U.S. public vehicle records

1995 Mercury TRACER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

63 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

85,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 21 of 63 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Fuel system concerns	23	36.5%
Engine operation	3	4.8%
Braking behavior	3	4.8%
Electrical and battery issues	3	4.8%
Transmission and shifting	2	3.2%
Steering behavior	2	3.2%

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.

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Fuel System, Gasoline

Seat Belts

Electrical System:Ignition

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Power Train

Air Bags

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	21
Fuel System, Gasoline	6
Seat Belts	6
Electrical System:Ignition	3
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	3
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	3
Power Train	3
Air Bags	2

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 21; Fuel System, Gasoline: 6; Seat Belts: 6; Electrical System:Ignition: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Power Train: 3; Air Bags: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 2

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 45 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

1996

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2011

2012

2014

1995: 5; 1996: 1; 2000: 14; 2001: 12; 2002: 9; 2003: 4; 2004: 2; 2005: 3; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 3; 2009: 5; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 1

Pattern summary

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 23 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking 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 10027128 · 2003-07-14 (July 14, 2003)

FUEL TANK IS LEAKING, CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD CATCH ON FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 107,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10027128 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10029742 · 2003-08-22 (August 22, 2003)

NHTSA RECALL 97-V-144-000 :VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.9L ENGINES, BUILT AT THE HERMOSILLO OR WAYNE ASSEMBLY PLANTS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR IS CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK NEAR THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT, RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE CRACKS GO THROUGH THE FUEL TANK WALL. THE CONSUMER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED DUE TO THE VIN. *AK THERE WERE CRACKS AND LEAKS IN THE FUEL LINE AT THE HEAT SHIELD MOUNT. THE TANK WAS REPLACED. *SCC *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029742 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 873615 · 2000-10-23 (October 23, 2000)

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD STALL/ CUT OFF. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON PANEL. VEHICLE WILL START BACK UP ON ITS OWN. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM . SERVICE MANAGER SHOULD BE NOTIFIED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 873615 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 895738 · 2001-09-05 (September 5, 2001)

VEHICLE STALLED OUT AT STOPS AND ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. DEAELR WILL BE CONTACTED. PLEASE ADD VIN AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION TO COMPLETE THE FORM.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 895738 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10006922 · 2001-07-24 (July 24, 2001)

WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS (UNDER 35 MPH), CALIPER SLIDES ARE STICKING. YOU CAN HEAR A KNOCKING NOISE AND FEEL THEM GRABBING THROUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CALIPER SLIDES WERE ORIGINALLY REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND IT SEEMED TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. APPROX. 1 YEAR LATER THE SAME THING STARTED. THE CALIPER SLIDES WERE THEN GREASED AND THIS SEEMED TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL APPROX. 1 MORE YEAR LATER. THE CALIPER SLIDES WERE STICKING AGAIN, MAKING CLUNKING NOISES WHEN YOU BRAKE. I WAS TOLD THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT REQUIRE RE…

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006922 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 745134 · 2001-05-10 (May 10, 2001)

WHEN I BOUGHT THE MERCURY TRACER BACK IN 1996, I WAS VERY EXCITED, BUT AFTER THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE GAS TANKS, AT WHICH TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN TO BE CHECKED. SOON AFTER THAT I BEGAN TO HAVE MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AT WHICH TIME IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, THE KEY SWITHCH STOP WORKING MEANING THE SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN TO OFF POSITION, THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT LOCK, THE ELECTRIC SEATBELT STOP WORKING A FEW MONTHS AFTER HOLIDAY FORD SAID THEY FIXED IT. EVERY YEAR FOR T…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 745134 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 558949 · 2001-01-17 (January 17, 2001)

DOME LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON WHEN DOOR IS OPENED, ACCESS HEADLINER, WIRING REPAIRED. *CJ

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 558949 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 719007 · 2000-02-20 (February 20, 2000)

THIS AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT WILL NO LONGER WORK AND IS CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL DRAIN. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 719007 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 868803 · 2000-08-26 (August 26, 2000)

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN ACCELERATION / RUNAWAY UPON SHIFTING GEAR INTO REVERSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 868803 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 977093 · 1995-12-28 (December 28, 1995)

ON FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES ITS HARD TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK DEALER FIXED IT FOUR . TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 977093 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 855490 · 2000-01-24 (January 24, 2000)

STEERING COLUMN SHAFT SEPARATED, CAUSING HORN AND AIR BAGS TO BE INOPERATIVE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 855490 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 973656 · 1995-10-18 (October 18, 1995)

PURCHASE CAR NEW WHEN TURNING THE STEERING THERE IS A NOISE,WHEN DRIVING CAR STALLS CAR DON'T PICK UP SPEED AT 30 MPH OR MORE CAR JERKS . TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 973656 at NHTSA ↗