1993 MERCURY Villager

The largest two concerns I have had with this van that as I have researched the net, subscribed to newsgroups is:1. during hot weather the fuel system shuts down, the van is left to cool down before restarting.2. exhaust studs on front and rear manifold warp due to poor engineering, breaking and costing up to 3000 in repairs.The exhaust stud issue is clearly a “manufacturers” issue and a “recall” of all vans with issue should be addressed. I have had to repair this issue two times in the past 4 years. I was wondering if you know of any compensation packages from Ford and if not there should be a case started regarding this issue. The repair facility that fixed my exhaust maqnifold said at the time they had repaired 12 villagers in 6 months with the same issue!

Exhaust manifold studs breaking off.Checked prior to repair by calling a local Ford dealer and also on the Internet, to see if there was a recall on this as it is an extensive repair and very expensive to repair. Could not find an official recall from Ford, but found numerous websites and complaints and concerns from owners, nationally, as well as internationally, of the 1993 Mercury Villager who have experienced this exact problem.

Door locks lock without warning and lock when trying to unlock them. Rear driver side lights have been replaced, soldered numerous times and light intermittently works then doesn\’t when bulb is good.

Brake fuse continuously blow or short causing non-illuminating when brakes are applied. tt

Diffiuculty shifting from park to reverse. *sd

Transmission slipping. *sd

Tire tread separation causes vehicle to pull.

Driver could not turn off ignition with key/had to pull the coil wire. *ak

Battery exploded when ignition was turned on, leaking acid onto engine. *aw

Automatic transmission failure. *ak

Motorbelt inoperative.

Brake lights have failed due to a chafed wiring harness in the tailgate, causing a short.

Fire near heater control resistor. *sd

Air conditioner motor sends acid burning odor through vents. *sd

Heater motor sends acid burning odor through vents. *sd

Spare tire dropped from storage compartment while vehicle was moving, then fell off cable holding it in place.

Abs continued to pulsate after foot was removed from brake pedal. *dsh

Leaf gauard need installing (recall), few days after recall work done (improperly), feb. 14, 1996, notice smoke in car compartment, due to leaf in the cowell.

Leaves in cowell caused vehicle fire due to poor leaf guard recall repairs.

Noise in heater blower motor. *sd

Noise from rear brakes. *sd

Continous smell of smoke coming from engine. *sd

Vehicle fire, possibly due to dried leaves getting into engine compartment. *dsh

Exhaust manifold pipe connector cracked, causing fumes to enter passenger compartment. *sd

No air intake vent screen, resulting in fire prior to recall, owner not notified of recall.

Throttle pedal sticks, causing sudden acceleration. *sd

Air conditioner gets clogged with debris, from air intake, which causes fire. *dsh

When filling gas, gas would start to leak just before the pump automatic shuts off. if stop filling about 1 gallon short of full, no leak occurs. however, if park car at an incline, gas would leak indicating that fuel filler hose has crack at top. this is similar to an earlier recall for vehicles manufactured on an earlier date. i just noticed this so i do not know whether the failure is in existence since date one of my purchase. i strongly feel that there should be a wider recall for this vehicle as a fire may result from this.

Water leaks inside vehicle flooding floor boards when a/c is used. *aw

Owner notice engine beginning to drag on the ground, car was still capable of operating. transverse structural member beneath the radiator which supports the front end of the engine support beam failed and allowed engine to tilt forward. attach bracket for support beam tore through the structural member. serious potential for snagging the front end of the engine support beam on a road hazard and forcing the front end of the car up in the air thus rolling the engine aft under the vehicle with loss of control. transverse beam was partially corroded however metal thickness and strength of this component appears to be inadequate. pictures available. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 1993 mercury villager. the contact stated that the brake lights have failed for two years and several unsuccessful attempts have been made to diagnose and repair the vehicle. the mechanic replaced the bulbs, fuse, and brake light switch, however, the failure remains. on september 14, 2007, the brake lights were replaced, but failed again on september 17, 2007. the dealer stated that there were no recalls on her vehicle. the contact can provide invoices. the fuel system was unavailable. the approximate failure mileage was 95,000 and current mileage was 138,000. updated 01/09/08. *lj updated 12/12/07 *tr

Tl* - the contact called regarding the 1993 mercury villager. the contact was traveling under 30 mph when the vehicle decelerated, it seemed as though the vehicle was not getting gas. the contact had to keep the vehicle in first gear. the contact smelled something burning and turned off the heater. she turned the ignition off, and smoke came from under the hood. the flames were on the passenger's side near the engine. the contact put the fire out with a fire extinguisher. there were no injuries. the contact stated she smelledgas for months. she had the emissions checked, and they did not find a problem. the contact will take pictures of the vehicle. *ak

I purchased a set of anco winter wiper blades from autozone, for a 93 mercury villager. my wife was driving my daughter to school, and the drivers side wiper blade failed completely, during a serious storm and in heavy traffic. my wife was completely blinded, all she could do to maneuver to the side of the road. wiper blades had been on the car less than a week. received no satisfaction from autozone, store representative refused to consider blatant defect in manufacturing. tried to convince me that my wife must have been driving recklessly or something to that effect. this had catastrophe written all over it, anco makes these blades in mexico. i don't understand how a corporation can place profit above the safety of family. *jb

Three exhaust manifold bolts on the front, and three more on the rear are broken off, with a increasingly more loud sound coming from under the hood. i believe they are aware of this defect in these vans, but require the owner to shoulder the payment of this expensive repair. this problem is very evident in the 1993 model year of the mercury villager and the nissan quest. *nm

1993 mercury villager developed problems with the transmission.***no answer required***. *mr the consumer's vehicle was parked and off when it jumped out of gear and rolled over the consumer's leg causing residual nerve damage after the initial compound fracture to her tibia bone. the consumer contacted the manufacturer but they assume no responsibility. *nm

The motorized seatbelts in the passenger and driver seats stopped working. the passenger seatbelt motor started smoking and we had to shut down the motor by taking off the panel and unplugging the fuse.

Purchased a 1993 mercury villager from mzn auto sales on january 28, 2005. was driving down the highway on may 19th, heard a loud noise and people were yelling to pull over that my van was on fire, both sides in flames. come to find out, there was a recall on this vehicle for fuel related fires and we were not notified by the owner of mzn auto sales of any recalls. they have our van in their possession at this time.

Consumer concern about what type of accident you must have for the air bags to deploy properly. *bf the consumer stated he was involved in a head on collision and only the passenger side air bag deployed. *jb

1993 ford mercury villager v6 3.0l sohc having seat belt guide rail problems function is irradic and noisey. spoke with mercury customer service dept and after providing them with the recall number (92v133002) which is provided by nhtsa. they expln that this is not a recall number and there is no recall for this vehicle. i spoke with monique and her supervisor akalya. *ak

While turning at any speed consumer heard a knocking noise coming from the front end. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak

Bad factory design leads to exhaust manifold studs breaking. thus causing expensive, undue repairs. ford is unwilling to assist customers who experience this problem, but it is a known defect with the engine. *ak more information can be found at: http://www.cartrackers.com/forums/live/minivansenthusiastdiscussiongroup/169.html

Exhaust manifold studs breaking off. checked prior to repair by calling a local ford dealer and also on the internet, to see if there was a recall on this as it is an extensive repair and very expensive to repair. could not find an official recall from ford, but found numerous websites and complaints and concerns from owners, nationally, as well as internationally, of the 1993 mercury villager who have experienced this exact problem.

