Total Complaints
57 filings
MERCURY TRACER · model year
1998 MERCURY TRACER
57 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998MERCURYTRACER carries 57 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 1 fire, 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 1998 TRACER is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 6 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (5) and electrical system:horn (4). 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 1998 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.
57
Complaints
3
Crashes
1
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 |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 6 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 5 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN | 4 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 2 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20100218VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SPEEDS UP ON ITS OWN WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHTS. OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. MOST OF ALL IN THE WINTER TIME. TRIED TO REPAIRED IT AT STATION BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. *TR
Mileage: 82,000
20070511POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE I AM ON THE FOOT BRAKE SLOWING DOWN, CAR SUDDENLY REVS, SHIFTS INTO GEAR AND ACCELERATES. I AM UNABLE TO HOLD BACK THE VEHICLE EVEN WHEN PUSHING AS HARD AS I CAN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I HAVE TO KNOCK THE SHIFT LEVER INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP.*AK
Mileage: 132,482
20051201SUSPENSION:REAR
DT: THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, AND THE DEALER DISCOVERED THE REAR PASSENGER STRUT BROKE. INSIDE THE STRUT WAS A PIECE OF RUBBER. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK
20050719LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
DT : TRUNK LATCH WAS FAULTY. TRUCK LATCH HAD A SENSOR IN IT THAT WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE NOT TO RUN. THE PART THEY REPLACED WAS CALLED A TRUNK LATCH. IT WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE TO DECELERATE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE TRUNK LID WAS CLOSED BUT THE SENSOR INSIDE OF IT WAS FAULTY BECAUSE IT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL EVEN THOUGH THE LID WAS CLOSED. THE SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE.*AK *NM
Mileage: 70,000
20050610SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS
REAR COIL SPRING FRACTURED, WITHOUT PROVOCATION, IN MY 1998 MERCURY TRACER SEDAN. AFTER SPEAKING TO 3 DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT SHOPS AND 2 DIFFERENT FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENTS, IT WAS ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THAT FORD/MERCURY HAS A KNOWN MATERIAL DEFECT THAT THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO IGNORE. EVERYONE CONCEDES THAT THESE SPRINGS ARE FAILING AT ABSURD RATES BUT FOMO CO POLICY IS TO DENY EVERYTHING (DESPITE WHAT THEIR OWN SERVICE TECHNICIANS ARE ADMITTING) CATASTROPHIC FAILURES WHILE DRIVING FREQUENTLY RESULT IN TIRE BLOWOUTS... THIS PROBLEM OCCURS THROUGHOUT THE TAURUS/SABLE, ESCORT/TRACER, AND TOPAZ/CONTOUR CAR LINES... I STILL HAVE THE SHATTERED SPRING IN MY POSSESSION, FOMOCO EXPRESSED ZERO INTEREST WHEN I CONTACTED THEM...
Mileage: 83,000
20050318CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF HER 1998 MERCURY TRACER AND COLLIDED HEAD ON INTO A GUARDRAIL. NEITHER OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *NM THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS SMASHED INTO THE ENGINE. *SC *JB
20041214ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
WHILE DRIVING THE HORN STARTED BLOWING AND I HAD TO TAKE THE FUES OUT TO STOP IT. *AK
Mileage: 150,000
20041214ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
ON DECEMBER 11, 2004 I WAS OUT SHOPPING AND I GOT IN THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START I LEFT IT SIT THERE OVER NIGHT AND WENT BACK THE NEXT DAY AND IT STARTED. I HAVE HAD 3 MACHANICKS LOOK AT IT AND NONE OF THEM KNOW WHY IT DID IT.*AK
Mileage: 150,000
20040422UNKNOWN OR OTHER
HOLE IN MY BLOCK WITH OIL LEAK AND VALVE GASKETS SO BAD I TURNED THE CAR IN.
Mileage: 78,000
20040219SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
THE REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE ON MY 1998 MERCURY TRACER. WHEN SEEKING A REPAIR, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH FORD/MERCURY MODELS OF THIS SIZE (ESCORT/TRACER/TEMPO). WITH REAR SPRINGS BROKEN, ONE CAN OBSERVE THE REAR TIRES OF A CAR WITH THESE SPRINGS BROKEN COME OFF THE ROAD. WITH FORD WELL AWARE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW IN THESE AUTOS, THERE OUGHT TO BE A RECALL OF THESE VEHICLES. I HAVE ONLY 47,700 MILES ON THIS CAR; I HAVE NOW REPLACED A BUSTED CRANKSHAFT PULLEY AND THE RESISTOR ASSOCIATED WITH CIRCULATION SYSTEM WHICH COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE WELL DOCUMENTED AND FORD SHOULD ADDRESS THESE FLAWS.
