Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Mercury Villager owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
This vehicle has been in to 3 different dealerships since we have had it (3 years). Door's will lock at any time running,off,or no keyless (key fob) opperation. After about $500 in repair charges I went to a different dealer only to find that a TSB had been issued and have it fixed now with replacing the master switch on the drivers side door. From talking to the sevice manager they have seen this problem on many vans like this, this is a small town dealer. To bad the other dealerships that we tried didn't keep up with the TSB's it took longer for resolution and the warranty is long gone. This problem has made the local news but they say that their has not been any reports of this problem so I thought that I would fill out this form.
The power door lock system engages on its own at unpredictable times and occasions when the engage button has not been touched. For example, the locks have frequently engaged right after the doors have been closed and even if the engine is not running and the ignition is not on; at the same moment the front door access latches are pulled; and when the vehicle is parked and no one is in it and it is not running. Our problem is identical to the problem reported by cbs evening news on September 7, 2001 (network television news). According to the news report, this problem occurs not only with the Mercury Villager, but also the Nissan quest.
The doors will lock automatically with the key in the ignition or not. We had a baby in the car and the doors automatically locked. This has been a problem since 35,000 miles recently Ford told us their was a recommend fix - service message 11243 because of numerous complaints but it is not a recall. As a safety professional I think this is outrageous - potential entrapment of small children without adequate escape mechanism ( not breaking the window) is a concern.
Electronic door locks malfunctioned when closing the door. After installing css and coming to the driver's door, all the door locks were in locked position with the children inside. Common problem. Dealer said that the seams were not adequately closed around the door locks, causing water to enter, and resulting in a short circuit. A TSB bulletin was issued on this reoccurring problem. Dealer improved the seal and problem still occurs.
Doors lock on their when driving, standing still, when I shut the doors. No warning. Keys must be in someones hands at all times to keep from being locked out. Also when unlocking the door it takes at least 3-4 times of continuious operation to get it to stay unlocked. Dealer was contacted several times. Aug 2001 a fix sheet had arrived at the dealer - moisture in window switch. Repair cost - part $300 plus labor.
Passenger and sliding door locks failed to engage or disengage with or without keyless entry system or internal locking system used. I have had the sliding door locks actuator changed at my expense. The passenger door lock actuator needs to be replaced also. Actuators emit a grinding sound when keyless entry system or internal locking system is engaged and takes several (5) times to engage or disengage.
The locks on my Villager operate erratically. They will lock automatically, when they are unlocked they May immediatly relock themselves and sometimes the cause the door to jam. I saw this information reported on cbs 11 tv in dallas just this week and my van does exactly as the vans they were showing on the report. This problem has been happening for about a year, and is worse during warm weather.
When exiting vehicle automatic door locks automatically lock without owner manually locking the doors. Also, when vehicle is being driving doors automatically lock. This problem has caused occupants to be either locked inside vehicle or locked outside vehicle. Consumer has contacted dealer. Please provide any further details.
When exiting vehicle automatic door locks automatically lock without owner manually locking the doors. Also, while vehicle is being driven doors automatically lock. This problem has caused occupants to be either locked inside vehicle or locked outside vehicle. Consumer has contacted dealer. Please provide any further details.
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.
NHTSA investigations
Unexpected opening on sliding door
There is no summary currently available
Body complaints in other Villager years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 1996 Mercury Villager?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the body & structure of the 1996 Mercury Villager, 13% of the model year's 188 complaints. The component named most often is body › door (22 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Mercury Villager body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 1996 Mercury Villager, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.