1997 Mercury Villager complaints

PLEASE REFER TO VOQ ODI NUMBER 741337 FROM FEB/01 THIS WAS WHEN THE FRONT EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUD BOLTS BROKE. I MADE A MISTAKE PLEASE RELEASE THIS INFORMATION TO FLM. THANK YOU THIS NEW INCIDENT REPORT IS FOR THE REAR MANIFOLD. *AK

PLEASE REFER TO MY E-MAIL THIS DATE TO THE "WEBMASTER". NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL 00V419002, AND HAS BEEN INFORMED REPEATEDLY THAT PART WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

OUR AIR COND. HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ONE MO AFTER THE WARRANTY EXP. SAYS THERE WAS A LEAK. COST APPRX $500.00 TO REPLACE. WHO EVER HEARD OF TRANSMISSION TOTALLY SHOT AT 32,000 MILES?

THE ACCELERATOR LINKAGE PERIODICALLY STICKS WHEN YOU ACCELERATE. WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS MUST BE A PROBLEM SINCE THE PARTS WERE BACKORDERED AND WE HAD TO WAIT A MONTH TO GET IT FIXED THE FIRST TIME. IT IS STICKING AGAIN AND WE ARE TAKING IT BACK TO THOUROUGHBRED FORD IN KANSAS CITY, MO WHERE WE HAD IT REPAIRED THE FIRST TIME. IT COST OVER $200 FOR THE REPAIR. IT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE WHEN YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP TO CROSS TRAFFIC IT STICKS AND DELAYS YOUR TIME CROSSING THE INTERSECTION.*AK

LENS COVERING HEADLIGHTS HAS BECOME VERY DIM OR CLOUDY, THIS CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY FOR DRIVER WHEN LIGHTS ARE IN USE. HAD BULBS EXCHANGED, BUT TO NO AVAIL.*AK *JB

THERE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH LOCK IMMEDIATELY RELOCKING AFTER UNLOCKING IS ATTEMPTED. THIS HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP ON 8 SEPARATE SERVICE ATTEMPTS, INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL PROBLEM THAT WAS DEVELOPED WITH GRINDING LOCKS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, AND THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY/ SECURITY ISSUE.*AK

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO EXIT OUT OF DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FAILS TO OPEN FROM INSIDE, PREVENTING OCCUPANTS FROM EXITING VEHICLE. ALSO, SLIDING DOOR FAILS TO OPEN FROM INSIDE, PREVENTING OCCUPANTS FROM EXITING VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER.*AK CONSUMER STATES PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AT TIMES DOES NOT OPEN, PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HAS TO BE DOUBLE CLICKED TO OPEN AND CLOSE. *JB

THE SAFTEY ISSUE WITH MY MERCURY VILLAGER STARTED ON 2/18/99. THE DOOR LOCKS WILL LOCK BY THEMSELVES ON MANY OCCASIONS. THE DOORS WILL LOCK WHEN THE KEYS ARE IN THE IGNITION AND A DOOR IS SHUT, WHEN THE KEYS ARE OUT OF THE IGNITION, WHEN DRIVING OVER ANY BUMPS IN THE ROAD. AS OF TODAY, MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE FOR THE DOOR LOCKS 5 TIMES. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO MY 3 YEAR OLD WAS LOCKED IN THE CAR IN HIS CARSEAT WITH THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION. I LIVE IN KEY WEST FLORIDA AND IT IS BEGINNING TO GET VERY HOT HERE. I AM SERIOUSLY CONCERED WITH THE PROBLEM AND IT HAS BECOME A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. I AM TIRED TO TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICING AND A MONTH OR TWO LATER IT IS BACK IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE PHONED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY HAD THE SERVICE MANGER FROM OUR ONE LOCAL DEALERSHIP CALL ME. (HIS PHONE CALL TOOK 2 WEEKS TO GET) WE EVENTUALLY SET UP ANOTHER APPOINTMENT FOR THE VAN. (AFTER I HAD TO WAIT ANOTHER WEEK WHILE HE WAS ON VACATION WHEN I ORIGINALLY CALLED HIM BACK.) I HAVE ESP COVERAGE ON MY VAN WHICH IS PAYING FOR PART OF THE RENTAL FEE FOR THE VAN I RENTED WHILE MINE IS IN THE 5TH TIME TRYING TO BE REPAIRED. I AM NOT SURE WHERE TO TURN AT THIS POINT WITH THESE SAFETY ISSUES!!! I AM BECOMING VERY DISGUSTED WITH THE ENTIRE PROCESS. I AM UTIMATELY AFRAID OF MY TODDLER BEING LOCKED IN A CAR IN KEY WEST WHEN IT IS 90 DEGREES. PLEASE RESPOND. FOLLOWING ARE THE DATES THE VEHICAL WAS IN FOR SERVICING FOR THE LOCKS: 2/18/99: 8/25/00: 10/02/00: 1/30/01: 2/28

INTERMITTENTLY ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD STICK. DEALER HAS REPLACED THROTTLE BODY.*AK

THE CONSUMER SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE RECALL REPAIR 00V-419 REPAIR, ONCE THE CONSUMER ARRIVED THE DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE. NLM

SINCE SEPTEMBER 1997 CONSUMER KEPT TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR HESITATION, ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON , STALLING, BAD GAS MILAGE AND SPUTTERING. DEALER KEPT TELLING CONSUMER IT WAS DUE TO REFORMULATED GASOLINE. TO DEALER AT LEAST 12 TIMES. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND DEALER FINDS ALL FUEL INJECTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED, AT COST OF $1700.*AK *SLC

VEHICLE HAD A RECALL. BUT, THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE. THER WAS A POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE. *AK

CONSUMER HAD CONTACTED T WHITE & CLARK LINCOLN MERCURY DEALER TWICE FOR AN APPOINTMENT, AND EACH TIME PARTS HAVEN'T BEEN AVAILABLE. RECALL 00V419002 MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 00S59. *AK

AFTER TAKING VEHICLE FOR A TUNE UP FOUND ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STICKING. THEN, TOOK VEHICLE BACK FOR SAME PROBLEM, BUT DEALER COULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT, AND SAID WHAT EAS CAUSING PROBLEM WAS THROTTLE BOX PEDAL STICKING.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK OUT OF CONTROL. ALSO WHILE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. *AK POWER LOCK SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING OR SHUT DOWN, CONSUMER STATES LOCKS ARE INOPERABLE, DEALER REFUSES TO REPLACE SYSTEM AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR IT. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAD ENGINE PROBLEMS TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASE. *SLC

RECALL 00 V 419 002/FUEL TANK VENT HOSE: CLARK, WHITE LINCOLN MERCURY DEALER, NEWTON, MA; PHONE # 617/928-5400 WAS UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL DUE TO NO PARTS BEING AVAILABLE, NOTIFIED MANUFACTURER,AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PARTS WERE ON NATIONAL BACK ORDERS. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

THE DEALER HAD NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR RECALL 00V-419. NLM

THE CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE RECALL 00V-419 WORK PERFORMED AND ALSO ASKED THAT THEY REPLACE THE AIR FILTER AND CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, WHEN THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE HE WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD RUN OUT OF PARTS FOR THE RECALL AND THEY CHARGED AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT FOR THE OTHER ITEMS REPLACED/CHANGED. NLM

THERE IS A RECALL ON MERCURY VILLAGER FOR FUEL TANK. DEALER HAS NOT GOTTEN PIECES IN FOR REPAIRS. DEALER HAD TOLD CONSUMER THAT RECALL PARTS WERE TO COME IN YESTERDAY, BUT DEALER CALLED BACK STATING THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PART WAS COMING IN.*AK

ARE MERCURY VILLAGER TRANSMISSION WENT. WE BROUGHT IT NEW IN 1997 ONLY 53,000 MILES WE ARE UPSET WITH IT.*AK

PANEL RIGHT IN FRONT OF AIR BAG IS POPPING UP, AND AIR BAG HAS NOT COME OUT YET, BUT PANEL THAT COVERS IT HAS BEEN POPPING UP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED OR WHILE DRIVING POWER LOCKS OPERATE ERRATICALLY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. UPON IMPACT, MIDDLE ROW PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK UP , AND THREW PASSENGER ON FLOOR. SEAT BELT REMAINED BUCKLED , AND WAS STILL AROUND PASSENGER. THIRD ROW PASSENGER HAD ALSO EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BEL, FAILED TO LOCK UP. DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WORKED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE HAS A RECALL ON FIILLER PIPE HOSE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD TO BRING IN VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY HAD PARTS, AND CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN ,AND DEALER DID NOT HAVE PARTS IN. *AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED. *AK

PROBLEM: INTERIOR SYSTEMS:PASSIVE RESTRAINT:AIR BAG. - WHEN I STARTED MY VEHICLE ON SUNDAY EVENING, JANUARY 28TH ABOUT 6:15PM, THE "AIR BAG" RED WARNING LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I CALLED THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY, MONDAY, 29TH AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO LOOK AT THIS ON THURSDAY, FEB 1 AT 7:30AM. THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO FLASH AS OF THIS WRITING AND HAS NOT STOPPED. SECOND PROBLEM: THIS HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED UNTIL NOW BECAUSE I HAD ONLY JUST NOW WHILE RESEARCHING TSB'S THAT OWNERS HAVE HAD PROBLEM WITH "INTERMITTENT SELF-ACTIVATION DOOR LOCKS." I WILL ALSO ADDRESS THIS WITH THE DEALER. THE MILEAGE INDICATED AT THE TIME OF THIS PROBLEM IS APPROXIMATE. I DO KNOW THAT IT FIRST OCCURED WHEN I USED DOOR LOCK MECHANISM WHEN GETTING OUT OF THE VAN ON A SATURDAY IN OCTOBER. I WAS ATTENDING MY SON'S FOOTBALL GAME. THANKS FOR YOUR EFFORTS. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM OR COMPLAINT W/SKINNER SALES. SIGNED, RICH MONAHAN.*AK

WHILE FILLING GAS TANK, GAS WAS POURING ALL OVER DUE TO FAULTY GAS TANK AND FUEL LINES, CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WERE CRACKS IN THE FUEL LINES. *SLC

THERE IS FUEL LEAKING FROM FUEL TANK. RECALL 00V419.002 HAS BEEN ISSUED. HOWEVER, HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

WHEN RADI/ HEATER OR TURN SIGNAL WAS IN USE WINDSHIELD WASHER WOULD SQUIRT FLUID ON WINDSHIELD. ALSO, OVERDRIVE WOULD KICK OUT, AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON LEFT WOULD GO OUT IF LIGHTS WERE USED. *AK

VENT HOSE ON TANK LEAKS. *AK

FILLED FUEL TANK, DROVE HOME, PARKED VAN IN GARAGE. SMELLED GAS & FOUND HUGE GAS PUDDLE UNDER VAN. GAS WAS ALMOST POURING OUT. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. DEALER WILL NOT FIX UNDER RECALL 96V203000.*AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAD FUEL LEAKAGE. CONSUMER BROUGHT VEHICLE TO A DEALER IN TIME. DEALER FOUND THAT THE TANK & TUBE THAT OHAD TO BE REPLACED. RECALL 96V203000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 96S56 DID APPLY TO CONSUMER. MANUFACTURER WASN'T WILLING TO HELP WITH COST. PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE IN THE U.S. & FORD WAS NOT PRODUCING IT. *AK

WHEN CLOSING SLIDING DOORS AND USING REMOTE OR MANUALLY LOCKS, DOORS LOCKING MECHANISM IS NOT CATCHING, PREVENTING DOORS FROM LOCKING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS ORDERED PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

THE POWER LOCKS HAVE SELF-ACTIVATED ON 20+ OCCASSIONS. IT IS NOT ON A REGULAR BASIS, BUT IS INTERMITTENT. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURING FOR THE LAST MONTH OR SIX WEEKS. THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS.*AK

DRIVER WAS AT A STOP AND LIFTED FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND LIGHTLY REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT ABOUT 1-2MPH, AND BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

REPORTING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE APPLYING BRAKES BY ITSELF AT 40 MPH OR MORE.MORE ACCELERATION, THE MORE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE FROM THE FRONT. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

DOOR LOCKS LOCK INDEPENDENTLY MAKING ENTRY AND EXIT DIFFICULT- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 9823-6, PRESENTS DANGER OF BEING LOCKED IN CAR FOR SMALL CHILDREN IN DANGEROUSLY HOT SUMMER WEATHER IN ARIZONA

THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR FAILED. MY MECHANIC INDICATES THAT THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH MERCURY VILLAGER VANS. THE ACCELERATOR STICKS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STAND STILL, CAUSING A NEED TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR HARDER WHICH CAUSES A JERKING OF THE VAN.

POWER LOCKS ON ALL DOORS INADVERTENTLY LOCK WITHOUT MANUAL OPERATION DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITH THE LOCK ACTUATOR. *AK ALL DOORS LOCKS WHILE DRIVING ,WHEN ENGINE IS OFF AND DOOR IS CLOSED. *YH

WHILE DRIVING BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT A CAUSE. ALSO, FOR TWO DAYS THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL WITHIN THE PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. CONSUMER PAID LITTLE ATTENTION TO THE SMELL. HOWEVER, THE SMELL MIGHT BE LINKED TO THE AIR BAG PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER REPAIRED AIRBAGS AND WINDSHIELD UNDER WARRANTY. FORD SENT AN ENGINEER TO LOOK AT THE VAN, CONCLUDED THE AIR BAGS WAS DEFECTIVE DUE TO GENERAL WEAR AND TEAR. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHED AT ALL TIMES. PREVIOUSLY, THE SAME PROBLEM APPEARED, BUT WITH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMING ON, AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED. *AK

THE 2 ADULTS WERE HURT VERY BADLY BUT AIRBAGS SAVED THEM. THE 3 KIDS IN THE BACK WERE IN THEIR CAR SEATS AND SEAT BELTS. WERE HURT WORSE. ACTUALLY WANT TO REPORT THE SAFETY OF A CARSEAT. IT WAS THE REASON FOR A BROKEN NOSE ON MY 16 MONTH OLD. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

LATCH ON PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING WILL NOT SECURE. IT COMES PARTIALLY OPEN AT SLOW SPEEDS AND VARIATIONS IN THE ROAD. THIS OCCURS EVEN IF THE DOOR IS SECURELY SHUT AND LOCKED. *AK

SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT LATCH COMPLETLY WHEN CLOSED. DOOR ALSO OPENS PARTIALY WHILE DRIVING AND DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMES ON. *AK

SIDE DOOR LATCHING SYSTEM RELEASES DURING TRAVEL. *AK

SLIDING DOOR POPS OPEN, CREATING AN APPROXIMATE 12" OPENING. THIS OCCURS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS,WITH DOOR UNLOCKED OR LOCKED. THE DOOR DOESN'T HAVE REMOTE ELECTRCIC OPENING,, I SUSPECT THE PROBLEM TO BE PURELY MECHANICAL,THIS HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES OVER THE LAST 6 MONTHS.MRE OFTEN DURING WARM WEATHER. *AK

WE STARTED REPORTING THE PROBLEM WITH THE SLIDING DOOR ON 7/15/99. THE LOCK DID NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK CONSISTENTLY WHETHER USING THE REMOTE OR THE INSIDE AUTOMATIC BUTTON AND THE DOOR RATTLED LIKE SOMETHING WAS LOOSE INSIDE. THE SERVICE DEPT AT CAPITOL LINCOLN MERCURY(RICHMOND, VA) DECIDED TO REPLACE THE ANTENNA ON 8/16. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ON 10/4, I TOOK IT BACK AGAIN AND THEY REPLACED THE SLIDING DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR. THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR LOCKING/UNLOCKING BUT NOW, THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK IS STUCK AND THE DOOR STILL RATTLES.****I INITIALLY REPORTED A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL SHIMMEYING AND THE BRAKES GRABBING ON 8/16. THEY REPORTED THE BRAKES WERE OKAY - 5MM. I HAD THE TIRES REPLACED AND ALIGNED WHICH TOOK 3 DAYS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THEY ONLY HAD 3 TIRES. THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TO SHIMMEY SO I TOOK IT BACK ON 10/13. THE WEIGHTS HAD FALLEN OFF SO THEY HAD TO REBALANCE THE TIRES. THEY ALSO STATED THE THE VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING WOULD BE FIXED BY TURNING THE FRONT ROTORS WHICH THEY DID. THEY STATED THAT WITH THE TURNING OF THE ROTORS THAT I SHOULD REPLACE MY BRAKES WHICH I DID...FOR $55.83. THE NEXT DAY, 10/14, I TOOK THE VAN BACK BECAUSE IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING WAS RUBBING UNDER THE CAR. THIS PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED BY REPLACING THE ROTORS THAT THEY TURNED THE PREVIOUS DAY. CURRENTLY, THE STEERING WHEEL STILL SHIMMIES JUST NOT TO THE EXTENT AS BEFORE. I'M TAKING IT BACK AGAIN ON 10/20.*AK

MULTIPLE SELF ACTIVATION OF AUTO LOCK MECHANISM. THE CAR WILL "LOCK ITSELF" WITHOUT A BUTTON BEING PUSHED, OR USE OF REMOTE KEY ACCESS. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE GARAGE WITH THE ENGINE ON. IT HAS HAPPENED AT A GAS STATION WHERE THE KEY IS LEFT IN THE IGNITION. IT HAS HAPPENED WITH CHILDREN IN A HOT CAR, WHO MUST WAIT FOR AAA TO ARRIVE. THIS CONDITION PRESENTS A SERIOUS THREAT TO SMALL CHILDREN AND SITUATIONS WHERE THE CAR CAN NOT BE MOVED WHEN NECESSARY.