Studs on exhaust manifold sheared off. caused exhaust fumes to enter passenger compartment sicking passengers. also caused a loud noise like a exhaust leak. mechanic said had seen this on several other villagers.*ak

I am the owner of a '93 mercury villager. i have had to have several of my head bolts replaced due to broken bolts causing my head gasket to leak and cause my engine to overheat. i am not the only person with this particular problem, there are many of us seeking an explanation. for more information you can visit cartrackers.com and you will find many upset owners of both nissan quest and mercury villagers (same motors) with same problem.*ak

Exhaust manifold bolts have broken and exhaust is backing up into the cabin. my mechanic owns a villager and told me that this is a common problem and that the dealer is the only one who can fix it. i have done some on-line research and it appears that this is very common and could possibly be a manufacturing defect. *jb

While driving vehicle was involved in a minor collision. then, vehicle caught on fire without warning. *ak

The two outside exhaust manifold bolts on the both the front and back were broken. this caused exhaust fumes to enter the cabin.*ak

The headlight lens covers degraded excessively and turned gray/opaque, which made it very difficult to see the road while traveling at night. *jb nissan and fords plastic headlight, fade and turn amber which restricted the light output and has to be changed every three months. the consumer requested glass to alleviate the problem. *scc

The plastic headlamp plastic faded and reduced light output which is dangerous for night driving. *jb *scc

Though our vehicle is exhibiting the exact symptoms listed under the recall (95c222001), lincoln maintains that our vehicle is not a candidate for that recall. the defect summary says we would smell burning odors when using the heater, which we do. ph **dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut over to artemis**770832

This is about my 1993 mercury villager. after viewing your site, it appears that the problem with my car is widespread. the bolts that connect the manifold to the engine block sheared off. i had the repair done in may of 1998 and also contacted the lincoln mercury division of ford. i even sent them two of the sheared bolts. since that time, the bolts on the front manifold have sheared. i never even received an acknowledgement from ford in response to my letter. the engine now is very noisy and i brought it in to my muffler mechanic about 3 weeks ago and he noted the sheared bolts on the front of the manifold. i would like to know whether nhtsa is doing anything about this or whether you are aware of any success with ford in getting this problem taken care of. it is potentially dangerous.

The vehicles front calipers are locking up states consumer. while driving at 20 mph the rpm's are higher than normal. please provide any further information. ts

Engine power surges, shoulder belt would not release

Bolts broke off causing the manifold to leak exhaust fumes and engine became noisy.

Consumer states that vehicle's fumes were escaping inside the vehicle. dealer stated that exhaust manifold has developed a leak. please provide additional information. ts

Consumer was involved in an accident where the seat belts failed to release. it was not until after the accident that consumer learned of the seat belt recall. *jg

Please add details. ts the vehicle was parked in the park position on a slight slope. the consumer was installing a car seat when he vehicle started rolling backwards. the consumer was thrown out of the vehicle then run over by the back tire. the consumers right leg was injured. child still in the van as it continued to roll. the consumer noticed play in the ignition and lock on the column. the consumer stated that the ignition switch either may or may not click depending on how far the key was turned. the consumers bone popped out causing a lot of bleeding and children are still scarred by the accident. *tc

A light came on, on the dash board. then i shut off the engine and opened the hood. the cooling fan was smoking badly and all major wiring in the main electrical were melted to bare wiring. if the circuit fuse had not blown and the light come on, the vehicle could have caught on fire.

A metal bracket that is welded to the chasis, which holds the rack and pinion together broke. this almost caused a crash because driver could not steer van to the left. also, there is fogging of the windshield at any time of the day.

While driving on expressway, tail pipe caught on fire, burned through rear floor of interior cabin and ignited an umbrella. mr

Exhaust manifold studs continue to break, allowing exhaust fumes to escape catalytic converter and enter compartment. *aka repetative pattern failure of the studs securing the exhaust manifold to the engine occurs regularly. consumer feels the exhaust which can be smelled inside of the vehicle is a health hazard there by affecting the drivers ability to maintain control of the vehicle. *jg

In oct0ber of 2001 consumer had filler vent hose replaced as part of a recall, but remedy did not work, and fuel was leaking again. *ak

While driving 30mph noticed that seatbelt bolt dropped through and ended up on tire. *ak

Intermittently steering in any direction causes vehicle to stall. no indication lights illuminate on dashboard. vehicle will restart after stalling. there is no way to detect when vehicle will stall. dealer has tried different repairs, and problem still exists. *ak *tt

Bolts continually break on manifold exhaust system. contacted dealer, and dealer indicated a problem with bolts on exhaust manifold. tsb # 98-10-14. *ak

Brake lights were not working. at first, one of the lights was not working; then, both lights went out. consumer had an accident due to this problem. contacted dealer, and dealer was not willing to do any work on it.*ak

While driving smell of intensive gas filled the vehicle. took to dealer. also took to mechanic. please provide any further information.*ak

Four bolts on engine manifold have prematurely broken off, this would eventually cause exhaust system to separate from vehicles frame. *ak consumer stated that all 8 bolts on exhaust manifold were replaced at dealer, mechanics and service personnel told him that its common, particular to 93 villagers. consumer said the problem is lapping again at 95000 miles, since this is a defect consumer is asking for compensation. *yd

Leaves and debris build in dashboard caused a fire. took vehicle to dealer.*ak

Vehicle was in front-end accident at 50mph, air bag did not deploy. please describe. *ak

Harmonic balancer fell off truck while driving 35 mph. once occurrig lost all power/accessories, including brakes and steering. please describe details. *ak

Battery explosions original equipment, the battery exploded when the consumer was starting the vehicle, resulting in a fire. ea99-005. *ak

Vehicle side door makes loud noise. *ak

Abs, brake intermittent failure, pedal goes the floor and makes a noise and complete loss of brakes.

Purchased truck new, there is an electrical problem, sometimes cd is playing in go off mode, heat switch is off when driving somtimes comes on. *ak

Upon starting, battery exploded, disfiguring hood, spraying acid over entire engine. please describe details. *ak

Transmission slippage, causing loss of acceleration power. *ak

An electrical short caused the battery to explode after starting the vehicle. please describe.

#95v222001, consumer was driving and truck caught on fired received recall letter regarding defogger-defroster failure. please describe . *ak

Consumer can not turn air conditioner on with out blower front assembly making noise . tt

Driver and passenger side door impact beams became detached from welds. tt beams became detached at rear of door.*jb

The abs system does not work well.please describe. tt

Brake system failure, dealer replaced master cylinder, but problem is still there. tt

The driver and passenger side seat belt retractors aren't retracting back right . tt

While driving rack and pinion steering went out. please describe details. tt

Front blower assembly caught fire, dealer replaced assembly. tt consumer states did not catch fire just a burning smell, then switch would only work on position 4.*jb

Rear brake light/running lights overheat melting circuit. parts aren't available which causes concern. please describe details. tt

Mfg 95s27 nhtsa 95v222; westwood lincoln mercury-nj not sure when parts will be sent. please describe details. tt

Vehicle caught on fire while parked.possible intake/heater air due to leaves. tt

No parts and they will not order it either. please describe. tt

There has been smoke present from the front blower assembly. tt vehicle experienced transmission leak on several occasions, dealer finally replaced the front axle, shaft, and boots and seal, transmission also slipping and jerking, lubricated front cv joint due to noises coming from front. vehicle idles too fast/rough, dealer set idle speeds, poor fuel economy, dealer repired vacuum lines, fuel shield attaching part broke, exhaust leak, dealer replaced muffler and resonator. water leak at back glass, trim missing. noise in ac and heater, dealer removed material from blower housing, dealer finally replaced blower motor. right door lock inoperable. trim loose on inner fender. missing panel under glove box. brake noise in rear, front brake pads and front rotors have been replaced. *slc

Turn on the heat and air conditioner on there is a smoke smell never had a fire . tt

Temperature 50 degrees when rear back door window emploded resulting in glass flying outward. please describe details. *ak

Vehicle parked with engine running fire developed under the hood. tt

When putting on the blower there is a strong burning smell of leaves. tt *jb

Fire started in heater core area burning entire vehicle. tt

Possible fire in front blower assembly; interior of vehicle filled with smoke; caused by leaves filling up assembly; overheated; installed sop screen. tt

On three occasions, while driving, transmission broke in half and had to be replaced. please describe. *ak

