IllustrationCONSUMER WAS GETTING INSIDE THE CAR, CLOSED THE DOOR, AND THE BACK WINDOW SHATTERED . *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 reportsWHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
WHEN STARTED COLD THE LIFTERS TAP FOR A WHILE, UNTIL IT WARMS UP. *AK
BRAKES SQUEAL WHEN APPLIED,REAR PADS/ SHOES NOISY WHEN APPLIED & RELEASED, DEALER SAID STILL HAD 60% OF PADS AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. DEALER SAID THAT ALL OF THE NEW TYPE LININGS MAKE NOISE. *AK
SEAT BELT DOES NOT FIT CONSUMER PROPERLY, EXTENDERS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. MJS
WHEN VEHICLE SLID OFF THE ROAD AND WENT DOWN INTO A DITCH, AIR BAGS ON THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES DEPLOYED, BUT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE, CAUSING THE PASSENGER TO HIT HER FACE ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOTALLED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK
STEERING, SHIMMERING LIKE THE FRONT END WAS OUT OF LINE, SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF 2 TIMES THIRD TIME WENT TO DIXIE AND SET UP TO HAVE IT CHECK SINCE THE LIGHT STAYED ON THIS TIME AND DID NOT GO BACK OFF. SEATBELT, WILL NOT LATCH AT TIMES I HAVE TO KEEP TRYING TO PRESS IN THE RELEASE BUTTON FOR IT TO FINALLY…
Read full complaint
STEERING, SHIMMERING LIKE THE FRONT END WAS OUT OF LINE, SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF 2 TIMES THIRD TIME WENT TO DIXIE AND SET UP TO HAVE IT CHECK SINCE THE LIGHT STAYED ON THIS TIME AND DID NOT GO BACK OFF. SEATBELT, WILL NOT LATCH AT TIMES I HAVE TO KEEP TRYING TO PRESS IN THE RELEASE BUTTON FOR IT TO FINALLY LOCK. AT TIMES WOULD COME OFF WHILE DRIVING. DIXIE SET UP AN APPOINTMENT 1 WEEK AFTER I WENT THERE TO HAVE ALL OF THE ABOVE CHECKED.DATE DIXIE MOTORS LOOKED AT CAR JULY 24,1998. KEEPED CAR ABOUT 7 HRS. TOLD ME THEY CLEANED SEATBELT, DID NOT TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG WITH STERRING AND THE ONLY THING FIXED WAS SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. ON JULY 30,1998 3 DAYS AFTER BRINGING MY CAR IN TO BE FIX THE STEERING GRAB TO RIGHT COMING OUT OF CURVE AND SEATBELT CAME OFF WHEN THE CAR HIT A POLE. INJURING MY ARM,NECK AND LOWER BACK. ALL HAVE HEALED EXCEPT MY ARM. CALL A FORD REPERSENTIVE THEY HAD THE CLAIM DIVIONS CALL ME. I WENT TO BRUMFIELD FORD IN AMITE SINCE I DO NOT TRUST THE DIXIE MOTOR. MR RAFF CALLED DIXIE MOTORS LAST WEEK THEY TOLD HIM I HAVE NEVER BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO BE SERVICE. I SHOWED MR. RAFF THE WORKORDER PAPER 42094 CUSTOMER#35145, HE DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THEY SAID I DID NOT BRING THE CAR THERE. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE, I HAVE A NEW CAR I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU JANELLE NEGROTTO( DOT NUMBER: AP7JJKUU TIRE SIZE: P185/65R14 )
BRAKES WERE GRINDING AND SQUEAKING. TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE PEDAL HAD TO BE PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY DENIED THE SERVICE. FOUND THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER ANOTHER VIN #. REPAIR WORK STILL CANNOT BE DONE BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. *AK
ENGINE TAPS AND CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER CONTACTED AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. STATED THE PROBLEM CAUSED BY CRACKED CRANKSHAFT. AFTER ENGINE REPLACED, PROBLEM CONTINUED AND DEALER SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *ML
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.