AI Damage1989 Mercury Tracer: common problems
Owners of the 1989 Mercury Tracer filed 16 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and seat belts. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 16
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 38% of all complaints
- 2 Seat belts 13% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 13% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 6% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 6% of all complaints
- 6 Suspension 6% of all complaints
- 7 Tires 6% of all complaints
- 8 Wheels 6% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 6 complaints (38% of all).
- Seat belts: 2 complaints (13% of all).
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (13% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (6% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (6% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.6 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 16 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
I am a single 66 yr old on a fixed income, purchased the the vehicle in june of 2000 since that date I have had nothing but problems with this car, when I am driving down the road and the vehicle gets hot or more so warmed up it quits wherever it may be, this has happened several times in intersections and also the…
The rear wheel bearings have failed on three separate occasions. The car was purchased used with 14,700 miles. The first failure occured on april 5, 1998, traveling 65 mph on the interstate. The left rear wheel bearings seized and the wheel fell inward pulling the car severely to the right.
At 64,000 miles the engine failed, oil leaking in pistons, the whole engine was replace.
Transmission very sluggish, not enough power to shift into gear. When vehicle was being inspected, the mechanic pulled the bolt from the pully on the crankshaft and the end of the crankshaft fell off.
While driving the vehicle under the hood engine compartment caught on fire, electrical short, saw smoke.
Excessive wear brake shoes/pads replacing repeatedly w/low mileage accumulation. Master cylinder also fails replaced (4) times. Please describe details. Tt
Brake failure, failure of master cylinder, surge while driving, pedal faded. Tt
Right back tire came completely off, left was breaking off at the axle, repair both side. Tt
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 9,040 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 25% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Tracer has 41 complaints (14 years in the data). This year has 16, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1989 Mercury Tracer?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, seat belts, service brakes. Total complaints: 16. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (19%), brake failure (6%), engine failure or replacement (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1989 Mercury Tracer?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1989 Mercury Tracer from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1989 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.