While the vehicle was idling it burst into flames from the engine and from under the van.tt *jb

W/abs brakes; front brake rotors warp with low mileage accumulation in between. please describe details. tt

The exhaust system has bad odor smell fumes inside vehicle. tt consumer states smell is so bad it makes him sick to his stomach. *slc

#pe95-037 the front blower when turned on there is smoke smell . tt

Abs; when applying the brakes the back brakes grind. please describe details. tt

Underdash fire started while driving; leaves may have gotten in close to heater blower. tt *jb

Failure of the throttle the throttle is sticking. tt

On three occasions the power driver side seat track doesn't work right when using . tt

While engine was running in park or neutral vehicle engaged in drive in attempt to stop vehicle while in garage owner was hurt. please describe details. tt

There is a burning odor in the vehicle when the heater/defogger is turn on. tt

Smoke coming from dash vehicle caught on fire underneath the hood. tt

Gas fumes coming out of the air conditioner, when in operation. tt

The vehicle caught fire on two different occasions, cause was related to something under the dash, and smoke thru the heat vents. tt

Pe-95-037 active, fan blower motor replace, smeel of burning plastic. tt

Anti-theft device, causing vehicle in gear lurch forward with ignition off and key out ignition ( eltro lock after makt device). tt

Pe95-037 active, when air condition is on smell of burning out of the fan blower. tt

Consumer was driving car parked it cut off went back to start it up smoke came out of the air conditioner vent . tt

The vehicle caught on fire from trash getting into the vent and blower. please describe. tt

When started vehicle, it began to smoke; when hood was lifte it was still smoking. tt

Smells like rubber burning in the passenger compartment. tt

Passsenger's side window did not close at all. *ak

Replaced burned out grill lights twice. *ak

Van had an exhaust lerak. *ak

Noisy abs brakes. *ak

Have experienced smoke from the blower motor. please describe. tt

After morning start up, smell of something burning appears; goes away after several minutes. tt

Strong burning smell when blower is on. tt

Real bad odor of burning leaves when turn on motor. tt

Smelled odor coming from vents, possible leaves trapped in vent system, dealer said resister array burnt out, blower motor only runs on high speed. tt

There was smoke coming from the ventilation . tt

When using one of adjustments for blower, owner noticed burning smell. please describe details. tt

Had to replace blower because it had leaves in it and had a burning smell. tt

Notice burning smell coming from vents, when air conditioner turned on, due to leaf trapped in blower. tt

Upon starting original maintenance-free battery exploded, for no apparent reason, spewing smoke and battery acid. tt

Fan motor blower heater, smells of burning fumes while driving or when heat is turned on. *ak

While driving a smell or odor of something burning coming from heater fan blower. tt

Consumer was driving when vehicle filled up with smoke, leaves got in the duct system and caused a fire. tt

Consumer lease truck the front brake was replace four times for the rotor and rear was replace once the drum and shoes. tt

Smoke came out of the vents from debris catching on fire in the front blower assembly. please describe. tt

When heat or ac is turned on their is a smell of something burning. tt

The vehicle started to smoke from the front blower assembly section. tt consumer states smelled like fire. *slc

Smell of burning odor whenever air conditioner or heater is on; odor goes away after turning off heater/air conditioner. tt

When coming to stop and idling, engine will speed up causing vehicle to lurch forward; nearly caused accident. tt

Pe95-037 active, fan heater motor blown, heat and air conditioner are on the same time, and smell of burning. tt

On several occasions owner has experienced a burning smell coming through vent system. tt

Vehicle was in for repair burning smell in vehicle, pe95-037 active. tt

Pe95-037 active, when heater is turned on and fan is engaged a smell of something burn in for repair can not be found. tt

Owner has wxperienced on several occasions the smell in the vehicle; the problem has been pinpointed to the vent system as the source of the smell. *ak

Auto smells like a brush fire when auto heat is turned on. tt

Intermittently owner notices burning smell when either a/c or heater used. please describe details. tt

A/c system emits burning odor. tt

On (3) occasions, owner has noticed burning smell when first purchased using a/c. please describe details. tt

Auto smells like something is burning . tt

Burning smell inside vehicle; opened hood, saw no smoke/fire; started vehicle, drove away; smell went away. tt

There was smoke that came into the inside of the car dealer say it came from the leaves. tt

Owner detects burning smell coming from ventillation system. *ak

Automatic transmission failure, vehicle will not go into the reverse gear. tt

Consumer smells a burning under the hood. tt

#pe95-037 when turning the air conditioner and heat car smells like it burning . tt

Passenger's side exterior rear view mirror show object further than they actually are, driver does not know the distance of vehicle in the back. tt

Smells like burning grass while driving down road; sort of scary; smell so heavy, have to keep windows rolled down. tt

Vehicles smoke due to debris in blower area dealer is trying to charge to clear the area. tt

Heat. explain. tt

Heat from the blower resistor(s) may ignite the foreign material and/or adjacent plastic, causing a fire in the vehicle interior. tt

Owner noticed rattling/burning smell occasionally. please describe details. tt

The factory blew up and caused the vehicle not to work. please describe. tt

Turned on heat, smelled burning, burning debris came out and burned mats. tt

While driving vehicle caught on fire.tt

Coming to a 4-way stop antilock brakes failed and went to the floor, stopped only by hitting another car. tt

Driver's side lap belt popped off during accident, resulting in an injury. *ak

Vehicle crash: fuel cut off switch failed. *ak

Crankshaft broke on vehicle. tt

Drivers 3 way switch seat back is operating erratically and pins driver to steering wheel. has been replaced 2 times. tt

Heater was on causing the rear window to shatter. tt

Light came on, rear end gate keeps coming open, dealer tightened and replaced screw, fine for a week, then start coming open again. tt

Leaves collection inside air conditioner blower motor. resulting vehicle fire. tt

When negotiating a turn steering wheel locked up. tt

Warped front brake rotors, causing vehicle to vibrate upon braking. *ak

Vehicle caught fire, ventilation fan started it. tt

Accelerator hard to push down. *ak

Replacrd engine coolant. *ak

Replaced spark plugs. *ak

Noisy brakes. *ak

Consumer leased car there is an eggy smell and burns your eyes have to drive with window down if driving long distance you will get a headache. tt

Brake light fuses are blowing out. tt

Brake fuse continuously blow or short causing non-illuminating when brakes are applied. tt

The fuel throttle linkage accelerator control sticks. tt

On the driver side door steel welds are broken . tt

Gas tank was falling off/ leaking and causing some sparks. bolt to support bracket that holds tank disconnected and almost fell off. tank is lean, and 8 inches away from vehicle. dealer is looking at problem. bolt holding the other side shows no stress or rust signs at this time.*ak

Bolt broke on exhaust manifold. can hear a ticking noise. also, fuel is leaking out though cracks. dealership is aware of problem. *ak

Consumer was at gas station putting gasoline inside of tank and gasoline was leaking from underneath of vehicle. filler hose cracked and was leaking. mechanic at the repair shop told comnsumer that gasoline tank was leaking from seams in addition to leaking from filler hose. *ak fuel tank and vent hose were replaced. *slc

Engine manifold studs and bolts had snapped. was driving & and manifold was making noise, exhaust sound like it was leaking. leak was coming from manifold which is attached to engine. manifold had separated and was causing problems. had taken to dealership in 1999, and had the studs replaced. currently, back at the dealership for the same type of problem. *ak left front axle boots have vibration due to cv boots failure. exhaust manifold studs are broken again and replaced. *yh

Consumer was driving 35-40 mph when another vehicle pulled out and hit consumer's vehicle head-on. passenger's seatback broke, bent forward. then back, breaking passengers toes on right foot, and passenger chipped 40-50 percent of her hip bone. she will be in a wheel chair for 6 months, and may never walk again. vehicle was totalled.*ak *slc

Consumer is concerned about seatbelts that will not hold. dealership is aware of problem.*ak

