEHICLE STILL HAS ODOR . TS

HAVE HAD SEVERAL WATER PUMPS REPLACED IN OUR 1995 MERCURY VILLAGER. BEGINS LEAKING AFTER TWO TO FOUR WEEKS DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER. 4 REPLACED LAST WINTER, DROVE FINE DURING SUMMER, RECENTLY REPLACED AGAIN BY SAME REPAIR SHOP. EACH TIME THE WATER PUMP LEAKS BY THE SEALS IN THE PUMP. DEFECTIVE DESIGN?

WHEN DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER, CONSUMER STATES YOU CAN SMELL GAS FUMES IN THE CAB. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

CONTROL SWITCH FOR THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID DOES NOT WORK. *TS

MY 1995 MERCURY VILLAGER''S CRANKSHAFT BROKE SUDDENLY UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION. IT WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE WE TRAVELED WITH TWO YOUNG CHILDREN ON A 2-WAY ROAD WITHOUT SHOULDER THAT NIGHT. WE NOTICED THAT A COMMON PROBLEM EXISTED ON BOTH NISSAN QUEST AND MERCURY VILLAGER (1993-1995) DUE TO NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINS ON INTERNET. WE BELIEVE IT IS A DEFECT CAUSED BY IMPROPER DESIGN BY MANUFACTURE. SINCE IT IS A POTENTIAL LIFE-THREATEN DEFECT, THE AUTO MAKER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTING THE PROBLEM.

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE CONSUMER CAN STRONGLY SMELL CHEMICAL FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE, DEALER NOTIFIED. PH

GAS SMELL AND LEAK ON THE ENGINE NEOPRINE LINES CONNECTING TO FUEL INJECTION TRACK CLAMPS COMING LOOSE VERY DANGEROUS! DT

GAS LINE LEAK VERY STRONG GAS SMELL IN CAR. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT EVERYTIME SHE TURNS ON THE HEATHER THEIR IS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER A FEW TIMES FOR REPAIR BUT PROBLEM STILL PERSIST. NLM

WHILE DRIVING AUTOMOBILE AT 55 MPH, LOST ALL POWER SUDDENLY. AUTOMOBILE TOWED TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT HAD BROKEN.*AK

WHILE AT A STOP, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND WAS THEN PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. TS *JB

VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM THE REAR AND COLLIDED WITH VEHICLE IN FRONT. FRONT SEATS LURCHED FORWARD THAN COLLAPSED FLAT BACKWARDS ,TRAPPING 2 CHILDREN IN REAR SEAT.*AKI

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM REAR WHILE STOPPING, AND COLLIDED WITH VEHICLE IN FRONT. LAP BELT FOR LAST BENCHED SEAT CAME LOOSE DURING THE ACCIDENT. BELT WAS RESTRAINING A CSS THAT WAS TETHERED. CHILD SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK *TT

THERE ARE PIECES OF CARBON, CLOGGING UP THE MOTOR, AND CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUTDOWN WHILE DRIVING.*AK

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ONE EVENING IN THE RAIN. THE ENGINE STARTED SPUTTERING AND THEN STALLED. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY POWER FOR THE STEERING OR BRAKES. I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THEN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THOUGHT I OVERHEATED THE ENGINE UNTIL I COULD SMELL THE SMOKE ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I LEFT THE VAN AND GOT ABOUT 50 YARDS BEFORE CALLING THE POLICE. BY THE TIME THE EMERGENCY CREWS ARRIVED, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY ESTIMATED THE DAMAGE AT $13000 BUT PAID SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THAT TO WRITE OFF THE VEHICLE AS A TOTAL LOSS. I AM STILL WITHOUT EXPLANATION ABOUT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD RECENTLY SINCE I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY BE A SAFETY ISSUE FOR OTHER MERCURY VILLAGER OWNERS.*AK

CONSUMER STATES RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING HAS BROKEN AND PUNTURE THE TIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE GARGE. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

