Model year record

1999 Mercury Villager

4 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 252 owner complaints on file.

Mercury Villager, 1993–2002 generation
Pictured: the 1993–2002 generation. DestinationFearFan, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 00V292001

Steering: rack and pinion

Component
Steering: rack and pinion
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
67,200
Reported to NHTSA
2000-10-10
Owners notified
2000-11-28

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. ONE OR MORE OF THE FIVE BOLTS THAT MOUNT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR TO THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY TIGHTENED.

Safety risk

THERE COULD BE A LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING, WHICH MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY NOISE OR VIBRATION.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES AND, IF THE BOLTS ARE MISSING, WILL REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLTS. ALL BOLTS WILL BE TIGHTENED TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 28, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Recall campaignNHTSA 99V347001

Exterior lighting: tail lights

Component
Exterior lighting: tail lights
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
41,891
Reported to NHTSA
1999-12-10
Owners notified
2000-01-19

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS. THE TAIL LIGHT SOCKET MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MOLDED, RESULTING IN THE LOCKING TAB HAVING INSUFFICIENT FORCE TO RETAIN THE BULB.

Safety risk

IF THE BULB FALLS OUT OF THE SOCKET, THE BRAKE OR TAIL LAMP FUNCTION CANNOT OCCUR.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TAIL LAMP SOCKETS.

Recall campaignNHTSA 99V205001

Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mounting

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mounting
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
2,785
Reported to NHTSA
1999-08-03
Owners notified
1999-08-10

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THE FUEL TANK RETENTION STRAP (TWO STRAPS PER VEHICLE) CAN BREAK AT THE SPOT WELDS CAUSING AN UNDERBODY RATTLE.

Safety risk

THERE IS ALSO A POTENTIAL FOR FUEL TANK SEPARATION OR FUEL LEAK, INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK RETENTION STRAPS.

Recall campaignNHTSA 99V056001

Seats

Component
Seats
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
2,012
Reported to NHTSA
1999-03-30
Owners notified
1999-05-17

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY HAVE A SECOND ROW RIGHT HAND SIDE CAPTAIN CHAIR THAT HAS INADEQUATE LUBRICATION OF THE EASY ENTRY AND EXIT LATCH SYSTEM. IN SOME CASES, THE ACTUATOR SPRING IN THE LATCH COULD DEFORM AFTER REPEATED USE, CAUSING THE LATCH TO REMAIN IN THE UNLATCHED POSITION. IF THIS OCCURS, THE SEAT WILL SLIDE FREELY ON THE SEAT TRACK AND THE SPRINGS ON THE TRACK WILL MOVE THE SEAT TO THE EASY ENTRY POSITION TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE.

Safety risk

AN UNLATCHED SEAT TRACK COULD RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT TRACK FOR THE SECOND ROW RIGHT HAND SIDE CAPTAIN'S CHAIR, WHICH INCLUDES THE EASY ENTRY AND EXIT LATCH MECHANISM.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal5553,000 mi
Vehicle speed control3355,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission9140,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights643,000 mi
Seats5—
Steering: rack and pinion548,000 mi
Suspension: front5—
Tires: tread/belt556,000 mi
Air bags: frontal453,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline4—
Equipment4—
Exterior lighting: brake lights4—
Exterior lighting: tail lights45,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling3—
Exterior lighting: turn signal3—
Fuel system, gasoline3105,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly3—
Fuel system, other3—
Power train3—
Service brakes, hydraulic342,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip335,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc3—
Structure: body: door3—
Suspension3—
Tires320,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: linkages3—
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer3—
Electrical system2—
Electrical system: wiring243,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers2—
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system239,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch2—
Seat belts: front: retractor2—
Seat belts: rear/other245,000 mi
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar2—
Steering: hydraulic power assist system2—
Structure242,000 mi
Suspension: front: springs: air suspension: lines and fittings2—
Unknown or other2—
Child seat1—
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery1—
Electrical system: horn1—
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood1—
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash1—
Engine168,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine1145,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control1—
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner1—
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.1—
Exterior lighting1—
Exterior lighting: turn signal: switch1—
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: injectors155,015 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap1110,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system140,000 mi
Interior lighting157,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages157,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: tailgate: latch1—
Parking brake: driveline: hydraulic1—
Power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch1—
Seat belts168,000 mi
Seat belts: rear/other: buckle assembly1—
Seat belts: front: webbing1—
Seats: front assembly: recliner1—
Seats: mid/rear assembly167,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum: drum184,079 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist1—
Steering130,000 mi
Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)1—
Structure: body: bumpers1—
Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments1—
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate1—
Structure: body: tailgate1—
Structure: body: trunk lid1—
Structure: frame and members1—
Tires: sidewall120,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: cables1—
Visibility142,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: fan/motor155,015 mi
Visibility: windshield1—
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: switch/wiring1—
Wheels110,000 mi

The 1998 model has 3 times as many complaints as this one. The 2000 model has 3 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Other Mercury Villager model years

All Mercury Villager recalls by year

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.