Minivan Twins From Mercury, Nissan Recalled

Owners of more than 700,000 1993-1998 model year Mercury Villager and Nissan Quest minivans will receive voluntary safety recall notices from the manufacturers this month for repair of a potentially faulty fuel tank vent hose.

The recall affects 268,000 Nissan Quest vans and 435,426 Mercury Villagers, including all 1993-97 models sold in California by both companies. Nissan designed the van and built its version in Japan, and Mercury licensed the design and built its version in Ohio.

The recall was ordered after Nissan discovered that some of the rubber gas tank vent hoses had developed cracks that could leak fuel under certain conditions if the vehicles’ gas tanks were overfilled. No injuries or fires have been reported, Nissan said.

The repair, to be done at no cost to vehicle owners, will involve replacing the hose with one made of a different type of rubber.

The two companies began mailing the recall notices Feb. 5. Nissan said it has informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the recall.