Ongoing problem with brake light not working properly. vehicle been at an independent repair shop for repairs, but problem has reoccurred. feel free to provide any further details on this matter. *ak

Abs braking system will fail to respond at any given speed, randomly, but is getting worse everytime vehicle is driven. consumer applies full force to brake pedal, there is resistance behind the pedal, but abs fails to engage. consumer stated that previous owner had brake master cylinder recall repaired. please provide any additional information/attachments.*ak

Engine was making a lot of noise. took vehicle to a technician, and he found out engine manifold bolts were broken and lose. engine demaged. *ak

Exhast manifold has a broken stud, causing it to leak exhaust. can hear it spurt out. dealer doesn't give a reason why problem occurs *ak

Inside and outside of vehicle smells like rotten egg. dealer changed exhaust system, and added strawberry air freshner to take smell away. smell makes passengers sick. smell is still there, and no remedy is dtermined.*ak

While consumer was driving fumes from exhaust system entered vehicle. when consumer got home he was feeling sick and went to hospital. contacted dealer, and dealer couldn't do anything about problem. *ak

While driving steering wheel separated, resulting in a collision. vehicle was totalled. *ak

When consumer filled gas tank to full and drove short distance fuel would come pouring out due to defective vent hose.this vehicle is not included in recall 00v419000 due to vin although it has same defect. *ak

Consumer received recall notice 00v419002 - fuel tank vent hose which caused fuel leakage, and resulted in a fire. manufacturer has advised dealer that replacement vent hose was not in stock, and will not be for another couple of months. has not yet provided a specific date for consumer. *ak

Exhaust manifold studs failed prematurely, causing fumes to enter into passenger's compartment.*ak *slc

Recall 00 v 419 002/fuel tank vent hose: malouf lincoln mercury dealer, north brunswick, nj; phone# 732/821-1177 notified, and informed that parts were on national back order, unable to know when parts would be available, seeking help from nhtsa in this matter. *ak *slc

Vehicle was experiencing a delayed in stopping, and pedal going to the floor due to master cyinder failure. manufacturer notified, and informed consumer that vehicle was not cover under a recall. *ak

Both front driver's and passenger's automatic seatbelts motor has burned out, and were totally inoperative, causing loss of protection. *ak *slc

Bolt on exhaust manifold broke second time, causing oil to leak.*ak

Both front automatic seat belts don't retract all the way. it makes a very loud noise when opening the door, retracting to the other end. driver's side has been repaired twice. this is the first time for passenger's side.manufacturer is not offering to do anything because the 5 year warranty has ended.*ak

Brake lamp socket constantly blows out the brake light bulb. dealer has been contacted. *ak

A broken bolt on exhaust manifold is creating excessive amount of fumes and smell of fumes in vehicle. it is possible vehicle will not pass state inspection. please provide further information.*ak

Bolts that connect manifold to engine block have sheared off, causing exhaust to leak into engine compartment. dealer has not seen vehicle. *ak consumer states that when the heating system or air conditioner is in use, the exhaust fumes are drawn into the ventilation system when the failure above occurred. *slc

The vehicle was making a noise & had a exhaust leak.the longer it was driven it got louder & worse. mechanic saw that bolt broke off & engine had to be dropped to get bolt out. probelm has reoccured. consumer has been told there is a plate in there that causes the bolts to snap.*ak

While driving and hit a bump door opened and light came on. it did not come open, but it was loose enough to giggle. consumer has been to dealer 3 times for same problem, dealer kept saying they have adjusted. consumer's side slide door won't open, and this was the second time. consumer has had this problem with door not opening. *ak

Consumer is concerned about gasoline leaking from underneath vehicle, from fuel hose.*ak

Transmission needed to be replaced at 51150 miles. 1 yr later more work with transmission had to be done, possibly due to transmission cooler. *ak transmission failed twice due to faulty cooler and the owner of the vehicle is seeking reimbursment for the transmissiion work. *yh

When tank is full can smell strong gas fumes coming from outside of car. consumer thinks its related to the filler neck.*ak the strong gas fume is caused by deteriorating vent hiose . *yh

Engine manifold bolts broke at the seal between manifold and engine , causing exhaust to flow into the passenger compartment. dealer has not been contacted. *ak

Bolts on exhaust manifold sheared off, causing fuel to leak onto manifold and cooling fan. dealer has been contacted. *ak

When opening the door on the driver's side automatic shoulder belt gets jammed at a point closer to the steering wheel. once the door is closed, the belt retracts back. owner not sure if belt will work in a crash. the system was adjusted in the spring of 1999. a mechainc recommended that the whole system be replaced. dealership was contacted concerning the problem. *ak *ml

Consumer smelled fuel odor when gas tank was closed. dealer has been notified. please provide further information. *ak

Fuel is leaking from the fuel tank . vehicle was inspected by a private mechanic who determined that fuel tank was not cracked. manufacturer has been notified. *ak

While driving the vehicle with doors locked, sliding door will come completely ajar. dealer has not seen vehicle. *ak

Ie98098, exhaust manifold's two bolts snapped off, which could have caused exhaust manifold to drop, resulting in loss of control. please provide further information.*ak

While traveling heard noise from the vehicle. also smelled exhust smell inside the vehicle . drove vehicle to dealer , dealer stated bolts had broken off the exhaust manifold. *ak

Defective rear lame socket malfunctioned, causing the tail lights to go out which may cause crash. common problem. there is a recall for 1994 villager 96v253003 for the same problem but the 1993 villagers are not included. please provide further information. *ak

When traveling consumer noted a noise. contacted the dealer, the dealer determined the cause of the noise was a broken bolt which holds the exhaust to the cylinder head. dealer has yet to replace parts. please provide any further details. *ak

The manifold bolts had broke and fumes entered the vehicle. this caused the driver to be sleepy. the vehicle was making noises. there was no warning regarding the broken bolts. vehicle was taken to dealer for repairs. the fuel pump and the distributor was replaced due to jumping. *jg

The exhaust gas leaks from the vehicle causing a loud noises while driving and fumes entering vehicle. dealer replaced the exhaust manifold bolts. problem still exists. *yc

The front passenger side restraint does not pull out. the dealer has replaced the retractor and the problem still exists. the manufacturer has been notified. *ak

The front passenger restraint belts will not pull out to restrain the occupant. the dealer has replaced the retractor, and the problem still exists. the manufacturer has been notified. *ak

The bolts are breaking off from the exhaust manifold, causing exhaust fumes to come into the passenger's compartment. the dealer has been notified. manufacturer has also been notified. *ak

Engine manifold bolts came off, causing leakage at the exhaust. consumer also notde that one out of four bolts was holding the exhaust system. please provide any further details. *ak

Had taken vehicle for service & mechanic noticed exhaust manifold was cracked. this was due to weak motor mounts. motor mounts have been replaced several times. manufacturer was notified & knew about the mounts. *ak

Vehicle experiencing fuel leakeages from fuel filler neck. manufacturer has been notified. *yc

While driving the vehicle there was a fire under the hood area. this happened without warning. dealer could not determine what caused the fire. the vehicle has not been repaired. *ak

Owner heard a popping noise coming from engine compartment. later on there was a loud exhaust noise followed by exhaust fumes leaking into the vehicle. the bolts that hold the exhaust manifold were found to be broken by technician at dealership. bolts were replaced at owner's expense. please provide any further details. *ak

Vehicle was in park position with engine running for about 3 minutes when it suddenly jumped out of gear into reverse, causing the runaway vehicle to hit a parked vehicle. *ak

Abs braking system malfunctioned due to the abs control unit failure which caused the wheels to lock up and extended stopping distance. please provide further information.*ak

While driving at 65 mph, without prior warning, crankshaft broke in half behind the front pulley. *ak

Rear window exploded when consumer turned on rear window defoggeder; causing shattered glass to blow out, as well as in. dealer notified and informed consumer to contact nhtsa. *ak

While the vehicle was parked in the garage it caught on fire in the electrical storage power distribution compartment. cause unknown. please give any further details. *ak

