1992 Mercury Tracer Problems
- Complaints
- 24filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 189,000miles, 2 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 26 mpgcombined, 1.9L 4-cyl FWD · 22 city / 32 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1992 Mercury Tracer (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 1992 Mercury Tracer. The part named most often is electrical system, with 7 complaints (29% of the total), followed by fuel system (4) and seat belts (4). 2 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 189,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 5 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 1 technical service bulletin 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.
- Electrical system7 29%
- Fuel system4 17%
- Seat belts4 17%
- Steering2 8.3%
- Tires2 8.3%
- Engine cooling1 4.2%
- Exterior lighting1 4.2%
- Suspension1 4.2%
- Vehicle speed control1 4.2%
Example complaints
Fuel system: “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.”
NHTSA complaint #829479, filed 1998-10Seat 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.”
NHTSA complaint #829101, filed 1998-10Steering: “Power steering has become very difficult to steer; makes squeaking noise while making turns, at any time when turning wheels; mostly, happens at low speeds. Tt”
NHTSA complaint #972722, filed 1995-09Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 2 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 80,000 and 298,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1992 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 | 1.8L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 23 | 29 | 25 | $2,700 |
| Tracer FWD | 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 21 | 27 | 23 | $2,900 |
| Tracer FWD | 1.9L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 26 | 33 | 29 | $2,300 |
| Tracer FWD | 1.9L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 22 | 32 | 26 | $2,600 |
| Tracer Wagon FWD | 1.9L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 26 | 33 | 29 | $2,300 |
| Tracer Wagon FWD | 1.9L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 22 | 32 | 26 | $2,600 |
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
- 92V103000Jul 13, 1992Exterior lighting › Brake lights › SwitchCovers: Mercury Tracer 1992, Ford Escort 1992
The stop lamp switches could intermittently malfunction resulting in the stop lamps not illuminating when the brakes are applied.
Recall details for the 1992 Mercury Tracer → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1 on record; the latest 1 are shown.
- 10013060Oct 14, 2002Equipment. Climate control a/c service tech tips.
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 1992 Mercury Tracer have?
NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 1992 Mercury Tracer as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1992 Mercury Tracer is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 7 complaints (29% of the total), followed by fuel system with 4.
Has the 1992 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 1992 Mercury Tracer get?
The EPA rates the 1992 Mercury Tracer (Tracer, 1.9L 4-cyl) at 26 mpg combined, 22 city and 32 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,600 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1992 Mercury Tracer reported?
Among the 2 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 189,000 miles and the middle half falls between 80,000 and 298,000 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 29, 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.