FaultScore

Volkswagen Cabrio vs Mercury Tracer

Both cars' complete complaint records, side by side.

Read the totals carefully. NHTSA publishes no sales figures, so the car that sold more collects more complaints regardless of quality. The rows worth weighing are the proportions — the share of complaints that involved harm, and which part dominates.

Measure Volkswagen Cabrio Mercury Tracer
Complaints on file 302 754
Model years covered 1989–2002 1988–2000
Worst model year 2001 1997
Best model year 1995 1998
Crashes reported 34 93
Fires reported 22 60
Injuries reported 27 71
Deaths reported 0 3
Most complained-about part Electrical System Electrical System
Share of complaints involving harm 27.5% 30.1%

Volkswagen Cabrio by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Engine & Cooling 36 11.9%
Brakes 29 9.6%
Airbags 22 7.3%
Body & Structure 20 6.6%
Fuel & Propulsion 19 6.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain 18 6.0%

Mercury Tracer by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Engine & Cooling 83 11.0%
Airbags 76 10.1%
Brakes 67 8.9%
Seat Belts 64 8.5%
Suspension 48 6.4%