1989 Mercury Tracer Problems
- Complaints
- 16filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 90,000miles, 1 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 27 mpgcombined, 1.6L 4-cyl FWD · 24 city / 32 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1989 Mercury Tracer (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 1989 Mercury Tracer. The part named most often is engine cooling, with 6 complaints (38% of the total), followed by brakes (2) and other or unknown (2). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 90,000 miles. Of all complaints, 3 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Engine cooling6 38%
- Brakes2 13%
- Other or unknown2 13%
- Seat belts2 13%
- Electrical system1 6.3%
- Suspension1 6.3%
- Tires1 6.3%
- Wheels1 6.3%
Example complaints
Engine cooling: “I am a single 66 yr old on a fixed income, purchased the the vehicle in june of 2000 since that date I have had nothing but problems with this car, when I am driving down the road and the vehicle gets hot or more so warmed up it quits wherever it may be, this has happened several times in intersections and also the expressways. …”
NHTSA complaint #734260, filed 2000-10Brakes: “Excessive wear brake shoes/pads replacing repeatedly w/low mileage accumulation. Master cylinder also fails replaced (4) times. Please describe details. Tt”
NHTSA complaint #976966, filed 1995-12Other or unknown: “There is a stalling problem, even when driving! The were a number of times that I had to be pushed of a main road. It took hours to restart. If I wait over 10 hours, most times the car will restart. The problem seems to be in the ignition module and /or the magnet and/or the rotor. I have spent nearly $2,300.00 replacing parts. The car still stalls out even when driving! It is possible the problem is with the distributor or the ignition module. The contacts to the relay in the fuse box were cleaned but it still stalls randomly. …”
NHTSA complaint #11014936, filed 2017-08, 90,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
0% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 90,000 and 90,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1989 Mercury Tracer version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tracer FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 24 | 32 | 27 | $2,500 |
| Tracer FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 23 | 26 | 24 | $2,800 |
| Tracer Wagon FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 24 | 32 | 27 | $2,500 |
| Tracer Wagon FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 23 | 26 | 24 | $2,800 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 95V103011Jun 27, 1995Seat belts › Front › Buckle assemblyCovers: Mercury Tracer 1987–1989, Ford Festiva 1988–1991
The front safety belt buckle release buttons can break. These red plastic release buttons are marked "press." if a button breaks, pieces can fall into the buckle assembly causing the buckle to operate improperly.
Recall details for the 1989 Mercury Tracer → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1989 Mercury Tracer.
Other model years of the Mercury Tracer
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 20 | 70,000 | 0 | — | 28 | — | Stable |
| 1998 | 44 | 83,000 | 0 | — | 28 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 142 | 73,546 | 1 | — | 28 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 12 | 50,620 | 0 | — | 25 | — | Not enough data |
| 1995 | 96 | 85,500 | 3 | — | 26 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 66 | 77,000 | 1 | — | 26 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 62 | 101,500 | 0 | — | 25 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 24 | 189,000 | 1 | — | 26 | — | Falling |
| 1991 | 60 | 119,384 | 2 | — | 25 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1989 | 16 | 90,000 | 1 | — | 27 | — | Stable |
| 1988 | 21 | — | 3 | — | 27 | — | Stable |
All Mercury Tracer model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1989 Mercury Tracer have?
NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 1989 Mercury Tracer as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1989 Mercury Tracer is reported most often?
Engine cooling is named most often, in 6 complaints (38% of the total), followed by brakes with 2.
Has the 1989 Mercury Tracer been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1989 Mercury Tracer get?
The EPA rates the 1989 Mercury Tracer (Tracer, 1.6L 4-cyl) at 27 mpg combined, 24 city and 32 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,500 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1989 Mercury Tracer reported?
Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 90,000 miles and the middle half falls between 90,000 and 90,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.