Total Complaints
26 filings
MERCURY TRACER · model year
1992 MERCURY TRACER
26 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1992MERCURYTRACER carries 26 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 5 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1992 TRACER is fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly with 2 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition:switch (2) and electrical system:ignition (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 22 investigation files overlapping the 1992 TRACER. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
26
Complaints
3
Crashes
5
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 2 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20200622FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
AFTER 27 YEARS THE RUBBER FUEL FILLER PIPE ON THE CAR CRACKED AND BEGAN LEAKING FUEL. THE FUEL FILLER PIPE WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW FUEL FILLER PIPE FROM FORD MOTORCRAFT, PART #KFL-22, FOCZ-9324-AA. THE NEW FUEL FILLER PIPE LASTED ONLY 6 MONTHS BEFORE CRACKING AND SPILLING GAS ON MY DRIVEWAY CREATING A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED WITH A NEW THIRD PARTY [NOT FORD] FUEL FILLER PIPE. I'M BRINGING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION BECAUSE NUMEROUS AUTO REPAIR WEB SITES HAVE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING DEFECTIVE REPLACEMENT FORD FUEL FILLER PIPES [ALL FORD MODELS]. FUEL FILLER PIPES SHOULD LAST MORE THEN 6 MONTHS. FORD'S REPLACEMENT FUEL FILLER PIPES ARE DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR REPLACEMENT BY FORD TO PREVENT A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION SHOULD A VEHICLE BE PARKED IN A GARAGE, I.E., NEAR A WATER HEATER OR OTHER IGNITION SOURCE, CREATING A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION. THE LEAK FROM THE FUEL FILLER PIPE OCCURS WHETHER OR NOT THE VEHICLE IS PARKED OR MOVING WHEN THE FUEL
Mileage: 298,000
20031031ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ON MY DAUGHTERS 1992 MERCURY TRACER, THE IGNITION SWITCH ENGAGED THE ENGINE STARTER AND BEGAN SMOKING WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND WHEN NO-ONE WAS IN THE CAR. I AM NOW FACED WITH $800.00 IN REPAIR BILLS FOR A DEFECTIVE FORD MOTOR COMPANY PART THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. *LA
Mileage: 80,000
20010208TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TREAD SEPARATION DISCOVERED ACCIDENTALLY PER INSPECTION FOR DRIVEABIITY CONCERN. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2R4 TIRESIZE: P195/60R14)
20010131FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP FAILED RESULTING IN AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE CAR. NLM
20000918CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THE SHOULDER HARNESS PULLED FROM TRACK ON IMPACT , THE DRIVER'S HEAD STRUCK THE WINDSHEILD AND RECEVIED CONTUSIONS TO NECK AND HEAD FROM THE LOOSE END OF THE HARNESS
20000911CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THE SHOULDER HARNESS PULLED FROM TRACK ON IMPACT , THE DRIVER'S HEAD STRUCK THE WINDSHEILD AND RECEVIED CONTUSIONS TO NECK AND HEAD FROM THE LOOSE END OF THE HARNESS
20000615FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
STARTER SHORTED OUT, CAUSING A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
19990823POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE INTO APPROPIATE GEAR AND "SLIPPED" INTO NEUTRAL ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.
19990611ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
EXHAUST VALVE BROKE EVERY YEAR, CAUSING REAR END TO OVERHEAT AND BURN THE TRUNK. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
19990419VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THREE OCCASIONS OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION.
19990325FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
THERE WAS A GAS SMELL AROUND THE CAR AND IN THE GARAGE, DEALER CONTACTED AND STATED A HOLE FOUND IN THE GAS TANK. REPAIR WORK DONE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK
19981016SEAT BELTS
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING THE ELECTRIC SHOULDER STRAP MOVES UP AND DOWN CONSTANTLY . ALSO GETS STUCK AND RELEASES AND REPAIRS ISELF. NOW, SHOULDER STRAP MAKES WEIRD NOISES AND IS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
19980323SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT HARNESS DOES NOT SLIDE ON TRACK. LEFT FRONT IS FROZEN 1/2 WAY IN POSITION. *AK
19970717EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS
THE BULB OF THE REAR MOUNTED BRAKE LIGHT MELTED THE ASSEMBLY , CAUSING SMOKE INSIDE VEHICLE.
19970528SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT JAMMED HALF WAY IN THE RETRACTOR. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *AK
19960923FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORT CAUSED VEHICLE FIRE.
19960731FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY BATTERY HAD A SHORT WHICH RESULTED IN FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AK
19960506ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DIFFICULTY IN STARTING THE VEHICLE MAKES A GRINDING NOISE. ONCE STARTED CREATED AN INABILITY TO SHUT OFF THE IGINITION.
19960430ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE, SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN, SMOKE FROM ENGINE, REPLACE LOCK AND SWITCH, STARTER BURNED OUT. *AK
19960430ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE, SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN, SMOKE FROM ENGINE, REPLACE LOCK AND SWITCH, STARTER BURNED OUT. *AK
Compare 1992MERCURYTRACER to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1992 MERCURY TRACER have?▼
The 1992 MERCURY TRACER has 26 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 5 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1992 MERCURY TRACER?▼
The most-complained component for the 1992 MERCURY TRACER is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION.
Is the 1992 MERCURY TRACER safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.