Bolts that hold the engine manifold broke off while driving, and the consumer smelled fumes coming into the vehicle and from the engine compartment. *ak dealer was contacted but, consumer was responsible for repairs because vehicle had exceeded warranty mileage. *tt

Brake calipers are sticking in the closed position, causing the brakes to overheat, resulting in brake failure. please give any further details. *ak

While the vehicle was parked in the garage it caught on fire in the electrical storage power distribution. cause unknown. please give any further details. *ak

While driving the vehicle could smell strong exhaust fumes because the bolts had sheared near the engine out of place. dealer has been notified. *ak

The studs that hold the exhaust manifold to the engine have come out. repairs done at dealer at owner's expense, same problem occurred shortly afterward. owner must pay full price for another repair to be done by dealer, they are not backing up the product or the previous work done. *ak *ml

Ie98098 exhaust leakage; two of the six bolts that hold the exhaust manifold have popped off. the dealer is aware of the problem. dealer will not correct free of charge. *ak

The plastic connector are broken all around the glove compartment, causing door not to be secured properly. dealer notified and rfused to repair unless cost goes to consumer. *ak

Transmission drop pan bolt fell and would not resecure. dealer/manufacturer notified, and refused to repair unless cost is to the consumer. *ak *slc

When the vehicle was involved in a head on collision, hitting a light pole traveling about 30-35, there was no deployment of the driver's side air bag. the vehicle has been totalled. *ak

Stud which holds the exhaust assembly to the manifold has sheared off, causing fumes to enter into the passenger compartment. consumer has contacted the dealer. please provide any furter details. *ak

While coming to a stop at 15 mph transaxle blew up for no reason. vehicle has been taken to repair shop, and no possible cause has been found. *ak

Passenger's side rear shoulder belt bolts which support the seat shoulder belt have separated where the seat belt is secured, causing the seat belt to be inoperative. consumer has contacted the dealer. please provide any further details. *ak

Electronic shoulder belt connection to door does not work. the relay switch would be making clicking sound. was removed by owner. put old relay switch on & belts working and smoke came under seat. has not taken to dealer yet. *ak

Exhaust manifold was causing fumes to leak into vehicle. driver was dizzy, nauseous & sleepy. took to mechanic & was told a crack was found in the manifold & needed to be replaced. *ak

Intermittently while driving at no particular speed, the vehicle slows down by 30 mph which may cause an accident. cause unknown. been at dealer several times. dealer cannot determine problem. please provde details. *ak

While driving the van driver applied the brakes and there was extended stopping distance which meant that the vehicle would not stop at that time that the brakes was applied. took vehicle to dealer and they replaced the sensors on the brakes, and the brakes are not working. the van still has extended stopping distance. *ak

Exhaust manifold studs are breaking due to design of manifold, causing exhaust to leak, allowing fumes to enter interior of vehicle. vehicle with dealer. removed broken studs, replaced all studs. *ak

Under normal operating conditions vehicle began to lose power. could result in a crash . consequence : crankshaft pulley broke. *ak

The exhaust studs broke, causing the exhaust manifold to crack. the dealer has informed the owner that there is a tsb on these vehicles. *ak

Design problem in exhaust manifold causes weight and stress on bolts both sides of engine . had it replaced 1 time at 47,722 miles; 2nd time 67,000, again at 103.000 miles. dealer said to expect to bring it back again at about 28,000 miles or sooner. *ak

The rear window had a "pop noise" and shattered for no apparent reason which almost caused injuries. *ak *slc

While driving about 35 mph when vehicle was involved in a collision and the air bag did not deploy. the manufacturer has been notified. *ak

Vehicle's rear tail light bulbs are overheating due to a defective socket unit. this caused the rear brake lights to be inoperative. *ak the first failure was repaired by the dealer in warranty. *yh

When taking vehicle in for repair work, mechanic stated that the bolts that hold the manifold to the exhaust system were off and caused a exhaust leak. the problem is being corrected. *ak

Vehicle parked; owner heard a pop; went to look and found rear window shattered in a million pieces; insurance co. repaired window. police was notified. *ak

Upon applying force to the brake pedal will continue to maneuver, causing extended stopping distance and brakes fading away. please provide details. *ak

Upon opening rear tailgate door, plastic tailgate handle cracked, then broke off, door cannot be opened from the outside. *ak

The driver's side door structural beam has broken at the weld point. the door has not been repaired. dealer has been notified of problem. *ak

Rear window shattered twice while vehicle was parked. *ak

When applying the abs brakes in a sudden stop situation, the brake pedal goes to the floor.*ak

Owner has problems with getting out of vehicle, he states that all doors remain locked when trying to exit the vehicle, he notes that when using the manual lock release button there is a resistance of electrical force keeping doors locked. *ak

Driver was smelling gas, took to dealer, dealer indicated it was the seam of the fuel tank and needed to be replaced . *ak

Owner states his battery blew up after he had dealer fix it after getting a recall notice, also the seat belts getting too tight after they are put on. *ak

Electronic console has poor illumination on bright days which is common in his location. console will illuminate brightly only if headlights are used constantly/unable to read speedometer on bright sunny days, to stay within speed limit must take eyes off the road. *ak

Hood latch assembly failed while driving at speed of 65mph, the hood came open, destroying the hood and breaking the windshield. *ak

At 41,000 miles the 4 speed transmission went out . please describe . *ak

Failure on the driver's and passenger's side automatic seat belt control module, the automatic shoulder belts are locked in the retracting position part #f3xy-14a679-a. *ak *slc

Owner has abs brakes, she states that her vehicle does not stop in wet snowy weather, dealer cannot find any problems. *ak

The front doors of the van have side intrusion beams that are no longer connected and are rattling around in the door. they just broke away form the spot weld. *ak

The crankshaft/driveshaft failed (nissan quest was made of steel, ford's was made of cast iron). nlm

The manifold bolts continually break. *mjs

Exhaust manifold bolts or studs were completely broken and the engine makes a hissing and fluttering noise. also emits unsafe exhaust fumes which enter into the interior of the van.

Consumer was driving on the road smelled smoke, pulled over and saw that the muffler was corroded . please describe .*ak

You can start the vehicle at any time with the key but you can not turn off with the key because the ignition switch actuator is broken.*ak

On two ocassions there were two tire that blow outs, there is third one tha tis about to do so. *ak general tires experience tread separations on three different occasions, two of them have caused blowouts causing damage to vehicle, tire size p205/75r15, dot number a3ul43b243. *slc

Automatic door locks automatically, passengers get lock in and out of the vehicle. *et

Sliding door/rear hatch door when closed shake a sif latch assembly is not closing fully. *ak

4 exhaust manifold studs sheared off, creating excessive exhaust leakage and noise. causing exhaust fumes to enter vehicle. *ak

The vehicle suddenly became unsteerable at speed. this was caused by the crankshaft's pulley which came loose due to the crankshaft breaking . this has ruined the crankshaft and requires a new engine installed to repair the vehicle. dt

Exhaust manifold bolts malfunctioned.

Bolts used to secure front and rear manifolds failed.

