AI Damage1995 Mercury Tracer: common problems
Owners of the 1995 Mercury Tracer filed 96 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 96
- involving a crash
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 41% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 15% of all complaints
- 3 Seat belts 13% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 7% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 7% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
- 8 Suspension 5% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 39 complaints (41% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 14 complaints (15% of all).
- Seat belts: 12 complaints (13% of all).
- Electrical system: 7 complaints (7% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 7 complaints (7% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.8 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 1.9 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 3 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speednamed in 1 complaints
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 96 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 39 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 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.
Traveling 40mph when another vehicle made a "u" turn into oncoming traffic lane. Tracer hit driver's rear, and air bags failedto deploy. Emergency room treatment and released.
While driving down the road traveling 40mph, and following behind other vehicles going to the beach, someone pulled out in front and stopped short, causing a chain reaction. Consumer rearended the back of a trailer, and neither airbag deployed. Upon impact, driver's seat broke, and was injured.
When vehicle was put in reverse the engine revved. Consumer applied the brakes, and vehicle accelerated suddenly in reverse and collided into another vehicle. Dealer has been notified.
While braking, steering wheel and brakes locked up without warning; vehicle lost control; skidded 20 to 25 ft; vehicle rearended another vehicle at standstill.
Pulling into parking lot to park at very low speed, applied brakes had extended stopping distance went over incline into ditch, impact 12:00 vehicle flipped.
Once the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed a leak on the ground and the fuel gauge decreased from a full tank to half of a tank. The vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 97v144000 (fuel system, gasoline). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified.
While parked, the contact noticed an overpowering fuel smell. The contact inspected the vehicle and discovered a fuel leak. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostics where the technician stated that the fuel tank was fractured and would have to be replaced.
Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a vehicle fire. She notified the manufacturer in reference to recall 97v145000, fuel system, gasoline storage tank assembly. She was advised that since her vehicle identification number was excluded from the recall, she was ineligible for a free remedy.
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 3,666 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 10% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Tracer has 41 complaints (14 years in the data). This year has 96, above average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- 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 1995 Mercury Tracer?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, engine and cooling, seat belts. Total complaints: 96. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (13%), seat belts (9%), stalls while driving (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1995 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 1995 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 1995 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.