Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 60 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports9 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
60 reports
Mileage unknown · May 23, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline
CONCERNED ONLY ABOUT GAS TANK. DROVE 33 MILES OVER SMOOTH HIGHWAY TO CANAL WHERE I FISH ABOUT EVERY 2 MONTHS,NO SPEED BUMPS, NO POTHOLES, NO BUMPS OR HITS OF ANY KIND. FISHING DOWNWIND FROM CAR SMELLED GASOLINE. FILLED TANK BEFORE LEAVING HOME, WHEN PARKED AT HOME HAD ONLY HALF TANK GAS LEFT, FOUND TANK LEAKING FROM FRONT LEFT M…
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CONCERNED ONLY ABOUT GAS TANK. DROVE 33 MILES OVER SMOOTH HIGHWAY TO CANAL WHERE I FISH ABOUT EVERY 2 MONTHS,NO SPEED BUMPS, NO POTHOLES, NO BUMPS OR HITS OF ANY KIND. FISHING DOWNWIND FROM CAR SMELLED GASOLINE. FILLED TANK BEFORE LEAVING HOME, WHEN PARKED AT HOME HAD ONLY HALF TANK GAS LEFT, FOUND TANK LEAKING FROM FRONT LEFT MOUNTING BOLT AT RATE OF ABOUT 1 DROP PER SECOND. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN HIT OR BUMPED, ALWAYS KEEP MY CARS 8=10 YEARS, PERFORMING ALL NEEDED MAINTENACE MORE OFTEN THAN MANUAL RECOMMENDS. DRIVING FOR 53 YEARS, 35 OF IT FOR BELL TEL., NO ACCIDENTS EVER. KNOW OF CARS OVER 20 YEARS OLD STILL ON ROAD WITHOUT TANKS LEAKING. FEEL THAT AN IMPLIED WARRANTY SHOULD BE IN EFFECT HERE, THAT I SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT OF EXPECTATION THAT A CAR I BUY NEW AND TAKE 5-STAR CARE OF SHOULD NOT DEVELOP A LEAKING GAS TANK WITHOUT CAUSE.DEALER WANTS $600 FOR NEW TANK, WON'T INSTALL A USED ONE BECAUSE OF "POSSIBLE LEGAL LIABILIY DOWN THE ROAD". YOUR OPINION APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. MEC. *AK
NHTSA ODI #723090
Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline
THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE FOR A 1991 MERCURY TRACER, BUT MANUFACTURER WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #714684
Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 1999
Electrical System
VEHICLE WOULD TURN ON WITHOUT THE KEY BEING IN IGNITION. DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. *AK
NHTSA ODI #848936
Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 1999
Power Train
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WENT OUT BECAUSE CLUTCH BURNED OUT WHICH CAUSED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. TORQUE CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO ALL THE BUILD UP TRASH FROM THE TRANSMISSION (FAILURE). MJS
NHTSA ODI #848692
Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline
THE GAS TANK HAS SEPARATED AT THE SEAM, RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA ODI #847574
Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
CAR RUNNING PERFECTLY FINE ON THE HIGHWAY, ALL OF A SUDDEN ENGINE CUT OFF. *AK
NHTSA ODI #842744
Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility
I'VE HAD 4 HEATER CORES AND 3 TIMING BELTS REPLACED, THE THIRD JUST AFTER 50,000 MILES. AND NOT WARRANTY COVERAGE BECAUSE IF MILEAGE.
NHTSA ODI #707700
Mileage unknown · May 19, 1999
Seat Belts
SHOULDER BELT TRACK AND CABLE FAILED, WE ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING THE PARTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS THE PARTS COMING BY ORDERING THEM FOR A NEWER CAR STILL UNDER WARRANTY. FORD HAS A SHORTAGE OF THESE PARTS AND IS SENDING THEM ONLY FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS. THIS MAKES ME BELIEVE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A LARGE NUM…
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SHOULDER BELT TRACK AND CABLE FAILED, WE ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING THE PARTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS THE PARTS COMING BY ORDERING THEM FOR A NEWER CAR STILL UNDER WARRANTY. FORD HAS A SHORTAGE OF THESE PARTS AND IS SENDING THEM ONLY FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS. THIS MAKES ME BELIEVE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A LARGE NUMBER OF FAILING PARTS. WE WAITED TO GET THIS REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST OF THE REPAIR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #706648
Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 1999
Seat Belts
AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOES NOT MOVE BACK AND FORTH ON THE RAIL. SHOULDER BELT IS IN CLOSED/BACK POSITION ON THE RAIL. THE DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
THE ROLL PINS SECURING THE IGNITION LOCK IN THE STEERING COLUMN HOUSING CAN SEPARATE OR MOVE OUT OF POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
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.
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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
EA94002 · Fuel Pump Wiring Shortage
Opened Jan 28, 1994 · Closed Jan 31, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
1991 Mercury Tracer Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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