If the ignition is left in a position between "lock" and "on" the gear shift interlock mechanism doesnt work and the vechcle can be pulled out of gear. normally, the service brake has to be applied in order to shift out of park. contacted ford motor company approx 6 months ago via email- no response.*ak

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

Multiple exhaust manifold stud failure possibly, allowing noxious exhaust fumes to enter passenger compartment. *ak

Manufacturer admitted design problem on nissan 3.0 l motor that was even covered under a goodwill warranty. broken exhaust manifold studs that are now on the 4th revision to the replacement part. this problem causes exhaust fumes to leak into passenger compartment. i have found at least 5 service bulletins addressing the issue on both nissan and mercury vehicles.*ak

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

Doors lock automatically when drivers door is opened from the inside. my grandson, at age 2 was in a child restraint seat while i was locked out. this occurred when it first started happening. because it locks every time i open the door, i have been locked out myself on several occasions. about the same time, my cruise control stopped working also. i feel these electrical problems may be related. also, the lock on the rear hatch does not switch to the locked positon making it necessary to slam the hatch several times before it catches. sometimes i have to manually flip the lock switch to get it to catch. i have been in contact with ford motor co. and the dealership where i have my maintenance work done, to no avail. the dealership will repair at my cost but needs a recall to do otherwise. i e-mailed cbs news a few months ago, after the news coverage aired on 9/7/01 and just discovered your link from cbs website tonight. *ak

Driving through my job's parking lot at 15mph, suddenly there was a loud pop, like something broke. at this time, i proceeded to investigate problem, upon entrying the van and about to preceed driving, the van in question refuses to engage in gear. *ak

The vehicle was recalled for "leaf ingestion". leaves are making their way onto the heating coil and pose a fire hazard. i brought the vehicle in twice for the repair and i still smell burning leaves when i use the heater. i have contacted both the dealer and ford motor company about the on-going problem and both have offered only the original solution. however i believe that the original solution did not resolve the issue. i believe that "leaf ingestion" still is a fire hazard in my vehicle.*ak

Locks continuously when a drivers side door handle (in or out) is touched. *ak

Broken studs on the exhaust manifold led to failure of the oxygen sensor and required hiring a subcontractor to drill out broken studs from the engine block. total cost for repair was $1731. i called ford customer service and was told that this was a failure that should be expected for any car after 76,000 miles. however, searching internet resources indicates that this is a specific defect of mercury villager and nissan quest. over 100 complaints have been filed with nhtsa for 1993 and 1994 villagers. the same search of 1993 dodge caravan, as a similar vehicle with higher sales, yielded no complaints for exhaust manifold failure. according to internet resources, ford lost a legal suit in canada about this problem and is paying for repairs of villagers in canada. ford however, refused to consider this in my case. nissan has apparently changed stud specifications 4 times to achieve a suitable stud that does not break. the criteria listed for a sufficient number of complaints to initiate a recall is vague, but this seems to be an obvious manufacturing defect that merits a recall.

No summary listed for abov evehicle. *ak

Door locks are failing and locking automatically. *ak

This is a known problem with all mercury villager vans allowing exhaust gas leakage into the engine bay in front of the firewall, therefore possibly entering the passenger compartment. also exhaust gases are allowed into the atmosphere untreated by the catalytic converter. we finally picked up on this when my wife keep getting sleepy driving home, and found this information on the "edmunds" website, (edmunds.com). we have returned the van recently to repair the filler vent hose, probably a $2.00 repair, why has this problem not been addressed? it is far more dangerous, more expensive ($1200), and difficult to detect because it only sounds like a "stuck" valve lifter. we had the van for many years with the noise present, (from the leaking exhaust manifold), but the only source of any information on this design problem was the "townhall talk" forum on the edmund's website. how many people are going to have to be killed after falling asleep at the wheel before some type of notification goes into effect? i have a degree in mechanical engineering and this is obviously an improper shear strength manifold stud which i imagine was used to save some money along the way for nissan/mercury. some kind of response here would be appreciated. thanks, john. *ak

Power door locks activate automatically without warning presenting risk of locking small children in hot van. *ak

The manifold bolts broke at around 46,000 miles. they were replaced by the dealer and have since broken again around 50, 000 miles later (95,000). the vechile makes a loud noise and there is an odor in the passenger component. the first time the bolts were replaced no engine replacment was required. both my regular mechanic and midas muffler said these bolts should have never broken the first time let alone the second. i have sent a written letter to mercury and after waiting 4 weeks called and they said they didn't beleive this to be a problem and would not fix the bolts the second time. i believe there is a design defect and that the breaking of these bolts could cause serious harm to passengers and request a full investigation of the bolt failure rates and the design of the manifolds being installed in the engine block with these bolts

This is the second tire on which the tread has separated on this mini-van. *ak( dot number: )

Lap belt buckle can only extend to about the top of the lap. would not extend to full length for making contact with the locking mechanism (this is a motorized safety belt system, which the motorized shoulder belt works ok. *ak

Manifold bolts shearing off. *ak

This is a big safety issue for villagers. don;t understand why a recall has not happened yet. no safety defect listed. *ak

Exhaust manifold studs failed repeatedly, allowing exhaust fumes into passenger compartment, and creating a possible fire hazard.*ak

Your office advised me in a letter dated 2/16/01 that the odometer had been tapered with, as you can see i now live in florida and the state attorney here stated they were not involved since the car was sold inva. who should i contact next virginia stae attorney of massutuests where it looks like the odometer was tampered with?*ak

I paid to have the exhaust manifold studs replaced once before. they have failed again. i feel that the original equipment was defective as were the replacements. i have never previously owned a vehicle with this problem. when the vehicle is started, there is a strong exhaust smell inside. i'm wondering how much exhaust enters the vehicle during operation.*ak

1. fuel filler hose. when filling up the fuel tank to a full condition, fuel is seen to leak from the area above the leaf spring assembly on the left side of the vehicle. once the level of gasoline in the fuel tank appears to drop to a certain level, the odor of gasoline is still present, especially on hot days. if tank is not filled to capacity, the leak is not present but the odor is. 2. motorized shoulder seat belt. the motorized seat belt assembly on both front seats make a loud noise and rattle when in motion. it appears that the mechanism is loose when it travels back and forth on the door track. *ak

There is a recall already but the recall does not extend far enough those van manufactured up to 1993 may, which is when my van was manufactured. no safety defect listed. *ak

Gas smell inside car when car starts in cold months. *ak

This vehicle was bought new by my mother. there have been problems with the brakes since 1993. she contacted wrote to the manufactuer but never received a response. front left brake has to be changed every 2 to 3 months or more often.

When this occurs it is impossible to turn the vehicle off. *ak

Since the first occurrence was within the warranty period, it was a documented tsb prior to the first occurrence, and it is the same recurring problem, ford motor company is obligated to provide a remedy. current mileage should not be a factor. *ak

No summary

The transmission when in nuetral lurks forward , it also doesnt shift into reverse all the time

Soon after purchasing vehicle, started smell exhaust and gas smell. dealership changed a broken exhaust bolt. same thing happen about six months later. after three or four trips for same problem, dealer changed exhaust manifold. problem resurfaced after about three years. took vehicle to another shop to have bolts change again. after about three months, problem is back again. one of my co-workers have same model with the same problem. was told by a mechanic that this is a common problem. some of the studs could not be removed. mechanic informed me that ford uses a manifold with two sets of holes because of the bolt problem. he used the second set of bolt holes only to have the bolts break off again. is there a fix or recall in effect to correct the problem. please respond.

The fuel overflow hose broke on my 1993 mercury villager. this caused a fuel leak and a puddle of raw gas in my attached garage. luckily, we noted it and move the vehicle outside and cleaned the fuel up. the mechanic stated that he had replaced about 8 of these hoses in the past couple of years, 3 this year alone. this is a very dangerous condition.

One of my oem general tires peeled like the atx at about 35k miles. general tire had me send in all 4 tires for evaluation, whereupon they offered to pay half the cost of any make tires, along with the body damage that had ensued from the peeled thread whipping the side of my vehicle at 50mph. nhtsa should issue regulation or at least warnings for tires which may be at risk in hot states like fla, where the tire construction is poor such as lacking a nylon belt etc.. we only had property damage, but risked being run over at night on a dangerous road, while changing to the spare. the atx is not the only problem tire with its construction, in a hot climate. maybe there should be hot climate type tires? or at least a warning label for types not passing certain tests for these environments. i can send in photos if you so desire. *ak( dot number: tire size: p205/15 )

Exhust bolts broken at head;part of emmision control;cousing leak see web page with same complaintshttp://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/engaged/edmund.cgi?c=finance,_warranty,_and_insurance&t=208. *ak

Exhaust manifold bolts have repeatedly broken. engine has been repaired twice, and now the bolts have broken again. the car is driveable, but the engine is very noisy (can hear the valves/pistons rattling when stepping on the gas) and exhaust goes everywhere but out the tailpipe. i feel this is a strong safety concern, as exhaust entering the passenger cabin is dangerous and may have serious health consequences if not fatalities. i have contacted ford customer service, no progress has been made and i am certainly not satisfied with any of their responses.

