Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Mercury Villager, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Vehicle speed control14
- Structure12
- Service brakes, hydraulic9
- Suspension9
- Power train8
- Latches/locks/linkages7
- Visibility6
- Fuel system, gasoline5
- Tires4
- Air bags3
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 4 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1998 Mercury Villager failed the safety check 2.55% of the time — 49% more often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 150,431 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 13.3 L/100 km (about 18 mpg US), CO₂ 306 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Villager · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 15.2 | 10.9 | 13.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1998 Mercury Villager.
| 2001025 9 Feb 2001 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, cracks could develop in the fuel vent hose. If (1) the fuel tank is overfilled, not allowing excess fuel in the vent hose to flow back into… |
| 1997190 30 Oct 1997 | Electrical THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH DEFECTIVE BATTERIES. THE BATTERIES MAY HAVE NEGATIVE TERMINALS THAT COULD FRACTURE CAUSING ACID LEAKAGE AND RELA… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mercury told its dealers about the 1998 Mercury Villager: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 636065 | INFORMATION REGARDING DISCHARGED BATTERY CHARGING SERVICE TIPS AND GUIDELINES. *TT |
| 630515 | ENGINE OIL SYSTEM PRIMING PROCEDURES, SERVICE TIPS FOR REPORTS OF PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. *TT |
| 630001 | SOME ENGINE ASSEMBLIES WITH ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS REPAIRED IN-VEHILE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO LEAK COOLANT AND/OR OIL FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET AREA. *TT |
| 627747 | THIS ARITLCE IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON REPLACEMENT OF OLD STYLE HOOD LAMP SWITCH TO THE RVISED MECHANICAL HOOD LAMP SWITCH. *TT |
| 625715 | BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB |
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 619460 | INFORMATION ON SERVICING THE FORWARD CLUTCH. *TT |
| 615278 | SOME VEHICLES WITH ANALOG INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS MAY EXHIBIT A CONCERN OF A FLUCTUATING OR JUMPING TACHOMETER INDICATOR NEEDLE. *TT |
| 615197 | SOME VEHICLES WITH ANALOG INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS MAY EXHIBIT A CONCERN OF A FLUCTUATING OR JUMPING TACHOMETER INDICATOR NEEDLE. *TT |
| 613278 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NOISE CONCERN(S) FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION WHEN DRIVING ON ROUGH ROADS OR DURING A LEFT TURN. *TT |
| 613226 | SOME VEHICLES MAY DISPLAY DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 34, OR P0325 (MIL DTC 0304) WHEN TESTING THE ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM. *TT |
| 613185 | REPEAT MESSAGE REGARDING POWER DOOR LOCKS SELF-LOCKING / ERRATIC OPERATION. *TT |
| 613142 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NOISE CONCERN (S) FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION WHEN DRIVING ON ROUGH ROADS OR DURING A LEFT TURN. *MJS |
| 613060 | SOME VEHICLES MAY DISPLAY DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) 34, OR PO325 (MIL DTC 0304) WHEN TESTING THE ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM, INDICATING A FAULT WITH THE ENGINE KNOCK SENSOR CIRCUIT. *MJS |
| 612788 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE SERVICING OF THE FORWARD CLUTCH, WHICH HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THREE INDIVIDUAL PARTS. *MJS |
| 612739 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH COMPACT DISC CHANGER MAY EXHIBIT A 6 DISC CD CHANGER THAT IS NOT EJECTING THE MAGAZINE OR IS NOT RESPONDING TO COMMAND FROM THE RADIO. |
| 612203 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS |
| 609654 | ADDRESSING AN INTERMITTENT CONDITION WHERE THE SPEED CONTROL WILL NOT SET OR MAY DISENGAGE WHILE DRIVING. *TT |
| 609534 | REAR BRAKES ARE BINDING OR OVERHEATING AFTER HAVING BEEN SERVICED. YD |
| 6090862 | WHINING NOISE FROM TRANSAXLE ON LIGHT ACCELERATION, TIP-IN ACCELERATION BETWEEN 40-64 KM/H (25-40 MPH) |
| 6090860 | EXHIBITING AN INTERMITTENT CONDITION WHERE THE SPEED CONTROL WILL NOT SET OR MAY DISENGAGE WHILE DRIVING. *TT |
| 6090536 | INFORMATION REGARDING SRS SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS, AIR BAG WARNING INDICATION. *MJS |
| 6090307 | SUBJECT REGARDING A FLASHING AIR BAG WARNING LAMP INDICATING A FAULT IN THE SYSTEM. *TT |
| 6090087 | INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FUEL TANK VENT HOSE LEAKAGE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation