Model year record

1995 Mercury Villager recalls & problems

The 1995 Mercury Villager has 3 safety recalls and 367 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (101 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints367filed by owners

Crashes · fires26 · 7reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths23 · 3reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Fuel system, gasolineJan 2, 2001

Storage › Tank assembly

Recall 00V419002394,000 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VENT HOSE.

Exterior lightingAug 17, 1998

Tail lights

Recall 96V25300372,940 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: THE REAR LAMP SOCKET MAY NOT ILLUMINATE BECAUSE THE METAL CAN IN THE LAMP SOCKET MOVES OR SEPARATES FROM THE PLASTIC SOCKET HOUSING.
Risk: THIS CAN RESULT IN MALFUNCTION OF THE STOP OR REAR RUNNING LAMPS. CENTER HIGH MOUNT STOP LAMP FUNCTION IS UNAFFECTED. REAR LAMP MALFUNCTION CAN RESULT IN FOLLOWING DRIVERS NOT BEING ALERTED TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLE'S PRESENCE OR INTENDED ACTIONS, PARTICULARLY IN THE CASE IN WHICH BOTH LAMPS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED REAR LAMP SOCKET AND WIRING ASSEMBLIES.

SeatsJun 3, 1996

Seats

Recall 96V0890016,600 vehicles

Problem: AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION CONDITION IN THE SEAT CABLE ROLLER PULLEY ASSEMBLY CAN ALLOW THE CABLE THAT CONNECTS THE SEAT ADJUST LEVER TO THE LATCH TO BE PINCHED IN THE ROLLER ASSEMBLY.
Risk: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THIS CONDITION CAN PREVENT THE LATCH ON THE LEFT SIDE FROM FULLY ENGAGING THE SEAT RAIL. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT OF FMVSS NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS."
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE A COMPONENT IN THE THIRD ROW SLIDING BENCH SEAT LATCH ASSEMBLY.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

