1994 Mercury Tracer

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/26/1995· AIR BAGSCrash

  AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION (12:00) AT 35 MPH. TT

• 12/14/1994· TIRES

  PREMATURE TIRE WEAR ON FRONT GOODYEAR TIRES DUE TO MISALIGNMENT. *SKD

• 12/10/1999· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  NO SUMMARY

• 12/08/1999· SEAT BELTS

  DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RESTRAINT DOES NOT UNLOCK WHEN THE DOOR OPENS AS IT SHOULD, AND WHEN IT LOCKS IT TIGHTENS UP TOO MUCH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

• 11/30/1995· AIR BAGSCrash

  THE DRIVER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, AND GOT BURNED IN THE CHEST AREA WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. TT

• 11/25/1997· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION CONTINUOUSLY LEAKS DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT. *AK

• 11/17/1995· SEATSCrash

  THE REAR BACK SEAT CAME UNATTACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN CAR WAS IN ACCIDENT. TT

• 11/10/1997· STEERING

  WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO FORWARD BECAUSE OF A DAMAGED TIRE ROD. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED BY DEALERSHIP. OWNER HAS EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR INCIDENT IN APRIL OF 1996, AND THE TIE ROD WAS REPLACED. *AK

• 10/30/2001· AIR BAGS

  THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD BLINKS 3-2 WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS DONE THIS SINCE THE CAR WAS BRAND NEW. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR IN SEVERAL TIMES PER YEAR WITH THE BLINKING LIGHT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT CORTESE EITHER COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. IT DOES COME AND GO. IT IS MORE ON THAN OFF. THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED TWICE. THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR IN WHILE THE LIGHT WAS BLINKING AND NOT TO TURN THE CAR OFF. I DID THAT. IT WAS CONFIRMED YES THE LIGHT BLINKS 3-2. I LEFT THE CAR FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK IN JULY OF 2001. ON THE WAY HOME FROM CORTESE AFTER THE CAR WAS "REPAIRED" THE AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK ON THE WAY HOME. I AM GETTING THE RUN AROUND ABOUT FIXING THE PROBLEM. THE FACTORY WAS CONTACTED 3 YEARS AGO WHEN I SENT MY FATHER TO THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT CORTESE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURES OVER THIS SUMMER TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN AUGUST DUE TO NEEDING A PART. NOW I AM BEING MET WITH IT IS OUT OF WARRENTY. I HAD A 7/70K WARENTY WHICH DOES EXPIRE NOVEBEROF THIS YEARSINCE THE CAR WAS BRAND NEW.. SINCE THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING SAFTEY ISSUE , I THINK I HAVE BEEN OVERLY PATIENT WITH RECTIFYING THIS DEFECT. I CALLED THE NYS ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE. THE LEMON LAW DOES NOT APPLY AS THE CAR IN NOW MORE THAN 4 YEARS OLD. I WAS REFERED TO YOUR ORGANIZATION. HELP!!!!!!*AK

• 10/25/1995· SUSPENSIONCrash

  VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT, CAUSING CAR TO SLAM INTO CURB/DAMAGE SUB-FRAME. *SD

• 10/21/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED.

• 10/18/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  ON-GOING/INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATING WHENEVER SPEED CONTROL IS ENGAGED AT SLOW SPEED. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFED AT THIS TIME. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

• 10/17/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE OVERHEAD INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET DISINTERGRATED INSIDE THE ENGINE RENDERING THE OXYGEN SENSOR USELESS AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING. NLM

• 10/02/1997· SUSPENSION

  LEFT REAR CONTROL ARM MISSING DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. *AK

• 10/01/1996· SEAT BELTS,SEATSCrash

  FAILURE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK BOLT, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK BOLT BROKE AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK.*AK

• 09/25/2002· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK IS LEAKING ALL OVER. THIS VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE OF THOSE THAT WERE RECALLED 1995. NLM

• 09/21/1998· SEAT BELTS

  FRONT SEAT MOTORBELTS NOT FUNCTIONING AT ALL, WILL NOT OPEN OR SHUT.

