1991 Mercury Tracer Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1991 Mercury Tracer most often describe fuel leaks and fuel odors, ignition switch trouble and electrical faults reported after many years and high mileage. Seat belt track and retractor failures appear repeatedly, along with intermittent stalling and occasional brake performance concerns. Most sampled complaints come from vehicles well past 75,000 miles.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Ignition switch and fuel pump wiring faults

   • 16 complaints (27%)
   • median 78,768 mi at 13.8 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2005

   Complaints describe smoke or a burning smell from around the ignition switch, the key not turning off the engine, and starter or switch replacement. Separately, owners report melted wiring at the fuel pump sending unit, sometimes found after the car would not start, with repairs to the harness and pump connector. Described on vehicles of various ages, from around 75,000 miles upward, often with no warning.

   Recall 93V057000

   What to check: Check that the ignition lock is secure and that the key turns freely and shuts the engine off, and ask whether the ignition switch or fuel pump wiring has been replaced. Ask about recall 93V057000.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had to replace two ignition switches on my 1991 Mercury 1.9 Tracer to the tune of $360.00. The first one they installed, the tumblers fell apart after one day, I had to be towed back to the mechanic to install a second ignition switch. I was informed that ford had a recall on Tracer ignition switches. How do I recover my expense?”

   NHTSA complaint #10023232, filed 2003-06

   “(1) shoulder belt would not move to driving position, coolant fan would not run when needed with engine running only when the ignition was turned off, oil light stayed on and alternately flashed with the right turn signal indicator. (2) a shorting connector to the fuel pump burned the wire bundle to the fuel pump in the tank. It also burned wires behind the fuse block and under the dash!!! (3) the connector, harness update, fuel pump/pump assembly, lock ring, were replaced, burned wires were replaced behind the fuse block. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10133689, filed 2005-08, 78,768 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Fuel tank leak and strong gasoline smell

   • 10 complaints (17%)
   • median 160,000 mi at 27.7 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1995–2019

   Complaints describe gasoline odors and visible drips under the rear of the car, often after filling the tank. Some owners report the tank leaking at a mounting bolt or a fatigue crack in the tank; others say fuel spilled when filling. Owners report dealers telling them the car was too old for parts or that it was not covered by the fuel-tank recall. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 80,000 to around 160,000 miles, often shortly after refueling.

   Recall 92V117000

   What to check: Fill the tank and look for drips or stains at the tank seams and mounting bolts, and smell for fuel in the cabin and garage afterward. Ask whether recall 92V117000 work was ever performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While ford has a safety recall listed on your web page (NHTSA 92v-117) we were never notified of the problem or the required fix. Our car developed a severe fuel leak which we had to have repaired at our expense. I will be contacting ford about this matter but thought you need to know that the dates on the safety recall cover the period of 6/1/91 to 6/30/91 for the Mercury Tracer lts. Our car was manufactured prior to this yet exhibits the same failure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #536869, filed 1998-06

   “Concerned only about gas tank. Drove 33 miles over smooth highway to canal where I fish about every 2 months,no speed bumps, no potholes, no bumps or hits of any kind. Fishing downwind from car smelled gasoline. Filled tank before leaving home, when parked at home had only half tank gas left, found tank leaking from front left mounting bolt at rate of about 1 drop per second. Car has never been hit or bumped, always keep my cars 8=10 years, performing all needed maintenace more often than manual recommends. …”

   NHTSA complaint #723090, filed 2000-05
3. 3
   Seat belts

   Shoulder belt won't move or retract

   Mentioned in 5 of 29 sampled complaints

   Owners report the motorized shoulder belt stopping on its track, jamming in the open or closed position, or a track and cable failure. Some mention difficulty getting replacement parts, with dealers ordering parts for a newer vehicle or unaware of the problem; one owner also described a wiring smell tied to the belt motor. Reported on cars of unspecified mileage, typically as an age-related failure rather than at a specific point.

   What to check: Cycle the driver and passenger shoulder belts through their full travel and confirm they move smoothly and latch. Ask whether the track or motor assembly has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Shoulder belt track and cable failed, we are having a difficult time getting the parts to fix the problem. The dealer has the parts coming by ordering them for a newer car still under warranty. Ford has a shortage of these parts and is sending them only for warranty repairs. This makes me believe that there have been a large number of failing parts. We waited to get this repaired due to the cost of the repair.”

   NHTSA complaint #706648, filed 1999-05

   “Automatic seat belt on driver's side does not move back and forth on the rail. Shoulder belt is in closed/back position on the rail. The dealer is not aware of the problem. Please provide any further details.”

   NHTSA complaint #836156, filed 1999-03

Buying note. On a car this old, condition and service history matter more than the model itself. Have a mechanic check the fuel tank and lines for leaks and inspect the ignition switch and fuel pump wiring, since those are the faults owners describe most.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 29 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.