Model year guide

1996 Mercury villager

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1996 Mercury villager is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 1 on record.

1996 Mercury villager — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

1996 Mercury villager at a glance

Safety recalls2
Owner complaints224
Combined18 mpg

Free: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1996 Mercury villager recalls 2

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly NHTSA Campaign #00V419002 · 02/01/2001

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 C…

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VENT HOSE.

Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls NHTSA Campaign #98V012001 · 23/03/1998

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."

Fix: 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…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1996 Mercury villager common problems

Owners have filed 224 complaints with NHTSA. These are the most-reported areas in a sample of the most recent — and what to check before you buy.

Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Latches/locks/linkages
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Equipment
Test all accessories — sunroof, climate, seats, electronics — for proper operation.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.

1996 Mercury villager MPG & running costs

Combined18 mpg
City16 mpg
Highway21 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,700
EPA size classSpecial Purpose Vehicles
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$6,500 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 2 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1996 Mercury villager costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$18,500
Fuel only$18,500
Per mile$0.25

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

1996 Mercury villager trims & engines on record

Trims
fwd gs
Engines
3.0L 6-cyl

1996 Mercury villager vehicles on record

1996 Mercury villager 1996 Mercury villager fwd gs4M2DV11W3TDJ13492

Other Mercury villager model years

2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1995 1993

1996 Mercury villager — frequently asked questions

Does the 1996 Mercury villager have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1996 Mercury villager. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.

What are the most common problems with the 1996 Mercury villager?

Owners have filed 224 complaints with NHTSA; in a sample of the most recent, the most-reported problem areas are engine and engine cooling, latches/locks/linkages, electrical system.

What gas mileage does the 1996 Mercury villager get?

The 1996 Mercury villager has a U.S. EPA estimate of 18 mpg combined (16 city / 21 highway).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.