1998 Mercury TRACER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
32 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
83,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 32 complaints (12.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 12.5% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 9.4% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Suspension:Rear:Springs | 3 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
| Suspension:Rear:Springs:Coil Springs | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Suspension:Rear:Springs: 3; Electrical System:Horn: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Suspension:Rear:Springs:Coil Springs: 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 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 2
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 25 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
2000: 5; 2001: 9; 2002: 5; 2003: 3; 2004: 4; 2005: 4; 2007: 1; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10008969 · 2003-02-21 (February 21, 2003)
THE HORN STARTED BLOWING ON ITS ON.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008969 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038293 · 2003-09-05 (September 5, 2003)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A RIGHT TIE ROD AND A RIGHT COIL SPRING. HE HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS REAL DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVEN. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND REPLACED THE DAMAGED PARTS WITH THE WARRANTY. VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 30000 MILES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038293 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040296 · 2003-09-22 (September 22, 2003)
DURING A VEHICLE INSPECTION REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE AND WERE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040296 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10058486 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
THE REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE ON MY 1998 MERCURY TRACER. WHEN SEEKING A REPAIR, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH FORD/MERCURY MODELS OF THIS SIZE (ESCORT/TRACER/TEMPO). WITH REAR SPRINGS BROKEN, ONE CAN OBSERVE THE REAR TIRES OF A CAR WITH THESE SPRINGS BROKEN COME OFF THE ROAD. WITH FORD WELL AWARE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW IN THESE AUTOS, THERE OUGHT TO BE A RECALL OF THESE VEHICLES. I HAVE ONLY 47,700 MILES ON THIS CAR; I HAVE NOW REPLACED A BUSTED CRANKSHAFT PULLEY AND THE RESISTOR ASSOCIATED WITH CIRCULATION SYSTEM WHIC…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10058486 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068951 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
HOLE IN MY BLOCK WITH OIL LEAK AND VALVE GASKETS SO BAD I TURNED THE CAR IN.
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068951 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10102929 · 2004-12-14 (December 14, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING THE HORN STARTED BLOWING AND I HAD TO TAKE THE FUES OUT TO STOP IT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102929 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10102930 · 2004-12-14 (December 14, 2004)
ON DECEMBER 11, 2004 I WAS OUT SHOPPING AND I GOT IN THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START I LEFT IT SIT THERE OVER NIGHT AND WENT BACK THE NEXT DAY AND IT STARTED. I HAVE HAD 3 MACHANICKS LOOK AT IT AND NONE OF THEM KNOW WHY IT DID IT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102930 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10113740 · 2005-03-02 (March 2, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF HER 1998 MERCURY TRACER AND COLLIDED HEAD ON INTO A GUARDRAIL. NEITHER OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *NM THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS SMASHED INTO THE ENGINE. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10113740 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.