Mercury seemed to be aware of the problem but did not contact owners. np safety defect listed. *ak

I have experienced fuel tank/line/pump leaks on two occaisons. in july 1999 following a fuel pump replacement i had a leak in the tank and or fuel lines. in june 2000 i again had a fuel leak. the dealer repaired it, at a cost of approx. $60.00 and replaced a fuel or vent line. *ak

Fuel leaks from fuel tank vent hoses when tank is full or near full. *ak

Fuel leakage after fillup on a warm day and fuel tank was not over filled. *ak

Exhaust system became noisy. mechanic detected several manifold mounting bolts broken off at heads. strong odor in cabin of van. myself and my kids probobly subjected to carbon monoxide gas. was told by dealer it had too many miles. manufacturer told me they didnt have any complaints reguarding this obvious defect.

While leaving interstate 40 to offramp, i began to brake normally. at this instant i heard a loud "pop" and my brake pedal went to the floorboard. i was unable to stop at the intersection and went into traffic. fortunately i was able to avoid a collision. upon my inspection i found that the bolts that secure the master cylinder to the firewall had broken off. *ak

Could smell gasoline vapors in van at idle on cold days. found the smell was gas leaking from from the neoprene fuel lines connected to the fuel injector rails. (note: discovered cause, by reading article in cincinnati inquirer, 4/29/00) about a 95 nissan quest with the identical problem)

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

This problem has happened in 1995 (broken crankshaft) a about 18,500 mile . i am the orginal owner, but now my brother own it since last year. the auto shop told him it has a broken crankshaft again at about 79000 miles 5 years later. i would like to know are these crankshafts for this model vehicle defective, how many more of these models being reported for this problem and what can be done at this point in time, because the repair cost for a another crankshaft is expensive. plus this vehicle is 7 yrs old with 2 broken crankshaft,a part that normally last forever. any asistance would be appreciate. thanks clement raglin. *ak

Engine exhaust bolts have broken off estimated cost 1000.00 looking at complaint list i'm not the first. something needs to be done. this is clearly a manuf. defect ! *ak

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

Crankshaft sheared just behind pulley, resulting in immediate loss of engine power, power steering, power brake assist.

Exhaust manifold bolts broken, fumes in passenger compartment. bolts failed at approx. 60,000 miles, now failed again less than 30,000 miles later. 142 entries for this in nhtsa db and countless entries in web user groups.

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

Rear bench seat would not lock on left side------middle captains chair on driver's side / one latch would not work ----- drivers seat power motor loose seat rocks when stopping vehicle

Broken exhaust manifold bolts, left & right manifold dropped, causing momentary vehicle control loss. gaskets blown w/long term monoxide leakage into passenger compartment, causing illness/drowziness, sulfer smell. loss of exhaust pressure long-term caused improper fuel mix, loss of performance and burned valves. engine teardown required to remove broken studs from engine heads.

Vehicles blinkers suddenly stopped working now they only work on some trips and some trips not at all. *ak

The stop light circuit has failed (apparent short causing blown fuse) three times in the past 13 months. in april of this year, a dealer (rockville lincoln mercury, rockville, md.) replaced the relevant wiring harness (according to service records) but the circuit failed again oct. 30.

This complaint is in regards to nhtsa campaign id number 95v222000 and mfg. campaign no. 95s27. i had the required recall work done at the dealership on 2/27/1996. all foreign material was to be removed from the air intake and a new fresh air screen was to be installed. on 6/24/1999 the entire air conditioning system had to be replaced because the main a/c control unit had burned out. on 8/16/1999 i returned the vehicle to the dealership because of smoke and a burning smell whenever the a/c was used and was advised that leaves and debris had been removed. i returned the vehicle to the dealership on 10/28/1999 because of smoke and burning smell once again when using the a/c. i am very concerned about a vehicle fire and want to know why this problem keeps occurring, especially since it was to have been corrected due to the recall campaign in 1995. i don't want my children hurt by a fire in this car.

Exhaust manifold bolt broke, causing noise and leaks of exhaust under hood. taken to dealer (beaudry ford, atlanta ga) and informed that service bulletin exists and that this is not an uncommon problem. neighbor with same year, make, and model also has same problem. *ak

We do not believe a transmission should go out at this low mileage and got no help when contacted the ford motor company.

Exhaust manifold bolt had broken off in 1997, which the dealer repaired under warranty. in 1999 the bolts retaining the exhaust manifold broke again and the problem was referred to the dealer and service scheduled for repair. the dealer would no longer repair under warranty. called the ford customer service center and was told the work could not be completed under warranty. checked the ntsb odi data base for 1993 mercury and nissan quest (same vehicle) and found 35 similar odi reports. problem seems to be repaired after 1993. problem if not repair is a saftey hazard due to leaking exhaust fumes into the passenger compartment.

My mechanic was fixing the front manifold gasket problem, when he took it for a test drive, the rear manifold gasket went. the fix for this problem means drilling out the bolts, which crack and cannot be used again. my mechanic has done many of these drillings and says it's a major problem that the car manufacturer should be addressing. the oil leak is becoming major, and i will have to take care of it soon. my mechanic has informed me that the transmission will need to come out in order to fix the leak. he has also done many of these repairs too, for this particular type of vehicle.

Locks will automatically lock and unlock on their own. also will sometimes lock while trying to exit vehicle after unlocking them several times. very dangerous if needed to flee vehicle quickly.

Power door locks, lock by themselves. upon unlocking doors with keys, i've had to keep keys in the unlock position to open door. when inside, i have to hold the unlock button down while opening the door. this is very frustrating and can be very dangerous in an emergency situation. *ak

1. power locks stuck on unlock and could not used key or manuel lock to secure vehicle. 2) manapholed and bolt failed wal driveing. i was told by the dealer that this is a reacurring problem with the villiagers. this could case engine to fail

Read manifold bolt is missing. cole muffler in albany indicates that they have seen sev eral mercury villagers with the same problem

Exhaust leak developed due to broken exhaust manifold stud(s). was told by more than one auto mechanic that this should not have happened on a six year old vehicle. *ak

Nhtsa campaign id no. 96v253003 covered same issue for 1994-1996 manufactured vehicles. identified vehicle came off the line in november 1993. ford motor co. has denied my request to cover repair charges of $312.42. the tail lamp socket assy (f6xy-13411-ab)was the identical replacement part utilized for the recall. i am filing a formal written complaint with ford motor co. it is my opinion that the recall announced in 1996 did not go back far enough. *ak

No summary listed for this vehicle. *ak

Broken stud on exhaust manifold leads to exhaust leak and increase in carbon monoxide levels in passenger compartment, decrease in performance, and possible further damage to exhaust system. *ak

The mileage i have is not so great that a master cylinder should need replacment on a 1993 vehicle. it is noteworthy that there is a safety recall on 1993 villagers, but not on my vin according to the dealer, yet i have a master cylinder defect. maybe my vin should be in the recall. *ak

Exstimated repair $4,000.00. no safety defec tindicated in the summary. *ak

Raw gas odor through whole van. *mjs

No summary listed for this vehicle. *ak

Odometer failed while on highway. speedometer continues to work correctly.

