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: 4 of 66 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.
Seat Belts. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. 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.
16 crash reports5 fire reports10 injury reports
What owners actually said
66 reports
67,000 miles · Jan 8, 2009
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCURY TRACER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE CONTACT STRUCK A POLE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKES WERE FAULTY AND HAD BEEN REPA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCURY TRACER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE CONTACT STRUCK A POLE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKES WERE FAULTY AND HAD BEEN REPAIRED PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 94V218000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE DEALER AND THEY ARE CHARGING $300 JUST TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND $5,400 FOR THE REPAIR. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,000.
NHTSA ODI #10254268
87,000 miles · Aug 29, 2007
Fuel System, Gasoline
I HAVE A 97 VILLAGER AND A 94 TRACER SW. I WAS REVIEWING MY RECEIPTS FOR A RECALL FOR THE FILLER PIPE VENT HOSE ON MY VILLAGER FROM 6/2001. IT WAS FIXED THEN. IT SEEMS SAME PART IS NOW LEAKING IN OUR TRACER. IT IS DANGEROUS WHEN DOING A FILL UP FOR IT LEAKS. UPDATED 01-16-08. *KB UPDATED *JB
NHTSA ODI #10201084
88,208 miles · Apr 9, 2006
Tires
ON FEBRUARY 4, 2006 WE HAD A GOODYEAR ALLEGRA TIRE, PURCHASED AS SAM'S CLUB, GO FLAT. IT WAS THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. WHEN THE SAM'S CLUB TIRE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE TIRE HE FOUND A DEEP CUT OR CRACK ON THE SIDE WALL. HE THOUGHT IT COULD BE ROAD HAZARD DAMAGE OR VANDALISM. SAM'S CLUB REPLACED THE BASED ON TREAD WEAR. ON APRI…
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ON FEBRUARY 4, 2006 WE HAD A GOODYEAR ALLEGRA TIRE, PURCHASED AS SAM'S CLUB, GO FLAT. IT WAS THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. WHEN THE SAM'S CLUB TIRE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE TIRE HE FOUND A DEEP CUT OR CRACK ON THE SIDE WALL. HE THOUGHT IT COULD BE ROAD HAZARD DAMAGE OR VANDALISM. SAM'S CLUB REPLACED THE BASED ON TREAD WEAR. ON APRIL 8, 2006 THE TIRE ON THE LEFT FRONT WENT FLAT. IT HAS DEEP CUTS OR CRACKS ON BOTH SIDE OF THE TIRE, ONE ON THE OUTSIDE AND TWO ON THE BACK OF THE TIRE. THE DAMAGE IS NOT AT THE SAME PLACE ON THE TIRE, THE DAMAGE APPEARS AT ABOUT A 20 DEGREE DIFFERENCE SIDE TO SIDE. IT SEEMS THAT ROAD DAMAGE IS UNLIKELY AND IT IS UNLIKELY THAT A VANDAL WOULD REACH UNDER A VEHICLE. WE HAVE PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE TO THE SECOND TIRE. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10154898
1,802 miles · Mar 24, 2005
Electrical SystemFire
WHILE AT A STOP A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10115741
Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2005
Vehicle Speed ControlFire
AT AROUND 3 PM, I WAS DRIVING, AND HAD STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, AT 1960 @ INVERNESS FOREST. HEARD A POP THEN HAD A BIG FLAME COME FROM THE HOOD OF THE CAR. IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. CALLED 911. BOTH THE POLICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO THE SCENE. WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH THE POLICE THE CAR STARTED BACK UP F…
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AT AROUND 3 PM, I WAS DRIVING, AND HAD STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, AT 1960 @ INVERNESS FOREST. HEARD A POP THEN HAD A BIG FLAME COME FROM THE HOOD OF THE CAR. IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. CALLED 911. BOTH THE POLICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO THE SCENE. WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH THE POLICE THE CAR STARTED BACK UP FOR A FEW MOMENTS, AND THE HORN BLASTED.
NHTSA ODI #10114599
Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2003
Air Bags
THE WARNING INDICATOR INTERMITTENTLY FLASHES 5 TIMES PAUSE 1 TIME AND THEN REPEATS.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10010112
Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline
THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK IS LEAKING ALL OVER. THIS VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE OF THOSE THAT WERE RECALLED 1995. NLM
NHTSA ODI #8019416
Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2002
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic
THIS CAR HAS BEEN TOO DANGEROUS AND UNRELIABLE TO DRIVE SAFELY..IT WAS SOLD WITH 15% BRAKES LEFT AFTER I WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD NEW BRAKES AND CALIPERS, A COMPLETE SAFETY CHECK BY JOE KERLEY JEEP EAGLE...SOME ONE HAD PUT SILOCONE ON A BROKEN FUEL PUMP THAT CAUSED FUMES AND COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF GASOLINE TO FILL UNDER THE BACK SEAT...…
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THIS CAR HAS BEEN TOO DANGEROUS AND UNRELIABLE TO DRIVE SAFELY..IT WAS SOLD WITH 15% BRAKES LEFT AFTER I WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD NEW BRAKES AND CALIPERS, A COMPLETE SAFETY CHECK BY JOE KERLEY JEEP EAGLE...SOME ONE HAD PUT SILOCONE ON A BROKEN FUEL PUMP THAT CAUSED FUMES AND COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF GASOLINE TO FILL UNDER THE BACK SEAT....THE CLUTCH BLEW UP WITHOUT ANY NOTICE....THE AIR BAG HAS NEVER DEPLOYED EVEN WHEN I HAD A SPIN OUT ON HIGHWAY 101...I TOLD MR BROOKS ABOUT THE GAS PROBLEM AND HE SAID HE WAS TOO BUSY TO DEAL WITH IT....I HAVE SPENT OVER 3,000$ IN MAJOR REPAIRS AND HAVE NOT EVEN PUT 20000 MILES IN ALMOST 3 YEARS...THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP..BELINDA ANNE BROOKS. NLM
NHTSA ODI #767135
Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2002
Electrical SystemFire
WHILE PARKING VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE. VEHICLE BURSTED INTO FLAMES UNDERHOOD. COMPLETELY DESTROYING VEHICLE. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8008350
Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 2002
SteeringCrash
WHILE DRIVING AT STATE SPEED LIMIT AND WITHOUT WARNING LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. *AK
THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE CAN HAVE AN INADEQUATELY WELDED INFLATOR CANISTER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THE WELD SEAM CAN SEPARATE, CAUSING THE AIR BAG TO FAIL TO DEPLOY PROPERLY AND HOT GASES TO BE EXPELLED FROM THE BACK OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS CAN RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY FROM THE HOT GASES AND THE AIR BAG FAILURE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW AIR BAG MODULE.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1994 Mercury Tracer Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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