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: 18 of 96 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.
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
96 reports
45,000 miles · Jul 14, 2014
Fuel System, Gasoline
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY TRACER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LEAK ON THE GROUND AND THE FUEL GAUGE DECREASED FROM A FULL TANK TO HALF OF A TANK. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 97V144000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY TRACER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LEAK ON THE GROUND AND THE FUEL GAUGE DECREASED FROM A FULL TANK TO HALF OF A TANK. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 97V144000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
NHTSA ODI #10610276
109,600 miles · Aug 9, 2012
Fuel/propulsion System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY TRACER. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN OVERPOWERING FUEL SMELL. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS FRACTURED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY TRACER. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN OVERPOWERING FUEL SMELL. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS FRACTURED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V144000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,600.
NHTSA ODI #10469963
Mileage unknown · May 3, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY TRACER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION OR STATIONARY, A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE FUEL EMITTED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS FRACTURED AS A RESULT TO A FAULTY HEAT SHIELD BRACKET.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY TRACER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION OR STATIONARY, A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE FUEL EMITTED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS FRACTURED AS A RESULT TO A FAULTY HEAT SHIELD BRACKET. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V144000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STORAGE; TANK ASSEMBLY) BUT THE VEHICLE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR REPAIRS DUE TO THE VEHICLE NOT BEING ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10398756
76,000 miles · Sep 29, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY TRACER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE THE YEAR 2000, SHE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE EMANATING FROM THE VEHICLE. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE. SHE NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL 97V145000, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE STORAGE …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY TRACER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE THE YEAR 2000, SHE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE EMANATING FROM THE VEHICLE. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE. SHE NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL 97V145000, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE STORAGE TANK ASSEMBLY. SHE WAS ADVISED THAT SINCE HER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL, SHE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
NHTSA ODI #10285644
Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline
95 TRACER WAGON 9/3/97 THERE WAS A RECALL WITH THE SAME ISSUE I AM NOW HAVING. WE NEVER REC'D ANY NOTIFICATION THERE WAS ANY RECALL. THE FUEL TANK IS LEAKING NEAR THE HEAT SHIELD. A CALL WAS MADE TO STIVERS LAST NIGHT AND WE WERE TOLD NOTHING COULD BE DONE DUE TO THE LENGTH OF YEARS THAT HAD PASSED.BUT WAS TOLD TO CALL FORD MOTO…
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95 TRACER WAGON 9/3/97 THERE WAS A RECALL WITH THE SAME ISSUE I AM NOW HAVING. WE NEVER REC'D ANY NOTIFICATION THERE WAS ANY RECALL. THE FUEL TANK IS LEAKING NEAR THE HEAT SHIELD. A CALL WAS MADE TO STIVERS LAST NIGHT AND WE WERE TOLD NOTHING COULD BE DONE DUE TO THE LENGTH OF YEARS THAT HAD PASSED.BUT WAS TOLD TO CALL FORD MOTOR. A CALL WAS MADE THIS MORNING. WAS TOLD BY FORD MOTOR AT 800-392-3673 THAT MY CAR WAS MADE 1/95 AND THE 64000 THAT WAS RECALLED WERE BETWEEN 4/29/95 AND 10/95. THE CAR HAD BEEN IN FOR PREVIOUS SERVICING AND EVEN THEN NOTHING WAS SAID TO US ABOUT A RECALL. OUR PROBLEM IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS WHAT THE RECALL WAS FOR. AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL MY CAR WAS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. WE FEEL THAT HEY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF A REPLACEMENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10284453
61,607 miles · Jul 20, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY TRACER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY HESITATED AND LOST ENGINE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER AT A SERVICE STATION AND INSPECTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. HE DETECTED THAT THE TIMING BELT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAG…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY TRACER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY HESITATED AND LOST ENGINE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER AT A SERVICE STATION AND INSPECTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. HE DETECTED THAT THE TIMING BELT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP AND SERPENTINE BELT. IN ADDITION, THE NUMBER FOUR PISTON EXPLODED WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY INOPERABLE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,607 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,722.
NHTSA ODI #10277529
116,000 miles · Jun 25, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY TRACER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT GASOLINE WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE FOUND A FRACTURE IN THE FUEL TANK. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 97V145000 AND 97V144000, ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY TRACER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT GASOLINE WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE FOUND A FRACTURE IN THE FUEL TANK. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 97V145000 AND 97V144000, ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 116,000.
NHTSA ODI #10274991
83,000 miles · May 7, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL TANK LEAK (STRONG ODOR - NO VISIBLE LEAKAGE) ODOR DETECTABLE IN GARAGE AND OUTSIDE FORD SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL REQUIRED AND WILL NOT CORRECT THE LEAK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10267937
142,000 miles · Oct 22, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY TRACER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS GAS TANK WAS LEAKING FUEL. HE PARKED HIS VEHICLE AND A PUDDLE OF GAS LEAKED OUT. 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 VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCURY TRACER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS GAS TANK WAS LEAKING FUEL. HE PARKED HIS VEHICLE AND A PUDDLE OF GAS LEAKED OUT. 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 VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V144000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.
NHTSA ODI #10246402
135,000 miles · Aug 13, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK HAS CRACKED AS DESCRIBED IN THE CAMPAIGN ID 97V144000. PUTTING IN ANYMORE THAN 3 GALLONS OF GAS IN THE TANK CAUSES IT TO LEAK AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE FORD DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPAIR THIS UNDER THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY NOT USABLE DUE TO THE …
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THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK HAS CRACKED AS DESCRIBED IN THE CAMPAIGN ID 97V144000. PUTTING IN ANYMORE THAN 3 GALLONS OF GAS IN THE TANK CAUSES IT TO LEAK AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE FORD DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPAIR THIS UNDER THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY NOT USABLE DUE TO THE LEAKING FUEL AND AT AN ESTIMATED $800 TO REPAIR THIS MANUFACTURERS DEFECT, I AM OUT A VEHICLE FOR AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF TIME. I FEEL THAT IT WAS UNFAIR FOR THIS RECALL NOT TO INCLUDE ALL VEHICLES OF THE SAME GAS TANK DESIGN, WHICH HAS CAUSED THIS FAILURE, TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *TR
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.9L ENGINES, BUILT AT THE HERMOSILLO OR WAYNE ASSEMBLY PLANTS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN NEVADA, FLORIDA, HAWAII, TEXAS, CALIFORNIA, LOUISIANA, GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, MISSISSIPPI, OKLAHOMA, ALABAMA AND ARKANSAS. 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENTS. THIS WILL NOT AFFECT HEAT SHIELD LOCATION OR FUNCTION, AS THE ATTACHMENTS ARE INTENDED TO KEEP THE SHIELD IN PLACE UNTIL THE FUEL TANK IS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSTALLATION, THE FUEL TANK STRAPS RETAIN THE HEAT SHIELD.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.9L ENGINES, BUILT AT THE HERMOSILLO ASSEMBLY PLANT AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN ARIZONA. 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENTS. THIS WILL NOT AFFECT HEAT SHIELD LOCATION OR FUNCTION, AS THE ATTACHMENTS ARE INTENDED TO KEEP THE SHIELD IN PLACE UNTIL THE FUEL TANK IS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSTALLATION, THE FUEL TANK STRAPS RETAIN THE HEAT SHIELD.
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 ↗