1997 Mercury Tracer Airbags Problems

WE HAD TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO GET IT CHECKED BY A COMPUTER AT A LOCAL SERVICE PARTS SHOP. WHEN WE CAME BACK WE STOPPED MY CAR AND IT WAS NOT RUNNING, IGNITION OFF. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER WE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND ITS AIR BAGS HAD GONE OFF, BREAKING MY CAR'S WINDSHIELD AND OBVIOUSLY MAKING A MESS IN MY CAR. THIS CONCERNS ME SINCE MY HUSBAND AND I HAD JUST BEEN IN THE CAR A WHILE AGO AND COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURY TO US WITHOUT CAUSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10344024

Incident

Jun 25, 2010

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY TRACER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V323000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE). THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO HER HANDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 171,437. UPDATED 01-15-08. *KB UPDATED *JB

NHTSA ID

10201339

Incident

Aug 30, 2007

Mileage

171,437 mi

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER GOT THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASHBOARD. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10055640

Incident

Dec 18, 2003

Mileage

60,000 mi

THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE'S BUMPER AT AN IMPACT OF 35 MPH, AND NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN WRECKED BEFORE. *SC

NHTSA ID

10097699

Incident

Sep 3, 2004

Mileage

20,000 mi

02V323000/INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR CONTAMINATION. THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS DEFECT. THE WORK WAS DONE IN 2003. NOW THE PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED AND THE DEALER WANTS THE OWNER TO PAY 4000.00 TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED WHEN THE RECALL WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10091497

Incident

Sep 7, 2004

Mileage

130,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE CONSUMER'S DRIVEWAY WHEN BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DESTROYED BY MOISTURE INTRUSION INTO THE AIR BAG MODULE AND CONNECTORS. AS A RESULT OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT THE WINDSHIELD THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED AND THE DASHBOARD WAS DESTROYED. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK THE CONSUMER LATER LEARNED OF A RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE INTRUSION WAS CAUSED BY A PIN HOLE LEAK IN THE HEATER CORE THEREFORE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER INTENDS TO PURSE THE MATTER FURTHER. *NM

NHTSA ID

10081809

Incident

May 12, 2004

Mileage

108,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING DOWN AT SPEED OF 65-70 MPH, THE CAR CEASED TO ACCELORATE. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, ONCE THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED IT WOULD NO LONGER CRANK. TODAY WHEN I WENT TO CLEAN IT OUT (HAPPENED AT NIGHT)I SAW THAT A HOLE WAS BURNED THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH BOARD. ALSO I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE/FIRE RESIDUE ON THE WINDSHIELD COMING FROM THE DEFROST VENTS. BEFORE ANY OF THIS HAPPENED THE AIRBAG LIGTS WERE COMING ON AND THERE WAS A BURNT PLASTIC SMELL AND A SCENT OF AMMONIA SMELL COMING FROM GOD-KNOWS-WHERE. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD EVERYTHING LOOKED NORMAL. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GO TO WORK FOR 2 DAYS NOW. PLEASE TELL ME IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO. THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.

NHTSA ID

10070841

Incident

Sep 15, 2003

Mileage

102,000 mi

PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAG MONITOR ON 1997 MERCURY TRACER.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED AN AMMONIA TYPE SMELL BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE VEHICLE, SOON AFTER, THERE WAS A BURNT PLASTIC ODOR ALSO EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE AND MOMENTS LATER THE AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND FINALLY THE VEHICLE CEASED TO CONTINUE FUNCTIONING WHILE THE VEHICLE BECAME SMOKY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIR BAG SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, RECALL #02V323000. *JB *NM

NHTSA ID

10048553

Incident

Sep 14, 2003

TWO WEEKS AGO MY CAR (A 1997 MERCURY TRACER) WAS INVOLVED IN AN CAR ACCIDENT IN KINGMAN, (4 HOURS NORTH WEST OF PHOENIX). THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAULT OF THE AIR BAGS SUDDENLY DEPLOYING WITHOUT CAUSE, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I THEN NOTIFIED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND IT WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP HERE IN KINGMAN. LATER THE NEXT DAY WHILE THE REPAIR SHOP WAS DOING THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO THE CAUSE, THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES FROM THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT. A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE INSURANCE COMPANY NOTIFIED ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY OF WHICH I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. THEN CONFIRMING THAT TO ME THAT MY CAR WAS IN FACT TOTALED, AND THEY WISHED TO REMOVE THE CAR FROM THE REPAIR SHOP. EARLIER LAST WEEK I SENT AN EMAIL TO FORD MOTORS TELLING OF MY DISGUST OF THE COMPANY BECAUSE I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ON SUCH A SERIOUS ISSUE. ON FRIDAY 11/14 I RECEIVED A CALL FROM FORD MOTORS CUSTOMER SERVICE ASKING FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ACCIDENT. AT THIS TIME I AM WAITING FOR A RESPONSE BACK FROM, WHAT I ASSUME, IS THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT. *LA

NHTSA ID

10047105

Incident

Nov 6, 2003

Mileage

119,800 mi

DRIVING ON I-20 EASTBOUND. SMELLED AMMONIA, THEN SMELLED BURNT PLASTIC, AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INTERIOR LIGHT FLICKERED OFF AND ON, CAR BEGAN TO DECREASE SPEED DESPITE PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. WAS ABLE TO GET CAR INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE BEFORE IT COMPLETELY STOPPED MOVING. HOLE BURNT INTO PASSENGER AREA FROM UNDERNEATH DASH AREA. DEFROST AREA WARPED AND BURNT, BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD (GLASS PART) BURNT.

NHTSA ID

10039422

Incident

Sep 14, 2003

Mileage

102,000 mi

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 5 MPH INSIDE OF A PARKING LOT AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. THE CONSUMER HAD SEEN SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE VENTS, THEN THE VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK THE INSPECTOR STATED THE FIRE STEMMED FROM A SHORT. *SCC THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING THE AIR BAG MODULE/SENSOR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10024864

Incident

Feb 18, 2003

1997 MERCURY TRACER HAS A DEFECTIVE HORN AND AIR BAG.*MR THE HORN AND THE AIR BAG INTERFERED WITH ONE ANOTHER WHICH CAUSED THE HORN TO RANDOMLY GO OFF AND PERIODICALLY BLEW A FUSE, AND DISABLE THE HORN AND THE AIR BAG, TWO DEALERSHIP'S AND A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TS *JB

NHTSA ID

10029621

HORN BLOWS NON STOP UNTIL FUSE IS PULLED. BROUGHT TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD ENTIRE AIRBAG HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10028397

Incident

Feb 25, 2003

Mileage

58,941 mi

VEHICLE'S TACHOMETER AND RPM GAUGE STOPPED WORKING CAUSING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO FAIL. *MR *PH

NHTSA ID

10020408

THE DEALER PERFORMED RECALL#02V323000 REPAIRS AND FELT THE RECALL PROBLEM MAY HAVE AFFECTED THE WIRE ON THE BLOWER MOTOR WHICH BURNED OUT ON TWO OCCASIONS. WATER MAY HAVE DRIPPED ON THE WIRING HARNESS. THE DEALER SEEMED MORE CONCERNED WITH THE RECALL THAN THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10019451

Incident

Feb 1, 2003

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A LOW IMPACT FRONTAL COLLISION BUT THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED 4 HERNIATED DISC IN HER NECK, BECAUSE SHE WAS HIT BY THE AIR BAG FROM THE SIDE. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIR BAGS, BUT SINCE SHE HAD A PROBLEM WITH HER AIR BAGS BEFORE THE RECALL THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE AIR BAGS. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10017462

Incident

Apr 23, 2003

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *JB FOUR DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. RECALL# 02V323000 SCC

NHTSA ID

10015160

Incident

Feb 10, 2003

Mileage

82,000 mi

THE AIR BAG UNIT FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. MR SCC *NLM

NHTSA ID

10011622

Incident

May 10, 2002

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD. *JB

NHTSA ID

10014716

Incident

Mar 28, 2003

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL BUT DEALER STILL STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OVER WARRANTY AND REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE (RECALL#02V323000 AIRBAG). *NLM *SCC

NHTSA ID

10012261

Incident

Mar 18, 2003

HORN BLOWS CONTINUOUSLY. PULLED FUSE TO STOP. TOLD BY DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT NEED TO REPLACE ENTIRE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY TO RECTIFY. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10010510

Incident

Dec 4, 2002

Mileage

54,541 mi

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10010020

THE HORN CONTINUOUSLY BLEW, CONSUMER HAD TO DISCONNECT THE FUSE TO STOP THE HORN FROM BLOWING. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE AIR BAG MONITOR. 8JB

NHTSA ID

10009936

Incident

Mar 22, 2001

Mileage

53,201 mi

THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL REGARDING THE AIR BAG.)(02V323000)*JB

NHTSA ID

10008742

NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE REGARDING THE RECALL FOR THE AIR BAG, RECALL # 02 V 323 000.*JB

NHTSA ID

10008606