1991 Mercury TRACER: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10023232 · 2003-06-17 (June 17, 2003)
I HAD TO REPLACE TWO IGNITION SWITCHES ON MY 1991 MERCURY 1.9 TRACER TO THE TUNE OF $360.00. THE FIRST ONE THEY INSTALLED, THE TUMBLERS FELL APART AFTER ONE DAY, I HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE MECHANIC TO INSTALL A SECOND IGNITION SWITCH. I WAS INFORMED THAT FORD HAD A RECALL ON TRACER IGNITION SWITCHES. HOW DO I RECOVER MY EXPENSE? *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023232 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 11222731 · 2019-06-26 (June 26, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MERCURY TRACER. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH FUEL AND PARKED IN THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT SMELLED A FUEL ODOR AND NOTICED FUEL LEAKING ONTO THE GARAGE FLOOR. ALL AMERICAN FORD (3306 BRIDGE AVE, POINT PLEASANT, NJ 08742, [phone removed]) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD AND THEY DID NOT HAVE PARTS. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO ALL AMERICAN MAZDA (575 BURNT TAVERN RD, BRICK TOWNSHIP, NJ 08724, [phone removed]) WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOT…
Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11222731 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 468993 · 1995-04-19 (April 19, 1995)
ALTERNATOR FAILED. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 468993 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 500712 · 1996-01-10 (January 10, 1996)
PROBLEMS PERFORMING A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT DUE TO LEFT SUSPENSION ARM NOT BEING ADJUSTABLE. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 500712 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 503999 · 1996-05-01 (May 1, 1996)
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503999 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
92V117000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Reported: 1992-08-19 (August 19, 1992)
FATIGUE CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE SOLDER JOINT BETWEEN THE FUEL RETURN TUBE AND THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT LOCATED AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK.
Consequence: SHOULD A CRACK DEVELOP, FUEL VAPOR CAN ESCAPE FROM THETANK WHEN THE TANK IS FULL, AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL CAN LEAK FROM THE CRACK.FUEL LEAKS CAN RESULT IN FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy: INSTALL A NEW FUEL PUMP SENDING ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗93V057000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module
Reported: 1993-04-15 (April 15, 1993)
THE ROLL PINS SECURING THE IGNITION LOCK IN THE STEERING COLUMN HOUSING CAN SEPARATE OR MOVE OUT OF POSITION.
Consequence: THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER MAY DISENGAGE FROM THESTEERING COLUMN HOUSING WHICH COULD CAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN TO LOCK UP,RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: IF ONE OR BOTH OF THE ROLL PINS ARE MISSING OR NOT FULLY INSERTED, THE IGNITION LOCK HOUSING WILL BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE DOOR-LOCKS AND THE LIFTGATE OR DECK-LID LOCKS SO THAT KEY COMPATIBILITY IS MAINTAINED. IF BOTH PINS ARE PRESENT AND FULLY INSERTED, A PLASTIC SNAP-ON SLEEVE WILL BE INSTALLED AS A PRECAUTION TO PREVENT THE ROLL PINS FROM COMING OUT.
NHTSA campaign record ↗