IllustrationWHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD A DEER WAS CROSSING. SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING THE DEER, AND CONSUMER HIT A TREE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES. HOWEVER, AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *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
What owners actually said
142 reportsSPEEDOMETER FAILED, REPLACEMENT OF THE CABLE DID NOT RECTIFY FAILURE. MJS
FRONT SEAL LEAKING AT 36,000 MILE OF WEAR; ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFROMATION ON THIS CONDITION. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL STIFFENS AND THE VEHICLE TAKES LONGER TO SLOW DOWN. THERE IS ALSO A VIBRATION THAT OCCURS DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. DEALER REPLACED PADS, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. HAS BEEN TO DEALER 6 OR 7 TIMES. *AK
BATTERY--DEAD.
WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE THE SEAT BELT BROKE.DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD FIX THE SEAT BELT AT OWNER'S COST. *AK
THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY "SEPARATED" RUINING THE BELT AND THE PULLEY, REQUIRING THAT BOTH BE REPLACED. I DID NOT THINK THAT I SHOULD HAVE THESE TYPE OF PROBLEMS WITH A CAR THAT ONLY HAD 40,600 MILES ON IT. I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED BY THE MANUFACTURER OR THE DEALER WHO WORKED ON THE CAR. I AM RELUCTANT TO BELIEVE THAT…
Read full complaint
THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY "SEPARATED" RUINING THE BELT AND THE PULLEY, REQUIRING THAT BOTH BE REPLACED. I DID NOT THINK THAT I SHOULD HAVE THESE TYPE OF PROBLEMS WITH A CAR THAT ONLY HAD 40,600 MILES ON IT. I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED BY THE MANUFACTURER OR THE DEALER WHO WORKED ON THE CAR. I AM RELUCTANT TO BELIEVE THAT I WILL NOT HAVE FURTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR OR THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHY AND HOW THIS HAPPENED, OTHER THAN BEING TOLD THAT I AM NOT THE FIRST ONE IT HAS HAPPENED TO. I FEEL LIKE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE THAN IT WAS, ONLY BECAUSE I NOTICED IT WHEN I DID AND TOOK IT TO BE REPAIRED DID I NOT HAVE MORE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE THAN I DID. BUT, I STILL DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE HAD THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM TO BEGIN WITH. THE CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED FOR FREE. I DO NOT KNOW WHETHER OR NOT I WILL KEEP THE CAR AFTER HAVING HAD THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH IT.
ENGINE IS STALLING WHEN TURNING A CORNER, STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT. *AK
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY SHUTTER. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND REALIGNED THE ROTORS. *AK
AT 36,000 MILES ALTERNATOR NUTS THAT HOLD THE POWER STEERING BELT CAME OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *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.