2002 MERCURY VILLAGER Complaints

I TOOK MY CAR TO ALLAN VIGIL FORD IN FAYETTVILLE GA FOR SERVICE AND I NOT HAPPY WITH THE REPAIRS . FIRST , THE ALARM IS GOING OFF ALONG WITH THE HORN AT RANDOM .SECOND ,THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS DO NOT WORK . I HAVE TO USE A FLASHLIGHT AT NIGHR TO SEE WHAT SPEED I AM GOING .THIRD , I AM DRIVING WITH NO HORN . AND FINALLY ,THE IGNITION KEY DOES NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DRIVER DOOR. .

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY VILLAGER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH MAKING A TURN, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

MOTOR MOUNT MUST BE REPLACED DO TO FAILURE. ANY ACCELERATION OR SHIFTING CAUSES THE ENGINE TO SHAKE. THIS SHAKING CAUSES A STRONG VIBRATION THROUGHOUT THE VAN. I WAS QUOTED $200 TO REPLACE THE MOUNT. *TR

DURING A VACATION TRIP ON NOVEMBER 21, 2006, THE "PROPORTIONAL VALVE" ON OUR 2002 MERCURY VILLAGER BEGAN TO APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE WE WERE ON THE INTERSTATE. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT, JUST A GRADUAL INCREASE IN THE POWER NECESSARY TO KEEP GOING. BY THE TIME WE REALIZED IT, THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM HAD OVERHEATED, RESULTING IN OVER $1,000 IN DEALER REPAIRS. OUR CONTENTION IS THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THE VEHICLE SHOULD AT LEAST HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED FOR SOME FORM OF REIMBURSEMENT. WE ALSO WANTED TO MAKE THE NHTSA AWARE OF THIS IN CASE OTHER CONSUMERS ENCOUNTER SIMILAR PROBLEMS. AS IT WAS, THE ENTIRE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS FOR OUR ACCOUNT. *NM

WE PURCHASED A USED (28K MILES) 2002 MERCURY VILLAGER IN 8'06. AS I LATER FOUND OUT THIS IS A SISTER TO THE NISSAN QUEST. WITHIN 2 MONTHS IT STARTED TO HAVE PERIODIC STARTING PROBLEMS - MEANING ALL POWER SEEMED OK, BUT WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED, ONLY A CLICKING SOUND WAS HEARD. WE DISCOVERED SOMETIMES THIS COULD BE CORRECTED BY OPENING & CLOSING THE DOORS, OR CYCLING THE LOCKS. AFTER SEARCHING THE WEB I FOUND OTHERS WITH WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND WHAT OTHERS CLAIMED THE FIX WAS. IT SEEMS AN ANTI-THEFT IGNITION INHIBIT RELAY IS THE CULPRIT. IT SEEMS TO ME FAILURE OF THIS RELAY SHOULD BE BE IN A FAIL-SAFE FASHION. NONETHELESS, IS THERE A FACTORY TSB FOR THIS ISSUE FROM MERCURY OR NISSAN? IS THERE A PART AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM? ALREADY MY WIFE AND KIDS HAVE BEEN STRANDED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND I IMAGINE SOMEONE SOMEWHERE MAY HAVE AN ACTUAL EMERGENCY. *NM

FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINTS ARE PRONE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR AND FAILURE. JOINTS REPLACED AT 28,000 MILES ARE NOW FAILING AGAIN AT 68,000 MILES. THERE IS NO SERVICE REQUIRED ON THESE JOINTS. WEAR CAUSES EXCESSIVE TIRE LIFE LOSS, VIBRATION IN THE STEERING AND POTENTIAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *NM

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (NVS-211) 400 7TH STREET, SW WASHINGTON, DC 20590 SEPTEMBER 1, 2006 I OWN A 2002 MERCURY VILLAGER ESTATE MINI VAN WITH 54,840 MILES AND THE PAINT IS PEELING AND IN SOME PLACES SHOWING CORROSION. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE COURTESY FORD LINCOLN MERCURY DEALERSHIP THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENTS TELL ME THE SAME THING AND ONLY A DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE CAN MAKE THE DETERMINATION. UNFORTUNATELY, NEITHER THE DEALERSHIP OR FORD CUSTOMER SEEN TO KNOW HOW TO LOCATE HIM. I CAN FURNISH PHOTOS OF THE VEHICLE HOOD WITH PAINT PEELING OFF AND THE BACK WHERE THERE IS RUST NEAR THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER. FORD AND THE DEALERSHIP ARE NOT RESPONDING TO MY ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY TELL ME THAT ONLY THE FIELD REPRESENTATIVE CAN MAKE THE DECISION, BUT THEY WILL NOT TELL ME HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH HIM. IT HAS BEEN OVER A MONTH. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON A NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE EXITING A PARKING LOT. A POLICE REPORT WAS PROCESSED AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO PRESENT BUT NO EVACUATION WAS REQUIRED FOR THE MINOR INJRIES INCURRED. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY HOWEVER THE SEATBELTS DID RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANTS. THE VEHICLE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS.

WHILE DRIVING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME USING CRUISE CONTROL, THE SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY FAILED AT AN APPROXIMATE ODOMETER READING OF 61,000 MILES. THE SPEEDOMETER HAD ALSO FAILED ON MY PREVIOUSLY OWNED '93 VILLAGER FOR SHORT PERIODS BUT THE CURRENT FAILURE ON MY '02 VILLAGER CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE FOLLOWING 7 HOURS OF MY TRIP HOME. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" INDICATOR LIT UP AND THE ENGINE NOW BRIEFLY LOSES POWER UPON STARTUP AND INITIAL ACCELERATION. I WILL CALL DEALERSHIP IN THE MORNING TO SEE IF THIS PROBLEM IS COVERED. I AM VERY UPSET THAT MY RELATIVELY YOUNG VAN HAS NOW LOST VALUE DUE TO UNCERTIFIED MILEAGE ON THE TITLE WHEN I WANT TO SELL IT. BECAUSE IT HAPPENED IN THE MIDST OF MY TRIP, I WAS DELAYED WHILE CHECKING THE SOURCE OF THE INDICATOR LIGHT AND HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITHOUT KNOWING MY TRUE SPEED. *JB

CONTACTS WIFE HIT A CAR AT ABOUT 45 MPH, THERE WERE NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AND VERY LITTLE BRAKING BEFORE IMPACT. VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE FRONT AND THE OCCUPANT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. THERE WERE PICTURES TAKEN, POLICE REPORT MADE, AND THERE WILL BE REPAIR INVOICES. *AK *SB *NM