• 09/19/2000· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  CRACKED FUEL TANK AT MOLDED MOUNTING BRACKET (DESIGN FLAW)

• 09/19/2000· SUSPENSION

  PROBLEMS WITH THESE SUSPENSION PROBLEMS FIRST APPEARED IN MARCH OF 1998, AFTER PUTTING ON NEW TIRES OF THE SAME SIZE AS WAS PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. STRUTS WERE THEN REPLACED. CAR IS UNSTABLE, HAS A TENDENCY TO PULL TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING WHICH CAUSED BRIEF LOSS OF CONTROL IN APRIL 1999. NO DAMAGE OR INJURIES SUFFERED. HIT A POT HOLE WITH VEHICLE IN APPROX JAN 98, HAD VEHICLE CHECKED AND NO DAMAGE WAS FOUND TO THE SUSPENSION. SPEED AT THE TIME WAS LESS THAN 10 MPH. HAD VEHICLE AGAIN CHECKED BY THE MERCURY DEALER ON 18 SEPT 00, AND VEHICLE WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE A CRACKED COIL ON THE RIGHT REAR SPRING. STRUTS WERE REPLACE IN LATE 1998 TO EARLY 1999 AND THE RIGHT FRONT AND REAR SPRING WERE INSPECTED AT THAT TIME AND WERE DETERMINED TO BE IN NORMAL RANGE, NO DAMAGE WAS NOTED. STILL HAVING DIFFICULTIES WITH VEHICLE AS OF THIS COMPLAINT, VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ON ROAD IN CURRENT CONDITION. WOULD LIKE YOUR AGENCY TO INSPECT VEHICLE AS I HAVE REPORTED TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY ON 18 SEPT WITH NO ANSWER AS TO WHY AFTER REPLACING TIRES AM I HAVING TO REPLACE ALL SUSPENSION PARTS. AFTER LOOKING THROUGH OTHER CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE THERE ARE SOME OTHER SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE SUSPENSION. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED, FORD NEEDS TO FIND AND CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, AS THIS HAS COST ME OVER 500 IN REPAIRS AND PROBLEM IS STILL NOT SOLVED. THREE OTHER LOCAL SHOPS HAVE LOOKED AT THIS VEHICLE AND CANNOT DETERMINE WHY THIS VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED THESE PROBLEMS. THEY HAVE INSPECTED ALL SUSPENSION PARTS, FRAME AND SUB FRAME. THESE PARTS SEEM TO FAIL WITHOUT WARNING AND AT LOW VEHICLE MILEAGE.

• 09/18/1996· SEAT BELTS,SEATSCrash

  FAILURE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK BOLT, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK BOLT BROKE AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK.*AK

• 09/13/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  THIS CAR HAS BEEN TOO DANGEROUS AND UNRELIABLE TO DRIVE SAFELY..IT WAS SOLD WITH 15% BRAKES LEFT AFTER I WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD NEW BRAKES AND CALIPERS, A COMPLETE SAFETY CHECK BY JOE KERLEY JEEP EAGLE...SOME ONE HAD PUT SILOCONE ON A BROKEN FUEL PUMP THAT CAUSED FUMES AND COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF GASOLINE TO FILL UNDER THE BACK SEAT....THE CLUTCH BLEW UP WITHOUT ANY NOTICE....THE AIR BAG HAS NEVER DEPLOYED EVEN WHEN I HAD A SPIN OUT ON HIGHWAY 101...I TOLD MR BROOKS ABOUT THE GAS PROBLEM AND HE SAID HE WAS TOO BUSY TO DEAL WITH IT....I HAVE SPENT OVER 3,000$ IN MAJOR REPAIRS AND HAVE NOT EVEN PUT 20000 MILES IN ALMOST 3 YEARS...THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP..BELINDA ANNE BROOKS. NLM

• 09/11/1995· SUSPENSIONCrash

  VEHICLE PULLS TO THE EXTREME RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. HAD ALIGNMENT STILL PULLS. TT

• 09/11/1995· AIR BAGSCrash

  HIT A TRUCK FROM BEHIND AND DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG ONLY DEPLOYED HALF WAY SPARKS AND SMOKE CAME FROM AIR BAG. TT

• 09/09/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE PULLEY SEPARATED, CAUSNG THE BELT TO TEAR, RESULTING IN VEHICLE STALLING UNEXPECTEDLY, AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

• 09/08/1995· AIR BAGSCrash

  THE VEHICLE WAS STANDING STILL AND THE VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE FRONT AT THE AIRBAG SENSORS AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

• 09/07/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I AM INQUIRING ABOUT THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THIS MAKE AND MODEL HAD CERTAIN DEFECTS WITHIN THE ENGINE AND IT'S PARTS. I HAVE NOT FOUND ANY LISTINGS OF MAJOR RECALL, BUT I HAVE FOUND OTHER LISTINGS REPORTING PROBLEMS LIKE MINE. ARE THESE PROBLEMS THE RESULT OF DEFECT, AGE, IMPROPER PARTS, OR POOR CARE? THE PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE ARE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKS. I HAVE FOUND THAT MANIFOLD ITSELF IS WARPED. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? THE HEAD GASKETS ARE CRAKED. THIS AUTOMOBILE RAN AT A HIGH TEMPERATURE, EVEN AFTER FLUSHING THE RADIATOR. THE CAR COOLED AFTER I TURNED OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER. I FOUND THE THAT CAR HAD THE INCORRECT THERMOSTAT INSTALLED. THIS PARTICULAR PART IS DESIGNED FOR HIGH HEAT READINGS. THE CAR WOULD HAVE TO OVERHEAT BEFORE THE FAN WOULD START. I RECENTLY REPLACED FUEL TANK. THE CAR IS STILL RUNNING, BUT NOT PROPERLY. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE THIS IF YOU LOOK INTO THIS FOR ME.*AK

