1998 Mercury Tracer
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Mercury › Tracer › 1998
These records cover every 1998 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 1998 Mercury Tracer. Newest first.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
Owner complaints
44 complaints3 involved a crash1 involved a fire3 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Vehicle speed control
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
- Power train › Automatic transmission
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
- Suspension › Rear
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
- Latches/locks/linkages › Trunk lid › Lock
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
- Suspension › Rear › Springs
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…
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...
- Air bags › Frontal
While driving 70 mph the consumer lost control of her 1998 mercury tracer and collided head on into a guardrail. neither of the frontal air bags deployed. *nm the entire front end was smashed into the engine. *sc *jb
- 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.*ak
- Electrical system › Horn
While driving the horn started blowing and I had to take the fues out to stop it. *ak
- Unknown or other
Hole in my block with oil leak and valve gaskets so bad I turned the car in.
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system · Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft · Suspension › Rear › Springs › Coil springs
The rear coil springs broke on my 1998 mercury tracer. when seeking a repair, I understand that this IS a well documented problem with ford/mercury models of this size (escort/tracer/tempo). with rear springs broken, one can observe the rear tires of a car with these springs broken come off the…
The rear coil springs broke on my 1998 mercury tracer. when seeking a repair, I understand that this IS a well documented problem with ford/mercury models of this size (escort/tracer/tempo). with rear springs broken, one can observe the rear tires of a car with these springs broken come off the road. with ford well aware of this design flaw in these autos, there ought to be a recall of these vehicles. I have only 47,700 miles on this car; I have now replaced a busted crankshaft pulley and the resistor associated with circulation system which could have started a fire. all of these problems are well documented and ford should address these flaws.
- Suspension › Rear › Springs › Coil springs
During a vehicle inspection rear coil springs broke and were replaced. *ak
- Steering › Linkages › Tie rod assembly · Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs
Consumer complained about having problems with a right tie rod and a right coil spring. he had taken vehicle to a repair shop and was told by a mechanic what was wrong with the vehicle. vehicle was real dangerous to be driven. Manufacturer was not contacted at the time of this call. Dealer was contacted and replaced the damaged parts with the warranty. Vehicle had less than 30000 miles. *ak
- Electrical system › Horn
The horn started blowing on its on.*jb
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Engine failed after complete tuneup. *yh
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Engine failed after complete tuneup. *yh
- Suspension › Front
Consumer stated that first time 2 new tires were needed at 19,022 miles, mechanic said no problem with rear suspension, problem due to lack of rotation, second time 4 new tires were needed at 26,851 miles mechanic said problem with struts and coils for excessive tire wear. Repeated complaints to ford dealer ignored. *Yd
- Power train › Automatic transmission · Vehicle speed control
While stopping at spot light and without any indication vehicle surged while brakes were depressed. dealer was contacted.*ak consumer took vehicle to have the computer and transmission functions checked. transmission was serviced and adjustments were made. *jg
- Suspension › Rear › Springs
Broken rear coil springs at very low mileage, could have caused blowouts, serious accident. *Ak
- Suspension › Rear › Springs
Broken rear coil springs at very low mileage,could have caused tire blowouts,serious accident.*ak
- Air bags › Frontal
Vehicle was involved in a 20-25 mph frontal collision in which the driver and passenger air bags did not deploy, cause unknown.*ak *slc
- Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
Intermittent loss of windshield wiper function, will work in medium/high mode. Dealer/manufacturer were notified. *Ak *jb
- Unknown or other
Engine check light would come on and remain, had taken vehicle to dealer. mechanic either would replace or reset the sensors according to whatever code appears. *ak *slc
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Transmission fails to shift properly into gears, this causes vehicle to jerk and shift hard into gears, sometimes would flutter when driving at 50-55mph.*ak consumer stated vehicle has been to numerous dealership for the same problem.*slc
- Structure › Body
A hole in firewall has caused exhaust fumes to escape into passenger compartment. *Ak dealer told consumer to put a piece of tape over the hole to fix the problem, consumer states this IS not an acceptable remedy, letter written by scott rogers, he IS the driver of the vehicle. *slc
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Oil dipstick kept 'popping' up and squirting oil on engine. *ak
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Air bag non-deployment
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.
- 10014086General (pcm) power train control module programming procedures.
