What gets recalled
2001 Mercury Villager recalls (1)
Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Vehicle description: Mini vans. These vehicles May have the plastic trim cover around the base of the front seat safety belt buckle trapped between the shoulder of the restraint anchorage bolt and the seat pedestal. This could eventually allow the seat belt buckle bolt to loosen.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the seat belt buckle assembly attachment. Some belt buckle assemblies May require replacement.
2000 Mercury Villager recalls (2)
Steering › Rack and pinion
Vehicle description: Mini vans. One or more of the five bolts that mount the rack and pinion steering gear to the vehicle May have been incorrectly tightened.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles and, if the bolts are missing, will replace the steering gear mounting bolts. All bolts will be tightened to the specified torque. Owner notification began November 28, 2000.
Seat belts
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and Mini vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies. The buckle base of these seat belt assemblies were not properly heat treated and therefore do not pass the load bearing requirement of federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the date code on certain seat belt buckles of your vehicle and replace all seat belt buckles that fall within the suspect date code range. Owner notification began October 26, 2000.
1999 Mercury Villager recalls (4)
Steering › Rack and pinion
Vehicle description: Mini vans. One or more of the five bolts that mount the rack and pinion steering gear to the vehicle May have been incorrectly tightened.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles and, if the bolts are missing, will replace the steering gear mounting bolts. All bolts will be tightened to the specified torque. Owner notification began November 28, 2000.
Exterior lighting › Tail lights
Vehicle description: minivans. The tail light socket May have been improperly molded, resulting in the locking tab having insufficient force to retain the bulb.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the tail lamp sockets.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › Mounting
Vehicle description: Mini vans. The fuel tank retention strap (two straps per vehicle) can break at the spot welds causing an underbody rattle.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel tank retention straps.
Seats
Vehicle description: Mini vans. The affected vehicles May have a second row right hand side captain chair that has inadequate lubrication of the easy entry and exit latch system. In some cases, the actuator spring in the latch could deform after repeated use, causing the latch to remain in the unlatched position.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat track for the second row right hand side captain's chair, which includes the easy entry and exit latch mechanism.
1998 Mercury Villager recalls (2)
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
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)…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the vent hose.
Electrical system › 12V/24V/48V battery
Vehicle description: passenger Mini vans equipped with automotive batteries supplied by gnb technologies. These batteries have a defective negative post that can cause acid leakage and related corrosion damage.
Remedy: Dealers will replace these batteries. Until a new battery is obtained, owners should not attempt to "jump start" these batteries.
1997 Mercury Villager recalls (3)
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
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)…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the vent hose.
Electrical system › 12V/24V/48V battery
Vehicle description: passenger Mini vans equipped with automotive batteries supplied by gnb technologies. These batteries have a defective negative post that can cause acid leakage and related corrosion damage.
Remedy: Dealers will replace these batteries. Until a new battery is obtained, owners should not attempt to "jump start" these batteries.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › Mounting
The four rubber fuel line connector hoses that are supplied to Ford with the fuel tank assembly were improperly manufactured. These hoses can develop cracks or splits resulting in fuel leakage.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the fuel tank assembly for the suspect date codes and replace the four rubber fuel connector hoses if necessary.
1996 Mercury Villager recalls (2)
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
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)…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the vent hose.
Visibility › Power window devices and controls
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."
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…
1995 Mercury Villager recalls (3)
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
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)…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the vent hose.
Exterior lighting › Tail lights
The rear lamp socket May not illuminate because the metal can in the lamp socket moves or separates from the plastic socket housing.
Remedy: Dealers will install a revised rear lamp socket and wiring assemblies.
Seats
An out-of-specification condition in the seat cable roller pulley assembly can allow the cable that connects the seat adjust lever to the latch to be pinched in the roller assembly.
Remedy: Dealers will replace a component in the third row sliding bench seat latch assembly.
Frequently asked questions
How many recalls does the Mercury Villager have?
NHTSA lists 12 recalls for the Mercury Villager across 7 model years.
How do I know if my Mercury Villager has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN decoder & recall check or on nhtsa.gov/recalls. Dealers fix recalls for free, even if you are not the original owner.
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.