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1998 Mercury Villager

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Mercury Villager do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 125.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 18 of 83 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.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 9 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 reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

5 reports
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189,732 miles · Jan 13, 2010
Fuel System, GasolineStructure

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY VILLAGER WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN 2007. SHE STATED THAT THE FUEL FILLER HOSE HAD SEVERAL CRACKS IN IT. THE CRACKS IN THE HOSE CAUSED MAJOR GASOLINE FUMES TO ENTER THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER, 00V419002, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE S…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY VILLAGER WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN 2007. SHE STATED THAT THE FUEL FILLER HOSE HAD SEVERAL CRACKS IN IT. THE CRACKS IN THE HOSE CAUSED MAJOR GASOLINE FUMES TO ENTER THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER, 00V419002, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE STORAGE TANK ASSEMBLY HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER HOME WHERE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SUB-FRAME ON THE VEHICLE WAS CRACKED. NO REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE TO DATE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 189,732.

NHTSA ODI #10299634

80,000 miles · Feb 9, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY VILLAGER. THE CONTACT SMELLS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL, WHICH CAN BE NOTICED BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V419002 AND NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA00015 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO T…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCURY VILLAGER. THE CONTACT SMELLS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL, WHICH CAN BE NOTICED BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V419002 AND NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA00015 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND PROVIDED THEM WITH THE INFORMATION HE FOUND ONLINE. THE CONTACT LEFT THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALER FOR THE DAY. HE RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE THE FOLLOWING DAY AND NOTICED THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE 19 YEAR RECALL RANGE. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED WITH THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT HIS VIN SHOULD BE INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ODI #10258092

144,946 miles · Sep 29, 2007
Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

1998 MERCURY VILLAGER PURCHASED USED IN 2003. IDLE THROTTLE BODY FAILED IN 2006, MERCURY DEALER TOOK TWO WEEKS TO FIND THE PART AND REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. IDLE THROTTLE BODY FAILED AGAIN IN EARLY 2007. DEALER TOOK TWO WEEKS AGAIN TO FIND PART AND DID NOT CHARGE ME BUT I HAD TO RENT A CAR AT MY EXPENSE. TODAY 9/30/07 THE SAME S…

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1998 MERCURY VILLAGER PURCHASED USED IN 2003. IDLE THROTTLE BODY FAILED IN 2006, MERCURY DEALER TOOK TWO WEEKS TO FIND THE PART AND REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. IDLE THROTTLE BODY FAILED AGAIN IN EARLY 2007. DEALER TOOK TWO WEEKS AGAIN TO FIND PART AND DID NOT CHARGE ME BUT I HAD TO RENT A CAR AT MY EXPENSE. TODAY 9/30/07 THE SAME SYMPTOM OF THE CAR ACCELERATING TO 1500 RPM INTERMITTENTLY WHILE SITTING STOPPED AT A LIGHT HAS BEGUN AGAIN INSTEAD OF CONSTANT 800 RPM WHEN THIS PART IS WORKING CORRECTLY. I WILL HAVE TO WAIT ON THE DEALER TO FIND A PART AND REPAIR IT AGAIN AT MY INCONVENIENCE AND EXPENSE. HAVE OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE ENGINE EXPERIENCED THE SAME REPEATED SAFETY AND WASTE OF FUEL ISSUE? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10204465

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline

GAS GAUGE IN THE TANK FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #608591

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline

GAS GAUGE FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #606351

Official recalls

2

00V419002 · 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.

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

1

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.