1991 Mercury TRACER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
31 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
119,384 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1991 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 31 complaints (16.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 19.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 16.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 9.7% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 6.5% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 5 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 5; Electrical System:Ignition: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 3; Electrical System:Wiring: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 2; Seat Belts: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 29 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 6 |
| 1996 | 14 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
1995: 6; 1996: 14; 2000: 2; 2001: 4; 2002: 2; 2003: 1; 2005: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 744186 · 2001-04-17 (April 17, 2001)
1991 TRACER IS NEARLY IDENTICAL TO 1991 4-DOOR ESCORT AND USES THE SAME ELECTRICAL HARDWARE, PER CHILTON'S MANUALS. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR IGNITION SWITCH FIRES FOR ESCORTS (NHTSA 96V071000) FOR MODELS 8/87 TO 9/92, BUT THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH A RECALL AND THERE WAS NEVER ONE ISSUED BY MERCURY FOR OUR PARTICULAR MAKE. THE SERVICE REPS IN INDIANA AND ARIZONA APPEARED TO HAVE FAMILIARITY WITH IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS BUT STOPPED SHORT OF OFFERING ANY RECALL COVERAGE FOR THE REPAIR..*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 744186 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 965857 · 1995-05-25 (May 25, 1995)
ELECTRICAL SHORT, SWITCH BUTTON RIGHT HEAD LIGHTS SHORTS OUT WHILE DRIVING. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 965857 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133689 · 2005-08-22 (August 22, 2005)
(1) SHOULDER BELT WOULD NOT MOVE TO DRIVING POSITION, COOLANT FAN WOULD NOT RUN WHEN NEEDED WITH ENGINE RUNNING ONLY WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF, OIL LIGHT STAYED ON AND ALTERNATELY FLASHED WITH THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR. (2) A SHORTING CONNECTOR TO THE FUEL PUMP BURNED THE WIRE BUNDLE TO THE FUEL PUMP IN THE TANK. IT ALSO BURNED WIRES BEHIND THE FUSE BLOCK AND UNDER THE DASH!!! (3) THE CONNECTOR, HARNESS UPDATE, FUEL PUMP/PUMP ASSEMBLY, LOCK RING, WERE REPLACED, BURNED WIRES WERE REPLACED BEHIND THE FUSE BLOCK. THE CAR CANN…
Owner-reported narrative. 78,768 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133689 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 483161 · 1995-08-21 (August 21, 1995)
WHEN GAS TANK IS FILLED THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE HAS A GASOLINE ODOR. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 483161 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 502672 · 1996-03-17 (March 17, 1996)
STEERING COLUMN UNBOLTED. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 502672 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 506298 · 1996-07-01 (July 1, 1996)
STEERING COLUMN FIRE. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 506298 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 506122 · 1996-06-03 (June 3, 1996)
REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, SLAMMED ON BRAKES, DID NOT STOP VEHICLE. FRONT /REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED, RESULTING IN INJURIES. OTHER VEHICLE FROM 985156. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 506122 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 899196 · 2001-11-16 (November 16, 2001)
VEHICLE WILL LEAK 2 QUARTS OF OIL A WEEK, THERE IS ALSO A STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE OF VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK CONSUMER STATES WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS, THE MUFFLER BANGS AGAINST THE FLOOR, WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS TO GET SOME SPEED, BLACK SMOKE COMES OUT OF EXHAUST PIPE, WHEN FILLING FUEL TANK, FUEL POURS OUT. VALVE COVER IS LEAKING OIL. DASH LIGHTS DID NOT WORK. STRUTS FOR THE TAILGATE DO NOT HOLD THE TAILGATE. THIRD BRAKE LIGHT IS INOPERATIVE, ALSO DIMMER SWITCH WAS REPLACED. WHILE DRIV…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 899196 at NHTSA ↗