Mercury Tracer recalls and complaints by year

13 recall campaigns and 754 complaints in official NHTSA data for the Mercury Tracer (1987–2000). The most commonly reported problem areas are Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling, Air bags.

Last updated: (NHTSA data snapshot)

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At a Glance

Total Recalls 13
Total Complaints 754
Years Covered 1987–2000

Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards. Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.

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Get plain-language explanations of recalls and complaints for the Mercury Tracer. Powered by AI, backed by NHTSA data.

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Key Takeaways

A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the Mercury Tracer, based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.

Recall Themes

Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas. Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.

Fuel and emissions

4 campaigns · Years: 1988, 1991, 1995

These campaigns relate to fuel delivery or emissions components where leaks or failures can raise safety risk.

Official notices (evidence):
+ 1 more notice in this theme

Airbags

2 campaigns · Years: 1994–1995, 1997

These campaigns relate to airbag system components and deployment/airbag readiness issues.

Official notices (evidence):

Seats and restraints

2 campaigns · Years: 1987–1989

These campaigns relate to seats, belts, airbags restraint integration, or child restraint anchoring components.

Official notices (evidence):

Brakes

1 campaign · Years: 1992

These campaigns relate to braking system components that can affect stopping performance or warning behavior.

Official notices (evidence):

Electrical

1 campaign · Years: 1991

These campaigns relate to wiring or electrical components that can cause warning lights, loss of function, or fire risk in some cases.

Official notices (evidence):

Common Problems in NHTSA Data

Across all model years, the most commonly reported problem areas for the Mercury Tracer in NHTSA complaint data are Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling, Air bags.

How to read NHTSA complaint data to research common problems →

Jump to Model Year

Year-by-Year Overview

Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and complaints, not risk predictions.

Model Year Recalls Complaints Details
2000 0 2 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling, Service brakes, hydraulic.
1999 0 32 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Service brakes, hydraulic, Power train.
1998 0 57 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system.
1997 1 181 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Air bags, Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling.
1996 0 15 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts, Air bags, Seats.
1995 3 126 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Fuel system, gasoline, Engine and engine cooling, Seat belts.
1994 1 81 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic, Seat belts, Air bags.
1993 0 114 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline, Power train.
1992 1 26 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Seat belts, Fuel system, gasoline.
1991 2 76 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline, Seat belts.
1990 0 2 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Structure, Steering.
1989 1 20 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling, Service brakes, hydraulic, Seat belts.
1988 3 22 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts, Engine and engine cooling, Power train.
1987 1 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.

What to Do Next

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Recall Evidence by Year

A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model. The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.

Most common areas involved: Fuel system , Seat belts and Air bags

Show recall evidence by year

1997

  • Air bags: Sensor/control module-inactive: Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (02V323000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: On certain passenger vehicles, the integrated air bag monitor (iabm) can be contaminated with water or other liquids and could experience internal electrical shorting.

1995

  • Air bags: Frontal: Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (94V218000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The driver side air bag module can have an inadequately welded inflator canister.
  • Fuel system, gasoline: Tank assembly: Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (97V144000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with 1.9L engines, built at the hermosillo or wayne assembly plants and originally sold or currently registered in nevada, florida, hawaii, texas, california, louisiana, georgia, south carolina, mississippi, oklahoma, alabama and arkansas. Cracks c
  • Fuel system, gasoline: Tank assembly: Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (97V145000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with 1.9L engines, built at the hermosillo assembly plant and originally sold or currently registered in arizona. Cracks can develop in the fuel tank near the heat shield attachment resulting in fuel leakage if the cracks go through the fuel tank w

1994

  • Air bags: Frontal: Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (94V218000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The driver side air bag module can have an inadequately welded inflator canister.

1992

  • Exterior lighting: Switch: Safety recall involving the exterior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (92V103000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The stop lamp switches could intermittently malfunction resulting in the stop lamps not illuminating when the brakes are applied.

1991

  • Fuel system, gasoline: Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (92V117000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Fatigue cracks can develop in the solder joint between the fuel return tube and the fuel pump sending unit located at the top of the fuel tank.
  • Electrical system: Control module: Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (93V057000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The roll pins securing the ignition lock in the steering column housing can separate or move out of position.

1989

  • Seat belts: Buckle assembly: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (95V103011) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The front safety belt buckle release buttons can break. These red plastic release buttons are marked "press." If a button breaks, pieces can fall into the buckle assembly causing the buckle to operate improperly.

1988

  • Fuel system, gasoline: Filler pipe and cap: Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (87V092000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Incorrect fuel filler neck attachment screws were used to attach the neck to the rear quarter panels.
  • Seat belts: Retractor: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (89V085000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Some lap shoulder belt retractors were built with certain out of tolerance components.
  • Seat belts: Buckle assembly: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (95V103011) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The front safety belt buckle release buttons can break. These red plastic release buttons are marked "press." If a button breaks, pieces can fall into the buckle assembly causing the buckle to operate improperly.

1987

  • Seat belts: Buckle assembly: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (95V103011) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The front safety belt buckle release buttons can break. These red plastic release buttons are marked "press." If a button breaks, pieces can fall into the buckle assembly causing the buckle to operate improperly.

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⚠️ Important Safety Information

Recall Explained provides independent analysis of official NHTSA data. This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.

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