76 of the
754 complaints filed about the Mercury Tracer
are about the airbag system —
10% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1997.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1993 MERCURY TRACER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE THREE INJURIES REPORTED THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. MAILED 10/16/14*LJUPDATED 11/13/14*LJ UPDATED 4/29/2015
NHTSA complaint #10633490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10344024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCURY TRACER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE CONTACT STRUCK A POLE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKES WERE FAULTY AND HAD BEEN REPAIRED PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 94V218000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE DEALER AND THEY ARE CHARGING $300 JUST TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND $5,400 FOR THE REPAIR. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,000.
NHTSA complaint #10254268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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
NHTSA complaint #10201339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF HER 1998 MERCURY TRACER AND COLLIDED HEAD ON INTO A GUARDRAIL. NEITHER OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *NM THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS SMASHED INTO THE ENGINE. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10113740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10097699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10091497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10081809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #10070841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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
NHTSA complaint #10055640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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
NHTSA complaint #10048553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10047105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #10039422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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
NHTSA complaint #10029621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE BOUGHT A 1999 MERCURY TRACER USED CAR ON 04/2000, LATER THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED VIBRATING BADLY, THIS VIBRATION CAN BE FELT THRU OUT THE CAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR 8 TIMES. THE SERVICE MANAGER NOW SAYS THAT THIS VIBRATION IS NORMAL. WHEN WE TOOK IT BACK SAT IN THE CAR AND SAID THAT HE WOULD NOT DRIVE THAT CAR VIBRATING LIKE THAT AND HE WOULD NOT EXPECT US TO. . I ASKED IF IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, HE SAID HE COULD NOT ANSWER THAT. MY CONCERN IS, WITH THIS SEVERE VIBRATION IS THE STEERING COLUMN GOING TO DISCONNECT OR LOCKUP AND CAUSE SEVERE BODILY HARM. IF THIS PROBLEM IS "NORMAL" THEN WHY ISN'T THE CONSUMER WARNED ABOUT THIS IN THEIR ADVERTISEMENTS.FROM READING OTHER NHTSA REPORTS I SEE THAT OTHER INDIVIDUALS HAVE HAD STEERING PROBLEMS DUE TO LOCKUP AND BREAKAGE AFTER REPORTING UNUSUAL VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND ENGINE. THA LAST MONTH MY CAR BROKE DOWN COMPLETED. I TOOK TO THE MIDAS AND THE MANAGER SAID ME THE WAS ALL MOTOR MOUNTS AND TWO FRONT AXXELS, THEN I FIXED DID HE TOLD ME IT WAS EVERITHING. AND THEN I TOOKED BECAUSE I'M STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM THEN I TOOKED BACK TO MIDAS THEY CHECKED FOR THE FOUR TIME THEN HE TOLD ME THE WAS THE TRASMISSION PROBLEM. I'M STIIL HAVE A PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10028971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10024864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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
NHTSA complaint #10019451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #10017462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.