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1991 Mercury TracerProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 60 owner complaints about the 1991 Mercury Tracer, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 2 safety recalls.

56
CarFlaw IndexSolid year23% below the Tracer median · #5 of 11 years by complaints
Safety recalls2Free fix at dealersOwner complaints6013 with a crash, fire or injuryTop problem17Electrical system

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 26, 2019. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1991 Mercury Tracer has problems

60 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system176
Fuel system, gasoline121
Seat belts101
Engine and engine cooling71
Power train50
Steering31
Service brakes, hydraulic30
Suspension20
Structure20
7 other systems81

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

1991 Mercury Tracer recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Anti-theft: control module

Recall 93V-057 · Apr 15, 1993 · 91,000 vehicles

Risk. THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER MAY DISENGAGE FROM THESTEERING COLUMN HOUSING WHICH COULD CAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN TO LOCK UP,RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Fuel system, gasoline

Recall 92V-117 · Aug 19, 1992 · 22,000 vehicles

Risk. SHOULD A CRACK DEVELOP, FUEL VAPOR CAN ESCAPE FROM THETANK WHEN THE TANK IS FULL, AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL CAN LEAK FROM THE CRACK.FUEL LEAKS CAN RESULT IN…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Mercury.

Best & worst years

1991 vs. every other Tracer year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Tracer median. How we score

'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1991 Mercury Tracer, and the recalls they led to.

  1. FUEL PUMP WIRING SHORTAGEEA94002 · closed Jan 31, 1995
    No recall
In owners' words

What Tracer owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

I HAD TO REPLACE TWO IGNITION SWITCHES ON MY 1991 MERCURY 1.9 TRACER TO THE TUNE OF $360.00. THE FIRST ONE THEY INSTALLED, THE TUMBLERS FELL APART AFTER ONE DAY, I HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE MECHANIC TO INSTALL A SECOND IGNITION SWITCH. I WAS INFORMED THAT FORD HAD A RECALL ON TRACER IGNITION…
Complaint 10023232 · Jun 17, 2003
WENT TO THE START THE VEHICLE AND SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM AROUND THE IGNITION SWITCH. HAD TO REPLACE SWITCH AND THE STARTER. *AK
Complaint 985613 · Jun 13, 1996
WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE, IGNITION SWITCH KEY OUT OF SWITCH; ENGINE KEPT RUNNING, WOULD NOT TURN OFF; BURNED UP/MELTED DOWN STARTER; SMOKE CAME OUT. *AK
Complaint 983298 · Apr 22, 1996

Own a 1991 Tracer?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.