IllustrationWHILE 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
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 reportsENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER FEELS PRESSURE FROM GAS SPLASHING AROUND IN TANK MAY CAUSE A FIRE.*AK
UPON INSPECTION THE TIRE HAD UNEVEN WEAR AND THERE WAS A CRACK DOWN THE CENTER OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WHICH WAS CAUSING NOISE WHILE DRIVNG OVER 35 MPH (BF GOODRICH ADVANTAGE PLUS 185/65/14 DOTBF76TU1135). NLM
SEE ATTACHED LETTER. NO LETTER ATTACHED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: BF76TU1135 TIRESIZE: 185/65/14)
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD COME ON MONTHLY, AND CONSUMER HAD TO ADD COOLANT EVERY 3 MONTHS. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND THEY PUT A NEW RADIATOR IN. *AK
WHILE INSPECTING THE TIRES ON MY CAR, I SAW THE INSIDE SIDEWALL HAD PEELED AWAY FROM THE CASING. THIS CONDITION IS ON BOTH FRONT TIRES AND CONSISTS OF ABOUT 12 INCHES OF DAMAGE PER TIRE. I CALLED GOODYEAR CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND THEY GAVE ME THE IMPRESSION THAT IT WAS NOT OF ANY GREAT CONCERN AND THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL CONDITION …
Read full complaint
WHILE INSPECTING THE TIRES ON MY CAR, I SAW THE INSIDE SIDEWALL HAD PEELED AWAY FROM THE CASING. THIS CONDITION IS ON BOTH FRONT TIRES AND CONSISTS OF ABOUT 12 INCHES OF DAMAGE PER TIRE. I CALLED GOODYEAR CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND THEY GAVE ME THE IMPRESSION THAT IT WAS NOT OF ANY GREAT CONCERN AND THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL CONDITION THAT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE LIMITED WARRANTY ADJUSTMENT POLICY. *AK (DOT NUMBER: T278408GCW TIRESIZE: P18565 R14)
THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES DUE TO THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE THAT HAD A KNOT ON IT AND THE TWO BACK TIRES WERE OUT OF ROUND. (GOODYEAR 185-65 ADV+822626). *YH
WHILE DRIVING COULD FEEL TIRES VIBRATING. THEN, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER , AND DEALER FOUND OUT THAT RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS HAVING A TREAD SEPARATION. FIRESTONE RESPOND P185/65 R14. *AK FIRESTONE P185/65/R14 *MW
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
RETAINING PINS THAT HOLD BRAKE PADS IN PLACE ARE LOOSE, CAUSING CONTACT TO THE WHEEL, AND EVENTUAL SEPARATION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK MORE SPECIFICALLY THE RETAINING CLIPS THAT HOLD THE RETAINING PINS IN THE FRONT BRAKE ASSEMBLY SNAP AND FLY OFF OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE PINS CONTACT THE WHEEL. *YH
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.