- 10013369General power train control module (pcm) programming procedures.
- 10013060Climate control a/c service tech tips.
- 10009870Trw vehicle safety systems, inc. IS recalling certain service replacement seatbelt retractors (driver's side front retractor in gray) manufactured in december 2002 and sold as a service replacement part between december 2002 and july 2004.
- 10008580Lamp-brake-invadvertent disabling of brake shift interlock.
- 10004886Malfunction indicator lamp illuminated with diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) p0442, p0455, p0456, p0457 or p1442 or a check fuel cap lamp illuminated with dtc p0457 for the evaporative emission system.
- 10004027Remote keyless entry (rke) - service tips.
- 10003748New transmission cooler flusher - service tips. 2003 escort and super duty f series included.
- 10003194Idle vibration on vehicles equipped with 2.0L spi or zetec engine only.
- 10002780Malfunction indicator lamp (mil) illumination with diagnostic trouble codes p0442, p0455, p0456, p0457, p1442 or check fuel cap lamp illuminated with diagnostic trouble code p0457.
- 6092659Some vehicles equipped with the 2.0L spi engine, with manual or automatic transmission, may exhibit an rpm fluctuation (idle rolll) or possible stall at idle.
- 6092004Brief information regarding transmission fluid.
- 6091978Some vehicles may exhibit a malfunction indicator light on with a diagnostic trouble code p1744.
- 6091974Vehicles may exhibit transmission and / or malfunction indicator lamp on concerns relating to the diagnosis and replacement of the transmission ranger sensor (trs).
- 6091913Concerns with lack of heat / thermostat contamination.
- 6091734Information on installing fuses at pre-delivery.
- 6090812Vehicles equipped with the 2.0L spi engine with manual or automatic transmission may exhibit an rpm fluctuation (idle roll) or possible stall at idle.
- 6090731Some vehicles may exhibit a condition of the malfunction indicator light on and diagnostic trouble code p0455 (evaporative emission) in memory.
- 6090647Some vehicles may exhibit a condition of the malfunction indicator lamp light on and diagnostic trouble code p0455 in memory.
- 6090586Information regarding brake caliper pin corrosion. *Mjs
- 6090426Information regarding brake caliper pin corrosion. *Mjs
- 6090277Concerns with a malfunction indicator light on with a diagnostic trouble code p1744.
- 6090273Some vehicles may exhibit transmission and / or mil on concerns relating to the diagnosis and replacement of the transmission range sensor.
- 6090131Information on diagnosing a vehicle with malfunction indicator lamp illuminated and diagnostic trouble codes p0442 and p0455 stored in continuous memory.
- 6090087Information on identifying non-approved / alternate refrigerants which could cause safety, and performance concerns if installed in ford a/c systems.
- 6090085Service information for musty and mildew type odors coming from the air conditioning / heating system.
- 6090082Information for servicing and diagnosing brake vibration, brake inspection, and brake friction material replacement.
- 6089681Subject on a wire harness terminal repair kit available for repairing electrical wiring harnesses.
- 636089Some vehicles equipped with the 2.0L spi engine may exhibit a malfunction indicator lamp (mil) illuminated and diagnostic trouble codes (dtc) p0300 through p0304 stored.
- 630515Engine oil system priming procedures, service tips for reports of premature engine failure.
- 630001Some engine assemblies with aluminum cylinder heads repaired in-vehile have been found to leak coolant and/or oil from the cylinder head gasket area.
- 625715Brake shift interlock.*jb
- 623988Information regarding transmission fluid usage charts. *Slc
- 623944Some vehicles may exhibit heater core leaks. *Slc
- 622804Some vehicles produced through july 1999 may exhibit rear suspension spring failure with no resulting operational concern.
- 619150Service action 00e11, supplement #1 - update information regarding on-board diagnostic system upgrade.
- 618643Vehicles may experience inoperative or incorrect a/c operation after replacing the ccrm.
- 616814Service action bulletin regarding on-board diagnostic system upgrade.
- 615541Some vehicles may exhibit malfunction indicator light on, stall at tip-in from idle, engine hesitation, and / or surge caused by the mass air flow (maf) sensor.
- 615540Subject regarding the ngs fuel economy test.
Every Mercury Tracer model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.