1997 Mercury Villager: doors won't lock, open or latch

Filed Feb 25, 2004 · Body, Locks · 20,000 miles · CA

Consumer complained about automatic door lock problem. The doors locked without notice. Currently, hatchback will not open. Also, driver's side seat belt did not retract.

Filed Oct 31, 2003 · Locks · 45,000 miles · CA

Door locks engage intermittently by themselves. This occurs both when the vehicle is running and off, and when the vehicle is moving or parked.

Filed Oct 22, 2002 · Body · FL

Door locks continually lock and unlock themselves wheter driving or parked

Filed Jul 11, 2002 · Locks · TN

While trying to exit vehicle door locks will not unlock. Consumer states doors will become inoperable.

Filed Apr 22, 2002 · Body · WI

Consumer states that the door locks by itself after the door is shut.

Filed May 11, 2001 · Locks · FL

The saftey issue with my mercury villager started on 2/18/99. The door locks will lock by themselves on many occasions. The doors will lock when the keys are in the ignition and a door is shut, when the keys are out of the ignition, when driving over any bumps in the road. As of today, my vehicle has been in for service for the door locks 5 times. A couple of weeks ago my 3 year old was locked in the car in his carseat with the keys in the ignition. I live in key west florida and it is beginning to get very hot here. I am seriously concered with the problem and it has become a huge safety concern. I am tired to taking the vehicle in for servicing and a month or two later it is back in with the same problem. I have phoned ford customer service. They had the service manger from our one local dealership call me. (his phone call took 2 weeks to get) we eventually set up another appointment for the van. (after I had to wait another week while he was on vacation when I originally called him back.) I have esp coverage on my van which is paying for part of the rental fee for the van I rented while mine is in the 5th time trying to be repaired. I am not sure where to turn at this point with these safety issues!!! I am becoming very disgusted with the entire process. I am utimately afraid of my toddler being locked in a car in key west when it is 90 degrees. Please respond. Following are the dates the vehical was in for servicing for the locks: 2/18/99: 8/25/00: 10/02/00: 1/30/01: 2/28/01 : and : 5/8/01.

Filed Jan 30, 2001 · Airbags · NY

Problem: interior systems:passive restraint:air bag. - when I started my vehicle on sunday evening, january 28th about 6:15pm, the "air bag" red warning light was flashing. I called the dealer the next day, monday, 29th and scheduled an appointment to look at this on thursday, feb 1 at 7:30am. The light continues to flash as of this writing and has not stopped. Second problem: this has not been addressed until now because I had only just now while researching tsb's that owners have had problem with "intermittent self-activation door locks." I will also address this with the dealer. The mileage indicated at the time of this problem is approximate. I do know that it first occured when I used door lock mechanism when getting out of the van on a saturday in october. I was attending my son's football game. Thanks for your efforts. Additionally, I have never had a problem or complaint w/skinner sales. Signed, rich monahan.

Filed Aug 29, 2000 · Body · AZ

Door locks lock independently making entry and exit difficult- technical service bulletin 9823-6, presents danger of being locked in car for small children in dangerously hot summer weather in arizona

Filed Dec 29, 1999 · Locks · NC

Side door latching system releases during travel.

Filed Oct 19, 1999 · Body, Brakes · VA

We started reporting the problem with the sliding door on 7/15/99. The lock did not lock or unlock consistently whether using the remote or the inside automatic button and the door rattled like something was loose inside. The service dept at capitol lincoln mercury(richmond, va) decided to replace the antenna on 8/16. This did not correct the problem. On 10/4, I took it back again and they replaced the sliding door lock actuator. This corrected the problem with the door locking/unlocking but now, the child safety lock is stuck and the door still rattles.****I initially reported a problem with the steering wheel shimmeying and the brakes grabbing on 8/16. They reported the brakes were okay - 5mm. I had the tires replaced and aligned which took 3 days because they didn't realize that they only had 3 tires. The steering wheel continued to shimmey so I took it back on 10/13. The weights had fallen off so they had to rebalance the tires. They also stated the the vibration when braking would be fixed by turning the front rotors which they did. They stated that with the turning of the rotors that I should replace my brakes which I did...for $55.83. The next day, 10/14, I took the van back because it sounded like something was rubbing under the car. This problem was corrected by replacing the rotors that they turned the previous day. Currently, the steering wheel still shimmies just not to the extent as before. I'm taking it back again on 10/20.

Filed May 25, 1999 · Body · TX

Intermittent self activation of the power door locks. It locked our 22 month old in vehicle after child was strapped into car seat and van door was closed. My wife, luckily, had removed the key from the ignition before she picked up baby. In hot weather my wife would have left the van running with the A/C on and our daughter would have been locked in an automobile that was running and the keys in the ignition. There are 3 tsb's covering this defect, but ford will not repair the problem at their cost. I have a friend with a 1993 villager that has the same problem. We have had to hide a key on vehicle in case we are locked out of the vehicle and our daughter is locked in.

Filed Feb 1, 1999 · Body · CA

Automatic door lock failed, when closing the right front door all the doors lock. Repairs were done on two occasions. Problem still exist.