20040219POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
THE REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE ON MY 1998 MERCURY TRACER. WHEN SEEKING A REPAIR, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH FORD/MERCURY MODELS OF THIS SIZE (ESCORT/TRACER/TEMPO). WITH REAR SPRINGS BROKEN, ONE CAN OBSERVE THE REAR TIRES OF A CAR WITH THESE SPRINGS BROKEN COME OFF THE ROAD. WITH FORD WELL AWARE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW IN THESE AUTOS, THERE OUGHT TO BE A RECALL OF THESE VEHICLES. I HAVE ONLY 47,700 MILES ON THIS CAR; I HAVE NOW REPLACED A BUSTED CRANKSHAFT PULLEY AND THE RESISTOR ASSOCIATED WITH CIRCULATION SYSTEM WHICH COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE WELL DOCUMENTED AND FORD SHOULD ADDRESS THESE FLAWS.
20040219ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
THE REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE ON MY 1998 MERCURY TRACER. WHEN SEEKING A REPAIR, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH FORD/MERCURY MODELS OF THIS SIZE (ESCORT/TRACER/TEMPO). WITH REAR SPRINGS BROKEN, ONE CAN OBSERVE THE REAR TIRES OF A CAR WITH THESE SPRINGS BROKEN COME OFF THE ROAD. WITH FORD WELL AWARE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW IN THESE AUTOS, THERE OUGHT TO BE A RECALL OF THESE VEHICLES. I HAVE ONLY 47,700 MILES ON THIS CAR; I HAVE NOW REPLACED A BUSTED CRANKSHAFT PULLEY AND THE RESISTOR ASSOCIATED WITH CIRCULATION SYSTEM WHICH COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE WELL DOCUMENTED AND FORD SHOULD ADDRESS THESE FLAWS.
20030922SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
DURING A VEHICLE INSPECTION REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE AND WERE REPLACED. *AK
20030905STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A RIGHT TIE ROD AND A RIGHT COIL SPRING. HE HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS REAL DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVEN. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND REPLACED THE DAMAGED PARTS WITH THE WARRANTY. VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 30000 MILES. *AK
20030905SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A RIGHT TIE ROD AND A RIGHT COIL SPRING. HE HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS REAL DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVEN. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND REPLACED THE DAMAGED PARTS WITH THE WARRANTY. VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 30000 MILES. *AK
20030221ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE HORN STARTED BLOWING ON ITS ON.*JB
20020514ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FAILED AFTER COMPLETE TUNEUP. *YH
20020514ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FAILED AFTER COMPLETE TUNEUP. *YH
20020514SUSPENSION:FRONT
CONSUMER STATED THAT FIRST TIME 2 NEW TIRES WERE NEEDED AT 19,022 MILES, MECHANIC SAID NO PROBLEM WITH REAR SUSPENSION, PROBLEM DUE TO LACK OF ROTATION, SECOND TIME 4 NEW TIRES WERE NEEDED AT 26,851 MILES MECHANIC SAID PROBLEM WITH STRUTS AND COILS FOR EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. REPEATED COMPLAINTS TO FORD DEALER IGNORED. *YD
20020307SUSPENSION:FRONT
CONSUMER STATED THAT FIRST TIME 2 NEW TIRES WERE NEEDED AT 19,022 MILES, MECHANIC SAID NO PROBLEM WITH REAR SUSPENSION, PROBLEM DUE TO LACK OF ROTATION, SECOND TIME 4 NEW TIRES WERE NEEDED AT 26,851 MILES MECHANIC SAID PROBLEM WITH STRUTS AND COILS FOR EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. REPEATED COMPLAINTS TO FORD DEALER IGNORED. *YD
Compare 1998MERCURYTRACER to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 MERCURY TRACER have?▼
The 1998 MERCURY TRACER has 57 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 1 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 MERCURY TRACER?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 MERCURY TRACER is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN.
Is the 1998 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.