IllustrationHORN WENT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AND AIRBAGLIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD. AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
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
Air Bags complaints
47 reportsTHE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING AND THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE.*JB(CLAIM#18-0629-945)
AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING, AND THERE IS A BEEPING SOUND. ALSO THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG COMPARTMENT. CONSUMER DISCONNECTED BATTERY.*AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 40 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. NO INJURIES. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 25 MPH CONSUMER REAR ENDED A TRUCK, AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. BUT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
CONSUMER WAS INSIDE OF STORE WHEN HE HEARD HORN GOING OFF. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT HORN ASSEMBLY WAS ATTACHED TO AIRBAG, AND THAT AIRBAG MODULAR UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED AS ONE UNIT. CONSUMER STATED THAT JUST BY TOUCHING ON HORN LIGHTLY IT WOULD GO OFF. *AK
WHEN VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. NOT SURE IF VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
HORN MALFUNCTIOND ( HORN WOULD CONTINUE TO BLOW). FUSE WAS REMOVED TO STOP IT FROM SOUNDING OFF. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE HORN SWITCH AND AIR BAG WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. CAN NHTSA SHARE SOME LIGHT ON THIS MATTER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH A DEER WAS ON THE ROAD. CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO AVOID HITTING THE DEER AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND HIT A TREE. CONSUMER WENT TO UNHOOK SEAT BELT TO GET OUT OF THE CAR, AND HEARD VEHICLE RUNNING. LEANED BACK TO CUT IT OFF, AND SEAT BELT CAME OUTOF BUCKLE AND KNOCKE DRIVER OUT. ALSO AIR BACK SENSOR LIG…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH A DEER WAS ON THE ROAD. CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO AVOID HITTING THE DEER AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND HIT A TREE. CONSUMER WENT TO UNHOOK SEAT BELT TO GET OUT OF THE CAR, AND HEARD VEHICLE RUNNING. LEANED BACK TO CUT IT OFF, AND SEAT BELT CAME OUTOF BUCKLE AND KNOCKE DRIVER OUT. ALSO AIR BACK SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON, INDICATING THAT AIR BAGS WERE INOPERATIVE. DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES, WAS HOSPITALIZED. *AK
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.