NHTSA vehicle safety data

1996 Mercury Villager Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 1996 Mercury Villager has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 188 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Mercury dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1996 Mercury Villager, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

1996 Mercury Villager owner complaints

Owners have filed 188 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Mercury Villager, describing incidents dated November 1, 1995 to July 6, 2017.

Most-cited components

  • Engine 33 complaints
  • Latches/Locks/Linkages 27 complaints
  • Structure 24 complaints
  • Fuel/Propulsion System 22 complaints
  • Visibility/Wiper 18 complaints
  • Air Bags 14 complaints

Of the 188 complaints on file, 11 report a crash and 7 a fire; across all 188 complaints, owners report 6 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11003535 · Filed

    THE CAR CONTINUALLY LOCKS ITSELF (POWER LOCKS). IF I'M OUTSIDE THE CAR I HAVE TO REPEATEDLY TRY TO UNLOCK IT WHILE AT THE SAME TIME IT RELOCKS ITSELF. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS IT WILL STOP AND LET ME IN. SAME IS TRUE IF I'M IN THE CAR EXCEPT NOW I CAN'T GET OUT. IT'S USUALLY MUCH WORSE DURING THE DAY…

  • ODI #10445687 · Filed

    WHILE TURNING FROM STREET INTO A SHORT STEEP DRIVEWAY APPROACH, FRONT LOWER BUMPER FACIA DRUG VERY SLIGHTLY ON THE STEEP APPROACH RAMP SETTING OFF THE AIRBAGS, WHICH BROKE THE WINDSHIELD, CRACKED THE DASH, SNAPPED ALL FOUR BACK SIDE WINDOW LATCHES, AND CAUSED BACK NECK AND SHOULDER INJURIES TO THE…

  • ODI #10172065 · Filed

    WHILE I AM DRIVING THE SLIDING DOOR WILL POP. CURRENTLY IT DOES NOT COMPLETELY OPEN, BUT IS DOES BECOME UNSECURED. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON AND WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT INHIBITS MY VISION AND MAKES DRIVING UNSAFE. MY CHILDREN ARE ALSO THE PASSENGERS NEAR THE DOOR AT THIS TIME AND I AM AFRAID THAT…

Read all 188 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1996 Mercury Villager in 4 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

FORD/FUEL TANK VENT HOSE

NHTSA #00V419002 · Fuel System, Gasoline — Storage — Tank Assembly · NHTSA notice

Reported January 2, 2001 · FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 394,000 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 00S59 · Owners notified February 15, 2001 · Vehicles built November 26, 1991 – June 26, 1998 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS. THE FUEL TANK VENT HOSE ALLOWS AIR TO VENT FROM THE FUEL TANK DURING REFUELING. CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE VENT HOSE. IF (1) THE FUEL TANK IS OVERFILLED, NOT ALLOWING EXCESS FUEL IN THE VENT HOSE TO FLOW BACK INTO THE TANK, (2) THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ONLY A SHORT DISTANCE AFTER REFUELING AND, (3) THERE IS SUBSEQUENTLY SIGNIFICANT HEATING OF THE FUEL TANK, THE FUEL IN THE TANK CAN EXPAND INTO THE VENT HOSE AND LEAK FUEL.

Safety consequence

FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VENT HOSE.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 19, 2001.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.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

FORD/FMVSS 118

NHTSA #98V012001 · Visibility — Power Window Devices and Controls · NHTSA notice

Reported March 23, 1998 · FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 57,400 vehicles

Owners notified April 15, 1998 · Vehicles built August 1, 1995 – July 31, 1996 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH POWER WINDOWS THAT CAN BE CLOSED AFTER THE IGNITION KEY IS TURNED TO THE "OFF" POSITION AND THE RIGHT FRONT (PASSENGER) DOOR IS OPENED. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 118, "POWER-OPERATED WINDOW SYSTEMS."

Safety consequence

THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR UNSUPERVISED CHILDREN TO OPERATE THE POWER WINDOWS, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO THE CHILD.

Manufacturer remedy

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A LABEL REMINDING OWNERS NOT TO LEAVE CHILDREN UNATTENDED BECAUSE THE POWER WINDOWS CAN OPERATE FOR 15 MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE IGNITION HAS BEEN TURNED OFF UNLESS THE DRIVER'S DOOR IS OPENED. ALSO INCLUDED ARE INSTRUCTIONS DESCRIBING HOW AND WHERE THIS LABEL IS TO BE INSTALLED. IF AN OWNER PREFERS, THEIR DEALER CAN INSTALL THIS LABEL FOR THEM.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DURING APRIL 1998.OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE LABEL AND INSTRUCTIONS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINSTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Other Mercury Villager model years

Check your 1996 Mercury Villager VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mercury Villager at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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