Most common 2002 Mercury Villager problems
Share of the 18 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercury Villager complaints by model year
Best Villager years: 2002, 2001, 2000. Years to avoid: 1995, 1996, 1999, 1997. Compare all years →
What 2002 Mercury Villager owners say
Steering
2002 Mercury Villager has vibration in steering wheel at speeds above 10mph. Dealer has tried 3 times to fix and even replaced 2 of the 4 tires. Still the vibration. Repair shop other than the dealer suggested switching brands of tires because after they aligned the front end they rotated the tires to try to isolate the vibration problem only to find that the rotation nullified the alignment. Hard for me to believe that with all the villagers manufactured I'm the only one with this problem.
Consumer called complainimng about having problems with the steering. Also stated that there is a real bad vibration on the steering wheel.dealer was contacted and stated that they will fix it and the vehicle has been tothe dealer a total of four times since the purchase on sep.302,2002. Ph
Suspension
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.
Problems with vibration in rear and right front of vehicle. There was a vibration in the rear and the right front. The tires were replaced three times. The vibration remained which also caused the seats to vibrate.
2002 Mercury Villager engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Mercury Villager a good car?
Based on 18 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Villager rates better than average: 85% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Villager at the same age. It is one of the best Villager years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Mercury Villager?
The steering — 3 complaints, 17% of all complaints for this model year, most often about steering wheel/handle bar. Next are the suspension (3) and wheels & tires (2).
How many recalls does the 2002 Mercury Villager have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 Mercury Villager. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercury Villager?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2002, 2001 and 2000. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995, 1996, 1999 and 1997. See the full Mercury Villager years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Mercury Villager problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 68,000 miles; 20% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.