1995 Mercury Tracer

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY TRACER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED GASOLINE. HE STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 97V144000 AND 97V145000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY) MENTIONED THE SAME FAILURES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 143,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,296. UPDATED 09/24/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/30/08.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY TRACER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT DETECTED A GAS ODOR INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, RECALL # 97V145000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY) DOES NOT APPLY TO HIS VIN. THE CONTACT FELT THAT HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,471.

I SMELLED GASOLINE IN MY GARAGE ON TUESDAY JUNE 11. LAYING BETWEEN THE CARS I FOUND SEVERAL STEADY DRIPS FROM THE FUEL TANK. I PUSHED THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AND TWO DAYS LATER IT HAD LEAKED TO A LEVEL FOR THE LEAK TO STOP. I CONTACTED FORD/MERC. MOTOR CO. ABOUT THE EXISTING RECALL , NOTES:MERCURY TRACER 97S79,FOR THE POTENTIAL UNITS AFFECTED 64000 VEHICLES. EVEN THOUGH I HAD A SERIOUS POTENTIAL FOR A HOUSE FIRE I WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. I WAS FURTHER TOLD TO GET IT FIXED BY A FOR DEALER AND THEY MAY REVIEW THE DATA IN THE FUTURE. I AM LOOKING FOR IMMEDIATE RELIEF FOR THIS PROBLEM. CAN YOU HELP? *JB

THE PLASTIC GAS TANK ON OUR 1995 MERCURY TRACER CRACKED OPEN. THE SHOP THAT WE TOOK IT TO KNEW OF A RECALL BECAUSE HE OWNED ONE PREVIOUSLY THAT WAS RECALLED FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM. OURS IS NOT UNDER THE RECALL, BUT THE CRACK IS IDENTICAL TO WHAT IS IN RECALLS 97V145000 AND 97V144000. THE HEAT SHIELD THAT IS MOUNTED DIRECTLY TO THE GAS TANK, CRACKED THE TANK AND CAUSED WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A POTENTIAL FIRE IF WE HAD NOT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS GAS LEAKING ONTO THE ROADWAY. THE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE, BUT WE FEEL THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED UNDER THE RECALL. IT IS A 1.9L ENGINE AND WAS BUILT IN MEXICO. *NM

THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 1.9L ENGINE. THE #4 INTAKE VALVE SEAT DROPS, RESULTING IN THE NEED TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEAD AND ALL ASSOCIATED PARTS. IE... VALVE SEATS, PISTON, PISTON RINGS, ROD BEARINGS AS WELL AS HAVING TO CONDUCT PRESSURE TESTS, HONE THE CYLINDERS & A VARIETY OF OTHER TIME & MONEY CONSUMING ITEMS. *AK

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