1997 MERCURY VILLAGER Air Bags Problems

DRIVING MY '97 MERCURY VILLAGER INTO A COMMERCIAL DRIVEWAY AT ABOUT 3 MPH, BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON GOING OVER A SLIGHT BUMP. *NM

Mileage: 134,912

I WENT TO THE MERCURY DEALERSHIP TODAY FOR A FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT TODAY ON MY 1997 VILLAGER. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS VEHICLE REQUIRES A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT, DUE TO THE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. I WAS INFORMED ALSO THAT IN ORDER FOR THE DEALER TO GET THE ALIGNMENT IN SPECS, REAR SHIMS WOULD NEED TO BE INSTALLED IN THE REAR TWO WHEELS OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THESE SHIMS ARE NOT INSTALLED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BUILT, BUT ARE REQUIRED IN ALMOST ALL CASES ONCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT ON THE ROAD AND HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE PRICE TAG? A HEFTY $347 PLUS TAX! I HAD TO DECLINE THE REPAIR, I THINK IT IS PATHETIC FOR FORD TO CUT COSTS IN THIS MANNER, ALWAYS PASSING UP QUALITY IN THE INTEREST OF SAVING A BUCK! THE MORAL OF THIS STORY IS I PAID 80.00 DOLLARS TODAY FOR A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED! I THINK FORD/MERCURY SHOULD BE CALLED ON THE CARPET AND REQUIRED TO INSTALL THIS PART ON ALL VILLAGERS. THIS IN MY OPINION SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE FIRST PLACE!

Mileage: 61,000

PLEASE REFER TO MY E-MAIL THIS DATE TO THE "WEBMASTER". NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

PANEL RIGHT IN FRONT OF AIR BAG IS POPPING UP, AND AIR BAG HAS NOT COME OUT YET, BUT PANEL THAT COVERS IT HAS BEEN POPPING UP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *AK

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.*AK

DRIVER WAS AT A STOP AND LIFTED FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND LIGHTLY REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT ABOUT 1-2MPH, AND BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT A CAUSE. ALSO, FOR TWO DAYS THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL WITHIN THE PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. CONSUMER PAID LITTLE ATTENTION TO THE SMELL. HOWEVER, THE SMELL MIGHT BE LINKED TO THE AIR BAG PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER REPAIRED AIRBAGS AND WINDSHIELD UNDER WARRANTY. FORD SENT AN ENGINEER TO LOOK AT THE VAN, CONCLUDED THE AIR BAGS WAS DEFECTIVE DUE TO GENERAL WEAR AND TEAR. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHED AT ALL TIMES. PREVIOUSLY, THE SAME PROBLEM APPEARED, BUT WITH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMING ON, AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED. *AK

DRIVING AT APRROXIMATELY 70 MPH VEHICLE HYDROPLANED, WENT INTO A SPIN AND HIT A BRIDGE RAIL WITH RIGHT FRONT BUMPER. DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURIES AND TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE. *AK

SLIDING DOOR PANEL FALLS OFF, THERE IS A SPOT ON THE DOOR IF CONSUMER TOUCHES IT THE DOOR POPS OPEN. TIRES ARE BALD, AND AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES.

SLIDING DOOR PANEL FALLS OFF, THERE IS A SPOT ON THE DOOR, AND IF ONE TOUCHES IT THE DOOR POPS OPEN. ALSO TIRES ARE BALD, AND AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES.

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON INTERMITTENTLY.