Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1999 Mercury Villager, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Vehicle speed control87
- Exterior lighting17
- Service brakes, hydraulic12
- Structure11
- Power train11
- Fuel system, gasoline10
- Engine and engine cooling9
- Steering9
- Electrical system9
- Tires8
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 8 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 3 1999 Villager vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 people died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1999 Mercury Villager failed the safety check 0.56% of the time — 68% less often than the average 1999 passenger car (1.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 128,508 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS. THE TAIL LIGHT SOCKET MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MOLDED, RESULTING IN THE LOCKING TAB HAVING INSUFFICIENT FORCE TO RETAIN THE BULB.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THE FUEL TANK RETENTION STRAP (TWO STRAPS PER VEHICLE) CAN BREAK AT THE SPOT WELDS CAUSING AN UNDERBODY RATTLE.
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. IF THIS OCCURS, THE SEAT WILL SLIDE FREELY ON THE SEAT TRACK AND THE SPRINGS ON THE TRACK WILL MOVE THE SEAT TO THE EASY ENTRY POSITION TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE.
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 1999 Mercury Villager: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637438 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT STATIC OR IGNITION NOISE THROUGH THE RADIO ON THE AM BAND. *TT |
| 636354 | INFORMATION PERTAINING TO LIFTGATE CYLINDER OPERATION. *TT |
| 636065 | INFORMATION REGARDING DISCHARGED BATTERY CHARGING SERVICE TIPS AND GUIDELINES. *TT |
| 636061 | SOME VEHICLES BUILT FROM 9/26/1998 THROUGH 9/5/2001 MAY EXHIBIT POWER DOOR LOCKS THAT SELF-ACTIVE OR CYCLE ON. *TT |
| 630708 | CONCERNS WITH VEHICLE EXHIBITING A HEADLAMP THAT IS DIM, FLICKERS OR IS INOEPRATIVE. *TT |
| 630665 | SOME VEHICLES WITH THE REAR SEAT ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM MAY EXHIBIT AN INOPERATIVE CONDITION. *TT |
| 630515 | ENGINE OIL SYSTEM PRIMING PROCEDURES, SERVICE TIPS FOR REPORTS OF PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. *TT |
| 630323 | EXPEREINCING SLIGHT VIBRATION/SHAKE FELT ON SOME VEHICLES IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND/OR FLOOR PAN AND FRONT SEAT AT STEADY VEHICLE SPEEDS ABOVE 2 KM/H (45 MPH) AFTER TIRE/WHEEL ASSEMBLIES ARE BALANCED. *TT |
| 630140 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT INTERIOR LAMPS THAT COME ON WHILE DRIVING. *TT |
| 630091 | INFORMATION REGARDING FLIP OUT WINDOW LATCH ADJUSTMENT. *YH |
| 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 |
| 625859 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT POOR AND / OR NO A/C PERFORMANCE. *TT |
| 625715 | BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB |
| 625707 | POWER DOOR LOCKS, SELF ACTIVATING OR CYCLING.*JB |
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 622811 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT THE REAR UNDER BODY AIR CONDITIONING LINES LEAKING. *TT |
| 619436 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A GEAR WHINE NOISE FROM THE FRONT UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40 KM/H (25 MPH) AND 113 KM/H (70 MPH). *TT |
| 618584 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE VIBRATION / SHAKE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND / OR FLOOR PAN AND FRONT SEAT AT STEADY VEHICLE SPEEDS ABOVE 72 KM/H (45 MPH) ON SMOOTH ROADS AFTER THE TIRE / WHEEL ASSEMBLIES ARE BALANCED. *JB |
| 616568 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A TRANSMISSION OPERATION CONCERN. *TT |
| 616535 | ON SOME VEHICLES, THE SECOND ROW TWO-PASSENGER BENCH OR SECOND ROW BUCKET SEATS MAY SHAKE OR VIBRATE NOTICEABLY WHILE DRIVING ON ROUGH ROADS OR OVER BUMPS. *TT |
| 616514 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A GEAR WHINE NOISE FROM THE FRONT UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40 KM/H (25 MPH) AND 113 KM/H (70 MPH). *TT |
| 615545 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN INOPERATIVE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM. *TT |
| 615524 | INFORMATION ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TWO DIFFERENT GAS-FILLED LIFT CYLINDERS ON THE LIFTGATE. *TT |
| 615523 | SOME VEHICLES WITH OPTIONAL POWER MOONROOF MAY NOT CLOSE FROM A PARTIALLY OPEN POSITION AFTER BATTERY POWER IS DISCONNECTED FOR VEHICLE SERVICE. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FAILING HEADLIGHTS
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation