CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, SMELLED FUEL ON THE OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE CONSUMER STATES FOUND A RECALL ON THE SAME PROBLEM HOWEVER MANUFACTURER STATES VEHICLE DOES NOT MATCH VIN NUMBER.*JB
1995 Mercury Tracer
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1995 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: 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.
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
35 reportsPURCHASED THE CAR USED, A/C HAS NOT BE OPERATIONAL SINCE-EMITS A FOUL ODOR. CONTINUOUS HEATER CORE LEAKS AND FAILURE, EMITS FOUL ODOR RESEMBLING ANTIFREEZE. CAUSES NAUSEA AND HEADACHES. NOT SURE IF A/C PROBLEMS AND HEATER CORE PROBLEMS ARE RELATED. SPEEDOMETER BOUNCES AROUND AFTER 30MPH IS EXCEEDED. CRUISE CONTROL CUTS OFF …
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PURCHASED THE CAR USED, A/C HAS NOT BE OPERATIONAL SINCE-EMITS A FOUL ODOR. CONTINUOUS HEATER CORE LEAKS AND FAILURE, EMITS FOUL ODOR RESEMBLING ANTIFREEZE. CAUSES NAUSEA AND HEADACHES. NOT SURE IF A/C PROBLEMS AND HEATER CORE PROBLEMS ARE RELATED. SPEEDOMETER BOUNCES AROUND AFTER 30MPH IS EXCEEDED. CRUISE CONTROL CUTS OFF WHEN GOING UP AN INCLINE. AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS STICK IN POSITION. BEEP THAT ALERTS WHEN YOU HAVE A KEY IN THE IGNITION AND A DOOR OPEN, BEEPS CONSTANTLY EVEN WHEN NO KEY IS IN IGNITION, CANNOT FIND CAUSE. CIGARETTE LIGHTER DOES NOT WORK, CANNOT FIND CAUSE. AUTOMATIC BELT TENSIONER RATTLES. HAVE READ THROUGH THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH I JUST ABOUT HAVE THEM ALL. CHECKED DATE OF MANUFACTURE FOR FUEL TANK RECALL, ONE MONTH SHORT OF BEING IN RECALL, HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT LEAKAGE. SOMETIMES I DO HAVE A FUEL ODOR IN THE CAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN CAR HAS JUST BEEN FILLED UP. ANY HELP IN THIS MATTER WOULD GREATLY BE APPRECIATED.*AK
FUEL TANK IS LEAKING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
SMELLED A GAS ODOR WHILE IN VEHICLE. ALSO, FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING, IT HAD A CRACK IN THE FRONT PART. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED HAD TO ORDER FUEL TANK. *AK
WHEN I BOUGHT THE MERCURY TRACER BACK IN 1996, I WAS VERY EXCITED, BUT AFTER THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE GAS TANKS, AT WHICH TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN TO BE CHECKED. SOON AFTER THAT I BEGAN TO HAVE MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AT WHICH TIME IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRAN…
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WHEN I BOUGHT THE MERCURY TRACER BACK IN 1996, I WAS VERY EXCITED, BUT AFTER THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE GAS TANKS, AT WHICH TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN TO BE CHECKED. SOON AFTER THAT I BEGAN TO HAVE MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AT WHICH TIME IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, THE KEY SWITHCH STOP WORKING MEANING THE SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN TO OFF POSITION, THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT LOCK, THE ELECTRIC SEATBELT STOP WORKING A FEW MONTHS AFTER HOLIDAY FORD SAID THEY FIXED IT. EVERY YEAR FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKED FIXED(ROTERS). THE JUST LAST YEAR THE HEATING SYSTEM WENT OUT, THE RADIATOR HAD A SMALL LEAK AND IT . I DON'T GO ON MAJOR TRIPS, I HAVE KEPT THE CAR UP WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE FOR HAVING THIS CAR FOR SIX YEARS I HAVE HAD ALL THESE PROBLEMS AND MABY A FEW MORE, I WILL SIT DOWN AND WRITE LIST. THEN HERE IT IS 2001 AND THE MORTOR JUST DIED WITHOUT WARNING, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET GETTING READY TO TURN THE CORNER AND THE MOTOR JUST STARTED SHAKING AND THE BRAKES PARTIALLY FAILED, IT WAS WEIRD BECAUSE ONE MINUET IT WAS WORKING FINE AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW IT JUST BEGAN TO SHAKE. I WAS TOLD BY A MACHANIC THAT THE CAR WILL NEED A NEW MOTOR. I HAVE FRIENDS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR CAR FOR 15-20 YEARS AND THE MOTOR IS STILL WORKING, SO WHY DID MY MOTOR JUST DIE OUT. THE CAR HAD OIL AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT IS SUPPOSE TO KEEP IT IN SHAPE, I TRULY BELIEVE THIS CAR WAS A LEMON TO BEGIN WITH, PLEASE HELP. *AK
HAS TO REPLACE PLASTIC TANK W/NEW METAL TANK COST OVER $450
IN MAY OF 2000, THE ORIGINAL PLASTIC FUEL TANK, IN MY 18 YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER'S MERCURY TRACER, CRACKED IT WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW METAL TANK. THE COST WAS $457.96, WHICH MY DAUGHTER PAID OUT OF HER POCKET. I WOULD LIKE TO NOW IF SHE IS ELIGIBLE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THE REPLAIR SINCE IT WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT.
THE GAS TANK DEVELOPED A CRACK NEAR THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT, GAS LEAKAGE DUE TO CRACK, RECALL (97V-144) IS BEING DENIED FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. *MJS
THE FUEL TANK IS LEAKING FROM THE CRACKS IN THE WALL. HAD NOTICED THE FUEL LEAKAGE IN DRIVERWAY. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE REPAIR SHOP.
THE FUEL TANK WOULD BE LEAKING FROM CRACKS IN THE WALL. HAD NOTICE THE FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE AT REPAIR SHOP NOW.
Official recalls
397V144000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Sep 3, 1997
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.
97V145000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Sep 3, 1997
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.
94V218000 · Air Bags:frontal
Nov 10, 1994
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
1RQ97010 · Fuel Tank Assembly
Opened Sep 11, 1997 · Closed May 22, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
There is no summary currently available
Illustration