DRIVERS SEATBELT HAS STOPPED WORKING FOR THE 3RD TIME, IT WAS REPLACED IN FEBRUARY AND APRIL OF 2001, IT WAS REPLACED TWICE IN MAY 2001 AND IS BEING REPLACED AGAIN AT THIS TIME. BURNED OUT MOTOR IS THE CAUSE.*AK CONSUMER STATES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AT TIME WHEN DRIVING BUT DOES NOT STAY ON AND MOLDING ON DRIVER SIDE IS LOOSE. *YD

VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, BUT VEHICLE CONTINUED. VEHICLE SIDE SWIPED A PARKED VEHICLE, THEN HIT A IRON FENCE. NO INJURIES, PLEASE ADD AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.*AK *JG

ELECTRONIC SEAT BELT WHICH COMES ACROSS THE SHOULDER AND CHEST HAS MALFUNCTIONED. IT MAKES A GRINDING NOISE, AND THE BELT DOES NOT COME ACROSS THE SHOULDER ANY MORE. TOOK TO DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT BELT 3 TIMES IN ONE YEAR, STILL IT IS NOT WORKING. *YD

THE REAR FIRESTONE SI TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND WRAPPED AROUND THE AXLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID AND CRASH. (TIRE SIZE, P205/75SR15).THE CONSUMER WAS ASKING REIMBURSEMENT. *YH

THERE IS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS INSIDE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS GOTTEN SICK FROM SMELL BEFORE. CONTACTED DEALER WHO WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *AK *YH

HOSE REPLACED BUT STILL STRONG FUEL SMELL BUT INTERMITTENT. NO NEW LEAK FOUND. *AK

CRANKSHAFT BROKE, AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER.*AK VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT THE TIME OF INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER AND A KNOCKING SOUND WAS HEARD INDICATING THE CRANKSHAFT HAD BROKEN. *JG

CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER THE RECALL WAS REPAIRED VAPOR FUMES CONTINUED TO ENTER INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT: KIMBALL FORD IN CEDARTOWN, GA 770-748-3673. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. NLM

WHILE DRIVING EXHAUST WAS EXTREMELY NOISY, DEALER DETERMINED 2 STUDS USED TO ATTACH EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAD BROKEN. REPLACEMENT ENGINE WITH 50000 MILES.*AK

OIL FILTER ON THE 1995 MERCURY VILLAGER WAS DAMAGED TWICE. ON 1/12/2002, MY WIFE WENT INTO THE PARKING LOT AT H.E.B AT THE CORNER OF EL CAMINO REAL AND BAY AREA BLVD. MY WIFE FELT THE BOTTOM OF THE VAN SCRAPE THE GROUND AS SHE WENT OVER A SMALL PAVED HILL AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE PARKING LOT. WHEN SHE GOT OUT OF THE VAN, SHE NOTICED THE OIL WAS LEAKING REAL BAD. SHE CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE THE VAN TO KAR KING AT 507 EL DORADO. THE MECHANIC INFORMED US THAT IF MY WIFE HAD DRIVEN THE VAN ANY FURTHER, THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE BURNED UP. ON 3/13/2002 MY SON WAS DRIVING TO THE CHRISTIAN RENEWAL CENTER AT 1515 HUGHES RD, IN DICKINSON TX. WHEN HE DROVE OVER SOME SPEED BUMPS AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE CENTER. THE OIL FILTER SCRAPED ONE OF THE BUMPS, AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. AGAIN HE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE ENGINE AND CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK FROM HIS CELL PHONE. THE FIRST TIME KAR KING CHARGED ME $104 TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE, AND THE SECOND TIME THE ONLY CHARGED ME $72.85, BECAUSE THEY FELL SORRY FOR ME. THEIR PHONENUMBER IS 281-280-8174 IF YOU NEED TO VERIFY. *AK

