AS MY WIFE WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION IN KNOXVILLE, SHE REALIZED THAT SHE HAD LOST SOME TYPE OF POWER AND THE TACHOMETER REGISTERED A MINIMAL RPM READING. AT THIS POINT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ANY PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR. SHE WAS BLOCKING TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC AND COULD MOV…
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AS MY WIFE WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION IN KNOXVILLE, SHE REALIZED THAT SHE HAD LOST SOME TYPE OF POWER AND THE TACHOMETER REGISTERED A MINIMAL RPM READING. AT THIS POINT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ANY PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR. SHE WAS BLOCKING TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC AND COULD MOVE NEITHER FORWARD NOR BACKWARDS. LUCKILY, SHE WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN ASSISTANCE QUICKLY FROM THE ATTENDANTS AT A NEARBY SERVICE STATION. THE NEXT DAY WE HAD THE VAN TOWED TO A MERCURY DEALER. THEY PINPOINTED THE PROBLEM AS A CRACKED CRANKSHAFT. THROUGH MY OWN RESEARCH AND CONTACTS WITH LOCAL MECHANICS, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PART, THAT THERE WAS NO REASON FOR A CRANKSHAFT TO FAIL ON A 5-YEAR-OLD VAN WITH 75,000 MILES. ANOTHER MERCURY SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED TO ME THAT THE VILLAGER VAN HAD A HISTORY OF CRANKSHAFT PROBLEMS. THIS WAS CONFIRMED WHEN I CONSULTED YOUR SERVICE BULLETINS DATABASE. THERE WERE SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS REGARDING CRANKSHAFT FAILURES IN THE 93-95 VILLAGERS. THE BULLETINS SUMMARIZED THIS FAILURE AS A "DRIVEABILITY CONCERN." I BELIEVE THIS DRASTICALLY UNDERSTATES THE PROBLEM. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN ON ONE OF OUR LOCAL HIGHWAYS, TRAVELING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED , I BELIEVE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS FAILURE WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH HARSHER, POSSIBLY EVEN DEADLY. I WOULD URGE YOU TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM WITH THE '94 VILLAGER AND ITS REPERCUSSIONS ON PASSENGER SAFETY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #702979
Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
CRANKSHAFT BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE AND ENGINE COMPONENTS
NHTSA ODI #701645
Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
CRANKSHAFT BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE COMPONENTS.
NHTSA ODI #542625
Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
OIL LEAKS FROM OIL PAN GASKET.
NHTSA ODI #540709
Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE WOULD RUN ROUGH AND LOUD ( VALVES/PISTONS) IN COLD WEATHER ONLY. VEHICLE IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP, AND DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #827489
Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
OIL LEAKING FROM CRANKSHAFT. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON THREE OCCASIONS AND CONDITION REOCCURS. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #827478
Mileage unknown · Aug 17, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BROKE AND TIMING BELT BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE.
NHTSA ODI #539095
Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO CRANKSHAFT SNAPPING AT THE BALANCER. CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS CANNOT BE CONSIDERED A NORMAL WEAR FOR VEHICLE WITH 67000 MILES. DEALER NOTIFIED AND WILL NOT REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO THE CONSUMER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #826541
Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHEN TRAVELING BETWEEN 15 TO 20 MPH THE VEHICLE CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING DUE TO BROKEN CRANKSHAFT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, PARTS HAVE YET TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #826372
Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET BLEW DUE TO OVERHEATING CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE.
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 & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
THE REAR LAMP SOCKET MAY NOT ILLUMINATE BECAUSE THE METAL CAN IN THE LAMP SOCKET MOVES OR SEPARATES FROM THE PLASTIC SOCKET HOUSING.
Consequence & remedy
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.
THE WINDSHIELDS WERE MARKED WITH A "PROTOTYPE" DESIGNATION AND NOT MARKED AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS NO. 205, "GLAZING MATERIALS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: INCORRECT LABELING OF WINDSHIELD MAY CAUSE CONCERN OR CONFUSION ABOUT THE PROTOTYPE DESIGNATION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WINDSHIELDS ON THE AFFECTED VANS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
5
EA00014 · Fuel Tank Vent Hose Leakage
Opened May 22, 2000 · Closed Jan 4, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
PERIODIC EXPOSURE TO LIQUID GASOLINE MAY RESULT IN EXTRACTION OF ANTIDEGRADANTS FROM THE SUBJECT FUEL TANK VENT HOSE.HOSES WHICH HAVE SUFFERED LOSS OF ANTIDEGRADANTS CAN DEVELOP CRACKS IN AREAS OF HIGH STRAIN.FUEL MAY SPRAY OR DRIP FROM CRACKED VENT HOSES FOLLOWING TANK FILL.STARTING AT JOB#1 1998 MY (CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS VEHICLES) AND JOB#1 1999 MY (FEDERAL EMISSIONS VEHICLES), THE SUBJECT VENT HOSE COMPOSITION CHANGED FROM NITRILE RUBBER HOSES WITH CHLOROPRENE RUBBER COVERS (NBR/CR) TO FLUOROCARBON RUBBER HOSES WITH AN OUTER LAYER BLEND OF NBR/PVC.THE CHANGES WERE MADE TO IMPROVE HYDRACARBON RESISTANCE FOR COMPLAINCE WITH NEW EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS REGULATIONS.THE MODIFIED HOSES ARE ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY MORE RESISTANT TO DEGRADATION AND CRACKING.IN A LETTER DATED JANUARY 2, 2001, FORD NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE SUBJECT VENT HOSE IN AFFACTED VEHICLES.FORD WILL BEGIN NOTIFYING CUSTOMERS OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ON OR ABOUT THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 12, 2001 TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO DEALERS FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK VENT HOSE WITH THE LATEST DESIGN LEVER PART.
PE99077 · Fuel Tank Vent Hose Leakage
Opened Dec 28, 1999 · Closed May 22, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA99015 · Fuel Rail Hose Fitting Leakage
Opened Jun 29, 1999 · Closed Apr 18, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT COVERS 1993-1998 MERCURY VILLAGER AND NISSAN QUEST MINIVANS.THESE TWO MINIVANS SHARE A COMMON BODY PLATFORM AND POWER TRAIN.BASED ON THE LOW NUMBER OF REPORTED INCIDENTS AND THE ABSENCE OF A DEMONSTRABLE FAILURE TREND, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ENGINEERING CLOSING REPORT EA99-015 FOR DETAILS.
PE99013 · Fuel Rail Hose Fitting Leakage
Opened Feb 9, 1999 · Closed Jun 29, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
SINCE SEPTEMBER 1998, ODI HAS RECEIVED SEVEN COMPLAINTS OF FUEL ODOR OR LEAKAGE IN 1994 THROUGH 1995 MERCURY VILLAGER VEHICLES.FOUR OF THE LEAKS HAVE BEEN TRACED TO A SHORT SECTION OF HOSE THAT CONNECTS THE FUEL SUPPLY TUBE TO THE REAR OF THE FUEL RAIL.INFORMAITON CONTAINED IN THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE, WITH SEVERAL OWNERS ALLEGING MULTIPLE DEALER SERVICE REPAIRS.ADVANCED COMPRESSION SET IS EVIDENT IN A HOSE REMOVED FROM THE MOST RECENT COMPLAINT VEHICLE.
EA96005 · Battery Explosions
Opened May 30, 1996 · Closed May 29, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT IS INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC FILE.
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