1998 Mercury VILLAGER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
62 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
82,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 62 complaints (12.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 14.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 4.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 3.2% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 3.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.6% |
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 | 8 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 6 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 8; Structure:Body:Door: 6; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 3
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 45 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 | 11 |
| 2001 | 17 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2000: 11; 2001: 17; 2002: 5; 2003: 5; 2004: 8; 2005: 3; 2006: 3; 2007: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 4; 2011: 1; 2014: 1; 2016: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10007576 · 2003-02-16 (February 16, 2003)
VEHICLE LOCKS AUTOMATICALLTY WHILE BEING DRIVEN, SITTING STILL IN PARKING LOT, GARAGE, ETC. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DATE INDICATED BELOW IS JUST THE LAST TIME.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007576 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007954 · 2003-02-21 (February 21, 2003)
THE POWER DOOR LOCKS LOCK WHEN EVER THEY SEEM TO WANT TO, WHEN I UNLOCK THEM THEY WILL LOCK AGAIN AS IM TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR.
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007954 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017946 · 2003-06-26 (June 26, 2003)
WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THEY LOCKED UP AND CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NLM BOTH FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP WITHIN LESS THAN A MONTH APART. THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH BOTH REAR BRAKES AND THE LEFT FRONT CALIPER LOCKED UP. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 15,765 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017946 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040197 · 2003-09-17 (September 17, 2003)
THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK ON THE SLIDING SIDE DOOR OF VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE . THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE CHILDREN COULD OPEN THE DOOR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE DEALER HAS BEEN INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 65,889 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040197 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042284 · 2003-10-03 (October 3, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WHEN A SMALL CHILD MISTAKENLY KNOCKED GEAR SHIFTER TO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS ONTO THE GRASS WHICH HELPED IT COME TO A STOP. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 99,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042284 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083057 · 2004-07-31 (July 31, 2004)
PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING RUSTED IN HALF AND BROKE. SPRING CAME DOWN ONTO TIRE. I HAD TO BUY NEW SPRING,COIL,AND STRUT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 83,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083057 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088348 · 2004-08-22 (August 22, 2004)
MY 1998 MERCURY VILLAGER MINI VAN HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR. THE PEDAL CAN BE HARD TO PUSH SOMETIMES CAUSING TO PUSH DOWN TOO FAR. SEVERAL TIMES THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE OUT OF CONTROL. I FELT VERY UNSAFE AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONDITION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10088348 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088552 · 2004-08-25 (August 25, 2004)
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SOME TIMES STICKS WERE YOU CAN NOT GIVE IT GAS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT 3 YRS. IT CAUSES FEAR, BECAUSE YOU IF YOU HAD TO SPEED UP SOME TIME IT WILL NOT LET YOU.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10088552 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V419002 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V184001 · Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
Reported: 1997-10-29 (October 29, 1997)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMOTIVE BATTERIES SUPPLIED BY GNB TECHNOLOGIES. THESE BATTERIES HAVE A DEFECTIVE NEGATIVE POST THAT CAN CAUSE ACID LEAKAGE AND RELATED CORROSION DAMAGE.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE BATTERY WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN ENGINE FIRE OR BATTERY EXPLOSION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE BATTERIES. UNTIL A NEW BATTERY IS OBTAINED, OWNERS SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT TO "JUMP START" THESE BATTERIES.
NHTSA campaign record ↗