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: 10 of 20 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.
Air Bags. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
20 reports
35,000 miles · May 8, 2004
Equipment
THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULDN'T COOL, THERE IS FREON LEAKING OUT SOMEWHERE. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG UNTILL THE WARRANTY RAN OUT, NOW THEY SAID THERE IS A LEAK.*AK WE HAD A WELL KNOWN NAMED GARAGE LOOK AT THE MERCURY VILLAGER AND SAID THAT FORD HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER LEAKAGE FROM LINES UNDER TH…
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THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULDN'T COOL, THERE IS FREON LEAKING OUT SOMEWHERE. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG UNTILL THE WARRANTY RAN OUT, NOW THEY SAID THERE IS A LEAK.*AK WE HAD A WELL KNOWN NAMED GARAGE LOOK AT THE MERCURY VILLAGER AND SAID THAT FORD HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER LEAKAGE FROM LINES UNDER THE VEHICLE. THEREFORE FORD SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM SINCE ITS A PROBLEM FROM THE FACTORY. THE MERCURY IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD, MY OTHER VEHICLE IS 5 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT. THIS SHOULD BE FIXED UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY SINCE THEY KNOWN THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND ITS ONE REASON FORD STOPPED MAKING THE VILLAGER SINCE THEY WERE HAVING FAILURES. ALSO WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER WINDOW ROLLING UP AND DOWN, HAVE IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED AND THE PROBLEM HAS WORSENED . NOW THE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL DOWN OR UP.
NHTSA ODI #10068505
28,000 miles · Feb 27, 2004
Service Brakes, Air
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT LEFT REAR WHEEL LOCKING UP AND DAMAGING THE TIRE. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH AND THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OUT OF CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH ABS BRAKE SYSTEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10060965
35,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
BOUGHT CAR SEPT 01 AND AIRCONDITIONING FAILED BEFORE THE SECOND SUMMER AFTER PURCHASE. I CALLED DEALER JAN 03 AND WAS TOLD AIR WOULDN'T WORK IF OUTSIDE TEMP WAS BELOW 60. RETURNED IN APRIL WITH SAME COMPLAINT, BUT MILEAGE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. COST TO REPAIR WILL BR $669. PLUS TAX.
NHTSA ODI #10069522
13,780 miles · Nov 13, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE WHEN BRAKING, AND THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AT 13,780. CONSUMER STATED THAT AT 28,000 THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10047938
Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2003
Seats
CENTER ROW SLIDING BUCKET SEAT (PASSENGER SIDE) DOES NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM 6 TIMES (2 TIMES TO SALINAS DEALERSHIP AND 4 TIMES TO SEASIDE DEALERSHIP) W/O HAVING IT SUCCESSFULLY REPAIRED. THE SEAT WILL APPEAR LATCHED, BUT IS NOT TRULY ENGAGED. WITH AN OCCUPANT IN THE SEAT IT WILL…
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CENTER ROW SLIDING BUCKET SEAT (PASSENGER SIDE) DOES NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM 6 TIMES (2 TIMES TO SALINAS DEALERSHIP AND 4 TIMES TO SEASIDE DEALERSHIP) W/O HAVING IT SUCCESSFULLY REPAIRED. THE SEAT WILL APPEAR LATCHED, BUT IS NOT TRULY ENGAGED. WITH AN OCCUPANT IN THE SEAT IT WILL SLIDE FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE CENTER SEAT OCCUPANT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER. THIS DEFECT WAS THERE FROM THE BEGINNING, NOTICED AFTER WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. IT DID NOT DEVELOP OVER TIME, SO THE INCIDENT DATE WILL REFLECT THE PURCHASE DATE OF THE VEHICLE. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10021028
Mileage unknown · May 23, 2003
Structure
THE HOOD AND DOOR CONTAINED A LOT OF SPACE ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10020514
Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2003
Suspension
WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED 50-60 MILES MPH THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY VIBRATED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10012072
Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO FLOOR MOMENTARILY AND POP BACK UP. ALSO LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID IS OCCURRING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND IS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. *AK WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, THERE WILL BE NO BRAKE, BUT IN A MATTER OF SECONDS THE PEDAL POPS UP AND THE VEHICLE GOES ON ABS MODE. *YH
NHTSA ODI #8006941
Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 2001
Suspension
WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN BETWEEN 50-70 MPH EXTREME VIBRATION OCCURS, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF VEHICLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8000844
Mileage unknown · Dec 26, 2000
Seat Belts
WHILE TAKING SEATBELT OFF BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. *AK BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY WHILE REMOVING. *YH
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE THE PLASTIC TRIM COVER AROUND THE BASE OF THE FRONT SEAT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE TRAPPED BETWEEN THE SHOULDER OF THE RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE BOLT AND THE SEAT PEDESTAL. THIS COULD EVENTUALLY ALLOW THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE BOLT TO LOOSEN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE OCCUPANT SEATED IN THAT LOCATION MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY ATTACHMENT. SOME BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES MAY REQUIRE REPLACEMENT.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2001 Mercury Villager Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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