Mercury Tracer complaints by model year
567 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 20 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| 1998 | 44 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 | 142 | 15 | 17 | 1 |
| 1996 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | 96 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| 1994 | 66 | 18 | 5 | 1 |
| 1993 | 62 | 11 | 3 | 0 |
| 1992 | 24 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| 1991 | 60 | 2 | 9 | 2 |
| 1990 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | 16 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 1988 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 1991–2000. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 17 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 22 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 13 | 3 | 10 | 5 | 39 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 47 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 14 | 1 | 21 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| Seat belts | 10 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| Suspension | 2 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 2 | 0 |
| Power train | 5 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Mercury Tracer recalls (10)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one Tracer model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02V323000 | Dec 9, 2002 | FORD/INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR CONTAMINATION | 1997 | — |
| 97V144000 | Sep 3, 1997 | FORD/FUEL TANK | 1995 | — |
| 97V145000 | Sep 3, 1997 | FORD/FUEL TANK | 1995 | — |
| 95V103011 | Jun 27, 1995 | INTERIOR SYSTEMS:ACTIVE RESTRAINTS:BELT BUCKLES | 1987, 1988, 1989 | — |
| 94V218000 | Nov 10, 1994 | INTERIOR SYSTEMS:PASSIVE RESTRAINT:AIR BAG:DRIVER | 1994, 1995 | — |
| 93V057000 | Apr 15, 1993 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT | 1991 | — |
| 92V117000 | Aug 19, 1992 | FUEL:FUEL SYSTEMS | 1991 | — |
| 92V103000 | Jul 13, 1992 | LIGHTING:SWITCH:BUTTON:RING:BRAKE LIGHTS | 1992 | — |
| 89V085000 | May 22, 1989 | INTERIOR SYSTEMS:ACTIVE RESTRAINTS:BELT RETRACTORS | 1988 | — |
| 87V092000 | Jun 15, 1987 | FUEL:FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY:PIPE:FILLER:NECK | 1988 | — |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
Mercury Tracer FAQ
How many recalls has the Mercury Tracer had?
NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns that cover at least one Mercury Tracer model year from 1988 to 2000. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Mercury Tracer year has the most complaints?
Among the last 13 model years with settled counts, the 1997 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (142) and the 1990 the fewest (2). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Mercury Tracer problems?
Across the 1991–2000 model years, owners most often name the electrical system, fuel system, air bags in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the Mercury Tracer get?
EPA rates the 1999 Mercury Tracer at 25 to 28 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.