2000 Mercury Villager

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. ONE OR MORE OF THE FIVE BOLTS THAT MOUNT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR TO THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY TIGHTENED.

Risk. THERE COULD BE A LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING, WHICH MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY NOISE OR VIBRATION.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES AND, IF THE BOLTS ARE MISSING, WILL REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLTS. ALL BOLTS WILL BE TIGHTENED TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 28, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE ON CERTAIN SEAT BELT BUCKLES OF YOUR VEHICLE AND REPLACE ALL SEAT BELT BUCKLES THAT FALL WITHIN THE SUSPECT DATE CODE RANGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 26, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

SEAT BELTS ON 2000 MERCURY VILLAGER ESTATE HAVE LOCKED UP AND WILL NOT RELEASE. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS REGARDING ISSUE AND THEY ARE STATING THEY HAVE NO KNOW ISSUE OR RECALL WITH SEAT BELTS LOCKING UP. REAR SEAT BELTS ARE THE ONES AFFECTED. FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS IS STATING IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING VEHICLE. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) EVENT- EVERY TIME THE FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE USED. FAILURE- SEAT BELTS DO NOT PROBERLY RETRACT AFTER EACH USE. SUBSUQUENT DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS WHO USE THE VEHICLE THEN USE THE SEAT BELTS THINK THEY ARE SAFELY BUCKLED INTO THEIR SEAT---BUT GUESS WHAT!?!--- THEY AREN'T BUCKLED SAFELY AT ALL BECAUSE 12-18" OF UNRETRACTED SEATBELT IS STILL STUCK IN THE SPACE BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE DOOR FRAME! ENGINEERS EVEN HAVE A NAME FOR IT, "LAZY RETRACTION". AUTO MAKERS KNOW ABOUT IT, THE GOVERNMENT KNOWS ABOUT IT, BUT NOBODY DOES ANYTHING ABOUT IT. MY OLD DODGE CARAVAN DID IT AFTER 70,000 MILES AND NOW MY MERCURY VILLAGER/NISSAN QUEST STARTED DOUNG IT AFTER 90,000 MILES. CORRECT FAILURE- LECTURE THE [XXX] OUT OF MY WIFE, KIDS AND ANBODY WHO WILL LISTEN ABOUT THE USE OF [XXX], DEFECTIVE SEATBELTS THAT NO LONGER RETRACT SO THAT THEY DON'T THINK THEY ARE SAFELY BUCKLED WHEN THEY ARE NOT! NOBODY WIL EVER CONVINCE ME THIS HASN'T CAUSED INJURIES AND PROBABLY COST LIVES. *TR

LEFT A FRIENDS HOUSE DROVE 1/3 OF A MILE VAN WAS ON FIRE PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF RODE WAS SMOKING/ TOTALING ENGULFED IN FLAMES AFTER ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES THE VAN WAS A TOTAL LOSS. IT WAS A 2000 VILLAGER COULD THIS BE THE SAME AS THE WINDSTAR.? THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING IDLE IN DRIVE WAY FOR APP. 3HRS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT.. *TR

THE A/C STOPPED WORKING. *TR

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 45 MPH. I HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *TR

WE HAVE VERY LITTLE MILEAGE ON OUR MERCURY VILLAGER SPORT VAN AND THE PAINT IS CHIPPING. APPARENTLY, THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. IT ACTUALLY NEEDS A COMPLETE PAINT JOB. WE HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE DO THIS. IT WILL RUST IF THIS IS NOT TAKEN CARE OF. WE ONLY HAVE APP. 68,000 MILES ON A 2000 YEAR CAR. *TR

STICKY ACCELERATOR PEDAL ON 2000 MERCURY VILLAGER. STICKS ABOUT HALF THE TIME CAUSING ABRUPT SURGE INTO TRAFFIC AND DISLODGING OF OCCUPANTS. *NM

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER 2000 MERCURY VILLAGER HAS ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP OR AT A LOW SPEED, WHEN SHE TRIED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE AS EXPECTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAS TO PUT THE FOOT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR FOR THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. SHE HAS REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY TWICE SINCE SHE OWNED THE VEHICLE. SHE STATED THAT SHE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS, ALMOST RESULTING IN SEVERAL CRASHES. ALSO, THE STABILIZING LINK WAS CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING. WHEN SHE TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. IF SHE HIT A HOLE THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD CLUNKY NOISE. THE CONTACT HAD THE STABILIZER BAR REPAIRED 2/1/07, AND SHE HAS HAD THREE TIRES REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DEALERSHIP SAID THE STABILIZER BAR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE TIRES WEARING OUT SO QUICKLY. THERE HAVE BEEN 6 OCCURENCES OF THIS FAILURE. *AK

