15 of the
181 complaints about the 1997 Mercury Tracer are about the
braking system — 8% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
91,698 miles.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY TRACER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE INTO THE MEDIAN TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE CYLINDER HEAD WAS BLOWN. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. . THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD IN THE ENGINE FAILED AND CAUSED HER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND THE WARRANTY COMPANY STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO HONOR THE WARRANTY TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE WARRANTY INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. THE FAILURE ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TIRES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. ON OCTOBER 8, 2007, THE CONTACT DROVE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT. AFTER THREE HOURS OF INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS STILL UNDETERMINED. THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK IN A FEW DAYS. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN LOSING SPEED AND THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH ANOTHER COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE WARRANTY COMPANY, BUT THEY REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR WORK. THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THIS WAS BECAUSE SHE REPORTED THE DEALER TO THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 91,698. THE FUEL GAUGE WAS INOPERATIVE. THE AC DID NOT BLOW OUT COLD AIR, THE FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/12/07
NHTSA complaint #10208138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Florissant, MO
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
THE BRAKE LAMP ILLUMINATES AFTER STOPPING AND WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. NLM
NHTSA complaint #559922 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Portersville, PA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
RETAINING PINS THAT HOLD BRAKE PADS IN PLACE ARE LOOSE, CAUSING CONTACT TO THE WHEEL, AND EVENTUAL SEPARATION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK MORE SPECIFICALLY THE RETAINING CLIPS THAT HOLD THE RETAINING PINS IN THE FRONT BRAKE ASSEMBLY SNAP AND FLY OFF OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE PINS CONTACT THE WHEEL.
NHTSA complaint #866149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pamplico, SC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL STIFFENS AND THE VEHICLE TAKES LONGER TO SLOW DOWN. THERE IS ALSO A VIBRATION THAT OCCURS DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. DEALER REPLACED PADS, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. HAS BEEN TO DEALER 6 OR 7 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #847977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pamplico, SC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL STIFFENS AND THE VEHICLE TAKES LONGER TO SLOW DOWN. THERE IS ALSO A VIBRATION THAT OCCURS DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. DEALER REPLACED PADS, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. HAS BEEN TO DEALER 6 OR 7 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #847977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NEW Hudson, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY SHUTTER. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND REALIGNED THE ROTORS.
NHTSA complaint #840289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Riverview, FL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
BRAKES SQUEAL WHEN APPLIED,REAR PADS/ SHOES NOISY WHEN APPLIED & RELEASED, DEALER SAID STILL HAD 60% OF PADS AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. DEALER SAID THAT ALL OF THE NEW TYPE LININGS MAKE NOISE.
NHTSA complaint #702856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Murrieta, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKES WERE GRINDING AND SQUEAKING. TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE PEDAL HAD TO BE PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY DENIED THE SERVICE. FOUND THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER ANOTHER VIN #. REPAIR WORK STILL CANNOT BE DONE BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED.
NHTSA complaint #831231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LAS Vegas, NV
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
CALIPERS STICKING CAUSING ROTORS TO OVERHEAT AND WARP.
NHTSA complaint #524781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LAS Vegas, NV
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
BRAKE CALIPERS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #533309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LAS Vegas, NV
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKE ROTORS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #533309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LAS Vegas, NV
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
REAR BRAKE DRUMS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #533309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Berkley, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKES FAILED, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE; ALS0, REPLACED LEAKING MASTER CYLINDER.
NHTSA complaint #515287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Berkley, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
ABS BRAKES FAILED, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE; ALS0, REPLACED LEAKING MASTER CYLINDER.
NHTSA complaint #515287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Berkley, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
LOSS OF REAR BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS DUE TO FAILURE OF MASTER CYLINER. THE FAILURE WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE COLD AMBIANT TEMPERATURES AT THE TIME.
NHTSA complaint #546796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.