IllustrationINTERMITTENTLY DOOR LOCKS OPEN AND CLOSE AUTOMATICALLY. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND COULD NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
1996 Mercury Villager
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Mercury Villager do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 125.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Villager years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 16 of 188 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports7 fire reports5 injury reports
Structure complaints
25 reportsCONSUMER STATE WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE SLIDING DOOR BECOME UNLOCK. DOOR INDICATION LIGHT COME ON. PLEASE PROVDE FURTHER INFORMATIN.
THE DOORS WILL LOCK AUTOMATICALLY WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION OR NOT. WE HAD A BABY IN THE CAR AND THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE 35,000 MILES RECENTLY FORD TOLD US THEIR WAS A RECOMMEND FIX - SERVICE MESSAGE 11243 BECAUSE OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BUT IT IS NOT A RECALL. AS A SAFETY PROFESSIONAL I T…
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THE DOORS WILL LOCK AUTOMATICALLY WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION OR NOT. WE HAD A BABY IN THE CAR AND THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE 35,000 MILES RECENTLY FORD TOLD US THEIR WAS A RECOMMEND FIX - SERVICE MESSAGE 11243 BECAUSE OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BUT IT IS NOT A RECALL. AS A SAFETY PROFESSIONAL I THINK THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS - POTENTIAL ENTRAPMENT OF SMALL CHILDREN WITHOUT ADEQUATE ESCAPE MECHANISM ( NOT BREAKING THE WINDOW) IS A CONCERN.
VEHICLES POWER DOOR LOCKS WILL ACTIVATE AND LOCK DOORS ON ITS OWN. THE DOORS HAVE LOCKED WITH CHILDREN IN CAR AND WHEN NO ONE WAS IN CAR.MAINLY DOES IT WHEN THE DRIVERS DOOR HAS JUST BEEN SHUT. *AK
MY MERCURY VILLAGER HAS A PROBLEM IN WHICH THE SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR POPS OPEN IF I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THIS OCCURS EVEN IF THE DOORS ARE LOCKED. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING 75MPH VEHICLE MADE GRAVE NOISES & THEN DIED OUT. MANEUVERED TO SIDE OF ROAD. COULD NOT CHECK ENGINE OIL DUE TO DIP STICK NOT REMOVABLE. TOWED TO MECHANIC & INFORMED CONSUMER THA T UNDER HOOD FROZE UP DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION.*AK
THE REAR SIDE DOOR UNLATCHES WHEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD. IT DOESN'T UNLATCH ALL THE WAY. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO ADJUST THE DOOR, BUT IT STILL HAPPENS. WE DO NOT HAVE TO HIT A BUMP FOR IT TO UNLATCH. THEY ARE GOING TO PUT ON A NEW DOOR LATCH.
AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER'S CHILD WAS LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE, AND THEY COULDN'T GET THE CHILD OUT. *AK
ALL DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK ON THEIR OWN. CANNOT GET IN OR OUT UNLESS KEY IS USED. ALSO WOULD BEEP & HONK ON ITS OWN. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD ALSO COME ON. HAD TAKEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC CAN NOT REPAIR PROBLEM. *AK
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 15MPH ENGINE STALLS. ALSO WHEN OPENING PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR SOMETHING TRIGGERS INSIDE THE LOCK MECHANISM, WHICH CAUSES THE DOOR TO AUTOMATICALLY LOCK. *AK
Official recalls
200V419002 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Jan 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 & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VENT HOSE.
98V012001 · Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls
Mar 23, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH POWER WINDOWS THAT CAN BE CLOSED AFTER THE IGNITION KEY IS TURNED TO THE "OFF" POSITION AND THE RIGHT FRONT (PASSENGER) DOOR IS OPENED. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 118, "POWER-OPERATED WINDOW SYSTEMS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR UNSUPERVISED CHILDREN TO OPERATE THE POWER WINDOWS, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO THE CHILD.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A LABEL REMINDING OWNERS NOT TO LEAVE CHILDREN UNATTENDED BECAUSE THE POWER WINDOWS CAN OPERATE FOR 15 MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE IGNITION HAS BEEN TURNED OFF UNLESS THE DRIVER'S DOOR IS OPENED. ALSO INCLUDED ARE INSTRUCTIONS DESCRIBING HOW AND WHERE THIS LABEL IS TO BE INSTALLED. IF AN OWNER PREFERS, THEIR DEALER CAN INSTALL THIS LABEL FOR THEM.
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
4EA00014 · 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.
SQ00008 · Unexpected Opening On Sliding Door
Opened May 12, 2000 · Closed Apr 1, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
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.
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.