Lemon Law Center

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.

Corrective Action

in the event of a crash, the occupant seated in that location may not be adequately restrained, increasing the risk of personal injury.

Recall Notes

dealers will inspect the seat belt buckle assembly attachment. some belt buckle assemblies may require replacement.

2000 Mercury Villager

Component

Seat Belts

Consequence of Defect

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. 209, "seat belt assemblies."

Corrective Action

in the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained.

Recall Notes

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. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.

2000 Mercury Villager

Component

Steering:Rack And Pinion

Consequence of Defect

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.

Corrective Action

there could be a looseness in the steering, which may be accompanied by noise or vibration.

Recall Notes

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. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.

1999 Mercury Villager

Component

Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: minivans. the tail light socket may have been improperly molded, resulting in the locking tab having insufficient force to retain the bulb.

Corrective Action

if the bulb falls out of the socket, the brake or tail lamp function cannot occur.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the tail lamp sockets.

1999 Mercury Villager

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Mounting

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: mini vans. the fuel tank retention strap (two straps per vehicle) can break at the spot welds causing an underbody rattle.

Corrective Action

there is also a potential for fuel tank separation or fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the fuel tank retention straps.

1999 Mercury Villager

Component

Seats

Consequence of Defect

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.

Corrective Action

an unlatched seat track could result in an increased risk of injury in the event of a vehicle crash.

Recall Notes

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.

1999 Mercury Villager

Component

Steering:Rack And Pinion

Consequence of Defect

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.

Corrective Action

there could be a looseness in the steering, which may be accompanied by noise or vibration.

Recall Notes

1998 Mercury Villager

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Consequence of Defect

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.

Corrective Action

fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the vent hose.

1998 Mercury Villager

Component

Electrical System:Battery

Consequence of Defect

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.

Corrective Action

this condition can cause a catastrophic failure of the battery which could lead to an engine fire or battery explosion.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace these batteries. until a new battery is obtained, owners should not attempt to "jump start" these batteries.

1997 Mercury Villager

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the vent hose.

1997 Mercury Villager

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Mounting

Consequence of Defect

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.

Corrective Action

fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire.

Recall Notes

dealers will inspect the fuel tank assembly for the suspect date codes and replace the four rubber fuel connector hoses if necessary.

1997 Mercury Villager

Component

Electrical System:Battery

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

this condition can cause a catastrophic failure of the battery which could lead to an engine fire or battery explosion.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace these batteries. until a new battery is obtained, owners should not attempt to "jump start" these batteries.

1996 Mercury Villager

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the vent hose.

1996 Mercury Villager

Component

Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls

Consequence of Defect

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."

Corrective Action

there is the potential for unsupervised children to operate the power windows, increasing the risk of personal injury to the child.

Recall Notes

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 opened. also included are instructions describing how and where this label is to be installed. if an owner prefers, their dealer can install this label for them.

1995 Mercury Villager

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the vent hose.

1995 Mercury Villager

Component

Seats

Consequence of Defect

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.

Corrective Action

consequence of non-compliance: this condition can prevent the latch on the left side from fully engaging the seat rail. this does not comply with the requirement of fmvss no. 207, "seating systems."

Recall Notes

dealers will replace a component in the third row sliding bench seat latch assembly.

1995 Mercury Villager

Component

Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights

Consequence of Defect

the rear lamp socket may not illuminate because the metal can in the lamp socket moves or separates from the plastic socket housing.

Corrective Action

this can result in malfunction of the stop or rear running lamps. center high mount stop lamp function is unaffected. rear lamp malfunction can result in following drivers not being alerted to the subject vehicle's presence or intended actions, particularly in the case in which both lamps have malfunctioned.

Recall Notes

dealers will install a revised rear lamp socket and wiring assemblies.

1994 Mercury Villager

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the vent hose.

1994 Mercury Villager

Component

Visibility:Windshield

Consequence of Defect

the windshields were marked with a "prototype" designation and not marked as required by fmvss no. 205, "glazing materials."

Corrective Action

consequence of non-compliance: incorrect labeling of windshield may cause concern or confusion about the prototype designation.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the windshields on the affected vans.

1994 Mercury Villager

Component

Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights

Consequence of Defect

the rear lamp socket may not illuminate because the metal can in the lamp socket moves or separates from the plastic socket housing.

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

dealers will install a revised rear lamp socket and wiring assemblies.

1993 Mercury Villager

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the vent hose.

1993 Mercury Villager

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Consequence of Defect

fuel filler hoses may have been cut prior to installation by a utility knife used to open the shipping box.

Corrective Action

fuel leakage can result if the cut extended through thethickness of the hose wall. leaking fuel can result in a fire if exposedto a source of ignition.

Recall Notes

replace the fuel filler hose.

1993 Mercury Villager

Component

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder

Consequence of Defect

the service brake master cylinder was not properly assembled or could have been damaged by the evacuation and filling of the brake system at the assembly plant.

Corrective Action

this can result in a partial brake system failure due tointernal master cylinder leakage which can cause loss of braking on two of thefour wheels. if this occurs, there would be increased brake pedal travel, higherpedal efforts and increased stopping distances.

Recall Notes

a new brake master cylinder will be installed.

1993 Mercury Villager

Component

Seat Belts

Consequence of Defect

one or both of the bolts securing the automatic seat belt restraint system tracks to the b-pillars were not adequately tightened.

Corrective Action

this condition can result in the automatic seat beltsystem track joints having less than design strength, and increase the risk ofinjury to the seat occupant in the event of a collision or sudden stop.

Recall Notes

dealers will tighten the passive restraint system track mounting bolts.

1993 Mercury Villager

Component

Visibility:Defroster/Defogger System

Consequence of Defect

leaves and other foreign material can enter through the cowl panel air intake during operation of the front heater and/or air conditioning system resulting in a build-up of material in the plenum. this can lead to noise, odors, or in some cases, ignition of these materials.

Corrective Action

a vehicle fire could occur.

Recall Notes

dealers will install an additional heater/air conditioning system intake screen.