1995 Mercury Villager: complete transmission failure

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine, Seat belts · 120,000 miles · MI

The paint is cracked on the hood, unknown what month, about 1997. We never had it fixed. Drivers door seatbelt stays in the running position, it won't move forward, but it makes a loud motor noise, unknown what month, since about 1999. We never had it fixed. The seat belt on the right next to the middle seat fell off. We told the dealer. They ordered one. We went back about a month later they said it was too late to fix it. The transmission went out in about may of 1998, at about 120,000 miles. We had it rebuilt. It went out again about a yr later. We can't afford to have it rebuilt again right now. So it sits. In jul or aug of 1998, the motor went out. We were driving down the highway, and it started knocking, then quit. Also on christmas eve of 1997, we were going down the road and the thing sounded like all the rods were knocking. The temp gauge said it was over heating. We paid a guy $100 to bring it from edmore, mi to battle creek, mi. The next day we went out and started it, and it was fine. Our tail lights also went out, the ford dealer fixed them. So needless to say, I will never buy a mercury again. If I had wanted a nissan, I would have bought a nissan. I have a 1976 ford chateau club wagon, over 250,000 miles. It has only had to have a transmission at about 240,000 miles. So I guess I am saying this villager is a lemon. Thank you for listening, dawn green

Filed Mar 19, 2002 · Transmission · NY

Lost reverse gear on transmission. Took to the nearest transmission shop. Owner said a piece had broken apart in the transmission, wearing a groove in the reverse cylinder. The transmission was full of metal pieces. After a $2000 repair, ford tells me that they won't honor any work done at a none ford repair shop. I believe that this defect has been seen in other transmission failures in these vehicles.

Filed Jan 27, 2001 · Transmission · CA

Transmission would not shift into reverse and check engine light came on when taken to dealership after one week they looked at it and said that a spring had come loose in the transmisson and had made the transmission slip and then chew up the gears number 3 and 4 and reverse that is why it went out and the fact that they said it was defective and not well lubricated in the transmission that was why it went out due to no neglect on my part . So I need someone to look at the whole picture and see I had my van serviced by the same people who did the transmission so I did the maintenance how ford told me to service it and I need a new transmission? And a spring went loose, and did all that damage to the van transmission ? I'm at there mercy of the dealership and then it 3 weeks to rebuild the transmission? So they had the car 4 weeks one (month) the dealership is san diego auto collection of mission valley in san diego ca.*ak (tiresize: 205r7015)( dot number: tire size: 205r7015 )

Filed Aug 27, 2000 · Transmission · MD

The van reverse transmission failed, transmission shop reported that 95% of villager and nissan quest riverse transmission failed. I think this is a manufacturer defect.

Filed Dec 16, 1999 · Transmission · MI

I believe that the transmissions installed in many of the ford and mercury minivans are unsafe. After speaking to several independents and transmission repair facilities I was told over and over again that it was surprising if the transmissions (of foreign mfg) lasted for 80,000 miles. I was told by my local dealer that to replace the transmission would cost $4,200.00!! I thought they were kidding! But he was dead serious and told me that it was a very expensive repair. The cheapest price I have been "quoted" is $3,000.00. Surely that will escalate when the final repair bill is prepared. I believe that there are many people that have also been victims of these sub-standard components. I would like ford motor to be notified and if possible a full scale investigation to see if as many people as I think have been horrified to learn about the premature failure and subsequent cost are out there!

Filed Oct 22, 1999 · Transmission · VA

Intermittent speedometer problem required the replacement of the speed sensor and dropping the transmission to replace the gear that drives the speed sensor with no noticeable transmission problems. Appearently, there was a misalignment in the transmission that had to be corrected to function with new speed sensor. The concern is that the correct speed is not measured. 30 days after this repair, a dealership has diagnosed the current problem as being the transmission with the fix being a new transmission. The van is less than 5yrs old and has less than 48,000 miles. This appears to be a defective transmission or problem with the previous repair. The current problem was experienced while driving the van on 10/02/99. The van was coming to a stop for a traffic light. While the van was stopped, the engine raced, dropped as though it was going to die , and raced back to where it should be. The RPM gauge normally sits between 1 and .5 while the van is idleing. While at the traffic light the gauge raced above 1, dropped as though it was going to 0, and raced back to where it should be. The concern is that while the traffic light changed to green at the same time the engine raced, I simultaneously released the brake pedal. This caused the tires to squeal, grab, jerk, and thrust the van forward. This could potentially cause the van to be thrust forward into the rear of a vehicle in front of the van. The van would do this at every stop. Also, the wife and two small children were stranded in the left turn lane of a very busy intersection and heavily traveled route in the tysons corner area of northern virginia/dc area. This produced a dangerous situation until the wife was able to turn off the ignition, restart the van, place the van in drive, and drive the van home eventually. At the intersection while encountering the problem, the wife pressed the accelerator causing the engine to race, but the van would not move.

Filed Sep 29, 1999 · Transmission, Visibility · GA

Sliding door window has popped out, falling inward ,hitting child on top of head which could have caused serious injuires. Dealer has replaced latch and fitting, but defect keeps reoccurring. Also, transmission failed at 49,818 miles.

Filed Mar 18, 1999 · Transmission · TN

Transmission failed for following gears: reverse, 2nd gear, and overdrive. Also there is a recall for the nissan quest van for the cylinodes however, mercury-ford has not issued a recall and the mercury villager and the nissan quest are both manufactured by ford. Please check to see if there should be a recall on the transmission for this van as well as the cylinodes.