2000 MERCURY VILLAGER HAS COMMON PROBLEM OF GAS PEDAL STICKING AND SPEEDOMETER OUTAGE. BOTH OF THESE ARE SAFETY ISSUES AND NEED TO BE CORRECTED. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK WHEN DEPRESSED, AND WHEN IT UNSTUCK, THE ADDED PRESSURE CAUSED THE VAN TO LURCH FORWARD. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH LUBRICANT ON THE ACCELERATOR PARTS. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AFTER VISITING THE SERVICE DEALER. UPDATED 12/5/2006 - THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW. *NM

ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS. *JB

FRONT SWAY BAR BUSHINGS FAIL TOO QUICKLY. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS. ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

WHENEVER RAIN OR DAMP CONDITIONS OCCUR, A CONSTANT SQUEAL IS PRESENT FROM ALL OR SOME OF THE FLYWHEELS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BELT. *JB

GAS PEDAL STICKS ON 2000 MERCURY VILLAGER. HAD VEHICLE SINCE 2000. PROBLEM STARTED IN 2002 AND GOT WORSE. WE DEALT WITH IT BUT SINCE MY WIFE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH MS IN 2003, SHE FOUND IT HARD TO DEAL WITH. I DEAL WITH IT, BUT FIND IT VERY ANNOYING. THE PROBLEM IS JUST AS OTHERS DESCRIBE WHERE MOSTLY WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP, THE PEDAL STICKS AND REQUIRES A LOT OF PRESSURE TO RELEASE IT CAUSE HARD STARTS AND BREAKING TRACTION. IT SOMETIMES OCCURS WHILE DRIVING. PROBLEMS OCCURS ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME. *NM

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS POWER CONTROLLED. DURING A HARD BRAKE TO AVOID A COLLISION THE SEAT WENT INTO A FULL RECLINE POSITION. THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT HAVE RESTRAINED A PASSENGER IF ONE HAD BEEN PRESENT. SEAT WAS WORKING FINE WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER. COULD THIS HAPPEN AGAIN? WHAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED IT? NOTHING TOUCHED THOSE POWER BUTTONS. CAR IS 2000 MERCURY VILLAGER. MARY HIXSON. *NM

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAS BEEN STICKING SINCE ABOUT 60,000 MILES. IT NOW HAS OVER 100K. I HAVE LUBED EVERY COMPONENT FROM THE PEDAL TO THE THROTTLE PLATE, BUT IT HAS NOT HELPED. WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP, THE PEDAL (OR LINKAGE) HANGS AND EXCESSIVE FORCE MUST BE APPLIED, RESULTING IN EITHER WHEEL SPIN OR LURCHING FORWARD. *NM

DT: ON 5/17/05 WHILE ON THE WAY TO WORK AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER AND DRIVER AIR BAGS. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT ON. THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS NEVER CAME ON. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AS FAR AS THE OWNER KNOWS. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH WHILE ON HIGHWAY. THERE WAS A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE OWNER'S CAR WHO STOPPED COMPLETELY AND THEN OWNER HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR END. THE IMPACT WAS FRONTAL TO THE OWNER'S VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE INJURIES. THERE WERE INJURIES TO THE PASSENGER'S CHEST, NECK AND BACK. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. *NM *SC

ACCELERATOR STICKS WHEN IN IDLE POSITION AND REQUIRES FORCE TO OVERCOME WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO JUMP FORWARD. THIS OCCURED WHEN VEHICLE HAD 36,000 MILES AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. NOW AT 70,000 MILES THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURS. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE THE VEHICLE CAN JUMP FORWARD AND HITA CAR OR PERSON IN FRONT. BRAKES ARE REQUIRED TO BE APPLIED AT THE SAME TIME THE ACCELERATOR IS PUSHED TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM JUMPING FORWARD.

TWO YEARS AGO I HAD A VEHICLE WARRENTY. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD THEM REPLACE MY DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT. IT WOULD GO ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP NOTICED THE CONNECTIONS WERE MELTED AND REPLACED IT. LAST YEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS BEEN ACTING UP. I HAVE TO POP THE HOOD AND MOVE THE WIRE IN ORDER TO GET TO TO WORK FOR A MINUTE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE NOW BUT MERCURY DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL ON IT. I NEED TO FIX IT BUT CANNOT AFFORD DEALER COST TO DO SO. WILL THIS EVER BE RECALLED?