1996 MERCURY VILLAGER Complaints

WHEN CLOSING THE SLIDING DOOR & THEN ENTERING THE DRIVER'S SIDE, LATCHES WOULD AUTOMATICALLY LOCK BY THEMSELVES. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER & THE MECHANIC CHANGED THE LOCKING MECHANISM. ALSO, GAVE OWNER NEW REMOTE CONTROL. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

WHEN BUYING VAN I NOTICED A LOUD CLACKING NOISE IN ENGINE ON COLD STARTS. I SAID I DIDN'T WANT CAR. THEY SAID IF THEY PUT A NEW ENGINE IN CAR (23,000MI)WOULD I BUY IT. I SAID YES. THEY PUT A REBUILT ENGINE IN VAN INSTEAD AND DIDN'T TELL ME. NOW HAS 31,0000 MILES ON IT AND IS CLACKING AGAIN PLUS SHAKES CAR VIOLENTLY FIRST 6 TO 8 SECONDS WHEN STARTING COLD. (INTERMITTENTLY) MECHANIC SAID IT HAS BAD PISTON PROBLEMS. FORD MOTOR CO. REFUSES TO CORRECT PROBLEM. SAYS IT'S OUT OF WARRENTY. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE THE SECOND BAD ENGINE IN THAT CAR. THEY REPLACED A BAD ENGINE WITH A BAD ENGINE. I SUGGESTED TRADING CAR IN FOR ANOTHER ONE AND THEY RELUCTANTLY OFFERED ME $4,000 TO $5,000 MAX AS TRADE IN BECAUSE THE CAR HAD A BAD ENGINE. I WAS WILLING TO PURCHASE A NEW 1999 VILLAGER($22,000+). I'M BEING SCREWED BADLY BY A COMPANY THAT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT HAS AN ENGINE PROGRAM PROBLEM. HELP ME PLEASE. DAVE MC MANUS. *AK

LEFT FRONT TIE ROD HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT PROBABLY HAD BEEN BAD FOR SOME TIME, BUT WAS NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARANTY WHEN VEHICLE ONLY HAD MILEAGE IN THE UPPER 20,000S. THIS IS VERY LOW MILAGE FOR SUCH FRONT END COMPONENTS TO GO BAD. CONTACTED DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY SAID VILLAGERS ARE NOT KNOWN FOR WEARING OUT OF FRONT END PARTS AT LOW MIELAGE, SO THESE MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE PARTS FROM THE FACTORY. THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME THOUGH ON THE TIE ROD BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. HAD TO REPLACE AT MY OWN EXPENSE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING 75MPH VEHICLE MADE GRAVE NOISES & THEN DIED OUT. MANEUVERED TO SIDE OF ROAD. COULD NOT CHECK ENGINE OIL DUE TO DIP STICK NOT REMOVABLE. TOWED TO MECHANIC & INFORMED CONSUMER THA T UNDER HOOD FROZE UP DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION.*AK

AREA IN SHOCK TOWERS WHERE STRUT ROD IS SECURED TO STRUCTURE WITH A NUT APPEARS EXTREMELY CORRODED FOR A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 39000 MILES. IT IS NOT JUST SURFACE RUST, BUT FLAKING AS WELL. THERE IS MUCH MORE CORROSION IN THIS AREA THEN I HAVE SEEN ON OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED WITH OVER 100,000 MILES. I FEAR THAT IN COMING YEARS A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM MAY DEVELOP. CONTACTED SERVICE DEPARTMENT WERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I DISCRIBED THE SITUATION TO THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN. HE SAID THIS WAS "NORMAL" AND I HAD NOTHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT.

I WAS GETTING ON THE EXPRESSWAY OVER IN THE PASSING LANE THE VAN MADE A NOISE I TURN DOWN THE RADIO TO LISTEN I LOST PRESSURE THE VAN SHUT DOWN . I HAD OIL ,WATER I JUST DONT UNDER STAND WHAT HAPPEN I WAS TOLD THAT I NEED AN ENGINE NEVER HAD A WARNING SIGN AND I ALWAYS KEEP MY OIL CHANGE AND OTHER ITEM ACORRDING MANUFACUTURER. *AK

CRANKSHAFT BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH , CAUSING POWER LOSS. THIS CONDITION COULD HAVE CAUSED A COLLISION ON THE FREEWAY. VEHICLE INSPECTED BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMERTHAT CRANKSHAFT HAS HAD CRACKS IN SHAFT BEFORE THE BREAKAGE. ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

THE REAR SIDE DOOR UNLATCHES WHEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD. IT DOESN'T UNLATCH ALL THE WAY. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO ADJUST THE DOOR, BUT IT STILL HAPPENS. WE DO NOT HAVE TO HIT A BUMP FOR IT TO UNLATCH. THEY ARE GOING TO PUT ON A NEW DOOR LATCH.

INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE DRIVING SLIDING DOOR POPS OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER'S CHILD WAS LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE, AND THEY COULDN'T GET THE CHILD OUT. *AK