IllustrationWHILE MAKING A SUDDEN STOP BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, VEHICLE WENT INTO A SUDDEN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO DEPRESS BRAKES AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK
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 →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: 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
What owners actually said
83 reportsI HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE LOCKING SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE. THE DOOR LOCKS WILL LOCK ON THEIR OWN AT INOPPORTUNE TIMES. THEY WILL LOCK WHEN DOORS ARE SHUT, OR WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. AT TIMES, THEY WILL IMMEDIATELY LOCK BACK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO ENTER OR EXIT TH…
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I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE LOCKING SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE. THE DOOR LOCKS WILL LOCK ON THEIR OWN AT INOPPORTUNE TIMES. THEY WILL LOCK WHEN DOORS ARE SHUT, OR WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. AT TIMES, THEY WILL IMMEDIATELY LOCK BACK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO ENTER OR EXIT THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A SERVICE MANAGER THAT THEY HAVE HAD BULLETINS OUT ON THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE HAS MADE FIVE ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM TO NO AVAIL. THE LAST TIME IT WAS IN THE SHOP, THEY REPLACED THE ACTUATOR, AND THE SEC TIMER. HOWEVER THE LOCKING SYSTEM IS STILL NOT WORKING. I WAS TOLD THAT FORD KNOWS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT THEY HAVE NO FIX FOR IT AT THIS TIME. *AK
WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE WINDOW HINGES REPLACE WITH ONES THAT WILL NOT OPEN BY THEMSELFS.
DESIGN OF RIGHT HAND MIRROR MAKES OTHER VEHICLES APPEAR FURTHER AWAY THAN THEY ACTUALLY ARE . CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *ML
VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON 20-JUL-99. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE IN THE INTERSECTION. CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW IF AIRBAGS DEPLOYED SHOULD VEHICLE HAVE STOPPED. *AK
WHILE MAKING A SUDDEN STOP CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMAION. *AK
BOTH PASSENGER/DRIVER SIDE REAR MANUAL POPPED OUT. WINDOWS DO NOT CLOSE PROPERLY, AND CAN BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE IN THE LOCKED POSITION. A PERSON CAN WEDGE A HAND BETWEEN THE GLASS AND WEATHER SEAL IN THE LOCKED POSITION. PROTRUDES APPX 3/4 INCHES OUT OF ALIGNMENT FROM FIXED AUTOMATIC REAR WINDOW. DEALSHIP STATED THAT NO ADJ…
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BOTH PASSENGER/DRIVER SIDE REAR MANUAL POPPED OUT. WINDOWS DO NOT CLOSE PROPERLY, AND CAN BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE IN THE LOCKED POSITION. A PERSON CAN WEDGE A HAND BETWEEN THE GLASS AND WEATHER SEAL IN THE LOCKED POSITION. PROTRUDES APPX 3/4 INCHES OUT OF ALIGNMENT FROM FIXED AUTOMATIC REAR WINDOW. DEALSHIP STATED THAT NO ADJUSTMENT COULD BE MADE, AND THATS ITS NORMAL ON THIS MODEL. *AK
GAS GUAGE CONTINUOUSLY READS LOWER THAN ACTUAL. REPORTS 'E' WHEN 1/4 TANK OF GAS STILL LEFT. RETURNED TO DEALER 4 TIMES AND THEY REPLACED THE "SENDING UNIT" TWICE (AFTER THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG TWICE). STILL NO RESOLUTION. IT'S BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AT APPROX. 500 MILES, AND NOW I…
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GAS GUAGE CONTINUOUSLY READS LOWER THAN ACTUAL. REPORTS 'E' WHEN 1/4 TANK OF GAS STILL LEFT. RETURNED TO DEALER 4 TIMES AND THEY REPLACED THE "SENDING UNIT" TWICE (AFTER THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG TWICE). STILL NO RESOLUTION. IT'S BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AT APPROX. 500 MILES, AND NOW I'M UP TO ABOUT 8000 MILES. I HAVE A 20 GALLON TANK AND AM AVERAGING 20 MILES PER GALLON. HOWEVER, THE GUAGE READS 3/4 AFTER ONLY 50 MILES; 1/2 AFTER 150 MILES; 1/4 AFTER 225 MILES AND 'E' AFTER 180-190 MILES. *AK
DRIVER RIGHT REAR CORNER WAS MISSING A BOLT WHICH SECURES THE DRIVER SEAT TO THE FLOOR. IN EVENT OF ACCIDENT IF SEAT MOVED FORWARD IT MAY HAVE CAUSED INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
CONSUMER WAS SITTING IN VEHICLE WHEN SHE PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE WITH FOOT ON BRAKES, AND SUDDENLY VEHICLE WAS MOVING FULL THROTTLE AHEAD. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE, EXITING THE GARAGE ON THE OTHER SIDE, THEN WENT THROUGH A 4 1/2 FT. DROP TO THE LOWER YARD AND THEN 25 FEET BEFORE STOPPING. VEHICLE IS AT JEFFERY BUICK, NISSAN…
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CONSUMER WAS SITTING IN VEHICLE WHEN SHE PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE WITH FOOT ON BRAKES, AND SUDDENLY VEHICLE WAS MOVING FULL THROTTLE AHEAD. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE, EXITING THE GARAGE ON THE OTHER SIDE, THEN WENT THROUGH A 4 1/2 FT. DROP TO THE LOWER YARD AND THEN 25 FEET BEFORE STOPPING. VEHICLE IS AT JEFFERY BUICK, NISSAN, IN ROSEVILLE---810-285-3166 (JEF), CLAIM # 7570. *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.
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
1EA00014 · 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.