1995 Mercury Villager Van

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Villager FWD Van

18mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,700/year to fuel

Villager FWD Wagon

18mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,700/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline	101	4	4	6	95,000 mi
Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly; Delivery	79	0	1	0	98,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components	53	4	0	5	—
Seat beltsFront › Retractor; Front	43	4	0	7	92,000 mi
VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer; Windshield	24	1	0	1	—
Exterior lightingTail lights; Brake lights	23	0	0	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Driveline › Constant velocity joint	22	0	0	0	91,123 mi
StructureBody › Door; Body › Door › Hinge and attachments	20	0	0	1	—
SuspensionFront; Front › Springs › Coil springs	16	2	0	0	—
Air bagsFrontal	15	10	0	5	—
Vehicle speed controlLinkages; Cruise control	11	2	1	0	—
SeatsFront assembly › Recliner; Front assembly › Power adjust	11	2	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Fuel/propulsion system
THERE IS A VERY BAD FUEL SMELL INSIDE THE VAN!
Nov 22, 2016 · 198,000 miles
Fuel/propulsion system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY VILLAGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED STRONG FUEL FUMES FROM OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE SMELL WAS AFFECTING THE CONTACT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V419002 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Mar 5, 2014 · 150,000 miles
Engine and engine coolingFire
I HAVE A 1995 MERCURY VILLAGER. ON 6/6/08 I HEARD A NOISE AND SAW AND PUFF OF SMOKE. I WENT TO CHECK IT AND SAW NOTHING. I DROVE IT HOME AND THE NEXT MORNING THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE PASSENGER DOOR WERE BURNED UP. THE ENTIRE INSIDE WAS COVERED IN SMOKE. THE CAR WOULD NOT START, AND THE MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS WOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR CONSIDERING IT'S AGE AND CONDITION. *TR
Jun 6, 2008 · 180,000 miles
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY VILLAGER. WHILE IDLING, THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT COMING FROM THE FRONT VENTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 163,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000. UPDATED 02-14-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED IN 2001, FOR THE SAME PROBLEM SHE EXPERIENCED, HOWEVER HER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. UPDATED .
Jan 12, 2007 · 155,000 miles
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY VILLAGER. IN FEBRUARY OF 2001, THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING GASOLINE. ON AUGUST 8, 2007, SHE NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM HER VEHICLE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE LEAKING CONTINUED UNTIL THE FUEL LEVEL WAS LOWER THAN THE FILLER TUBE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. SAFETY RECALL NUMBER 00V419002 (FUEL SYSTEM: GASOLINE: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY) DOES NOT APPLY TO THE VEHICLE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,829 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,441.
Aug 8, 2007 · 43,441 miles
Vehicle speed controlFire
MY MERCURY VILLAGER WHILE LOCK IN MY GARAGE AND DOOR LOCK WE SMELL SMOKE OUTSIDE OF GARAGE WE HAD NOT USED THE GARAGE EXCEPT WEEK AGO WE FOUND THE WINDOW CRACK FRONT ALSO VENTS FRONT WERE ALL MELTED MOST DAMAGE IS LOCATED BEHIND THE HEATER AND RADIO ALSO NEAR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THAT PART OF THE DASH WAS ALSO BURNT ALL THE WINDOWS WERE ALSO FULLY CLOSED! WE CALLED THE POLICE THEY HAD NO SIGNS OF FORCE ENTRY THEY ALSO DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED INSIDE DASH BETWEEN THE HEATER CONTROL AND THE RADIO. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN SERVICE OR HAD ANY ITEM REPAIR OR REPLACED AS LONG AS WE OWN THE VEHICLE. *TR
May 25, 2007 · 13,000 miles
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING THE 1995 MERCURY VILLAGER HE ATTEMPTED TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF BUT COULD NOT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE KEYS OUT THE IGNITION, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN WITHOUT THE KEY BEING IN THE IGNITION. IN ORDER TURN OFF THE POWER OF THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT HAD TO DISCONNECT THE DISTRIBUTOR WIRE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE BOTH 129434.*AK
Mar 13, 2007 · 129,434 miles
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART AFTER REVERSING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN DRIVE PRIOR TO THE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE END OF THE CRANKSHAFT SNAPPED OFF AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 9/20/2006 - *NM
Aug 29, 2006 · 92,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

FUEL TANK VENT HOSE LEAKAGEClosed
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…
EA00014 · opened May 22, 2000 · closed Jan 4, 2001
UNEXPECTED OPENING ON SLIDING DOORClosed
There is no summary currently available
SQ00008 · opened May 12, 2000 · closed Apr 1, 2002
FUEL TANK VENT HOSE LEAKAGEClosed
There is no summary currently available
PE99077 · opened Dec 28, 1999 · closed May 22, 2000
FUEL RAIL HOSE FITTING LEAKAGEClosed
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.
EA99015 · opened Jun 29, 1999 · closed Apr 18, 2001
FUEL RAIL HOSE FITTING LEAKAGEClosed
SINCE SEPTEMBER 1998, ODI HAS RECEIVED SEVEN COMPLAINTS OF FUEL ODOR OR LEAKAGE IN 1994 THROUGH 1995 MERCURY VILLAGER VEHICLES.FOUR OF THE LEAKS HAVE BEEN TRACED TO A SHORT SECTION OF HOSE THAT CONNECTS THE FUEL SUPPLY TUBE TO THE REAR OF THE FUEL RAIL.INFORMAITON CONTAINED IN THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE, WITH SEVERAL OWNERS ALLEGING MULTIPLE DEALER SERVICE REPAIRS.ADVANCED COMPRESSION SET IS EVIDENT IN A HOSE REMOVED FROM THE MOST RECENT COMPLAINT VEHICLE.
PE99013 · opened Feb 9, 1999 · closed Jun 29, 1999
BATTERY EXPLOSIONSClosed
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.
EA96005 · opened May 30, 1996 · closed May 29, 1997