1995 Mercury Tracer Problems

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.

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.

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.

THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 1.9L ENGINE. THE #4 INTAKE VALVE SEAT DROPS, RESULTING IN THE NEED TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEAD AND ALL ASSOCIATED PARTS. IE... VALVE SEATS, PISTON, PISTON RINGS, ROD BEARINGS AS WELL AS HAVING TO CONDUCT PRESSURE TESTS, HONE THE CYLINDERS & A VARIETY OF OTHER TIME & MONEY CONSUMING ITEMS. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT IS STUCK IN MID-POSITION, NOT MOVING FORWARD OR AROUND DRIVER. MANUFACTURE IS CLAIMING NO RESPONSIBILITY OF FAILURE FOR MOTOR BURNING OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

PURCHASED THE CAR USED, A/C HAS NOT BE OPERATIONAL SINCE-EMITS A FOUL ODOR. CONTINUOUS HEATER CORE LEAKS AND FAILURE, EMITS FOUL ODOR RESEMBLING ANTIFREEZE. CAUSES NAUSEA AND HEADACHES. NOT SURE IF A/C PROBLEMS AND HEATER CORE PROBLEMS ARE RELATED. SPEEDOMETER BOUNCES AROUND AFTER 30MPH IS EXCEEDED. CRUISE CONTROL CUTS OFF WHEN GOING UP AN INCLINE. AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS STICK IN POSITION. BEEP THAT ALERTS WHEN YOU HAVE A KEY IN THE IGNITION AND A DOOR OPEN, BEEPS CONSTANTLY EVEN WHEN NO KEY IS IN IGNITION, CANNOT FIND CAUSE. CIGARETTE LIGHTER DOES NOT WORK, CANNOT FIND CAUSE. AUTOMATIC BELT TENSIONER RATTLES. HAVE READ THROUGH THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH I JUST ABOUT HAVE THEM ALL. CHECKED DATE OF MANUFACTURE FOR FUEL TANK RECALL, ONE MONTH SHORT OF BEING IN RECALL, HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT LEAKAGE. SOMETIMES I DO HAVE A FUEL ODOR IN THE CAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN CAR HAS JUST BEEN FILLED UP. ANY HELP IN THIS MATTER WOULD GREATLY BE APPRECIATED.*AK

PURCHASED THE CAR USED, A/C HAS NOT BE OPERATIONAL SINCE-EMITS A FOUL ODOR. CONTINUOUS HEATER CORE LEAKS AND FAILURE, EMITS FOUL ODOR RESEMBLING ANTIFREEZE. CAUSES NAUSEA AND HEADACHES. NOT SURE IF A/C PROBLEMS AND HEATER CORE PROBLEMS ARE RELATED. SPEEDOMETER BOUNCES AROUND AFTER 30MPH IS EXCEEDED. CRUISE CONTROL CUTS OFF WHEN GOING UP AN INCLINE. AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS STICK IN POSITION. BEEP THAT ALERTS WHEN YOU HAVE A KEY IN THE IGNITION AND A DOOR OPEN, BEEPS CONSTANTLY EVEN WHEN NO KEY IS IN IGNITION, CANNOT FIND CAUSE. CIGARETTE LIGHTER DOES NOT WORK, CANNOT FIND CAUSE. AUTOMATIC BELT TENSIONER RATTLES. HAVE READ THROUGH THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH I JUST ABOUT HAVE THEM ALL. CHECKED DATE OF MANUFACTURE FOR FUEL TANK RECALL, ONE MONTH SHORT OF BEING IN RECALL, HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT LEAKAGE. SOMETIMES I DO HAVE A FUEL ODOR IN THE CAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN CAR HAS JUST BEEN FILLED UP. ANY HELP IN THIS MATTER WOULD GREATLY BE APPRECIATED.*AK

IGNITION FAILS INTERMITTENTLY, PREVENTING CONSUMER FROM USING VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE TO DETERMINE A CAUSE FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

