1996 Mercury Villager

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.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH POWER WINDOWS THAT CAN BE CLOSED AFTER THE IGNITION KEY IS TURNED TO THE "OFF" POSITION AND THE RIGHT FRONT (PASSENGER) DOOR IS OPENED. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 118, "POWER-OPERATED WINDOW SYSTEMS."

Risk. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR UNSUPERVISED CHILDREN TO OPERATE THE POWER WINDOWS, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO THE CHILD.

Remedy. OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A LABEL REMINDING OWNERS NOT TO LEAVE CHILDREN UNATTENDED BECAUSE THE POWER WINDOWS CAN OPERATE FOR 15 MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE IGNITION HAS BEEN TURNED OFF UNLESS THE DRIVER'S DOOR IS OPENED. ALSO INCLUDED ARE INSTRUCTIONS DESCRIBING HOW AND WHERE THIS LABEL IS TO BE INSTALLED. IF AN OWNER PREFERS, THEIR DEALER CAN INSTALL THIS LABEL FOR THEM.

THE CAR CONTINUALLY LOCKS ITSELF (POWER LOCKS). IF I'M OUTSIDE THE CAR I HAVE TO REPEATEDLY TRY TO UNLOCK IT WHILE AT THE SAME TIME IT RELOCKS ITSELF. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS IT WILL STOP AND LET ME IN. SAME IS TRUE IF I'M IN THE CAR EXCEPT NOW I CAN'T GET OUT. IT'S USUALLY MUCH WORSE DURING THE DAY THAN AT NIGHT. DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE IN THE CAR, TRYING TO GET IN OR NEARBY (I DON'T HAVE A REMOTE NOR IS IT AN OPTION). THE CAR CAN BE SITTING IDLE FOR HOURS AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTS LOCKING AND UNLOCKING ITSELF IN RAPID SUCCESSION. RARELY IF EVER DOES IT END UP UNLOCKED. WILL OCCASIONALLY GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCEDURE WHILE DRIVING. IT DOESN'T EFFECT ANYTHING BUT ALL THE DOOR LOCKS (AT LEAST THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ASCERTAIN). IF IT MATTERS I COULD SEND A VIDEO OF THIS PROBLEM. THE QUESTION BELOW OF WHEN DOES THIS HAPPEN IS MOOT. IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY AT ANYTIME. I'VE TRIED NUMEROUS WORKAROUNDS WITH LITTLE SUCCESS BECAUSE THE CAR SEEMS TO ADAPT AND THEN BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT. ( BELIEVE ME, I KNOW WHAT THIS SOUNDS LIKE.)

WHILE TURNING FROM STREET INTO A SHORT STEEP DRIVEWAY APPROACH, FRONT LOWER BUMPER FACIA DRUG VERY SLIGHTLY ON THE STEEP APPROACH RAMP SETTING OFF THE AIRBAGS, WHICH BROKE THE WINDSHIELD, CRACKED THE DASH, SNAPPED ALL FOUR BACK SIDE WINDOW LATCHES, AND CAUSED BACK NECK AND SHOULDER INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. *TR

WHILE I AM DRIVING THE SLIDING DOOR WILL POP. CURRENTLY IT DOES NOT COMPLETELY OPEN, BUT IS DOES BECOME UNSECURED. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON AND WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT INHIBITS MY VISION AND MAKES DRIVING UNSAFE. MY CHILDREN ARE ALSO THE PASSENGERS NEAR THE DOOR AT THIS TIME AND I AM AFRAID THAT THE DOOR WILL FLY OPEN AND CAUSE HARM EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE IN SAFETY BELTS. I HAVE HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE LATCH AND HE SEES NOTHING THAT SHOULD BE CAUSING THIS TO MALFUNCTION. *NM

DT: CONSUMER STATED: IT WAS NIGHT, COLD OUTSIDE, AND WHILE DRIVING SMELLED BURNING RUBBER. PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, OPENED HOOD BEDORE HOOD WAS COMPLETED OPENED, CONSUMER COULD SEE FLAMES BURNING AND THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR PULLEY WAS SO HOT THAT IT WAS GLOWING RED. THE BELT ATTACHED TO THE COMPRESSOR WAS BURNING. *AK THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DAMAGING THE COMPRESSOR AND BELT(S) AND LIKELY OTHER A/C COMPONENTS. *NM CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT FIRE. THE A/C COMRESSOR FAILED CAUSING THE FIRE. *TT

DOORS LOCKS DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. DOORS WOULD LOCK WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN CONSUMER STEPPED OUT OF VEHICLE DOORS WOULD LOCK ON THEIR OWN, EVEN WITH THE KEY STILL IN THE IGNITION SWITCH.

WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. DEALERSHIP DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

I HAD A LOW IMPACT ACCIDENT WHERE THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE HIT THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. (FORGOT TO PUT CAR IN PARK AND WAS ABOUT 4 FEET FROM BACK OF ANOTHER CAR ON SLIGHT GRADE, WELL YOU KNOW THE REST).*AK AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE SLIDING DOOR BEGAN TO "POP" ENOUGH FOR THE AJAR DOOR LIGHT TO COME ON BUT NOT ENOUGH FOR THE DOOR TO ACTUALLY OPEN. I HAVE CHECKED WITH THE PEOPLE THAT GAVE ESTIMATES ON REPAIRS AND WAS INFORMED BY EVERY ONE THAT IT WAS NOT A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. WHAT I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND IS WHY IT STARTED ONLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE LOCKS MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF WARE.

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.*AK

I NOTICED THERE WAS AN EXHAUST SMELL SEEPING INTO THE VAN, I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH QUEST'S AND VILLAGER'S SNAPPED EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS. I CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SURE ENOUGH THERE WERE 2 STUDS BROKEN AND MISSING. I CALLED SEVERAL DEALERS AND GOT QUOTES AND FOUND A NISSAN DEALER TO DO IT FOR $800 THEY SEEM TO HAVE MORE EXPERINCE DOING IT SINCE IT ALSO IS A PROBLEM WITH PATHFINDERS AND MAXIMAS. I CALLED FORD AND THEY FLAT OUT REFUSED TO HELP OUT AT ALL!

LOCK MECHANISM//LOCKS WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK AUTOMATICALLY. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE LOCKS. SOMETIMES FOUND MYSELF STUCK IN THE CAR UNTIL THE LOCKS DECIDED TO STOP LOCKING AND UNLOCKING ON THEIR OWN. I BELIEVE I PAID ABOUT $500.00 FOR REPAIRS TO THIS SYSTEM JUST FOR THE WHOLE SYSTEM TO FAIL AGAIN ALMOST TWO YEARS LATER. MY LOCKS NO LONGER WORK. I HAVE VIDEO OF THE LOCKS WORKING ON THEIR OWN. AS FOR INCIDENT DATE-TOO MANY TO COUNT. *AK

THE STUD BOLTS ARE (IS) BROKEN ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD. EXHAUST FUMES ARE LEAKING AND COLD AIR MAY ENTER HEAD. REPAIR IS EXTREMELY HIGH BECAUSE OF POSITION OF BOLTS. WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BUT CANNOT STOP USING IT. ALSO WE CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX IT. *NLM

WHILE PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE AIR BAGS CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. *AK

EXHAUST GASES ESCAPING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT BECAUSE OF AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLT FAILURE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. *AK

JUST PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE, IN GREAT SHAPE. HOWEVER THERE IS A VERY INTOXICATING GAS SMELL INSIDE CABIN OF VEHICLE, AFTER REFUELING AND WHEN TANK IS BETWEEN 1/4 AND 1/2 FULL I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE 4 DAYS, AND I TRAVEL FOR A LIVING AND IT IS EVERY TIME IT GETS TO THE 1/4 TO 1/3 FULL RANGE. I HAVE TWO OTHER FRIENDS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME MODEL.

EXHAUST FUMES ENTERED THE PASSENGER CABIN. THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE FRONT AND REAR EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *PH *SCC *NLM

WHEN VEHICLE IDLES FUEL FUMES SEEP THROUGH THE VENTS INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER STATES FUEL RAIL LEAKS.

WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN SLIDING DOOR LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE KEEPS SLIDING OPEN. CONSUMER BELIEVES LOCKING MECHANISM IS BROKEN. *AK

MY 1996 MERCURY VILLAGER HAS BEEN DIAGOSED AS HAVING BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS. AFTER SEARCHING THE WEB, IT'S BECOME APPARENT THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN MODEL YEARS OF THE MERCURY VILLAGER, INCLUDING MINE. THE DESIGN OF THIS PART OF THE CAR IS DEFINITELY FLAWED BECAUSE OF THE COMMONALITY OF THIS PROBLEM.

THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON MY 1996 MERCURY VILLAGER FLASHES FROM THE TIME THE CAR IS TURNED ON UNTIL THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. I AM AFRAID THAT THE AIRBAG WILL BE RELEASED AT ANY GIVEN TIME WHILE I AM DRIVING. *NLM