IllustrationWHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN CLUNKY NOISE. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE BURNED OUT. *NLM
1997 Mercury Tracer
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Tracer years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Mercury Tracer are substantially higher than the model-year median of 22.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tracer years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 26 of 142 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports17 fire reports15 injury reports
What owners actually said
142 reportsTHE 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
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 CHA…
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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
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A LOW IMPACT FRONTAL COLLISION BUT THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED 4 HERNIATED DISC IN HER NECK, BECAUSE SHE WAS HIT BY THE AIR BAG FROM THE SIDE. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIR BAGS, BUT SINCE SHE HAD A PROBLEM WITH HER A…
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THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A LOW IMPACT FRONTAL COLLISION BUT THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED 4 HERNIATED DISC IN HER NECK, BECAUSE SHE WAS HIT BY THE AIR BAG FROM THE SIDE. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIR BAGS, BUT SINCE SHE HAD A PROBLEM WITH HER AIR BAGS BEFORE THE RECALL THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE AIR BAGS. *NLM
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *JB FOUR DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. RECALL# 02V323000 SCC
THE AIR BAG UNIT FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. MR SCC *NLM
THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD. *JB
BROKEN REAR SPRINGS ON 1997 MERCURY TRACER.*JB
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL BUT DEALER STILL STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OVER WARRANTY AND REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE (RECALL#02V323000 AIRBAG). *NLM *SCC
HORN BLOWS CONTINUOUSLY. PULLED FUSE TO STOP. TOLD BY DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT NEED TO REPLACE ENTIRE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY TO RECTIFY. *NLM
Official recalls
102V323000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
Dec 9, 2002
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR (IABM) CAN BE CONTAMINATED WITH WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS AND COULD EXPERIENCE INTERNAL ELECTRICAL SHORTING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS MAY, IN TURN, CAUSE THE AIR BAG READINESS LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND IN VERY RARE OCCURRENCES, AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, MELTED WIRING, OR FIRE MAY OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE SHIELD OVER THE IABM AND APPLY NYOGEL GREASE TO THE CONNECTOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 11, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
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
2EA02008 · Water Intrusion Into Airbag Monitor
Opened Jun 10, 2002 · Closed Dec 11, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
BY LETTER OF DECEMBER 6, 2002, FORD NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL ON ALL 1997 FORD ESCORT AND MERCURY TRACER VEHICLES.FORD FOUND THAT ELECTRICAL SHORTING OF THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR (IABM)DUE TO LIQUID INTRUSION OF WATER OR ENGINE COOLANT CAN OCCUR IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.FORD AND LINCOLN MERCURY DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE SHIELD OVER THE IABM AND APPLY NYOGEL GREASE TO IT'S ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR.SEE FORD'S DECEMBER 6, 2002 DEFECT AND NONCOMPLIANCE INFORMATION REPORT FOR DETAILS.
PE02010 · Integrated Air Bag Monitor Water
Opened Jan 30, 2002 · Closed Jun 10, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
No summary supplied.