PURCHASED THE CAR USED, A/C HAS NOT BE OPERATIONAL SINCE-EMITS A FOUL ODOR. CONTINUOUS HEATER CORE LEAKS AND FAILURE, EMITS FOUL ODOR RESEMBLING ANTIFREEZE. CAUSES NAUSEA AND HEADACHES. NOT SURE IF A/C PROBLEMS AND HEATER CORE PROBLEMS ARE RELATED. SPEEDOMETER BOUNCES AROUND AFTER 30MPH IS EXCEEDED. CRUISE CONTROL CUTS OFF WHEN GOING UP AN INCLINE. AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS STICK IN POSITION. BEEP THAT ALERTS WHEN YOU HAVE A KEY IN THE IGNITION AND A DOOR OPEN, BEEPS CONSTANTLY EVEN WHEN NO KEY IS IN IGNITION, CANNOT FIND CAUSE. CIGARETTE LIGHTER DOES NOT WORK, CANNOT FIND CAUSE. AUTOMATIC BELT TENSIONER RATTLES. HAVE READ THROUGH THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH I JUST ABOUT HAVE THEM ALL. CHECKED DATE OF MANUFACTURE FOR FUEL TANK RECALL, ONE MONTH SHORT OF BEING IN RECALL, HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT LEAKAGE. SOMETIMES I DO HAVE A FUEL ODOR IN THE CAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN CAR HAS JUST BEEN FILLED UP. ANY HELP IN THIS MATTER WOULD GREATLY BE APPRECIATED.*AK

VEHICLE STALLED OUT AT STOPS AND ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. DEAELR WILL BE CONTACTED. PLEASE ADD VIN AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION TO COMPLETE THE FORM.*AK

WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS (UNDER 35 MPH), CALIPER SLIDES ARE STICKING. YOU CAN HEAR A KNOCKING NOISE AND FEEL THEM GRABBING THROUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CALIPER SLIDES WERE ORIGINALLY REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND IT SEEMED TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. APPROX. 1 YEAR LATER THE SAME THING STARTED. THE CALIPER SLIDES WERE THEN GREASED AND THIS SEEMED TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL APPROX. 1 MORE YEAR LATER. THE CALIPER SLIDES WERE STICKING AGAIN, MAKING CLUNKING NOISES WHEN YOU BRAKE. I WAS TOLD THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT REQUIRE REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THIS IS STILL HAPPENING TO THE CALIPER SLIDES AND WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS IF THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE CORRECTED. *PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**749080

COOLING FAN MOTOR REPLACED. *CJ

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE IS SHAKING AND IT FEELS LIKE THE FRONT END IS GETTING READY TO FALL OFF, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER AND KEEP CHECKING FOR THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS FIVE TO SEVEN TIMES, AND DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

STRUT HOUSING PLATE WAS FORCING IT WAY INTO THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED OF THIIS PROBLEM, BUT REFUSED TO REPAIR OR RESOLVE UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK

MY DATES/ MILEAGE ARE NOT ACCURATE, BUT INFO OTHERWISE IS CORRECT. DO I NEED ACCIDENT REPORT FOR AIR BAG DATE? I AM SCARRED FROM THE GAS AND THE AIRBAG SEAM THAT RIPPED MY WRISTS OPEN FROM THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE BAGS DURING THIS ACCIDENT. I WAS QUITE INFECTED. ALSO, MY GAS TANK CRACKED A FEW YEARS AGO AND MY EX-BEAU USED BOAT PUTTY FOR PLASTIC BOAT GAS TANKS TO FIX IT UNTIL I COULD HANDLE IT. IT HELD WELL UNTIL NOW AND HAS CRACKED FURTHER IN THE SAME AREA. PUTTY IS NOT HOLDING ANY LONGER. I WAS JUST ABOUT TO REPLACE THE TANK RECENTLY WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I AM STILL ELIGIBLE FOR A REPLACEMENT TANK PER THE RECALL OF 1997 AND FOR REPLACEMENT AIR BAGS. AFTER MY ACCIDENT I DID HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED BUT WONDER IF THE SAME YR AND MODEL OF AIRBAG MAY BE INSTALLED. PLEASE ADVISE ASAP. I NEED TO HANDLE MY AIR BAGS & TANK AS I CAN PUT LESS THAN $7 IN GAS AT A TIME OR IT LEAKS AND EATS ASPHALT AWAY ON THE STREET AND IN PARKING SPACES. THE SMELL AND DANGER IS AT A HIGH LEVEL. PLEASE RESPOND QUICKLY.THANKS AGAIN. DT

