AI Damage1997 Mercury Tracer: common problems
Owners of the 1997 Mercury Tracer filed 142 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 142
- involving a crash
- 15
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 33% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 15% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 15% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 5 Suspension 8% of all complaints
- 6 Tires 6% of all complaints
- 7 Visibility 6% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 4% of all complaints
- Air bags: 47 complaints (33% of all), 13 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 22 complaints (15% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 21 complaints (15% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 11 complaints (8% of all).
- Suspension: 11 complaints (8% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 142 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 47 | 13 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 21 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 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.
The vehicle was involved in a frontal collision, and the air bags failed to deploy. The consumer was injured. Four days after the accident the consumer received a recall letter. Recall# 02v323000 scc
While making a u turn and applying brakes to stop, the vehicle surged forward, jumped a curb and hit a pole. The vehicle was totalled.
Vehicle was involved in a 40 mph frontal collision in which driver's and passenger's air bags did not deploy, cause has not been determined. No injuries. Please give any further details.
Consumer went to unhook seat belt to get out of the car, and heard vehicle running. Leaned back to cut it off, and seat belt came outof buckle and knocke driver out. Also air back sensor light came on, indicating that air bags were inoperative. Driver suffered injuries, was hospitalized.
Steering, shimmering like the front end was out of line, service engine soon light came on and went off 2 times third time went to dixie and set up to have it check since the light stayed on this time and did not go back off.
1997 mercury tracer trio vin [xxx] my wife and I bought this car from wanted auto sales in worley idaho. My we have a one year old daughter. We heard a noise from the rear of the car. My wife thought we were bottoming out.
While driving felt severe vibration and loud noise at all speeds and car pulling to the right hard. Vibration became worse about 8 miles later, car was not drivable and almost ran off the road. The tread separated from the tire. Pulled over, put the spare on.
While driving 70 mph, the vehicle lost power and the contact pulled to the side of the road. He lifted the hood and noticed flames coming from the engine. He extinguished the fire and had the vehicle towed to a junkyard. The contact later sold the vehicle to the junkyard for $100.
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 2,764 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 8% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Tracer has 41 complaints (14 years in the data). This year has 142, above average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Mercury Tracer?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, electrical system, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 142. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (11%), warning lights, check engine (10%), airbag warning light (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1997 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 1997 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 1997 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.