1997 Mercury VILLAGER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
96 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
106,108 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 96 complaints (14.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 11 | 11.5% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 7.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 4.2% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.0% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 14 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 12 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 10 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 4 |
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 14; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 12; Structure:Body:Door: 10; Fuel System, Gasoline: 5; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 5; Air Bags: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 77 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 14 |
| 2001 | 43 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
2000: 14; 2001: 43; 2002: 12; 2003: 8; 2004: 8; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2013: 1; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 11 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10114100 · 2005-03-15 (March 15, 2005)
I HAD NOTICED THAT WHEN I FILLED GAS TANK THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE INSIDE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS. I HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED BY THE SHOP THAT DOES MY OIL CHANGES AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS THE FILLER HOSE AND IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP STATES THAT SINCE THE REPAIR WAS MADE UNDER THE RECALL IN 2002 THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED AGAIN. REPAIR PART WAS APPARENTLY DEFECTIVE. THE REPAIR COST WILL BE $150.00.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114100 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10208142 · 2007-11-07 (November 7, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY VILLAGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY TIME HE FILLS UP HIS GAS TANK AND PARKS THE VEHICLE, FUEL LEAKS OUT FROM UNDERNEATH. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE VENT HOSE FOR A SERVICE CHARGE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V419002 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 106,108. RECALL# 00V419002 UPDATED 11/26/07. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 106,108 miles reported. Look up ODI 10208142 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039092 · 2003-09-18 (September 18, 2003)
DEFECTIVE ABS IN 1997 MERCURY VILLAGER. WHILE SITTING STILL THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL RELEASE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD POSSIBLY STRIKING SOMEONE OR SOMETHING. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND FOUND SEVERAL SIMILAR STATEMENTS FROM OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039092 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100328 · 2004-11-22 (November 22, 2004)
CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH BRAKES WITH MY MERCURY VILLAGER GS, 1997. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10100328 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062196 · 2004-03-15 (March 15, 2004)
MERCURY VILLAGER, 1997. TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE TRIGGERED THE ENGINE LIGHT TO STAY ON. REPAIRS $300. ONLY 27,000 MILES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062196 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 560348 · 2001-03-11 (March 11, 2001)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 560348 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 884839 · 2001-04-02 (April 2, 2001)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 884839 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 894768 · 2001-08-20 (August 20, 2001)
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY, AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, VEHICLE SHUT OFF. LOST POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. SHE PAID TO HAVE VEHICLE PUT ON A MACHINE, BUT PROBLEM COULDN'T DOUBLE ITSELF.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 894768 at NHTSA ↗