1999 Mercury VILLAGER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
177 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
51,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 54 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 53 of 177 complaints (29.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 19 | 10.7% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 5.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 2.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 1.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 53 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 30 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights | 4 |
| Seats | 4 |
| Suspension:Front | 4 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 4 |
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 53; Vehicle Speed Control: 30; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 6; Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights: 4; Seats: 4; Suspension:Front: 4; Tires:Tread/Belt: 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 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 19 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 18 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 123 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 | 33 |
| 2001 | 34 |
| 2002 | 28 |
| 2003 | 22 |
| 2004 | 27 |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
2000: 33; 2001: 34; 2002: 28; 2003: 22; 2004: 27; 2005: 12; 2006: 4; 2007: 3; 2008: 4; 2009: 5; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 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 10036954 · 2003-08-31 (August 31, 2003)
WE OWN A '1999 MERCURY VILLAGER VAN. THE BRAKES HAVE HAD EXTENSIVE REPAIRS TWICE ,AND NOW MUST BE REPLACED AGAIN AFTER ONLY 13,000 MILES. SECONDLY, THE ACCELERATOR STICKS. IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED ONCE AND REQUIRES REPAIR AGAIN. (FIRST TIME UNDER WARRANTY. THIS TIME AT A COST OF APPROX. $460.) THE REPAIRMEN AT THE DEALERSHIP CLAIM THE DEVICE USED TO PREVENT SLUDGE FROM ACCUMULATING ON THE ACCELERATOR LINE TENDS TO WARP DUE TO HEAT EXPOSURE ALLOWING SLUDGE TO ACCUMULATE ON THE LINE AND CAUSING THE ACCELERATOR TO STICK. IT WAS FIRST REPAIRED AT…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036954 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043928 · 2003-11-24 (November 24, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE CONSUMER WOULD HEAR A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED IT WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WOULD BE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK DIFFERENT BRAKE COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE BRAKES CONTINUE TO FAIL. THE WINDSHIELD MOLDING FLAPPED WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER'S FRONT DOOR RATTLED WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER LUBED THE WINDOW TRACKS. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043928 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051158 · 2003-12-27 (December 27, 2003)
OUR VAN ALSO EXPERIENCED MELTED HEADLIGHT SOCKETS FAILURE DUE TO A WEAK SOLDERING FROM THE WIRE TO THE SOCKET. UNBELIEVABLE THAT THIS IS NOT A RECALL. THE DEALER'S PARTS DEPARTMENT PERSON TOLD ME WHEN I ORDERED THE REPLACEMENT SOCKETS THAT THEY SELL LOTS OF THESE SOCKETS. WE HAD INTERMITTENT LIGHTING PROBLEM ON ONE SIDE, THEN THE OTHER, THEN TOTAL FAILURE OF BOPTH HEADLIGHTS. PLEASE REPORT YOUR EXPERIENCE. THIS MUST BECOME A RECALL. I WANTED TO FILE MULTIPLE OTHER PROBLEMS: THE TIRES AFTER COMPLAINING OF WOBBLING IN THE STEERING WHEEL FOR …
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051158 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079363 · 2004-07-15 (July 15, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 55-65 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. *AK THERE WAS A LOOSENESS AT HIGH SPEEDS ACCOMPANIED BY EXTENSIVE VIBRATION. THE WHEEL IMBALANCE WAS EXCLUDED AFTER SEVERAL RE-BALANCING JOBS. THE SYMPTOMS MATCHED THE STEERING GEAR RECALL# 00V292001. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS AND REFUSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079363 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10195389 · 2007-07-05 (July 5, 2007)
VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVE WHEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AND REVERTED BACK TO FIRST GEAR. AFTER STOPPING, TURNING OFF ENGINE, AND RESTARTING, VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF FIRST GEAR WHEN BEING DRIVEN. VEHICLE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TOWED TO DEALERSHIP , CARMAN FORD IN NEW CASTLE DE), BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP REPORTED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE. VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP BY OWNER AND BEGAN TO DRIVE IT HOME WHEN PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED. VEHICLE IS NOW AT COTTMAN TRANSMISSION IN WEST CHESTER PA WHO DIAGNOSE METAL SHAVINGS IN…
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10195389 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 717687 · 2000-01-21 (January 21, 2000)
MERCURY DEALER INFORMED US THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD, HOWEVER FORD IS NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. IN THE MEANTIME, THEY SAY THE VAN IS SAFE TO DRIVE...HOWEVER WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC THEIR IS A SIGNIFICANT RISK AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE VEHICLE WILL DECIDE TO GO INTO GEAR...CAUSING A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. CAN YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM? WE FEEL AS THOUGH THE MANUFACTURER IS GIVING US THE BRUSH OFF AND WE WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME RESULTS. THANK YOU. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 717687 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012468 · 2003-03-25 (March 25, 2003)
WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED, THERE WAS A DELAY IN ACCELERATION. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PUMP THE GAS PEDAL TO GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE. *JB THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW DOOR PANEL AND AN INJECTOR. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012468 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156769 · 2006-05-04 (May 4, 2006)
MY 1999 MERCURY VILLAGER WITH APPROX 39K MILES STARTED SHOWING THIS PROBLEM IN APRIL 2006. WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AFTER THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN, THE PEDAL DOES NOT DEPRESS. I PRESS HARDER, IT FINALLY DEPRESSES, BUT THE VAN LUNGES FORWARD. ONE TIME I GOT HONKED FROM BEHIND. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES. I WAS PLANNING ON TAKING IT TO THE SHOP. THEN A FEW DAYS LATER THE VAN STARTED TREMBLING DURING IDLE AND THE "SERVICE" INDICATOR CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP ON APRIL 29TH. THEY CHARGED ME APPROX $550 TO REPLACE ONE FUEL INJECTOR AND CLEAN TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156769 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057652 · 2004-03-11 (March 11, 2004)
HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT WHILE IN USE. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING. THE SOCKET MELTED. THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE, PER THE DEALERSHIP. *AK DEALER REPLACED DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT SOCKET, WIRE HARNESS AND BULB. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057652 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 765659 · 2002-08-14 (August 14, 2002)
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN BOTH HEADLIGHT CONNECTORS (PLUG), CAUSING RANDOM LOSS OF LIGHTS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 765659 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10680956 · 2015-02-03 (February 3, 2015)
WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHT, UPON ACCELERATING WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN, THE ACCELERATOR IS HARD TO PRESS. IT DOES NOT DEPRESS. YOU HAVE TO EITHER PRESS TOO HARD OR PUMP A FEW TIMES FOR IT TO GET GOING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ARE TAKING A LEFT TURN ON A SOLID GREEN LIGHT WITHOUT A GREEN ARROW. YOU MAY STALL AND THEN LUNGE FORWARD INTO AN ONCOMING CAR *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10680956 at NHTSA ↗