LOST REVERSE GEAR ON TRANSMISSION. TOOK TO THE NEAREST TRANSMISSION SHOP. OWNER SAID A PIECE HAD BROKEN APART IN THE TRANSMISSION, WEARING A GROOVE IN THE REVERSE CYLINDER. THE TRANSMISSION WAS FULL OF METAL PIECES. AFTER A $2000 REPAIR, FORD TELLS ME THAT THEY WON'T HONOR ANY WORK DONE AT A NONE FORD REPAIR SHOP. I BELIEVE THAT THIS DEFECT HAS BEEN SEEN IN OTHER TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN THESE VEHICLES. *AK

THE BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD INTERMITTENTLY ENGAGE AT ALL SPEEDS AFTER DRIVING FOR 20 TO 30 MINUTES. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM DURING 2 PRIOR SERVICE VISITS. AT THE BEGINNING THIS WOULD SIMPLY CREATE A DRAG EFFECT, BUT DURING THE LATEST INSTANCE THAT OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE FRICTION CREATED ENOUGH HEAT TO ELICIT A BURNING SMELL, AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWED IT STOPPED ABRUBTLY FROM 20 MPH, LOCKING UP THE BRAKES. IT TOOK OVER AN HOUR FOR THE BRAKES TO COOL TO THE POINT WHERE THEY WOULD RELEASE.*AK

GEAR SHIFT WILL INDICATE THAT VEHICLE IS IN PARK, BUT WILL ACTUALLY BE IN REVERSE AND ROLL AWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TWO STAR HEAD SCREWS UNDER THE DASH ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN BACKED OFF FROM THEIR PROPER POSITION, ALLOWING THE LINKAGE AND SHIFTING INDICATOR TO MOVE. *SLC

WHEN FIRST STARTING UP VEHICLE THERE IS A STRONG ODOR OF GAS FUMES. GAS SMELLS RAW.*AK *JB

THE FIRST RETAINING NUT FELL OFF IN 1999, NOW THE THREADED STUDS ARE SNAPPING, CAUSING EXHAUST FUME LEAKS.*AK

WHILE IN MOTION, THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WINDOW SUDDENLY RELEASED FROM THE MOUNTING CHANNEL, BROKE THE ELECTRONIC LATCH, AND FELL OUT.*JG THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE WINDOW HAS A DESIGN DEFECT. *YH

1) HEATER: ALMOST CAUSED ELEC. FIRE, STOPPED WORKING, NOW NEEDS MOTOR REPLACED; 2) ABS FAILED ON SNOWY ROADS CAUSING SINGLE-VEHICLE ACCIDENT TO FRONT LEFT OF VEHICLE; 3) RECALL ON FUEL VENT HOSE, WILL REPLACE; 4) FRONT RT. LAP BELT WILL NOT PULL OUT (STUCK) NEEDS REPAIR/REPLACED; 5) OIL FILTER'S VERY VERY LOW LOCATION ON UNDERCARRIAGE FRONT, CAUSED DAMAGE TO FILTER, ALL OIL SPILLED OUT WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, RAN OVER SNOW LEFT BY ROAD COMMISSION PLOW, CAUSED DAMAGE TO ROD BEARINGS, AND ENGINE, VEHICLE CURRENTLY OUT OF COMMISSION AWAITING REPAIRS, $500 COLLISSION DEDUCTIBLE.

WHY DON'T THE MANUFACTURES REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS IF THEY ARE DANGEROUS ? IHAVE TO KEEP REMINDING KIDDS AND MYSELF TO SNAP THE LAP BELT, AND AFTER YOU GET USE TO THEM YOU SEEM TO FORGET TO USE REGULAR SEAT BELTS IN OTHER VEHICLES. *AK

