1989 Mercury Tracer
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Mercury › Tracer › 1989
These records cover every 1989 Mercury Tracer. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
1 recall names the 1989 Mercury Tracer. Newest first.
The front safety belt buckle release buttons can break. These red plastic release buttons are marked "press." if a button breaks, pieces can fall into the buckle assembly causing the buckle to operate improperly.
Risk and remedy
Risk
The safety belts would not provide adequate protection to an occupant in a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Owners should promptly check the condition and operation of both front safety belt buckles and carefully inspect the red release button for any breaks or cracks. They should ensure that both buckles are operating properly by inserting each latch plate into its buckle, tugging on the belt to make sure that latch IS securely locked, and then pressing the release button. The latch plate should pop out of the buckle when the button IS pressed. If either release button shows a sign of breaking or cracking or if either buckle fails to operate properly, owners should promptly contact their authorized dealer to schedule an appointment to have the buckle replaced or repaired, free of charge. The manufacturer IS developing a remedy designed to prevent failure of the buttons that are not currently broken.
Owner complaints
16 complaints3 involved a fire
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Unknown or other
There IS a stalling problem, even when driving! the were a number of times that I had to be pushed of a main road. It took hours to restart. If I wait over 10 hours, most times the car will restart. the problem seems to be in the ignition module and /or the magnet and/or the rotor. I have spent…
There IS a stalling problem, even when driving! the were a number of times that I had to be pushed of a main road. It took hours to restart. If I wait over 10 hours, most times the car will restart. the problem seems to be in the ignition module and /or the magnet and/or the rotor. I have spent nearly $2,300.00 replacing parts. the car still stalls out even when driving! it IS possible the problem IS with the distributor or the ignition module. The contacts to the relay in the fuse box were cleaned but it still stalls randomly. I believe there was a recall with the ignition module, rotor and magnet set. IS that true?
- Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
They have a leap seat belt in the back only. *Ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
I am a single 66 yr old on a fixed income, purchased the the vehicle in june of 2000 since that date I have had nothing but problems with this car, when I am driving down the road and the vehicle gets hot or more so warmed up it quits wherever it may be, this has happened several times in…
I am a single 66 yr old on a fixed income, purchased the the vehicle in june of 2000 since that date I have had nothing but problems with this car, when I am driving down the road and the vehicle gets hot or more so warmed up it quits wherever it may be, this has happened several times in intersections and also the expressways. I also have had the car towed to a certified mechanic several times and now have spent over $600.00 no one seems to know what the problem may be, after reading the article in this weeks issue of the oakland press in requards to ford products that would certanly pinpoint my problem.. If you could please help me on this issue I would greatly appericate it.. lucille robbs*ak
- Power train › Axle assembly
The rear wheel bearings have failed on three separate occasions. The car was purchased used with 14,700 miles. The first failure occured on april 5, 1998, traveling 65 mph on the interstate. The left rear wheel bearings seized and the wheel fell inward pulling the car severely to the right. This…
The rear wheel bearings have failed on three separate occasions. The car was purchased used with 14,700 miles. The first failure occured on april 5, 1998, traveling 65 mph on the interstate. The left rear wheel bearings seized and the wheel fell inward pulling the car severely to the right. This nearly caused a collision with a semi in the next lane. Both left and right rear bearing assemblies failed on may 5, 1999; again the left rear tire tipped in. The right rear failed as well. Both rear wheel bearings failed again on 10-6-99. On all occasions new bearings and seals have been replaced. My sister owns a 1989 mercury tracer as well and her bearings have failed three to four times. I have had two different mechanics repair my bearings. My sister has had at least three separate mechanics repair. I have contacted ford motor company and they are not interested in providing a safe product. This IS not an issue of an express warranty but designing products that are fit for their intended uses and will not injury people. I have located three nhtsa technical service bulletins that might relate: bc3130890301 (item sb005908) and 90-12-5 (item sb014830) and 90-19-9 (item sb017139). This IS a dangerous defective product design by ford motor company.
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
At 64,000 miles the engine failed, oil leaking in pistons, the whole engine was replace. *yc
- Unknown or other
I am having a very hard time with this I cannot get compliance from the manufacturer about this part or what I should do or who I should talk to. my car has not been working since this part went and cannot get any help. it has been towed three times and no one can seem to help me. I just tow it…
I am having a very hard time with this I cannot get compliance from the manufacturer about this part or what I should do or who I should talk to. my car has not been working since this part went and cannot get any help. it has been towed three times and no one can seem to help me. I just tow it from place to place and the part was suppossed to be ordered in feburary and I havent received nothing yet. if I could just know who to talk to it might help me some. cars should not be made if the parts cannot be found for them. what should I do? please help me I love that car. I tried to order this part and it was on order from feburary till june and nothing from no one. why IS things built if they cannot be fixed? I refuse to give up. just give me some numbers if you cannot help me. thank you for your time and patience. lisa mitchell. No safety defect mentioned in summary. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
No summary
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Transmission very sluggish, not enough power to shift into gear. when vehicle was being inspected, the mechanic pulled the bolt from the pully on the crankshaft and the end of the crankshaft fell off.
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Vehicle fire.
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Parked vehicle on lot later vehicle burst into flames. *ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
While driving the vehicle under the hood engine compartment caught on fire, electrical short, saw smoke. *ak
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Pads · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Drum › Shoes/linings · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder
Excessive wear brake shoes/pads replacing repeatedly w/low mileage accumulation. Master cylinder also fails replaced (4) times. Please describe details. tt
- Tires
Tire came off the vehicle when car was in drive. tt
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder
Brake failure, failure of master cylinder, surge while driving, pedal faded. tt
- Wheels
Right back tire came completely off, left was breaking off at the axle, repair both side. tt
- Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system · Suspension › Front › Macpherson strut
Rear struts replaced.
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 6090087Information on identifying non-approved / alternate refrigerants which could cause safety, and performance concerns if installed in ford a/c systems.
- 3031500Unknown
- 623988Information regarding transmission fluid usage charts. *Slc
- 612203Information regarding the new transmission cooler flusher- service tip. *Mjs
- 606420Ford motor company now recommends sae 5W-30 viscosity grade for servicing any ford gasoline-powered vehicle regardless of model year.
- 601343A new silicone gasket and sealant.
- 601312Information on a buzzing or rattle noise from the exhaust system.
- 601290Information on tire company telephone numbers for customer assistance.
- 601269Announcing the ford oem air conditioning retrofit kit availability.
- 601238Information on a new transmission fluid usage chart.
- 601012The use of petroleum-based grease as a lubricant in servicing disc brakes IS no longer acceptable.
- 51945Fluid- transmission fluid usage charts.
- 50997Transaxle - torque converter replacement guidelines and torque converter/transaxle cooling system cleaning procedures - service tip.
- 50972Axke leaks - fluid leaks from front of vehicle at axle shafts - new design replacement cv joint boots.
- 50940Windshield and interior glass - fog/film.
- 50905Wiring - electrical diode identification and service replacements.
- 46478The use of petroleum-based grease as a lubricant in servicing disc brakes IS no longer acceptable because it may be incompatible with the rubber material used in the disc brake system. If petroleum-based grease IS used to lubricate any part of the disc brake system, it could cause rubber parts to swell if lubricant contacts the rubber material.
- 39900Roughness concern during brake application.
Every Mercury Tracer model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.