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U.S. public vehicle records

1988 Mercury TRACER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

13 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

Not available median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1988 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Seat Belts:Front:Retractor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 13 complaints (30.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior17.7%
Electrical and battery issues17.7%
Steering behavior17.7%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
4
Power Train:Axle Assembly
2
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
1
Power Train
1
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor4
Power Train:Axle Assembly2
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine1
Exterior Lighting:Headlights1
Power Train1
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings1

Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 4; Power Train:Axle Assembly: 2; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 1; Power Train: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

No usable failure mileage is recorded. 13 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995
8
1996
3
2000
1
2001
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
19958
19963
20001
20011

1995: 8; 1996: 3; 2000: 1; 2001: 1

Pattern summary

Seat Belts:Front:Retractor leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 971140 · 1995-08-28 (August 28, 1995)

FRONT BRAKE HOSES CRACKING, REPLACE ONE. OTHER ONE CRACKED. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 971140 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 984295 · 1996-05-09 (May 9, 1996)

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSED SMOKE TO COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN, WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 984295 at NHTSA ↗