TRAVELING 40MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE A "U" TURN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE. TRACER HIT DRIVER'S REAR, AND AIR BAGS FAILEDTO DEPLOY. EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT AND RELEASED.*AK

PURCHASED THE CAR USED, A/C HAS NOT BE OPERATIONAL SINCE-EMITS A FOUL ODOR. CONTINUOUS HEATER CORE LEAKS AND FAILURE, EMITS FOUL ODOR RESEMBLING ANTIFREEZE. CAUSES NAUSEA AND HEADACHES. NOT SURE IF A/C PROBLEMS AND HEATER CORE PROBLEMS ARE RELATED. SPEEDOMETER BOUNCES AROUND AFTER 30MPH IS EXCEEDED. CRUISE CONTROL CUTS OFF WHEN GOING UP AN INCLINE. AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS STICK IN POSITION. BEEP THAT ALERTS WHEN YOU HAVE A KEY IN THE IGNITION AND A DOOR OPEN, BEEPS CONSTANTLY EVEN WHEN NO KEY IS IN IGNITION, CANNOT FIND CAUSE. CIGARETTE LIGHTER DOES NOT WORK, CANNOT FIND CAUSE. AUTOMATIC BELT TENSIONER RATTLES. HAVE READ THROUGH THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH I JUST ABOUT HAVE THEM ALL. CHECKED DATE OF MANUFACTURE FOR FUEL TANK RECALL, ONE MONTH SHORT OF BEING IN RECALL, HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT LEAKAGE. SOMETIMES I DO HAVE A FUEL ODOR IN THE CAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN CAR HAS JUST BEEN FILLED UP. ANY HELP IN THIS MATTER WOULD GREATLY BE APPRECIATED.*AK

AIR CONDITIONER EMITTED ODOR WHICH BURNED THE SINUSES OF THE CONSUMERS.

PURCHASED THE CAR USED, A/C HAS NOT BE OPERATIONAL SINCE-EMITS A FOUL ODOR. CONTINUOUS HEATER CORE LEAKS AND FAILURE, EMITS FOUL ODOR RESEMBLING ANTIFREEZE. CAUSES NAUSEA AND HEADACHES. NOT SURE IF A/C PROBLEMS AND HEATER CORE PROBLEMS ARE RELATED. SPEEDOMETER BOUNCES AROUND AFTER 30MPH IS EXCEEDED. CRUISE CONTROL CUTS OFF WHEN GOING UP AN INCLINE. AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS STICK IN POSITION. BEEP THAT ALERTS WHEN YOU HAVE A KEY IN THE IGNITION AND A DOOR OPEN, BEEPS CONSTANTLY EVEN WHEN NO KEY IS IN IGNITION, CANNOT FIND CAUSE. CIGARETTE LIGHTER DOES NOT WORK, CANNOT FIND CAUSE. AUTOMATIC BELT TENSIONER RATTLES. HAVE READ THROUGH THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH I JUST ABOUT HAVE THEM ALL. CHECKED DATE OF MANUFACTURE FOR FUEL TANK RECALL, ONE MONTH SHORT OF BEING IN RECALL, HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT LEAKAGE. SOMETIMES I DO HAVE A FUEL ODOR IN THE CAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN CAR HAS JUST BEEN FILLED UP. ANY HELP IN THIS MATTER WOULD GREATLY BE APPRECIATED.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. *AK

STEERING COLUMN SHAFT SEPARATED, CAUSING HORN AND AIR BAGS TO BE INOPERATIVE.*AK

WHILE BRAKING, STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING; VEHICLE LOST CONTROL; SKIDDED 20 TO 25 FT; VEHICLE REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT STANDSTILL. *AK

PURCHASED THE CAR USED, A/C HAS NOT BE OPERATIONAL SINCE-EMITS A FOUL ODOR. CONTINUOUS HEATER CORE LEAKS AND FAILURE, EMITS FOUL ODOR RESEMBLING ANTIFREEZE. CAUSES NAUSEA AND HEADACHES. NOT SURE IF A/C PROBLEMS AND HEATER CORE PROBLEMS ARE RELATED. SPEEDOMETER BOUNCES AROUND AFTER 30MPH IS EXCEEDED. CRUISE CONTROL CUTS OFF WHEN GOING UP AN INCLINE. AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS STICK IN POSITION. BEEP THAT ALERTS WHEN YOU HAVE A KEY IN THE IGNITION AND A DOOR OPEN, BEEPS CONSTANTLY EVEN WHEN NO KEY IS IN IGNITION, CANNOT FIND CAUSE. CIGARETTE LIGHTER DOES NOT WORK, CANNOT FIND CAUSE. AUTOMATIC BELT TENSIONER RATTLES. HAVE READ THROUGH THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH I JUST ABOUT HAVE THEM ALL. CHECKED DATE OF MANUFACTURE FOR FUEL TANK RECALL, ONE MONTH SHORT OF BEING IN RECALL, HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT LEAKAGE. SOMETIMES I DO HAVE A FUEL ODOR IN THE CAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN CAR HAS JUST BEEN FILLED UP. ANY HELP IN THIS MATTER WOULD GREATLY BE APPRECIATED.*AK

SPEEDOMERT IS ERRATIC ABOVE 55 MPH - UNABLE TO DETERMINE ACTUAL SPEED. SPEEDOMETER INDICATOR JUMPS HIGHER AND LOWER.*AK

HOOD WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO LATCH OR UNLATCH. DEALER REPLACED LATCH, BUT PROBLEM WAS REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD TRAVELING 40MPH, AND FOLLOWING BEHIND OTHER VEHICLES GOING TO THE BEACH, SOMEONE PULLED OUT IN FRONT AND STOPPED SHORT, CAUSING A CHAIN REACTION. CONSUMER REARENDED THE BACK OF A TRAILER, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE, AND WAS INJURED. *AK *ML

HAD A FORD DEALER PERFORM THE 60,000 MILE SERVICE, WHICH INCLUDED CHANGING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER. WITHIN 2 WEEKS, THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE / DRIVE WHEN SHIFTED TO THAT GEAR: QUITE A FEW SECONDS WOULD PASS & THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD GRAB WITH A BANG. WHEN CHECKED, THE FLUID WAS BLACK AND SMELLED BURNED. HAD THE FLUID CHANGED AGAIN. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS, WE DEVELOPED FORWARD CLUTCH FAILURE AND HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. PRIOR TO ORIGINAL FORD TRANSMISSION SERVICE AT 60,000 WE HAD NO PROBLEMS OF ANY KIND. HAD DIFFICULTY FINDING A USED TRANSMISSION AS ALL THE USED PARTS DEALERS CAN NOT KEEP THEM IN STOCK - THEY GO OUT FASTER THAN THEY CAN FIND THEM. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A MAJOR DEFECT SUFFERED BY A LOT OF TRACER OWNERS.

ON FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES ITS HARD TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK DEALER FIXED IT FOUR . TT

HEADLIGHTS (HIGHBEAMS AND LOWBEAMS) WENT OUT INCLUDING DASH AND PARKLIGHTS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AT 55 MPH.

GAS GAUGE ASSEMBLY DOES NOT ACCURATELY DETERMINE THE GAS IN THE CAR. CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE THREE TIMES AND STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. TT

A/C HAS A STRONG FOUL ODOR.

GOODYEAR TIRE BLEW OUT ON FREEWAY. *DSH