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1998 Mercury TracerProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 44 owner complaints about the 1998 Mercury Tracer, most often about the suspension. It has no vehicle safety recalls on record.

66
CarFlaw IndexSolid year48% below the Tracer median · #6 of 11 years by complaints
Safety recalls0None on recordOwner complaints447 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage83kSuspension, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through February 18, 2010. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1998 Mercury Tracer has problems

44 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
Suspension110
Engine and engine cooling80
Electrical system61
Air bags53
Power train40
Steering30
Structure30
Vehicle speed control20
Service brakes, hydraulic20
4 other systems50

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

0 recalls

1998 Mercury Tracer recalls and how many were fixed

No vehicle safety recalls are on record for this model year.

Best & worst years

1998 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
NHTSA crash tests

1998 Mercury Tracer safety ratings

1998 Mercury Tracer 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1998 Mercury Tracer, and the recalls they led to.

  1. AIR BAG NON-DEPLOYMENTDP01001 · closed Nov 1, 2001
    No recall
In owners' words

What Tracer owners report

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

DT: THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, AND THE DEALER DISCOVERED THE REAR PASSENGER STRUT BROKE. INSIDE THE STRUT WAS A PIECE OF RUBBER. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK
Complaint 10144120 · Dec 1, 2005
REAR COIL SPRING FRACTURED, WITHOUT PROVOCATION, IN MY 1998 MERCURY TRACER SEDAN. AFTER SPEAKING TO 3 DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT SHOPS AND 2 DIFFERENT FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENTS, IT WAS ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THAT FORD/MERCURY HAS A KNOWN MATERIAL DEFECT THAT THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO IGNORE. EVERYONE CONCEDES THAT…
Complaint 10124980 · Jun 10, 2005 · 83,000 miles
THE REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE ON MY 1998 MERCURY TRACER. WHEN SEEKING A REPAIR, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH FORD/MERCURY MODELS OF THIS SIZE (ESCORT/TRACER/TEMPO). WITH REAR SPRINGS BROKEN, ONE CAN OBSERVE THE REAR TIRES OF A CAR WITH THESE SPRINGS BROKEN COME OFF THE…
Complaint 10058486 · Feb 19, 2004

Own a 1998 Tracer?

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