1995 Mercury VILLAGER: complaints, problems and recalls

MY 1995 MERCURY VILLAGER''S CRANKSHAFT BROKE SUDDENLY UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION. IT WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE WE TRAVELED WITH TWO YOUNG CHILDREN ON A 2-WAY ROAD WITHOUT SHOULDER THAT NIGHT. WE NOTICED THAT A COMMON PROBLEM EXISTED ON BOTH NISSAN QUEST AND MERCURY VILLAGER (1993-1995) DUE TO NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINS ON INTERNET. WE BELIEVE IT IS A DEFECT CAUSED BY IMPROPER DESIGN BY MANUFACTURE. SINCE IT IS A POTENTIAL LIFE-THREATEN DEFECT, THE AUTO MAKER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTING THE PROBLEM.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000479 at NHTSA ↗

CONTROL SWITCH FOR THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID DOES NOT WORK. *TS

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001819 at NHTSA ↗

HAVE HAD SEVERAL WATER PUMPS REPLACED IN OUR 1995 MERCURY VILLAGER. BEGINS LEAKING AFTER TWO TO FOUR WEEKS DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER. 4 REPLACED LAST WINTER, DROVE FINE DURING SUMMER, RECENTLY REPLACED AGAIN BY SAME REPAIR SHOP. EACH TIME THE WATER PUMP LEAKS BY THE SEALS IN THE PUMP. DEFECTIVE DESIGN?

Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002910 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER, CONSUMER STATES YOU CAN SMELL GAS FUMES IN THE CAB. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004158 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL FILTER BOX REPLACED TWICE, BUT VEHICLE STILL HAS ODOR . TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004593 at NHTSA ↗

THE VAN STARTED TO SPUTTER AND THE ENGINE CUT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH. I MANAGED TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND NOTICE SMOKE ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE SMOKE DIDN'T SMELL LIKE STEAM FROM OVERHEATING BUT A THICK BLACK SMOKE. I MOVED A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE VAN AND CONTACTED THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURST INTO FLAMES BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. THE VAN WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND THE ESTIMATED DAMAGE WAS $13000. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WROTE OFF THE VEHICLE AND ONLY…

Owner-reported narrative. 90,625 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004905 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH SPEED, THE ENGINE WENT DEAD WITHOUT WARNING. TOWED THE CAR TO A SERVICE GARAGE, SOUTH RIVER AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR LLC, 178 HILLSIDE AVE., SOTH RIVER, NJ 08882. THE MECHANIC FOUND CRANKCASE SNAPPED OFF AT THE HARMONIC BALANCER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY THIS COULD HAPPEN IS DUE TO FAULTY AND DEFECTIVE MATERIALS.

Owner-reported narrative. 55,130 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007581 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN A 1995 MERCURY VILLAGER. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BECAME UN-OPERATIONAL IN MARCH 2001. I CONTACTED MY DEALER AND MERCURY AT THE TIME, NEITHER WAS OF ANY HELP AND SHOWED NO CONCERN. I PAID $121 OUT OF POCKET TO REPLACE THE PART. NOW, IN FEBRUARY OF 2003 THE SAME LOCATIONS SEAT BELT IS UN-OPERATIONAL AGAIN. I CONTACTED MY DEALER WHO TOLD ME TO CALL MERCURY. THEY WILL NOT HELP COVER A PART THAT IS MORE THAN 12 MONTHS OLD. WE WERE TOLD OVER AND OVER THAT IT'S THEIR POLICY. I HAVE OWNED ABOUT 6 VEHICLES IN MY YEARS OF DRIVIN…

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008441 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-01-02 (January 2, 2001)

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.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VENT HOSE.

Reported: 1996-06-03 (June 3, 1996)

AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION CONDITION IN THE SEAT CABLE ROLLER PULLEY ASSEMBLY CAN ALLOW THE CABLE THAT CONNECTS THE SEAT ADJUST LEVER TO THE LATCH TO BE PINCHED IN THE ROLLER ASSEMBLY.

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THIS CONDITION CAN PREVENT THE LATCH ON THE LEFT SIDE FROM FULLY ENGAGING THE SEAT RAIL. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT OF FMVSS NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS."

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE A COMPONENT IN THE THIRD ROW SLIDING BENCH SEAT LATCH ASSEMBLY.

Reported: 1998-08-17 (August 17, 1998)

THE REAR LAMP SOCKET MAY NOT ILLUMINATE BECAUSE THE METAL CAN IN THE LAMP SOCKET MOVES OR SEPARATES FROM THE PLASTIC SOCKET HOUSING.

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN MALFUNCTION OF THE STOP OR REAR RUNNING LAMPS. CENTER HIGH MOUNT STOP LAMP FUNCTION IS UNAFFECTED. REAR LAMP MALFUNCTION CAN RESULT IN FOLLOWING DRIVERS NOT BEING ALERTED TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLE'S PRESENCE OR INTENDED ACTIONS, PARTICULARLY IN THE CASE IN WHICH BOTH LAMPS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED REAR LAMP SOCKET AND WIRING ASSEMBLIES.