RoadVitals

1995 Mercury Tracer

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
96
Latest Jul 14, 2014
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Sep 3, 1997
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
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.
5
7 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 96 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1995 Mercury Tracer, most frequently naming the fuel system, engine and seat belts categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 75 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
97V144000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Sep 3, 1997
64,000 units potentially affected
The defect: 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 CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK NEAR THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE CRACKS GO THROUGH THE FUEL TANK WALL.
The risk: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENTS. THIS WILL NOT AFFECT HEAT SHIELD LOCATION OR FUNCTION, AS THE ATTACHMENTS ARE INTENDED TO KEEP THE SHIELD IN PLACE UNTIL THE FUEL TANK IS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSTALLATION, THE FUEL TANK STRAPS RETAIN THE HEAT SHIELD.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYManufacturer number 97S79View on NHTSA.gov
97V145000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Sep 3, 1997
600 units potentially affected
The defect: 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 WALL.
The risk: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENTS. THIS WILL NOT AFFECT HEAT SHIELD LOCATION OR FUNCTION, AS THE ATTACHMENTS ARE INTENDED TO KEEP THE SHIELD IN PLACE UNTIL THE FUEL TANK IS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSTALLATION, THE FUEL TANK STRAPS RETAIN THE HEAT SHIELD.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYManufacturer number 97S80View on NHTSA.gov
94V218000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Nov 10, 1994
240 units potentially affected
The defect: THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE CAN HAVE AN INADEQUATELY WELDED INFLATOR CANISTER.
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THE WELD SEAM CAN SEPARATE, CAUSING THE AIR BAG TO FAIL TO DEPLOY PROPERLY AND HOT GASES TO BE EXPELLED FROM THE BACK OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS CAN RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY FROM THE HOT GASES AND THE AIR BAG FAILURE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW AIR BAG MODULE.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

RQ97010ClosedRecall Query

FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY

Opened Sep 11, 1997
Closed May 22, 2000

There is no summary currently available

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLYLed to recall 97V144000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 96
Fuel system
Filed Jul 14, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY TRACER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LEAK ON THE GROUND AND THE FUEL GAUGE DECREASED FROM A FULL TANK TO HALF OF A TANK. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 97V144000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ID
10610276
Incident
Jul 11, 2014
Mileage
45,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 9, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY TRACER. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN OVERPOWERING FUEL SMELL. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS FRACTURED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V144000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,600.

NHTSA ID
10469963
Incident
Aug 5, 2012
Mileage
109,600 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 3, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY TRACER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION OR STATIONARY, A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE FUEL EMITTED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS FRACTURED AS A RESULT TO A FAULTY HEAT SHIELD BRACKET. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V144000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STORAGE; TANK ASSEMBLY) BUT THE VEHICLE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR REPAIRS DUE TO THE VEHICLE NOT BEING ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10398756
Incident
Mar 18, 2011
Fuel system
Filed Sep 29, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY TRACER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE THE YEAR 2000, SHE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE EMANATING FROM THE VEHICLE. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE. SHE NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL 97V145000, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE STORAGE TANK ASSEMBLY. SHE WAS ADVISED THAT SINCE HER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL, SHE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA ID
10285644
Incident
Jan 1, 2000
Mileage
76,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 17, 2009

95 TRACER WAGON 9/3/97 THERE WAS A RECALL WITH THE SAME ISSUE I AM NOW HAVING. WE NEVER REC'D ANY NOTIFICATION THERE WAS ANY RECALL. THE FUEL TANK IS LEAKING NEAR THE HEAT SHIELD. A CALL WAS MADE TO STIVERS LAST NIGHT AND WE WERE TOLD NOTHING COULD BE DONE DUE TO THE LENGTH OF YEARS THAT HAD PASSED.BUT WAS TOLD TO CALL FORD MOTOR. A CALL WAS MADE THIS MORNING. WAS TOLD BY FORD MOTOR AT 800-392-3673 THAT MY CAR WAS MADE 1/95 AND THE 64000 THAT WAS RECALLED WERE BETWEEN 4/29/95 AND 10/95. THE CAR HAD BEEN IN FOR PREVIOUS SERVICING AND EVEN THEN NOTHING WAS SAID TO US ABOUT A RECALL. OUR PROBLEM IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS WHAT THE RECALL WAS FOR. AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL MY CAR WAS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. WE FEEL THAT HEY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF A REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10284453
Incident
Sep 15, 2009
Engine
Filed Jul 20, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY TRACER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY HESITATED AND LOST ENGINE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER AT A SERVICE STATION AND INSPECTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. HE DETECTED THAT THE TIMING BELT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP AND SERPENTINE BELT. IN ADDITION, THE NUMBER FOUR PISTON EXPLODED WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY INOPERABLE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,607 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,722.

NHTSA ID
10277529
Incident
Jul 5, 2002
Mileage
61,607 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 25, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY TRACER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT GASOLINE WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE FOUND A FRACTURE IN THE FUEL TANK. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 97V145000 AND 97V144000, ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 116,000.

NHTSA ID
10274991
Incident
Mar 10, 2009
Mileage
116,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 7, 2009

FUEL TANK LEAK (STRONG ODOR - NO VISIBLE LEAKAGE) ODOR DETECTABLE IN GARAGE AND OUTSIDE FORD SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL REQUIRED AND WILL NOT CORRECT THE LEAK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10267937
Incident
Apr 15, 2009
Mileage
83,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

03148

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER - SERVICE TIPS. 2003 ESCORT AND SUPER DUTY F SERIES INCLUDED. *TT

02208

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

CLIMATE CONTROL A/C SERVICE TECH TIPS. *EH

02176

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

LAMP-BRAKE-INVADVERTENT DISABLING OF BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK. *MJ

0214

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

SOME ENGINE ASSEMBLIES WITH ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS REPAIRED IN-VEHILE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO LEAK COOLANT AND/OR OIL FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET AREA. *TT

01246

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE OIL SYSTEM PRIMING PROCEDURES, SERVICE TIPS FOR REPORTS OF PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. *TT

01194

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THIS ARITLCE IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON REPLACEMENT OF OLD STYLE HOOD LAMP SWITCH TO THE RVISED MECHANICAL HOOD LAMP SWITCH. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercury Tracer by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003010—
2002010—
2001010—
2000210—
1999201155.0
1998441145.5
19971422262.7
1996120044.3
1995Viewing963152.8
1994651053.1
1993621152.6
1992242161.5
1991603159.2
1990200—
1989161046.5
1988213161.3
1987010—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.