1994 Mercury Tracer Owner Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCURY TRACER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE CONTACT STRUCK A POLE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKES WERE FAULTY AND HAD BEEN REPAIRED PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 94V218000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE DEALER AND THEY ARE CHARGING $300 JUST TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND $5,400 FOR THE REPAIR. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,000.

NHTSA ID

10254268

Incident

Dec 26, 2008

Mileage

67,000 mi

I HAVE A 97 VILLAGER AND A 94 TRACER SW. I WAS REVIEWING MY RECEIPTS FOR A RECALL FOR THE FILLER PIPE VENT HOSE ON MY VILLAGER FROM 6/2001. IT WAS FIXED THEN. IT SEEMS SAME PART IS NOW LEAKING IN OUR TRACER. IT IS DANGEROUS WHEN DOING A FILL UP FOR IT LEAKS. UPDATED 01-16-08. *KB UPDATED *JB

NHTSA ID

10201084

Incident

Feb 14, 2007

Mileage

87,000 mi

ON FEBRUARY 4, 2006 WE HAD A GOODYEAR ALLEGRA TIRE, PURCHASED AS SAM'S CLUB, GO FLAT. IT WAS THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. WHEN THE SAM'S CLUB TIRE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE TIRE HE FOUND A DEEP CUT OR CRACK ON THE SIDE WALL. HE THOUGHT IT COULD BE ROAD HAZARD DAMAGE OR VANDALISM. SAM'S CLUB REPLACED THE BASED ON TREAD WEAR. ON APRIL 8, 2006 THE TIRE ON THE LEFT FRONT WENT FLAT. IT HAS DEEP CUTS OR CRACKS ON BOTH SIDE OF THE TIRE, ONE ON THE OUTSIDE AND TWO ON THE BACK OF THE TIRE. THE DAMAGE IS NOT AT THE SAME PLACE ON THE TIRE, THE DAMAGE APPEARS AT ABOUT A 20 DEGREE DIFFERENCE SIDE TO SIDE. IT SEEMS THAT ROAD DAMAGE IS UNLIKELY AND IT IS UNLIKELY THAT A VANDAL WOULD REACH UNDER A VEHICLE. WE HAVE PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE TO THE SECOND TIRE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10154898

Incident

Apr 8, 2006

Mileage

88,208 mi

WHILE AT A STOP A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10115741

Incident

Jan 10, 2005

Mileage

1,802 mi

AT AROUND 3 PM, I WAS DRIVING, AND HAD STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, AT 1960 @ INVERNESS FOREST. HEARD A POP THEN HAD A BIG FLAME COME FROM THE HOOD OF THE CAR. IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. CALLED 911. BOTH THE POLICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO THE SCENE. WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH THE POLICE THE CAR STARTED BACK UP FOR A FEW MOMENTS, AND THE HORN BLASTED.

NHTSA ID

10114599

Incident

Mar 7, 2005

THE WARNING INDICATOR INTERMITTENTLY FLASHES 5 TIMES PAUSE 1 TIME AND THEN REPEATS.*JB

NHTSA ID

10010112

Incident

Feb 27, 2003

THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK IS LEAKING ALL OVER. THIS VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE OF THOSE THAT WERE RECALLED 1995. NLM

NHTSA ID

8019416

THIS CAR HAS BEEN TOO DANGEROUS AND UNRELIABLE TO DRIVE SAFELY..IT WAS SOLD WITH 15% BRAKES LEFT AFTER I WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD NEW BRAKES AND CALIPERS, A COMPLETE SAFETY CHECK BY JOE KERLEY JEEP EAGLE...SOME ONE HAD PUT SILOCONE ON A BROKEN FUEL PUMP THAT CAUSED FUMES AND COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF GASOLINE TO FILL UNDER THE BACK SEAT....THE CLUTCH BLEW UP WITHOUT ANY NOTICE....THE AIR BAG HAS NEVER DEPLOYED EVEN WHEN I HAD A SPIN OUT ON HIGHWAY 101...I TOLD MR BROOKS ABOUT THE GAS PROBLEM AND HE SAID HE WAS TOO BUSY TO DEAL WITH IT....I HAVE SPENT OVER 3,000$ IN MAJOR REPAIRS AND HAVE NOT EVEN PUT 20000 MILES IN ALMOST 3 YEARS...THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP..BELINDA ANNE BROOKS. NLM