Mechanic states 4 manifold studs are sheared off causing exhaust to leak into vehicle. mechanic states have seen many villagers with this problem. dealer called could only repair at my cost no recall at this time

Brakes failed to respond as vehicle was moving at about 10 mph, approached red light at intersection. driver could feel pressure in brake pedal, but vehicle would not slow down despite full force applied to the brake pedal by the driver. the vehicle entered the entered the intersection, and was struck by another vehicle, leaving both vehicles undrivable. the driver of the villager sustained a head injury, and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment. prior to the accident, driver had noticed the villager's abs operation was intermittantly very rough, and tended to interrupt for abnormally long intervals driver's efforts to brake. when those braking problems were reported to the dealer, dealer responded that this was normal for the villager, and there was nothing he could do to diagnose the problem unless the "abs warning light" on the dash came on and stayed on. less than two months (and about 2000 miles) prior to the accident, the driver had brake pads and hydraulic system (but not the abs controls) checked by a local brake repair shop. the shop declared the system to be in good operating condition at that time. *ak

Mercury service claims that the replaced broken bolts needed to secure the exhaust manifold to the engine block are not part of the exhaust system and are not covered by the newly extended 7/70 warranty for exhaust manifold defects. i feel that ford is trying to circumvent the nhtsa, and avoid its responsibility by inventing this loop hole, so as to not reimburse the $300 repair work. i believe a recall of these bolts used to secure the manifolds may be the only solution. *ak

Strong raw gas odor and sulphur odor enters vehicle cabin through vents when car is at a stop light. odor is so strong that you must open the windows to avoid passing out. ford confirms the problem, but says there is no repair procedure. *ak

While shovelling snow, the car was warming up with the defroster and heater on. after 15min. the pop-up window on the rear door blew out. no one was in or near the car. i feel there was a manufacturing defect as this should not happen to any car. manufac

This is the third time the exhaust manifold has started leaking. last week, i was notified by mail that the warranty was extended to 7 years or 70,000 miles and immediately brought the car in for repairs. the dealer refuses to repair the car due to having 71,000 miles on the odometer. dealer admits that the car must have had defect during the time the car was in warranty but the warranty had not been announced yet. i have protested to the regional service representative that the defect should be covered.

The exhaust manifold studs(left side)broke first. we were required to fix for $170. next the exhaust manifold craicked and it was replaced. finally the right side manifold studs broke in late 1998 and we had to replace those for around $200. there are numerous complaints in your database already regarding this same problem. some involved exhaust leaking into the passenger cabin which is very dangerous. i would recommend an investigation with ford being required to fix and refund owners for this resolving this obvious defect in their exhaust system.

Seatbelt, shoulder, refuses to return to upper position. cannot use in this fashion. is there a safety bulletin/safety recall on this part? passenger side still functional.

Passenger door rattles while driving.

Odometer inoperative.

Seatbelts failed to retract.

While driving the inside temperature of the vehicle became cold, while trying to adjust the heat, the driver noticed thick black smoke from the tailpipe, there were no dashboard indicators that there was a problem and as a result the van lost all coolant ruining the entire engine, the consumer is requesting reimbursement for both replaced engines. nlm

The bracket that is welded to the chassis of the vehicle, which holds the rack and pinion secure broke off causing the steering to be unstable. *yh

The fuel filler pipe failed prior to recall notice 00v-419 causing fumes to enter the vehicle and caused the driver to have severe headaches. nlm

The muffler had 2 holes in it. nlm

The vehicle exhibited the symptoms of recall 00v-419, the consumer contacted the dealer about the fuel leak but was told that the next available appointment wasn't until two weeks, the consumers felt this problem needed immediate repair therefore they repaired it themselves. nlm

The spare tire which is mounted underneath the vehicle is cracking and appears to be dry rotting, this tire is a replacement for a tire which began to dry rot as well, neither spare had ever been used. nlm

The rubber bumper stop mounted under the vehicle above the rear spring fell off while driving. nlm

The heat shield around the catalytic converter rusted at the mounts and was hanging. nlm

The seat belt retractor on the front passenger seat is no longer working. nlm

Crankshaft broken. mjs

Due to the wrong information given in the manual the replaced brake light bulb generated excessive heat and caused brake light housing to melt and burn. yh

Transmission failure. manufacturer and dealer wer contacted early in the life of the vehicle regarding transmission noise. manufacturer claimed to be aware of the noise ("the villger clunk"), but unaware of its origin.

Window glass broke without any provocation on two occasions.

Corrosion within the tail light socket due to poor seal in reflector housing caused brake light to fail.

Recall of brake light sockets denied due to vin.

A/c/heater control assembly failed.

Exhaust manifold bolts failed.

Brake pads and rotors failed.

Antenna failed.

Bolts shear off where the manifold attaches to the head releasing exhaust fumes into the occupant compartment.

Stud on exhaust manifold cracked, allowing exhaust fumes into vehicle.

Gas spilled/leaked onto ground when tank was filled. dealer states that seam of fuel tank was splitting and needed to be replaced.

Intake manifold bolts sheared off. understand that this is a common problem and poorly designed part by ford. believe this part warrants a recall.

Defective manifold bolts broke.

Air conditioning unit failure.

Rt front lap belt will not retract far enough.

Electric door locks malfunction at different times by either locking consumer in the vehicle or out of the vehicle.

Exhaust manifold studs broke off causing exaust fumes to leak into interior of vehicle.

Exhaust manifolds and bolts failure. exhaust fumes also enter passenger compartment.

Exhaust manifold studs have broken off in the front and rear at the same rate and time.

Engine mounts failed.

Bolts connecting exhaust to manifolds were severed.

Electrical wiring failure caused brake lights to fail.

Exhaustsystem failed, causing sulfuric acid smell to enter into vehicle.

Blower motor for heat and air conditioning failed.

Front passenger lap belt failed.

Passenger seat belt failed.

Rear seat belt failure.

Water pump failed.

Consumer experienced transmission slippage at acceleration. *ak

Power door locks go on and off on there own, sometimes making it difficult to enter or exit.

Owner complained to dealer about chittering and clicking sound from the engine compartment on acceleration. five manifold bolts cracked causing gaskets to loosen and thus cause emission problems.

Transmission planatery gear bearings failed.

Rear seat belt retractor failed.

Exhaust manifold stud broke, causing exhaust leak.

Seat belt retractor would not pull out properly.

Design of the head lamps are plastic which turn cloudy with heat, causing poor visibility.

Master cylinder failed 4 times after recall. consumer was not notified of recall (92v-132.002). *ak

The metal shift lever collar sheared in half when attempting to shift into gear from park. *ak

Transmission failure. *ak

Exjaust manifold mounting studs appear to be shearing off, could cause exhaust gas to leak into engine compartment. *ak

The crankshaft pulley bearing leaks severely.

Combination switch (front windshield washer), works on an intermittent basis.

Bolt to the exhaust system continue to fail causing leakage.

Exhaust manifold stud broke off in cylinder head due to design, causing in exhaust fumes in interior of vehicle.

Exhaust manifold bolts break, creating a leak through manifold gasket. *ak

Manifold bolts cracked.

Battery exploded. causing damage to vehicle. *ak

The spindles in the brakes were gouged so that the brakes would not slide along them.

Brakes--noisy, van vibrated when applied.

The air conditioner failed prior to the recall.

The heating unit failed prior to recall.

Exhaust manifold failed.

Both impact beans in front electric doors are broken; also, door lock on driver's side does not unlock. *ak

Exhaust manifold stud failed twice.

Driveshaft failure. *ak

Heater gives off distinct odor. *sd

Debris entered heating duct, causing smoke/fire. *sd

Burning odor when heater is in use. *sd

Smoke with smell of burning leaves billowed from windshield vents when engine started. *dsh

Debree gets inside of blower area, causing odd noises/smoke. *sd

Electrical resistance caused leaves which had accumulated in a/c evaporator to catch fire. *aw

A/c and heater blower motor smoked/replaced twice.*sd

Replaced engine seals due to coolant leaks.

Fuel filter failed prior to service recall.

Loose front seat/seat goes off track. *ak

Replaced windshield wiper switch.

Replaced instrument lights.

Brakes vibrate/overheat.

Rear end shimmies.

Noisy a/c fan.

Smoke has entered the vehicle through the vents due to leaves and debris getting into the front blower assembly. please describe. tt