IllustrationWHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, DRIVER SIDE FRONT WINDOW 'POPPED', SHATTERED, THEN FLEW INWARD ON ME. POLICE INSPECTION OF VEHICLE DID NOT FIND ANY SLUGS, WAS NOT DRIVING UNDER A BRIDGE, NOR NO CARS NEXT TO ME.*AK
1997 Mercury Villager
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 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: 19 of 125 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.
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
125 reportsTHERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. *AK *SCC *JB
DOOR LOCKS ENGAGE INTERMITTENTLY BY THEMSELVES. THIS OCCURS BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND OFF, AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING OR PARKED. *LA
DEFECTIVE ABS IN 1997 MERCURY VILLAGER. WHILE SITTING STILL THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL RELEASE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD POSSIBLY STRIKING SOMEONE OR SOMETHING. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND FOUND SEVERAL SIMILAR STATEMENTS FROM OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE. *JB
VEHICLE IS ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS EVEN THOUGH KEY HAS BEEN REMOVED. *AK
ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THEN, WHEN IT IS FREED, THE VAN ACCELERATES RAPIDLY CAUSING THE VAN TO LURCH FORWARD. THIS IS DANGEROUS FOR TWO REASONS. ONE, WHEN MANEUVERING IN TIGHT PARKING LIKE SITUATIONS, THE VAN WILL LURCH FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY, AND TWO, WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC THERE IS A HESITA…
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ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THEN, WHEN IT IS FREED, THE VAN ACCELERATES RAPIDLY CAUSING THE VAN TO LURCH FORWARD. THIS IS DANGEROUS FOR TWO REASONS. ONE, WHEN MANEUVERING IN TIGHT PARKING LIKE SITUATIONS, THE VAN WILL LURCH FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY, AND TWO, WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC THERE IS A HESITATION THAT COULD CAUSE AND ACCIDENT IF THE RESPONSE TIME BETWEEN PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE TIME THE VAN ACTUALLY STARTS MOVING.*AK
I AM REPLACING MY IGNITION SWITCH FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. *NLM
SLIDING DOOR POPS OPEN. DT
DOOR LOCKS CONTINUALLY LOCK AND UNLOCK THEMSELVES WHETER DRIVING OR PARKED
FACTORY STEEL WHEEL SPLIT AT WELD AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY NEAR 30,000 MI. SINCE THEN ONE OTHER HAS BEEN REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE AND THE TWO REMAINING FACTORY WHEELS HAVE DEVELOPED SLOW LEAKS BUT ARE STILL ON THE VEHICLE. THE REAR AIR CONTROLL FAILED AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT ABOUT 33,000 MI. IT HAS FAILED AGAIN…
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FACTORY STEEL WHEEL SPLIT AT WELD AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY NEAR 30,000 MI. SINCE THEN ONE OTHER HAS BEEN REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE AND THE TWO REMAINING FACTORY WHEELS HAVE DEVELOPED SLOW LEAKS BUT ARE STILL ON THE VEHICLE. THE REAR AIR CONTROLL FAILED AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT ABOUT 33,000 MI. IT HAS FAILED AGAIN JUST OVER 75,000 MILE LIMIT OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WE PURCHASED. WE HAVE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE A/C FROM THE DAY WE DROVE IT HOME. AT FIRST IT SMELLED HORRIBLE AND AFTER SEVERAL COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALER THEY USED A DE ODERIZING MACHINE WITH LITTLE TO NO EFFECT. IT THEN QUIT COOLING AND HAD TO BE RECHARGED SEVERAL TIMES AT PERIODS OF ONE DAY UP TO ONE WEEK! AT LAST THEY REPLACED THE SEALS WHICH SOLVED THE LEAK PROBLEM BUT THE ODOR STILL REMAINED. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON AT SHOWCASE LINCOLN/MERCURY DESCRIBED IT "AS THOUGH SOMEONE URINATED IN THE DUCTWORK OR VENTS" AFTER MANYSOMETIMES HEATED DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND THE SHOP FOREMAN THEY FINALLY PUT ME IN TOUCH WITH THE DISTRICT REP FOR FORD/MERCURY OF WHICH I STILL HAVE THE VARIOUS NOTES I TOOK DURING CONVERSATIONS WITH BOTH MERCURY CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WITH THE AREA REP. ULTIMATELY I WAS TOLD I WOULD GET A $2,500.00COUPON TO USE ON OUR NEXT PURCHASE. AS OF THIS DATE SOME FOUR YEARS LATER WE STILL HAVE NOT RECIEVED IT AND ARE BEING IGNORED BY THE DEALERSHIP WHEN WE INQUIRE ONCE AGAIN. THE ODOR IS STILL PRESENT AND WILL AFFECT THE TRADE IN OR SALE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF A PROBLEM WITH EITHER THE WHEELS OR THE A/C EXCEPT MINE! I REFUSE TO BELIVE THAT MINE IS AN ISOLATED CASE! UNTIL NOW I HAD NO IDEA OF HOW TO CONTACT ANYONE OR ORGANIZATION THAT COULD BE OF POTENTIAL ASSISTANCE.
Official recalls
300V419002 · 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.
97V184001 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery
Oct 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 & remedy
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.
96V203000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting
Oct 17, 1996
THE FOUR RUBBER FUEL LINE CONNECTOR HOSES THAT ARE SUPPLIED TO FORD WITH THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. THESE HOSES CAN DEVELOP CRACKS OR SPLITS RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY FOR THE SUSPECT DATE CODES AND REPLACE THE FOUR RUBBER FUEL CONNECTOR HOSES IF NECESSARY.
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
3EA00014 · 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.