NHTSA ID

767135

Incident

Jun 6, 2000

WHILE PARKING VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE. VEHICLE BURSTED INTO FLAMES UNDERHOOD. COMPLETELY DESTROYING VEHICLE. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

8008350

Incident

Apr 18, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT STATE SPEED LIMIT AND WITHOUT WARNING LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. *AK

NHTSA ID

8004584

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD BLINKS 3-2 WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS DONE THIS SINCE THE CAR WAS BRAND NEW. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR IN SEVERAL TIMES PER YEAR WITH THE BLINKING LIGHT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT CORTESE EITHER COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. IT DOES COME AND GO. IT IS MORE ON THAN OFF. THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED TWICE. THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR IN WHILE THE LIGHT WAS BLINKING AND NOT TO TURN THE CAR OFF. I DID THAT. IT WAS CONFIRMED YES THE LIGHT BLINKS 3-2. I LEFT THE CAR FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK IN JULY OF 2001. ON THE WAY HOME FROM CORTESE AFTER THE CAR WAS "REPAIRED" THE AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK ON THE WAY HOME. I AM GETTING THE RUN AROUND ABOUT FIXING THE PROBLEM. THE FACTORY WAS CONTACTED 3 YEARS AGO WHEN I SENT MY FATHER TO THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT CORTESE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURES OVER THIS SUMMER TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN AUGUST DUE TO NEEDING A PART. NOW I AM BEING MET WITH IT IS OUT OF WARRENTY. I HAD A 7/70K WARENTY WHICH DOES EXPIRE NOVEBEROF THIS YEARSINCE THE CAR WAS BRAND NEW.. SINCE THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING SAFTEY ISSUE , I THINK I HAVE BEEN OVERLY PATIENT WITH RECTIFYING THIS DEFECT. I CALLED THE NYS ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE. THE LEMON LAW DOES NOT APPLY AS THE CAR IN NOW MORE THAN 4 YEARS OLD. I WAS REFERED TO YOUR ORGANIZATION. HELP!!!!!!*AK

NHTSA ID

753896

Incident

Jun 1, 1995

I AM INQUIRING ABOUT THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THIS MAKE AND MODEL HAD CERTAIN DEFECTS WITHIN THE ENGINE AND IT'S PARTS. I HAVE NOT FOUND ANY LISTINGS OF MAJOR RECALL, BUT I HAVE FOUND OTHER LISTINGS REPORTING PROBLEMS LIKE MINE. ARE THESE PROBLEMS THE RESULT OF DEFECT, AGE, IMPROPER PARTS, OR POOR CARE? THE PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE ARE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKS. I HAVE FOUND THAT MANIFOLD ITSELF IS WARPED. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? THE HEAD GASKETS ARE CRAKED. THIS AUTOMOBILE RAN AT A HIGH TEMPERATURE, EVEN AFTER FLUSHING THE RADIATOR. THE CAR COOLED AFTER I TURNED OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER. I FOUND THE THAT CAR HAD THE INCORRECT THERMOSTAT INSTALLED. THIS PARTICULAR PART IS DESIGNED FOR HIGH HEAT READINGS. THE CAR WOULD HAVE TO OVERHEAT BEFORE THE FAN WOULD START. I RECENTLY REPLACED FUEL TANK. THE CAR IS STILL RUNNING, BUT NOT PROPERLY. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE THIS IF YOU LOOK INTO THIS FOR ME.*AK

NHTSA ID

751842

Incident

Aug 31, 2001

THE GEAR SHIFT CAUGHT ON FIRE, THE VEHICLE STILLS RUNS AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND THE BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELTS QUIT WORKING.

NHTSA ID

9000429

Incident

Sep 1, 2000

FILLED CAR UP WITH GAS. WHEN I RETURNED HOME I HAD A HEAD ACHE, I AS SO NOTICED A PUDDLE OF FUEL UNDERNEATH MY CAR. I HAD IT LOOKED AT AND WAS SHOWN THAT IT WAS LEAKING AROUND WHERE THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHES TO THE FUEL TANK. I THAN RESEARCHED NHTSA RECALL WEBSITE AND FOUND THIS RECALL ON CARS MANUFACTURED FROM APR 1995 TO OCT 1995. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN JUNE 1994. THE RECALL SAID THE CARS WHERE BUILT AT HERMOSILLO OR WAYNE ASSEMBLY PLANTS. MY CARS WAS BUILT IN HERMOSILLO. ISN'T IT FUNNY THAT MY CAR HAS ALL OF THE SAME PROBLEMS AS WITH THE 1995 BUILT CARS, BUT BECAUSE OF THE BUILD DATE IT DOES NOT MEET THE RECALL. AS I AM BEING TOLD BY 12 FORD DEALERS IN THE LOUISIANA/ MISSISSIPPI AREA. ANY AND ALL INFORMATION AS TO WHY MY CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS VERY HAZARDOUS RECALL. THIS REPORT WILL BE KEEP AN CERTIFIED AS A TRUE COPY IN A SAFE DEPOSIT BOX IN CASE OF MY DEATH. IT WILL BE FORWARDED TO A LAWYER IF ANY THING HAPPENS TO MYSELF ARE PASSENGERS IN MY CAR.

NHTSA ID

739341

Incident

Nov 15, 1999

THE OVERHEAD INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET DISINTERGRATED INSIDE THE ENGINE RENDERING THE OXYGEN SENSOR USELESS AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING. NLM

NHTSA ID

556219

Incident

Dec 15, 1999

CRACKED FUEL TANK AT MOLDED MOUNTING BRACKET (DESIGN FLAW)

NHTSA ID

731888

Incident

Sep 16, 2000

PROBLEMS WITH THESE SUSPENSION PROBLEMS FIRST APPEARED IN MARCH OF 1998, AFTER PUTTING ON NEW TIRES OF THE SAME SIZE AS WAS PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. STRUTS WERE THEN REPLACED. CAR IS UNSTABLE, HAS A TENDENCY TO PULL TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING WHICH CAUSED BRIEF LOSS OF CONTROL IN APRIL 1999. NO DAMAGE OR INJURIES SUFFERED. HIT A POT HOLE WITH VEHICLE IN APPROX JAN 98, HAD VEHICLE CHECKED AND NO DAMAGE WAS FOUND TO THE SUSPENSION. SPEED AT THE TIME WAS LESS THAN 10 MPH. HAD VEHICLE AGAIN CHECKED BY THE MERCURY DEALER ON 18 SEPT 00, AND VEHICLE WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE A CRACKED COIL ON THE RIGHT REAR SPRING. STRUTS WERE REPLACE IN LATE 1998 TO EARLY 1999 AND THE RIGHT FRONT AND REAR SPRING WERE INSPECTED AT THAT TIME AND WERE DETERMINED TO BE IN NORMAL RANGE, NO DAMAGE WAS NOTED. STILL HAVING DIFFICULTIES WITH VEHICLE AS OF THIS COMPLAINT, VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ON ROAD IN CURRENT CONDITION. WOULD LIKE YOUR AGENCY TO INSPECT VEHICLE AS I HAVE REPORTED TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY ON 18 SEPT WITH NO ANSWER AS TO WHY AFTER REPLACING TIRES AM I HAVING TO REPLACE ALL SUSPENSION PARTS. AFTER LOOKING THROUGH OTHER CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE THERE ARE SOME OTHER SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE SUSPENSION. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED, FORD NEEDS TO FIND AND CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, AS THIS HAS COST ME OVER 500 IN REPAIRS AND PROBLEM IS STILL NOT SOLVED. THREE OTHER LOCAL SHOPS HAVE LOOKED AT THIS VEHICLE AND CANNOT DETERMINE WHY THIS VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED THESE PROBLEMS. THEY HAVE INSPECTED ALL SUSPENSION PARTS, FRAME AND SUB FRAME. THESE PARTS SEEM TO FAIL WITHOUT WARNING AND AT LOW VEHICLE MILEAGE.

NHTSA ID

731844

Incident

Sep 9, 2000

MY VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK AND THE LENSE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR LIGHT WAS CRACKED. I WENT TO THE LOCAL GAS STATION TO HAVE THE BULB REPLACED ONLY TO FIND THAT DUE TO TORRENTIAL RAINS, SOME WATER HAD SEEPED INTO THE CRACK AND THE BULB HAD BLOWN. REPLACED BULB AND WITHIN TWO DAYS THE BULB WAS OUT AGAIN. I ONLY NOTICED THIS BECAUSE WHEN I GOT INTO MY VEHICLE TO RUN TO THE STORE, MY GEAR SHIFT WAS STUCK. I READ THE MAINTENANCE MANUAL THAT CAME WITH MY TRACER AND USED THE SHIFT OVERRIDE BUTTON. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE GARAGE AND ORDERED A REAR LIGHT UNIT. THIS UNIT WAS REPLACED LAST FRIDAY AUGUST 25, 2000 AND ON MONDAY, AUGUST 28, WHEN GOING OUT ON MY LUNH HOUR I FOUND THAT THE SHIFT WAS AGAIN STUCK, I PULLED THE FUSE AND, OF COURSE, THE FUSE WAS BLOWN. THAT EVENING I TOOK THE CAR TO THE GARAGE SINCE I THEN NOTICED THAT I NOT ONLY HAD A GEAR SHIFT THAT WAS STUCK, NO REAR LIGHTS, NO INTERIOR PANEL LIGHTS AND NO LIGHTS ON THE SHIFT PANEL. IF I HADN'T LEFT WORK LATE, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER CAR SINCE I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. I HAD DIFFICULTING GETTING THE CAR INTO GEAR IN THE DARK PARKING GARAGE WITHOUT THE GEAR SHIFT LIGHTS. THIS PROBLEM HAS MADE ME VERY UNEASY DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AROUND AND I'M QUITE CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING MY CHILDREN ANY WHERE IN THIS CAR. HAS THIS HAPPENED TO OTHER MERCURY TRACERS??? IF SO, HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL FOR ANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS? PLEASE ADVISE.

NHTSA ID

729745

Incident

Aug 21, 2000

IHAD THIS CAR IN FOR A CHECK UP MIDAS TOLD ME ALOT OF CARS LIKE MINE WAS REPLASED ON COIL PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT MY COIL IS CRACKED ON THE RIGHT SIDE I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *AK

NHTSA ID

723087

Incident

Apr 14, 2000

MY TRACER'S MOTOR BELT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HAS FAILED.....NOW I AM A VALET ATT. AT A RESORT CASINO FOR 5 YEARS AND THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MOST TRACERS I RUN ACROSS.....THIS IS A SAFTEY ISSUE BECAUSE THE BELT IS LEFT VIRTUALLY UNUSABLE..I HAVE A TEEN DRVER AS WELL AS MY WIFE AND MYSELF AND I WOULD LIKE THEM TO HAVE THE UTMOST SAFTEY WHILE DRIVING...AND MY DEALER SEEMS TO IGNORE THAT FACT..$500.00 IS A LITTE PRICEY FO MY BUDGET...AND FOR A PART THAT SHOULD LAST THE LIFETIME OF A VEHICLE...MY CAR IS WELL MAINTAINEDAND I FEEL THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. *AK

NHTSA ID

719843

Incident

Dec 5, 1998

ON SEPT.2,1999,VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSING DRIVER TO CRASH INTO A PARKED VEHICLE, WHICH RESULTED IN TOTAL DAMAGE AND INJURIES. *YC

NHTSA ID

550371

Incident

Sep 2, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID

715884

DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RESTRAINT DOES NOT UNLOCK WHEN THE DOOR OPENS AS IT SHOULD, AND WHEN IT LOCKS IT TIGHTENS UP TOO MUCH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

853849

ON-GOING/INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATING WHENEVER SPEED CONTROL IS ENGAGED AT SLOW SPEED. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFED AT THIS TIME. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID

851066

Incident

Jan 1, 1995

BOTH SIDE MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS FAILED TO OPERATE; WOULD ONLY GO HALF WAY ON TRACK AND STOP. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REPAIRED ONE SIDE AT CONSUMER COST ($750.00). WOULD LIKE NHTSA HELP ON THIS SAFETY MATTER CONCERNING MANUFACTURER'S0 DEFECT OR COST OF REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID

850162

Incident

Sep 1, 1999