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FaultScore report

1988 Mercury Tracer problems

Owners have filed 22 complaints about the 1988 Mercury Tracer with NHTSA between 1995 and 2001. The largest single group is the seat belts.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Mercury Tracer
—

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

22

Complaints

4

Crashes reported

1

Fires reported

1

Injuries reported

How 1988 compares with every other Mercury Tracer

Click any bar to open that year's report.

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

What breaks on a 1988 Mercury Tracer

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Seat Belts 7 31.8%
Engine & Cooling 4 18.2%
Transmission & Drivetrain 3 13.6%

2 crashes, 0 fires

Acceleration & Cruise Control 2 9.1%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Brakes 2 9.1%
Seats 1 4.5%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Wheels 1 4.5%
Lights 1 4.5%

0 crashes, 1 fires

Electrical System 1 4.5%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Jan 1995 peak 2 Apr 2001

NHTSA investigations into the 1988 Mercury Tracer

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

PE89037 Opened 30 Jan 1989 Closed 25 May 1989 SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

SEATBELT RETRACTOR JAMS

SUMMARY:INABILITY TO CONVENIENTLY AND QUICKLY DEPLOY AND FASTENSEATBELTS MAY DISCOURAGE POTENTIAL USERS.FAILURE TO PROPERLY USE THESEATBELTS MAY INCREASE THE CHANCE AND/OR SEVERITY OF INJURY IN THEEVENT OF A COLLISION.===

Recalls on the 1988 Mercury Tracer

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

Canada — Transport Canada

Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.

Recall 1995106 19,615 units in Canada

Seats And Restraints

DEFECT: THE (Takata) ABS PLASTIC FRONT SEAT BELT RELEASE BUTTONS ON THESE VEHICLES MAY BREAK ALLOWING PLASTIC PIECES TO FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. IF THIS SHOULD HAPPEN, A NO LATCH, FALSE LATCH OR FAILURE TO UNLATCH CONDITION COULD OCCUR CREATING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH OR SUDDEN STOP. CORRECTION: FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES WILL BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED AS NECESSARY.

Recall 1989123 824 units in Canada

Seats And Restraints

THE FRONT SEAT LAP-SHOULDER BELT RETRACTORS MAY LOCK REPEATEDLY AT LOW BELT PULL-OUT RATES THEREBY DISCOURAGING PEOPLE FROM USING THE SEAT BELT. CORRECTION: LAP-SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLIES WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED IF NECESSARY.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Lexington, OH Crash

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK COLLAPSED. CAR WAS TOTALLED.

NHTSA complaint #807590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Bloomfi, MI Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE BACKING UP TO LOAD PERSONS INTO VEHICLE, WITHOUT WARNING, VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND STRUCK A BUILDING, INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED IT.

NHTSA complaint #806266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wilow Spring, 00 Fire

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

THE HALOGEN HEADLIGHT BRACKET BROKE AND IT CAUSED THE LIGHT TO FALL UNDER THE BUMPER AND IT CAUSED A FIRE. TT

NHTSA complaint #968955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Antonio, TX Crash

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER SISTER WAS DRIVING CAR AND THE REAR AXLE BROKE AND THE LEFT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT/ROLLOVER.

NHTSA complaint #967293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Antonio, TX Crash 1 injured

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

THE AXLE BROKE ON THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE AND OVERTURN A NUMBER OF TIMES. TT

NHTSA complaint #966570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Sterling, VA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS' RETRACTOR MECHNISM HAVE FAILED-THEY LOCK AT LOW PULL OUT RATE. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER AND FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT (800-392-3673/DUANE). I REPEATLY MENTIONED TO THEM NHTSA'S CAMPAIGN ID NO: 89V085000 BUT BOTH FORD AND MY LOCAL DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT INVOLVED IN A RECALL AFTER I HAVE GIVEN THEM MY VIN NUMBER AND AFTER THEY SEARCHED THEIR DATA BASE FOR RECALLS. MY CARE WAS MAKE IN JAN, 88 WHICH FALLS INTO THE RIGHT TIME PERIOD AND I HAVE ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY FRONT SEAT BELTS. ONLY RECENTLY DID I SAW NHTSA'S WEB SITE AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL THE SEAT BELTS IN MY CAR. I THINK I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN AROUND BY FORD. PLEASE CONTACT FORD FOR ME AS MY CAR IS INOPERABLE NOW WITHOUT FUNCTIONING SEAT BELTS. THANKS.

NHTSA complaint #743574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Yelm, WA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS AS MENTIONED IN MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 5577, SEAT BELT RETRACTOR LOCKED UP AT LOW BELT PULLOUT RATES, WHICH DISCOURAGED SEAT BELT USE. DEALERSHIP HAS ADVISED CONSUMER THAT THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL DUE TO VIN.

NHTSA complaint #864435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bronx, NY

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT.

NHTSA complaint #843615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Groesbeck, OH

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:CALIPER

BRAKE CALIPER SEALS FAILED CAUSING FLUID LOSS AND BRAKE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #531406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Glen Cove, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSED ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #523748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lexington, OH Crash

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK COLLAPSED. CAR WAS TOTALLED.

NHTSA complaint #807590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Bloomfi, MI Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE BACKING UP TO LOAD PERSONS INTO VEHICLE, WITHOUT WARNING, VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND STRUCK A BUILDING, INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED IT.

NHTSA complaint #806266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stow, OH

WHEELS

LEFT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.(OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)

NHTSA complaint #508902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Indianapolis, IN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

NOSE OF CRANK BROKE.

NHTSA complaint #509245 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Manhatten, KS

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

FAILURE ON THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS, THE SHOULDER BELTS DO NOT LOCK.

NHTSA complaint #803210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort Worth, CO

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT TRACTOR WOULDN'T RETRACT, PLEASE DESCRIBE .

NHTSA complaint #986056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Carver, MA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE ACCELERATOR STUCK AND CAUSED CONSUMER TO RUN INTO A TREE, SHE WAS NOT INJURED.

NHTSA complaint #984939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Lewis OB, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSED SMOKE TO COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN, WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #984295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Franci, CA

POWER TRAIN

SPEEDOMETER CABLE BROKE 2 TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #487419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tumwater, WA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

THE SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT AND IS STUCK IN ONE POSITION AND CANNOT BE USED. TT WHEN A PASSENGER SITS IN SEAT AND TRIES TO BUCKLE UP THEY CAN HARDLY PUT THE BELT INTO THE HOLDER SMOOTHLY IT IS A CONSTANT BATTLE, THEN WHEN IT FINALLY DOES GO INTO LOWER HALF OF BUCKLE THE PASSENGER IS NOT ALWAYS RELEASED WHEN USING THE RELEASE BUTTON IT SEEMS THAT THE BUCKLE STICKS IT IS CURRENTLY NOT USABLE AS CONSUMER'S LAST PASSENGER GOT STUCK IN THE SEAT BELT.

NHTSA complaint #973768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Centervillle, UT

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WHEN LOCKED CAME LOOSE .

NHTSA complaint #971472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Ramon, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

FRONT BRAKE HOSES CRACKING, REPLACE ONE. OTHER ONE CRACKED. TT

NHTSA complaint #971140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wilow Spring, 00 Fire

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

THE HALOGEN HEADLIGHT BRACKET BROKE AND IT CAUSED THE LIGHT TO FALL UNDER THE BUMPER AND IT CAUSED A FIRE. TT

NHTSA complaint #968955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Antonio, TX Crash

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER SISTER WAS DRIVING CAR AND THE REAR AXLE BROKE AND THE LEFT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT/ROLLOVER.

NHTSA complaint #967293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Antonio, TX Crash 1 injured

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

THE AXLE BROKE ON THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE AND OVERTURN A NUMBER OF TIMES. TT

NHTSA complaint #966570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Annapolis, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CRANK SHAFT BROKE, RESULTED IN STALLING. TT

NHTSA complaint #959146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Annapolis, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

REPLACED TIMING BELT.

NHTSA complaint #959146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.