RoadVitals

1989 Mercury Tracer Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Aug 13, 2017
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jan 26, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 16 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Mercury Tracer. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–16 of 16

Filed Aug 13, 2017

THERE IS A STALLING PROBLEM, EVEN WHEN DRIVING! THE WERE A NUMBER OF TIMES THAT I HAD TO BE PUSHED OF A MAIN ROAD. IT TOOK HOURS TO RESTART. IF I WAIT OVER 10 HOURS, MOST TIMES THE CAR WILL RESTART. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE IN THE IGNITION MODULE AND /OR THE MAGNET AND/OR THE ROTOR. I HAVE SPENT NEARLY $2,300.00 REPLACING PARTS. THE CAR STILL STALLS OUT EVEN WHEN DRIVING! IT IS POSSIBLE THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE DISTRIBUTOR OR THE IGNITION MODULE. THE CONTACTS TO THE RELAY IN THE FUSE BOX WERE CLEANED BUT IT STILL STALLS RANDOMLY. I BELIEVE THERE WAS A RECALL WITH THE IGNITION MODULE, ROTOR AND MAGNET SET. IS THAT TRUE?

NHTSA ID
11014936
Incident
Apr 1, 2016
Mileage
90,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Dec 30, 2001

THEY HAVE A LEAP SEAT BELT IN THE BACK ONLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
756208
Engine
Filed Oct 13, 2000

I AM A SINGLE 66 YR OLD ON A FIXED INCOME, PURCHASED THE THE VEHICLE IN JUNE OF 2000 SINCE THAT DATE I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR, WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE GETS HOT OR MORE SO WARMED UP IT QUITS WHEREVER IT MAY BE, THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN INTERSECTIONS AND ALSO THE EXPRESSWAYS. I ALSO HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES AND NOW HAVE SPENT OVER $600.00 NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE, AFTER READING THE ARTICLE IN THIS WEEKS ISSUE OF THE OAKLAND PRESS IN REQUARDS TO FORD PRODUCTS THAT WOULD CERTANLY PINPOINT MY PROBLEM.. IF YOU COULD PLEASE HELP ME ON THIS ISSUE I WOULD GREATLY APPERICATE IT.. LUCILLE ROBBS*AK

NHTSA ID
734260
Incident
Jun 1, 2000
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 15, 1999

THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE FAILED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED USED WITH 14,700 MILES. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURED ON APRIL 5, 1998, TRAVELING 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS SEIZED AND THE WHEEL FELL INWARD PULLING THE CAR SEVERELY TO THE RIGHT. THIS NEARLY CAUSED A COLLISION WITH A SEMI IN THE NEXT LANE. BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR BEARING ASSEMBLIES FAILED ON MAY 5, 1999; AGAIN THE LEFT REAR TIRE TIPPED IN. THE RIGHT REAR FAILED AS WELL. BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED AGAIN ON 10-6-99. ON ALL OCCASIONS NEW BEARINGS AND SEALS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. MY SISTER OWNS A 1989 MERCURY TRACER AS WELL AND HER BEARINGS HAVE FAILED THREE TO FOUR TIMES. I HAVE HAD TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS REPAIR MY BEARINGS. MY SISTER HAS HAD AT LEAST THREE SEPARATE MECHANICS REPAIR. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN PROVIDING A SAFE PRODUCT. THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE OF AN EXPRESS WARRANTY BUT DESIGNING PRODUCTS THAT ARE FIT FOR THEIR INTENDED USES AND WILL NOT INJURY PEOPLE. I HAVE LOCATED THREE NHTSA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS THAT MIGHT RELATE: BC3130890301 (ITEM SB005908) AND 90-12-5 (ITEM SB014830) AND 90-19-9 (ITEM SB017139). THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT DESIGN BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.

NHTSA ID
713350
Incident
Apr 5, 1998
Engine
Filed Jul 28, 1999

AT 64,000 MILES THE ENGINE FAILED, OIL LEAKING IN PISTONS, THE WHOLE ENGINE WAS REPLACE. *YC

NHTSA ID
547568
Filed Jun 16, 1999

I AM HAVING A VERY HARD TIME WITH THIS I CANNOT GET COMPLIANCE FROM THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THIS PART OR WHAT I SHOULD DO OR WHO I SHOULD TALK TO. MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN WORKING SINCE THIS PART WENT AND CANNOT GET ANY HELP. IT HAS BEEN TOWED THREE TIMES AND NO ONE CAN SEEM TO HELP ME. I JUST TOW IT FROM PLACE TO PLACE AND THE PART WAS SUPPOSSED TO BE ORDERED IN FEBURARY AND I HAVENT RECEIVED NOTHING YET. IF I COULD JUST KNOW WHO TO TALK TO IT MIGHT HELP ME SOME. CARS SHOULD NOT BE MADE IF THE PARTS CANNOT BE FOUND FOR THEM. WHAT SHOULD I DO? PLEASE HELP ME I LOVE THAT CAR. I TRIED TO ORDER THIS PART AND IT WAS ON ORDER FROM FEBURARY TILL JUNE AND NOTHING FROM NO ONE. WHY IS THINGS BUILT IF THEY CANNOT BE FIXED? I REFUSE TO GIVE UP. JUST GIVE ME SOME NUMBERS IF YOU CANNOT HELP ME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND PATIENCE. LISA MITCHELL. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID
707617
Incident
Feb 4, 1999
Seat belts
Filed Feb 14, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
703277
Engine
Filed Jul 21, 1998

TRANSMISSION VERY SLUGGISH, NOT ENOUGH POWER TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. WHEN VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED, THE MECHANIC PULLED THE BOLT FROM THE PULLY ON THE CRANKSHAFT AND THE END OF THE CRANKSHAFT FELL OFF.

NHTSA ID
538670
Incident
Jul 1, 1998
Engine
Filed Jul 29, 1996
Fire reported

VEHICLE FIRE.

NHTSA ID
505133
Incident
May 29, 1996
Engine
Filed Apr 23, 1996
Fire reported

PARKED VEHICLE ON LOT LATER VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. *AK

NHTSA ID
983371
Incident
Jan 23, 1996
Electrical
Filed Apr 23, 1996
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNDER THE HOOD ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT, SAW SMOKE. *AK

NHTSA ID
983348
Incident
Apr 19, 1996
Brakes
Filed Dec 26, 1995

EXCESSIVE WEAR BRAKE SHOES/PADS REPLACING REPEATEDLY W/LOW MILEAGE ACCUMULATION. MASTER CYLINDER ALSO FAILS REPLACED (4) TIMES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA ID
976966
Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 13, 1995

TIRE CAME OFF THE VEHICLE WHEN CAR WAS IN DRIVE. TT

NHTSA ID
974936
Incident
Jul 5, 1995
Brakes
Filed Aug 31, 1995

BRAKE FAILURE, FAILURE OF MASTER CYLINDER, SURGE WHILE DRIVING, PEDAL FADED. TT

NHTSA ID
971399
Incident
Aug 15, 1995
Other / unspecified
Filed May 2, 1995

RIGHT BACK TIRE CAME COMPLETELY OFF, LEFT WAS BREAKING OFF AT THE AXLE, REPAIR BOTH SIDE. TT

NHTSA ID
964640
Incident
Jun 4, 1994
EngineSuspension
Filed Jan 26, 1995

EXHAUST SYSTEM REPLACED. *SKD

NHTSA ID
480036
Incident
Jan 26, 1995

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .