1998 Mercury Tracer Engine Problems

THE REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE ON MY 1998 MERCURY TRACER. WHEN SEEKING A REPAIR, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH FORD/MERCURY MODELS OF THIS SIZE (ESCORT/TRACER/TEMPO). WITH REAR SPRINGS BROKEN, ONE CAN OBSERVE THE REAR TIRES OF A CAR WITH THESE SPRINGS BROKEN COME OFF THE ROAD. WITH FORD WELL AWARE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW IN THESE AUTOS, THERE OUGHT TO BE A RECALL OF THESE VEHICLES. I HAVE ONLY 47,700 MILES ON THIS CAR; I HAVE NOW REPLACED A BUSTED CRANKSHAFT PULLEY AND THE RESISTOR ASSOCIATED WITH CIRCULATION SYSTEM WHICH COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE WELL DOCUMENTED AND FORD SHOULD ADDRESS THESE FLAWS.

NHTSA ID

10058486

Incident

Feb 16, 2004

ENGINE FAILED AFTER COMPLETE TUNEUP. *YH

NHTSA ID

785828

Incident

Dec 19, 2001

ENGINE FAILED AFTER COMPLETE TUNEUP. *YH

NHTSA ID

785825

Incident

Dec 19, 2001

OIL DIPSTICK KEPT 'POPPING' UP AND SQUIRTING OIL ON ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ID

882341

Incident

Mar 7, 2001

MANY TIMES CAR IN SHOP FOR SQUEALING STEERING WHEEL NOISE WHEN TURNING A FAR RIGHT, RATTLING NOISE, GRINDING NOISE FROM ENGINE, RALLTING NOISE FROM DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR JAM, GAS-PIL/EXHAUST SMELL COMING THRU WHEN AC/DEFROST ON, BRAKES SQUEALING EVEN AFTER NEW BRAKE PADS, MANY TIMES I WAS TOLD THAT SOMETHING MAYBE COMING LOOSE THAT I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT BREAKS BEFORE THEY CAN FIX IT. JUST RECENTLY AS OF 2-6-01 FORD FACTORY GUY TOLD ME I WAS IMAGINING THINGS. HE ALONG WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THERE ISN'T A PROBLEM, AND WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT BREAKS BEFORE THEY CAN FIX. WARRANTY EXPIRES APRIL 6, 2001. I CAN'T AFFORD TO WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING BREAKS, THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. SOMETIMES THE RATTLING NOISE ISN'T CONSTANT, OR VERY LOUD, BUT SOMETIMES IT IS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING THAT THEY CAN'T HEAR IT. MAYBE BEING AROUND ENGINES ALL THE TIME IT HAS AFFECTED THEIR HEARING. I DO KNOW THAT I AM NOT IMAGINING THINGS. JUST YESTERDAY THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE IN PARK, IT TOOK ME SEVERAL MINUTES TRYING TO MOVE TO THE STEERING WHEEL SO THAT I COULD TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THIS ISN'T CONSTANT BUT OCCASIONALLY, IT DOES HAPPEN HOWEVER. DURING OUR SUMMER, WITH TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT AND HEAT INDEX, KEY IN IGNITION GOT SO HOT THAT I BURNT MY HAND, THERE WAS ALSO A BURNING RUBBER SMELL. NO DEALER/REPAIR SHOPS WERE OPEN ON A SATURDAY, THE ONE PLACE I ATTEMPTED TO TAKE THE CAR TOO (FORD'S QUALITY CONTROL SHOP) TOLD ME THAT SINCE ITS UNDER WARRANTY, & THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN WORKING ON IT TO TAKE IT BACK THERE. WHICH I DID A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, OF COURSE THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS ALOT COOLER, SO THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. JUST RECENTLY I NOTICED DIFFERENCES IN THE TRANSMISSION. CAR NOT ALWAYS MOVING WHEN PRESS ON GAS PEDAL, SOMETIMES A JERKING MOTION WHEN SHIFT FROM PARK INTO REVERSE. A CRACKING SOUND FRONT DRIVERSIDE TIRE, I MADE A HARD LEFT TURN TO GET OUT OF PARKING SPOT. FORD DISPUTE BOARD CONTACTED

NHTSA ID

741050

Incident

May 22, 2000

ENGINE STALLS AT SLOW SPEEDS AND WHILE TAKING CORNERS WITH THE CLUTCH ENGAGED. NLM

NHTSA ID

554484

Incident

Apr 1, 2000

TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEVER ONCE READ ABOVE NORMAL, WAS TRAVELING, HEARD A NOISE IN ENGINE, SLOWED DOWN AND VECHICLE SHUT DOWN. I BELIEVE THERMOSTAT MAY BE DEFECTIVE, THERE WAS ALSO DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDER HEAD. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE IT WAS FULL OF COOLANT AND OIL WAS FULL AND HAD JUST BEEN CHANGED. I HAVE ALWAY HAD ALL MAINTANANCE DONE ON TIME, THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AT 45,000 MILES ON ANY VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

711215

Incident

Sep 7, 1999

AT 2,795 MILES THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. AT 4,162 MILES VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON TWO OCCASIONS. ONE INCIDENT RESULTED IN HITTING A LIGHT POLE. *YC

NHTSA ID

547893

Incident

Apr 20, 1999