IllustrationTHE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING AND THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE.*JB(CLAIM#18-0629-945)
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 reportsCONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A CRACKING/SQUEAKING NOISE AND VEHICLE WAS HANDLING LOOSE/UNSTABLE, WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN FOR A 60,000 MILE MAINTENANCE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP THAT THE REAR COILS SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. *JB
AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, CLAIM 18-0629-945. *SLC
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
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
NO SUMMARY
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ALL WIRES UNDER HOOD BURNED OUT, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
HEARD FOR QUITE A WHILE A "CRACKING NOISE" IN THE REAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN BREAKING, BUT ALSO DURING SHARP TURNS. GARAGE LOOKED AT IT AT 60K MILES AND REPORTED BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKEN. ACCORDING TO GARAGE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ESCORT/TRACER. RECEIVED ADVICE NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR, PARTS WERE ORDERED, WHICH TOOK 2 WEEKS. ACCORDING TO…
Read full complaint
HEARD FOR QUITE A WHILE A "CRACKING NOISE" IN THE REAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN BREAKING, BUT ALSO DURING SHARP TURNS. GARAGE LOOKED AT IT AT 60K MILES AND REPORTED BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKEN. ACCORDING TO GARAGE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ESCORT/TRACER. RECEIVED ADVICE NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR, PARTS WERE ORDERED, WHICH TOOK 2 WEEKS. ACCORDING TO A DEALER "THERE IS A SHORTAGE IN SPRINGS, DUE TO HIGH DEMAND"
ENGINE BLEW UP IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC - HUGE SAFETY CONCERNS FOR OTHER TRACER DRIVERS, NO LIGHT INDICATOR, NO GAUGE WARNING, ETC.- CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED, JUST BLEW UP- NOTHING TO INDICATE REASON. SHOULD CONSIDER RECALLING TRACERS FOR INVESTIGATION OF ENGINE.
ENGINE FAILED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON FREEWAY WITH FAMILY IN CAR- NO LIGHT, NO GAUGE INDICATOR, NO HISTORY OF PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR- HUGE SAFETY HAZARD, ABSOLUTELY DID NOT KNOW IT WOULD HAPPEN. FORD IS, THUS FAR, UNRESPONSIVE.*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.