Mercury Tracer Problems by Year
NHTSA has 316 owner complaints and 4 safety recalls on file for the Mercury Tracer, across 6 model years (1995–2000). The 1997 model year has the most complaints (142). The most reported problem area overall is air bags.
Mercury Tracer years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Tracer year: 1995, 1997, 1998. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1997 Tracer: 142 complaints, 1 recall
- 1995 Tracer: 96 complaints, 3 recalls
- 1998 Tracer: 44 complaints, 0 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2000 Tracer: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
- 1996 Tracer: 12 complaints, 0 recalls
- 1999 Tracer: 20 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Mercury Tracer problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 62 | 5 | 21 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 46 | 6 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 41 | 4 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 39 | 4 | 0 |
| Suspension | 29 | 4 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 24 | 5 | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 21 | 4 | 3 |
| Visibility | 16 | 4 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 15 | 4 | 3 |
| Power Train | 14 | 5 | 1 |
| Steering | 12 | 5 | 4 |
| Tires | 12 | 4 | 0 |
| Structure | 8 | 5 | 0 |
| Equipment | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Seats | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Mercury Tracer model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Tracer | 2 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 1999 Tracer | 20 | 0 | — | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 1998 Tracer | 44 | 0 | — | Suspension | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1997 Tracer | 142 | 1 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1996 Tracer | 12 | 0 | — | Seat Belts | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 1995 Tracer | 96 | 3 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Mercury: all Mercury models · VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Mercury Tracer years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1995 (96), 1997 (142), 1998 (44) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Tracer year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Mercury Tracer?
Air Bags, with 62 complaints across 5 model years.
How many recalls does the Mercury Tracer have?
4 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.