1999 Mercury Villager review from North America

Excessive suspension noises.

Intermittent loss of steering.

Interior panels have come loose, one needed replaced.

Rubber trim around windshield has come loose.

Electric door locks sometimes stick, making a buzzing noise.

We purchased our Mercury Villager new in 1999.

Upon driving off of the dealer's lot, we noticed a clunking noise coming from the front while turning the steering wheel. The service manager was called out to the lot and ended up telling us to keep driving it, it was because the vehicle was new and it needed to "break in". We reluctantly left the dealership, but figured he knew what he was talking about.

Several months had passed and our noise did not go away, in fact, we started to have more problems with the steering & suspension. When cornering, there is a noise that sounds like the front left strut is going to come through the body. The original noise comes and goes depending on the weather, it was found to be a front suspension spring that is binding during turns.

Our biggest concern started approximately 4 months after purchase, during certain driving / weather conditions, (wet, cold, damp) we would temporarily lose control of the steering. This problem is not just a loss of the power steering, there has been a "piston" or popping type sound that has also forced the steering wheel in the opposite direction you are trying to turn. Due to the serious "safety" nature of this problem, we have not been able to use this vehicle as intended, and do not feel safe driving it.

We have tried to resolve this situation for the past several years through Ford, they in turn have sent us to every dealership in our area. Due to the intermittent nature of the problem, and the unwillingness of the dealerships to keep the vehicle for an extended period of time, Ford still claims "No problem found." or "Could not duplicate problem."

We finally decided to take the vehicle to an "expert" mechanic for a thorough inspection who in turn, did in fact find a problem within the steering. The inspection cost us several hundred dollars, but gave us the opportunity to take legal action to get this matter resolved once and for all.