MERCURY TRACER · model year

1993 MERCURY TRACER

114 NHTSA complaints, 14 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1993MERCURYTRACER carries 114 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 14 crashes, 3 fires, 20 injuries, and 3 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 1993 TRACER is vehicle speed control with 8 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly (7) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (6). 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 1993 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.

114
Complaints
14
Crashes
3
Fires
20
Injuries
3
Deaths

Total Complaints

114 filings

Crashes Reported

14 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL8
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY7
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS6
POWER TRAIN5
SUSPENSION:FRONT4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR3
STEERING3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER2
STRUCTURE:BODY2
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH2

Recent Complaints

20140916CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1993 MERCURY TRACER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE THREE INJURIES REPORTED THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. MAILED 10/16/14*LJUPDATED 11/13/14*LJ UPDATED 4/29/2015 *JS

20140916CrashSERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1993 MERCURY TRACER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE THREE INJURIES REPORTED THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. MAILED 10/16/14*LJUPDATED 11/13/14*LJ UPDATED 4/29/2015 *JS

20140916CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1993 MERCURY TRACER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE THREE INJURIES REPORTED THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. MAILED 10/16/14*LJUPDATED 11/13/14*LJ UPDATED 4/29/2015 *JS

20071207POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MERCURY TRACER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TWO BOLTS THAT HOLD THE FRONT AXLE IN PLACE DID NOT HAVE THE HOLE DRILLED IN THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE CASLATED NUT AND THE CUTTER PIN. THE BOLT SIZE WAS IRREGULAR AND NO ONE WAS ABLE TO REPLACE THE BOLT THAT WAS .034 INCHES IN DIAMETER. ONCE THE BOLT DRIFTED OFF, IT WOULD LOOSEN, DROP OFF INTO THE ROAD, AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO TAILSPIN. HE STATED THAT HIS FINGERS WERE ABLE TO REACH AND TWIST THE BOLTS. IN ADDITION, THE BOLTS ON THE POWER STEERING DETACHED. HE STATED THAT THERE SHOULD BE A TOTAL OF FOUR BOLTS TO SUPPORT THE AXLE, BUT THERE WERE NOT. THE ORIGINAL DESIGN WAS LABELED AS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED IN THE ASSEMBLY LINE OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT NEED TO BE NOTIFIED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

Mileage: 100,000

20070720STEERING

TWO BOLTS HOLD THE FRONT AXLE IN PLACE. TWO ON EACH SIDE. THESE '!@#$% BOLTS ARE .43 INCHES IN DIAMETER AND ARE THREADED 20 TPI. (THESE DO NOT CONFORM TO ANY STANDARD BOLT I COULD FIND IN THE LITERATURE, METRIC OR SAE). THESE FOUR BOLTS ARE FITTED WITH CASTELATED NUTS, A VERY GOOD IDEA. HOWEVER, THE BOLT HAD NO HOLE DRILLED FOR THE NECESSARY COTTER PIN. ON MY VEHICLE, THE NUT LOOSENED AND FELL OFF. THE BOLT EVENTUALLY WORKED ITSELF UP AND OUT OF THE HOLE. I WAS GOING 65 MPH ON THE US 5 FREEWAY AND SLOWLY TURNING ON TO THE 405 FREEWAY. THE STEERING OF THE CAR WAS LOST. I ALMOST HIT TWO ADJACENT CARS. THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS POINTING SIDEWAYS, PIVOTING ABOUT THE REMAINING BOLT. HOW I GOT THE CAR STOPPED WITHOUT DAMAGE,I DON"T KNOW. 1. WHY NOBODY IN 13 YEARS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM OF THE MISSING COTTER KEY HOLE. ASK FORD. 2.WHY IN THE YEAR 2007 DOES FORD NOT SELL REPLACEMENT BOLTS OR NUTS, AS THESE ARE '!@#$% PARTS. 3.AS THIS WAS A LEMON RECALL AUTOMOBILE; WHY NOT MAKE TH

Mileage: 103,001

20040422POWER TRAIN

I HAVE A 1.8 ENGINE AND I NEEDED IT TO BE REBUILT. I DID NOT PUT ANY MILES ON THE ENGINE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DECIDED TO DIE. THIS CAR IS AN IMPOSSIBLE CAR TO GET PARTS FOR. IF I CAN GET THE PARTS, THE BOOK OR THE COMPUTER GIVES ME THE WRONG PART AND CANNOT FIND A REPLACEMENT PART. I NEED A PARTS BOOK AND WHATEVER TO REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION AND IT CAN NOT BE FOUND. WHERE CAN I FIND PARTS THAT DO NOT COST ME THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT THAN OTHER CARS. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A PAIN FOR ME.

Mileage: 28,500

20040422UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I HAVE A 1.8 ENGINE AND I NEEDED IT TO BE REBUILT. I DID NOT PUT ANY MILES ON THE ENGINE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DECIDED TO DIE. THIS CAR IS AN IMPOSSIBLE CAR TO GET PARTS FOR. IF I CAN GET THE PARTS, THE BOOK OR THE COMPUTER GIVES ME THE WRONG PART AND CANNOT FIND A REPLACEMENT PART. I NEED A PARTS BOOK AND WHATEVER TO REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION AND IT CAN NOT BE FOUND. WHERE CAN I FIND PARTS THAT DO NOT COST ME THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT THAN OTHER CARS. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A PAIN FOR ME.

Mileage: 28,500

20040422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAVE A 1.8 ENGINE AND I NEEDED IT TO BE REBUILT. I DID NOT PUT ANY MILES ON THE ENGINE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DECIDED TO DIE. THIS CAR IS AN IMPOSSIBLE CAR TO GET PARTS FOR. IF I CAN GET THE PARTS, THE BOOK OR THE COMPUTER GIVES ME THE WRONG PART AND CANNOT FIND A REPLACEMENT PART. I NEED A PARTS BOOK AND WHATEVER TO REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION AND IT CAN NOT BE FOUND. WHERE CAN I FIND PARTS THAT DO NOT COST ME THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT THAN OTHER CARS. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A PAIN FOR ME.

Mileage: 28,500

20040422STRUCTURE

I HAVE A 1.8 ENGINE AND I NEEDED IT TO BE REBUILT. I DID NOT PUT ANY MILES ON THE ENGINE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DECIDED TO DIE. THIS CAR IS AN IMPOSSIBLE CAR TO GET PARTS FOR. IF I CAN GET THE PARTS, THE BOOK OR THE COMPUTER GIVES ME THE WRONG PART AND CANNOT FIND A REPLACEMENT PART. I NEED A PARTS BOOK AND WHATEVER TO REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION AND IT CAN NOT BE FOUND. WHERE CAN I FIND PARTS THAT DO NOT COST ME THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT THAN OTHER CARS. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A PAIN FOR ME.

Mileage: 28,500

20040422EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

I HAVE A 1.8 ENGINE AND I NEEDED IT TO BE REBUILT. I DID NOT PUT ANY MILES ON THE ENGINE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DECIDED TO DIE. THIS CAR IS AN IMPOSSIBLE CAR TO GET PARTS FOR. IF I CAN GET THE PARTS, THE BOOK OR THE COMPUTER GIVES ME THE WRONG PART AND CANNOT FIND A REPLACEMENT PART. I NEED A PARTS BOOK AND WHATEVER TO REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION AND IT CAN NOT BE FOUND. WHERE CAN I FIND PARTS THAT DO NOT COST ME THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT THAN OTHER CARS. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A PAIN FOR ME.

Mileage: 28,500

20040308FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

1993 MERCURY TRACER, 1.9L SOHC. IGNITION CAUGHT ON FIRE. BURNT UP EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE STARTER, IGNITION SWITCH, START SAFETY SWITCH. THIS CAUSED SMOKE IN THE CAB AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THEN WHEN I PULLED THE KEY OUT AND WENT TO UNHOOKED THE BATTERY CABLE THE CAR TRIED TO START ITSELF.*AK

Mileage: 113,800

20030425TIRES:TREAD/BELT

AFTER HEARING A FLAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE TIRES WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE TIRES HAD SEPARATED. *JB

20020820SEAT BELTS

MOTOR SEAT BELT WOULD STICK MIDWAY AND LOCK UP, AND WOULD CONTINUE TO RUN, LEAVING OCCUPANT UNRESTRAINED . DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.*AK

20020730SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN RIGHT, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE FROM REAR END. MECHANIC DETERMINED BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN IN THE SAME PLACE.*AK

20010621LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 25-30 MPH HOOD LATCH BROKE, CAUSING HOOD TO FLEW UP INTO WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS

20010328ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

CAR STALLED AFTER 15-20 MINUTES OF DRIVING PRIMARILY IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER. STALLING SEEMED DIRECTLY RELATED TO HEAT. THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL IDILING OR AT 65 MPH, WHICH WAS VERY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. FINALLY, A YEAR AND HALF AFTER THE, AND THREE MECHANICS, THE MERCURY DEALER ISOLATED THE PROBLEM TO THE EEC IV PROCESSOR. THEY REPLACED THE PROCESSOR AND THE STALLING HAS STOPPED. *AK

20010305SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO DEALER TWICE. THE SECOND TIME THE DEALER CHARGED $300 FOR BRAKE REPAIR. VEHICLE IS NOW AT ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP FOR SAME PROBLEM, INCLUDING AXLE DAMAGE. *AK

20010305POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO DEALER TWICE. THE SECOND TIME THE DEALER CHARGED $300 FOR BRAKE REPAIR. VEHICLE IS NOW AT ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP FOR SAME PROBLEM, INCLUDING AXLE DAMAGE. *AK

20010125ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

SOMETIMES WHENEVER TRYING TO START VEHICLE WILL NOT START. AT OTHER TIMES VEHICLE WILL START RIGHT UP. STARTER AND THE BATTERY HAVE BEEN CHANGED. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER YET. *AK

20010125ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

SOMETIMES WHENEVER TRYING TO START VEHICLE WILL NOT START. AT OTHER TIMES VEHICLE WILL START RIGHT UP. STARTER AND THE BATTERY HAVE BEEN CHANGED. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER YET. *AK

Compare 1993MERCURYTRACER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1993 MERCURY TRACER have?
The 1993 MERCURY TRACER has 114 NHTSA complaints, 14 crashes, 3 fires, 20 injuries, and 3 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 MERCURY TRACER?
The most-complained component for the 1993 MERCURY TRACER is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 8 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS.
Is the 1993 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.