IllustrationSTEERING COLUMN FIRE. *SD
1991 Mercury Tracer
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1991 Mercury Tracer do not stand out strongly from 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: 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 reportsWENT TO THE START THE VEHICLE AND SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM AROUND THE IGNITION SWITCH. HAD TO REPLACE SWITCH AND THE STARTER. *AK
REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, SLAMMED ON BRAKES, DID NOT STOP VEHICLE. FRONT /REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED, RESULTING IN INJURIES. OTHER VEHICLE FROM 985156. *AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CONSUMER SMELLED A BAD ODOR IN THE VEHICLE (REPLACED THE IGINTION SWITCH). *AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CONSUMER SMELLED WIRING BURNING IN THE VEHICLE. *AK
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *SD
THE IGNITON STARTED SMOKING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE, IGNITION SWITCH KEY OUT OF SWITCH; ENGINE KEPT RUNNING, WOULD NOT TURN OFF; BURNED UP/MELTED DOWN STARTER; SMOKE CAME OUT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, BOLTS IN THE RACK AND PINION FELL OFF CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
STOPPED FOR SCHOOL BUS, BRONCO REAR ENDED VEHICLE AT FULL SPEED, DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE ON IMPACT, VEHICLE WAS AIRBORNE, DRIVER WAS THROWN AGAINST DASHBOARD. *AK
Official recalls
293V057000 · Electrical SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL Module
Apr 15, 1993
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.
92V117000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Aug 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 & 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
1EA94002 · 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