IN MID TO LATE 1995 MY MOTHER-IN-LAW PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND LATER GAVE THE AUTO TO MY WIFE AND I. THIS VEHICLE HAS RETRACTABLE SHOULDER BELTS. SEVERAL TIMES, FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE SHOULDER BELT HAS QUIT WORKING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BABB FORD IN MID 2000. (JUNE, I BELIEVE) ON MAY 27,2001 I RETURNED THE AUTO TO BABB FORD AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I SHOWED THEM MY RECEIPT FROM THE YEAR BEFORE AND STATED THAT I WASN'T PAYING FOR ANOTHER INERTIA SWITCH THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED THE SUMMER BEFORE. THE MECHANIC "TINKERED" WITH THE WIRING AND FOUND THAT WHEN HE DISCONNECTED A WIRE AT THE INERTIA SWITCH, THE SYSTEM WORKED AND IT HAS NOT FALTERED SINCE. HE AND/OR THE SERVICE MANAGER CONTACTED FORD/MERCURY AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO THEM AND THEY WERE TOLD THAT THE SITUATION COULD NOT HAPPEN. I'M HERE TO TELL YOU IT DID. MY CONCERN NOW IS WETHER OR NOT THE FUEL SHUT OFF PORTION OF THE INERTIA SWITCH IS FUNTIONAL OR IF IT IS NOT. FORD/MERCURY HAS NOT GOTTEN BACK WITH MY DEALER TO TELL THEM OF ANY NEW INFORMATION. *AK

BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS FAILED. THE LEFT EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND ALL STUDS WERE REPLACED 09/16/99, 51,590 MILEAGE. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE OF THE LEFT EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS.*AK

INSIDE OF VEHICLE THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE. IT OCCURS AT REFUELING, STOPPING, DRIVING, REGARDLESS OF GAS TANK LEVEL. IT WAS REPAIRED ONCE (IN 2000) GAS VENT LINE RECALL, HOWEVER IT CONTINUED AND IS GETTING WORSE.*AK

WNEN FUEL TANK IS FILLED GASOLINE SPILLS FROM GAS TANK. CONSUMER SMELLED GASOLINE EARLY ON, AND NOTIFIED DEALERSHIP. *AK

BOTH EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAKING. SPOKE WITH FOUR DIFFERENT LINCOLN/NISSAN DEALERSHIPS, ALL SAID THIS WAS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THAT YEAR VILLAGERS. SLIDING RATTLED FROM DAY OF PURCHASE, SEVERAL TRIPS TO DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND SOURCE OF NOISE. HAVE IGNORED SINCE. REAR HATCH LOCK MECHANISM OCCASIONALLY DOES NOT LATCH AND MAKES GRINDING NOISE. REQUEST ALL APPLICABLE TECHNICAL BULLETINS.*AK

WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE, FUEL PUMP BEGAN TO HOWL LOUDLY AND AT TIMES ACTED LIKE IT WAS SHUTING DOWN BUT WAS OK PER DEALER. MOTOR FAILED CAUSED BY "LACK" OF LUBRICATING HOLES IN BLOCK PER THE DEALER, WAS REPLACED TWO WEEKS LATER THE MOTOR STUMBLED AND SHUTDOWN AGAIN BUT RESTARTED 1 HOUR LATER. REAR BRAKES GRIND LOUDLY AND SQUEKS WHILE DRIVING. TOLD NOTHING WRONG BUT IT CONTINUES.*AK

THE DOOR LOCKS LOCK BY THEMSELVES CREATING A DANGEROUS CONDITION.

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE MAKES A VERY LOUD HUMMING NOISE, AND LETS OFF A STRONG GAS ODOR. ODOR CAUSED CONSUMER TO GET HEADACHES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

RECALL 00V419002 THERE ARE FUEL SMELLS/ TERRIBLE ODORS COMING THROUGH. A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 179, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

PASSENGER'S FRONT SEATBELT RETRACTOR STOPPED WORKING.*AK DEALER REPLACED SEAT BELT. *SLC

15 AMP BRAKE LIGHT FUSE CONTINOUSLY BLOWSOUT SO WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. OTHER DRIVERS HAVE NO INDICATION THAT VEHCILE IS BRAKING. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. CRANKSHAFT HAD BROKEN, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK