FaultScore

Mercury Tracer electrical problems

99 of the 754 complaints filed about the Mercury Tracer are about the electrical system — 13% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1997.

99

Complaints

13%

Share of all complaints

1

Crashes

31

Fires

Electrical System complaints by model year

1988 Tracer 1 1.0%
1989 Tracer 1 1.0%
1991 Tracer 21 21.2%
1992 Tracer 8 8.1%

Median failure at 80,000 miles

1993 Tracer 14 14.1%

Median failure at 113,800 miles

1994 Tracer 4 4.0%

Median failure at 1,802 miles

1995 Tracer 9 9.1%
1997 Tracer 28 28.3%

Median failure at 59,470 miles

1998 Tracer 6 6.1%

Median failure at 150,000 miles

1999 Tracer 7 7.1%

What owners said

1999 Mercury Tracer Borewood, TX Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY TRACER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN CONTINUES TO FAIL. THE HORN HAS BEEN REPLACED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. FOR THE MOST RECENT REPLACEMENT, THE WIRING CONNECTED TO THE AIR BAG BURNED. THE DEALER WIRED A SEPARATE BUTTON FOR THE CONTACT TO PUSH IN ORDER TO ACTIVATE THE HORN. THIS REMEDY DID NOT WORK PROPERLY AND ENABLED THE VEHICLE'S ALARM SYSTEM. THE CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW IF THE AIR BAGS ARE FULLY OPERABLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT RESPONDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,605 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10216846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Mercury Tracer at 19,000 miles Belize, 00 Fire 2 injured

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

THIS CAR IS A FORD MERCURY TRACER, 1997, VIN #1MELM10P2VW6246 THERE WAS A SMELL OF BURNING ACID AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF SMOKE. ABOUT TWO HOURS LATER THE CAR BURST IN FLAMES WE LOST THE ENTIRE INTERIOR.

NHTSA complaint #10157162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1994 Mercury Tracer at 1,802 miles Spring, TX Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WHILE AT A STOP A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10115741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mercury Tracer West Lafayette, IN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

THE ENGINE STALLED WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START IT .THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP FOR AN INSPECTION AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT A NEW IGNITION SWITCH WAS NEEDED.

NHTSA complaint #10105475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Mercury Tracer at 150,000 miles Princeton, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

WHILE DRIVING THE HORN STARTED BLOWING AND I HAD TO TAKE THE FUES OUT TO STOP IT.

NHTSA complaint #10102929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Mercury Tracer at 150,000 miles Princeton, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

ON DECEMBER 11, 2004 I WAS OUT SHOPPING AND I GOT IN THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START I LEFT IT SIT THERE OVER NIGHT AND WENT BACK THE NEXT DAY AND IT STARTED. I HAVE HAD 3 MACHANICKS LOOK AT IT AND NONE OF THEM KNOW WHY IT DID IT.

NHTSA complaint #10102930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Mercury Tracer Jarrell, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

THE HORN SUDDENLY GOES OFF AND WON'T STOP UNTIL THE FUSE IS PULLED-ESPECIALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. I HAVE HAD TO DISCONNECT THE HORN FUSE AND DRIVE AROUND WITH NO HORN FOR A YEAR NOW DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION. MUCH TIME AND MONEY WAS SPENT TRYING TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM AND WAS FINALLY TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE AIRBAG/HORN UNIT, AT A COST OF $600.00.

NHTSA complaint #10100182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1993 Mercury Tracer at 113,800 miles Rocky Mount, NC Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

1993 MERCURY TRACER, 1.9L SOHC. IGNITION CAUGHT ON FIRE. BURNT UP EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE STARTER, IGNITION SWITCH, START SAFETY SWITCH. THIS CAUSED SMOKE IN THE CAB AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THEN WHEN I PULLED THE KEY OUT AND WENT TO UNHOOKED THE BATTERY CABLE THE CAR TRIED TO START ITSELF.

NHTSA complaint #10060774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Mercury Tracer at 60,000 miles Miami, FL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

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.

1997 Mercury Tracer at 65,000 miles Margate, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

HORN DOES NOT WORK . DEALER NOTIFIED , BUT CLAIMED VEHICLE HAD NO WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #10048067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1992 Mercury Tracer at 80,000 miles Buchanan DAM, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

ON MY DAUGHTERS 1992 MERCURY TRACER, THE IGNITION SWITCH ENGAGED THE ENGINE STARTER AND BEGAN SMOKING WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND WHEN NO-ONE WAS IN THE CAR. I AM NOW FACED WITH $800.00 IN REPAIR BILLS FOR A DEFECTIVE FORD MOTOR COMPANY PART THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

NHTSA complaint #10045203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Mercury Tracer Arbutus, MD

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

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.

1999 Mercury Tracer Hartford, CT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

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.

1999 Mercury Tracer Hartford, CT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

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.

1997 Mercury Tracer at 58,941 miles Saint Clair Shores, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

HORN BLOWS NON STOP UNTIL FUSE IS PULLED. BROUGHT TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD ENTIRE AIRBAG HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10028397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1991 Mercury Tracer LAS Vegas, NV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

I HAD TO REPLACE TWO IGNITION SWITCHES ON MY 1991 MERCURY 1.9 TRACER TO THE TUNE OF $360.00. THE FIRST ONE THEY INSTALLED, THE TUMBLERS FELL APART AFTER ONE DAY, I HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE MECHANIC TO INSTALL A SECOND IGNITION SWITCH. I WAS INFORMED THAT FORD HAD A RECALL ON TRACER IGNITION SWITCHES. HOW DO I RECOVER MY EXPENSE?

NHTSA complaint #10023232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Mercury Tracer Decatur, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

THE HORN STARTED BLOWING ON ITS ON.

NHTSA complaint #10008969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Mercury Tracer NEW Berry, FL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WHILE DRIVING, A WIRE HARNESS FIRE OCCURRED IN THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND A MECHANIC SERVICED THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED A SHORTAGE IN WIRE HARNESS AGAIN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. CONSUMER REMOVED THE CONNECTION TO BATTERY TO PREVENT A DRAINAGE OF THE POWER.*AK *SCC

NHTSA complaint #8015123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mercury Tracer Jacksonville, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

CONSUMER STATED THE ELECTRICAL HEADLAMP ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WAS REPLACED, DUE TO EXCESS HEAT.

NHTSA complaint #8010505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Mercury Tracer Monroe, LA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING AND THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE.*JB(CLAIM#18-0629-945)

NHTSA complaint #6900807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Mercury Tracer problems