1998 MERCURY TRACER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
57
Owner Complaints
1
Recall
16
Service Bulletins
1
Investigation
Overview of the 1998 MERCURY TRACER
The 1998 MERCURY TRACER has received a total of 57 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There has been 1 recall campaign affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SEAT BELTS:FRONT. 16 technical service bulletins have been issued by Ford Motor Company for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline (6 complaints), Air Bagsfrontal (5 complaints), and Electrical Systemhorn (4 complaints).
Recalls for the 1998 MERCURY TRACER
NHTSA has recorded 1 recall for the 1998 MERCURY TRACER, potentially affecting up to 388 vehicles.
Recall 04E048000 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT
| 388 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN TRW DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS MANUFACTURED ON DECEMBER 6 AND 9, 2002, FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR 1997 FORD ESCORT 4-DOOR AND STATION WAGON PLATFORM VEHICLES, FORD'S P/N F7CZ54611B09AAC. THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES EXHIBIT A NO-LOCK CONDITION WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM MAY NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT, WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: TRW WILL NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASED THE REPLACEMENT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 27, 2004.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1998 MERCURY TRACER
57 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 MERCURY TRACER. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
SPEEDS UP ON ITS OWN WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHTS. OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. MOST OF ALL IN THE WINTER TIME. TRIED TO REPAIRED IT AT STATION BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. *TR
WHILE I AM ON THE FOOT BRAKE SLOWING DOWN, CAR SUDDENLY REVS, SHIFTS INTO GEAR AND ACCELERATES. I AM UNABLE TO HOLD BACK THE VEHICLE EVEN WHEN PUSHING AS HARD AS I CAN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I HAVE TO KNOCK THE SHIFT LEVER INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP.*AK
DT: THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, AND THE DEALER DISCOVERED THE REAR PASSENGER STRUT BROKE. INSIDE THE STRUT WAS A PIECE OF RUBBER. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK
DT : TRUNK LATCH WAS FAULTY. TRUCK LATCH HAD A SENSOR IN IT THAT WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE NOT TO RUN. THE PART THEY REPLACED WAS CALLED A TRUNK LATCH. IT WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE TO DECELERATE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE TRUNK LID WAS CLOSED BUT THE SENSOR INSIDE OF IT WAS FAULTY BECAUSE IT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL EVEN THOUGH THE LID WAS CLOSED. THE SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE.*AK *NM
REAR COIL SPRING FRACTURED, WITHOUT PROVOCATION, IN MY 1998 MERCURY TRACER SEDAN. AFTER SPEAKING TO 3 DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT SHOPS AND 2 DIFFERENT FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENTS, IT WAS ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THAT FORD/MERCURY HAS A KNOWN MATERIAL DEFECT THAT THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO IGNORE. EVERYONE CONCEDES THAT THESE SPRINGS ARE FAILING AT ABSURD RATES BUT FOMO CO POLICY IS TO DENY EVERYTHING (DESPITE WHAT THEIR OWN SERVICE TECHNICIANS ARE ADMITTING) CATASTROPHIC FAILURES WHILE DRIVING FREQUENTLY RESULT IN TIRE BLOWOUTS... THIS PROBLEM OCCURS THROUGHOUT THE TAURUS/SABLE, ESCORT/TRACER, AND TOPAZ/CONTOUR CAR LINES... I STILL HAVE THE SHATTERED SPRING IN MY POSSESSION, FOMOCO EXPRESSED ZERO INTEREST WHEN I CONTACTED THEM...
View all Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline complaints →
Safety Rating for the 1998 MERCURY TRACER
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1998 MERCURY TRACER in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1998 MERCURY TRACER
Ford Motor Company has issued 16 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1998 MERCURY TRACER. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
13214 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
INFORMATION REGARDING BRAKE CALIPER PIN CORROSION. *MJS
13107 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
CONCERNS WITH LACK OF HEAT / THERMOSTAT CONTAMINATION. *TT
13160 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT TRANSMISSION AND / OR MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON CONCERNS RELATING TO THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION RANGER SENSOR (TRS). *TT
6503 — EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXIBIT ICP (RADIO) CONCERNS OF NOISES COMING FROM THE TAPE DECK. *TT
5963 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
INFORMATION ON INSTALLING FUSES AT PRE-DELIVERY. *TT
982517 — STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
CONCERNS WITH THE REAR HATCH DOESNT UNLOCK WHEN USING THE DOOR PANEL SWITCH AND/OR THE ALARM SOUNDS INADVERTENTLY IF THE REAR HATCH DOOR IS UNLOCKED USING THE " TRUNK " BUTTON ON THE KEY FOB ON SOME VEHICLES. *YC
5264 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
INFORMATION CONCERNING CLICK NOISE FROM FRONT CALIPERS DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. *TT
5294 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
INFORMATION CONCERNING VEHICLES EXPERIENCING AN ENGINE IDLE VIBRATION WHILE IN GEAR AND LOADED (A/C ON, HEADLIGHTS ON, AND / OR REAR DEFROSTER ON). *TT
5309 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
INFORMATION REGARDING VEHICLES EXHIBITING A CLICK SOUND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES WHILE CHANGING DIRECTION. *TT
12215 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN ENGINE IDLE VIBRATION CONCERN WHILE IN GEAR AND LOADED (A/C ON, HEADLIGHTS ON, AND / OR REAR DEFROSTER ON). *TT
Showing 10 of 16 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1998 MERCURY TRACER
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation into potential safety defects in the 1998 MERCURY TRACER.
Other Model Years of the MERCURY TRACER
- 1993 MERCURY TRACER — 114 complaints
- 1994 MERCURY TRACER — 81 complaints
- 1995 MERCURY TRACER — 126 complaints
- 1996 MERCURY TRACER — 15 complaints
- 1997 MERCURY TRACER — 181 complaints
- 1998 MERCURY TRACER (current)
- 1999 MERCURY TRACER — 32 complaints
- 2000 MERCURY TRACER — 2 complaints
- 2001 MERCURY TRACER — 0 complaints
- 2002 MERCURY TRACER — 0 complaints
- 2003 MERCURY TRACER — 0 complaints
Other MERCURY Models
- MERCURY SABLE — 7,190 total complaints
- MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS — 4,949 total complaints
- MERCURY MILAN — 3,211 total complaints
- MERCURY COUGAR — 2,646 total complaints
- MERCURY MOUNTAINEER — 2,646 total complaints
- MERCURY VILLAGER — 2,205 total complaints
- MERCURY MARINER — 1,716 total complaints
- MERCURY MYSTIQUE — 1,510 total complaints