U.S. public vehicle records

1997 Mercury TRACER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

96 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

73,547 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 96 complaints (18.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	7	7.3%
Electrical and battery issues	6	6.3%
Engine operation	3	3.1%
Steering behavior	3	3.1%
Fuel system concerns	2	2.1%
Transmission and shifting	1	1.0%

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.

Air Bags

Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module

Air Bags:Frontal

Electrical System:Horn

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Unknown Or Other

Air Bags:Side/Window

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Air Bags	18
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module	9
Air Bags:Frontal	7
Electrical System:Horn	6
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	6
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	6
Unknown Or Other	6
Air Bags:Side/Window	4

Air Bags: 18; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 9; Air Bags:Frontal: 7; Electrical System:Horn: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 6; Unknown Or Other: 6; Air Bags:Side/Window: 4

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: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 2

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 70 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.

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2010

2000: 11; 2001: 23; 2002: 15; 2003: 27; 2004: 10; 2005: 2; 2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2010: 3

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10010020 · 2003-03-06 (March 6, 2003)

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010020 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10114764 · 2005-03-26 (March 26, 2005)

RPM'S LOWER AND STALL CAR-TOOK TO SHOP IN 2004 TOLD PLUG/WIRE MISFIRE AND VACUUM LEAK. PAID ALMOST $200. ONE WEEK LATER STARTED AGAIN. CAR VIBRATES BADLY WHEN BRAKE APPLIED, BOTH BACK SPRINGS HAVE GIVEN OUT, CRANKSHAFT/PULLEY WOBBLES BADLY, HAS SNAPPED SERPENTINE BELT, REPLACED BELT TENSIONER AND BELT, SNAPPED AGAIN ONE MONTH LATER, REPLACED BELT AGAIN, BUT HAS ONLY BEEN TWO MONTHS. CAR SWAYS IN LANE DUE TO BAD BACK SPRINGS. CAR MAKES VIBRATING NOISE UNDER HOOD WHEN PARKED AT AN IDLE. TIE ROD REPLACED TWO TIMES. THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 70,000 MI…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10114764 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10019451 · 2003-05-15 (May 15, 2003)

THE DEALER PERFORMED RECALL#02V323000 REPAIRS AND FELT THE RECALL PROBLEM MAY HAVE AFFECTED THE WIRE ON THE BLOWER MOTOR WHICH BURNED OUT ON TWO OCCASIONS. WATER MAY HAVE DRIPPED ON THE WIRING HARNESS. THE DEALER SEEMED MORE CONCERNED WITH THE RECALL THAN THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019451 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10020408 · 2003-06-04 (June 4, 2003)

VEHICLE'S TACHOMETER AND RPM GAUGE STOPPED WORKING CAUSING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO FAIL. *MR *PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020408 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10055640 · 2005-04-06 (April 6, 2005)

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER GOT THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASHBOARD. *AK *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055640 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10019506 · 2003-05-08 (May 8, 2003)

THE REAR SUSPENSION SPRINGS WERE DEFECTIVE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT, WHICH CAUSED DIFFICULTY IN STEERING THE VEHICLE. *JB FORDS SYMPTOM (14993) STATES SPRINGS POSSIBLE TO BREAK IF THE PAINT WEARS OFF, THE SPRINGS ARE SUBJECT TO BREAK. WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD NOISE IN THE REAR AND NOTICED A CHANGE IN THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE ALSO LEANED TO THE RIGHT ALONG WITH A CHANGE IN THE STEERING. THE DEALERS STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION SPRING BREAKAGE WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. *SCC

Owner-reported narrative. 37,040 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019506 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 555192 · 2000-09-25 (September 25, 2000)

THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES DUE TO THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE THAT HAD A KNOT ON IT AND THE TWO BACK TIRES WERE OUT OF ROUND. (GOODYEAR 185-65 ADV+822626). *YH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 555192 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10011812 · 2003-03-14 (March 14, 2003)

THE CONSUMER NOTICED A FUEL SMELL AT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (9/11/01) WHO INDICATED THAT THE SMELL WAS RESIDUAL OIL FROM THE LAST OIL CHANGE. ON 3/4/03 THE VEHICLE HAD A 24 POINT SAFETY INSPECTION AT WHICH TIME THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD A LEAK DUE TO A SPLIT IN THE SEAM AT THE TOP OF THE TANK. *JB *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 41,249 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011812 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10097803 · 2004-10-26 (October 26, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH CONSUMER SMELLED FUEL. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. THEN, NOTICED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10097803 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 745529 · 2001-05-19 (May 19, 2001)

HOLES EATEN THROUGH HEATER CORE INLET & OUTLET PIPES-LEAKED CAUSING DAMAGE TO AIR BAG MONITOR WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. NEW MONITOR CAME WITH A SHILED NOT ON THE CAR WHEN I BOUGHT IT. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT NOTIFY ME ABOUT IT. I DID NOT TAKE MY CAR TO HAPER FORD SINCE WHEN I WAS THERE FOR MY 60 THOUSAND MILE CHECK UP , THEY CHARGED ME TO SERVICE MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND THE CAR I OWN DOES NOT HAVE ONE. I FEEL THE DIDNT SERVICE MY CAR CORRECTLY AT THE TIME. HEATER CORES GOING OUT IN FIVE YEA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 745529 at NHTSA ↗