• 09/05/1997· SEAT BELTS

  THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WILL NOT RETRACT BACK AND FORTH. ALSO, THE REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT AT ALL. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

• 09/01/1999· SEAT BELTS

  BOTH SIDE MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS FAILED TO OPERATE; WOULD ONLY GO HALF WAY ON TRACK AND STOP. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REPAIRED ONE SIDE AT CONSUMER COST ($750.00). WOULD LIKE NHTSA HELP ON THIS SAFETY MATTER CONCERNING MANUFACTURER'S0 DEFECT OR COST OF REPAIRS. *AK

• 08/31/2000· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  MY VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK AND THE LENSE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR LIGHT WAS CRACKED. I WENT TO THE LOCAL GAS STATION TO HAVE THE BULB REPLACED ONLY TO FIND THAT DUE TO TORRENTIAL RAINS, SOME WATER HAD SEEPED INTO THE CRACK AND THE BULB HAD BLOWN. REPLACED BULB AND WITHIN TWO DAYS THE BULB WAS OUT AGAIN. I ONLY NOTICED THIS BECAUSE WHEN I GOT INTO MY VEHICLE TO RUN TO THE STORE, MY GEAR SHIFT WAS STUCK. I READ THE MAINTENANCE MANUAL THAT CAME WITH MY TRACER AND USED THE SHIFT OVERRIDE BUTTON. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE GARAGE AND ORDERED A REAR LIGHT UNIT. THIS UNIT WAS REPLACED LAST FRIDAY AUGUST 25, 2000 AND ON MONDAY, AUGUST 28, WHEN GOING OUT ON MY LUNH HOUR I FOUND THAT THE SHIFT WAS AGAIN STUCK, I PULLED THE FUSE AND, OF COURSE, THE FUSE WAS BLOWN. THAT EVENING I TOOK THE CAR TO THE GARAGE SINCE I THEN NOTICED THAT I NOT ONLY HAD A GEAR SHIFT THAT WAS STUCK, NO REAR LIGHTS, NO INTERIOR PANEL LIGHTS AND NO LIGHTS ON THE SHIFT PANEL. IF I HADN'T LEFT WORK LATE, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER CAR SINCE I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. I HAD DIFFICULTING GETTING THE CAR INTO GEAR IN THE DARK PARKING GARAGE WITHOUT THE GEAR SHIFT LIGHTS. THIS PROBLEM HAS MADE ME VERY UNEASY DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AROUND AND I'M QUITE CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING MY CHILDREN ANY WHERE IN THIS CAR. HAS THIS HAPPENED TO OTHER MERCURY TRACERS??? IF SO, HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL FOR ANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS? PLEASE ADVISE.

• 08/31/1998· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  CONSUMER WAS PULLING INTO PARKING LOT WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT THE SIDE OF APARTMENT BUILDING AND BOUNCED OFF THE BUILDING. INTO A PARKED VEHICLE ETC. CONSUMER SUSTAINED AN INJURY FROM ACCIDENT. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

• 08/29/2007· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  I HAVE A 97 VILLAGER AND A 94 TRACER SW. I WAS REVIEWING MY RECEIPTS FOR A RECALL FOR THE FILLER PIPE VENT HOSE ON MY VILLAGER FROM 6/2001. IT WAS FIXED THEN. IT SEEMS SAME PART IS NOW LEAKING IN OUR TRACER. IT IS DANGEROUS WHEN DOING A FILL UP FOR IT LEAKS. UPDATED 01-16-08. *KB UPDATED *JB

• 08/22/1996· POWER TRAIN

  CLUTCH FAILED.

• 08/15/1996· SEAT BELTS

  FRONT SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LOCK AROUND CHILD SAFETY SEAT.

• 08/06/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  TEMPERATURE GAUGE IS NOT WORKING.

• 07/20/1998· SEAT BELTS

  BOTH REAR SEAT BELTS ARE HANGING OUT OF THE RETRACTOR, AND WILL NOT RETRACT BACK INTO THE MECHANISM. THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY LESS THAN 2 YEARS AGO, WHEN THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. MANUFACTURER STATED TO CONSUMER THAT THE SEAT BELTS COULD NOT BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. *AK

• 07/14/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  MERCURY SABLE WAGON 1994; 6-CYLINDER 3.8 L ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE @ 149,161 MILES- FORD WILL NOT WARRANTY ENGINE BEYOND 100,000 MILES EVEN THOUGH IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE 3.8 L 6 CYLINDER ENGINES-- NHTSA SHOULD HAVE REQUIRED FORD TO WARRANTY FOR AT LEAST 150,000 MILES. PLEASE REQUIRE FORD TO REPLACE ENGINE!!!! CAR IS NOT FIXED- I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THIS COSTLY PROBLEM-- IF I HAD ADEQUATE DISCLOSURE OF THE PROBLEM WITH 3.8L HEAD GASKET FAILURES I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THIS CAR....

• 07/13/1995· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  SUDDEN ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *AK

• 06/28/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  DURING THE EVENING MY WIFE, SON AND MYSELF WERE APPROACHING A STOPSIGN WHEN THE TRACER STALLED FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. UPON TRYING TO RESTART IT A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE HOOD EVENTUALLY TOTALLING THE CAR BEFORE THE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED NOT HAVING ANY INSURANCE I AM STILL OBLIGATED TO PAY THE REMAINDER OF THE NOTE WHICH IS APPROX. 2,300 DOLLARS. HAS THIS EVER HAPPENED BEFORE AND IF SO WHY?

• 06/13/1996· VISIBILITY

  HEATING CORE UNIT HAS GONE OUT AND NOW IT IS LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IT ALSO OVERHEATS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETIALS. *AK

• 06/08/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE STALLS DAILY ON FREEWAYS.

• 06/03/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,SEAT BELTS,CHILD SEATCrash

  DRIVING VEHICLE, REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, SLAMMED ON BRAKES, CSS WAS LEANING FROM REAR SEAT, CHILD FACING FLOOR OF VEHICLE, CHILD'S FACE WAS BRUISED, ALSO FRONT /REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED. *AK

• 05/23/2000· SUSPENSION

  IHAD THIS CAR IN FOR A CHECK UP MIDAS TOLD ME ALOT OF CARS LIKE MINE WAS REPLASED ON COIL PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT MY COIL IS CRACKED ON THE RIGHT SIDE I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *AK

• 05/16/1996· SEAT BELTS

  SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN OCCUPANT IN ACCIDENT. *SD

• 05/08/1995· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  PURCHASED CAR AS NEW, HAD 3,000 MILES ON IT AND AT 4,000 MILES ITS TIMING BELT MADE NOISE AS LOUD AS THE RADIO. TT

• 05/07/1996· AIR BAGSCrash

  NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG DURING ABOVE ACCIDENT. *SD

• 05/03/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THE BRAKE ROTORS CRACKED IN HALF AT 25 MILES DUE TO INFERIOR STEEL USED BY FORD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

• 04/24/1995· STEERING

  STEERING WHEEL LOCKUP WHEN MAKING A LEFT TRUN, ALSO MAKE A LOUD NOISE. TT

• 04/23/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  WHILE PARKING VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE. VEHICLE BURSTED INTO FLAMES UNDERHOOD. COMPLETELY DESTROYING VEHICLE. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

• 04/09/2006· TIRES

  ON FEBRUARY 4, 2006 WE HAD A GOODYEAR ALLEGRA TIRE, PURCHASED AS SAM'S CLUB, GO FLAT. IT WAS THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. WHEN THE SAM'S CLUB TIRE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE TIRE HE FOUND A DEEP CUT OR CRACK ON THE SIDE WALL. HE THOUGHT IT COULD BE ROAD HAZARD DAMAGE OR VANDALISM. SAM'S CLUB REPLACED THE BASED ON TREAD WEAR. ON APRIL 8, 2006 THE TIRE ON THE LEFT FRONT WENT FLAT. IT HAS DEEP CUTS OR CRACKS ON BOTH SIDE OF THE TIRE, ONE ON THE OUTSIDE AND TWO ON THE BACK OF THE TIRE. THE DAMAGE IS NOT AT THE SAME PLACE ON THE TIRE, THE DAMAGE APPEARS AT ABOUT A 20 DEGREE DIFFERENCE SIDE TO SIDE. IT SEEMS THAT ROAD DAMAGE IS UNLIKELY AND IT IS UNLIKELY THAT A VANDAL WOULD REACH UNDER A VEHICLE. WE HAVE PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE TO THE SECOND TIRE. *NM

• 04/03/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE, EXCESSIVE PEDAL TRAVEL WITHOUT VEHICLE BRAKING. *AK