1993 Mercury Tracer Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year are spread across several older-car systems rather than concentrated in one. Owners most often describe brake hydraulic problems, fuel leaks from the plastic tank, and unintended throttle or cruise-control behavior, with many reports filed long after the vehicle was out of warranty and above 100,000 miles. Electrical and starting faults, plus broken rear springs, appear often enough in the sample to be worth a look on any used example.

1. 1
   Vehicle speed control

   Unintended acceleration / throttle sticking

   • 6 complaints (10%)
   • typically at 4.5 yrs old
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2014

   Owners describe the engine revving on its own or the throttle sticking open, sometimes while slowing or at low speed, with RPMs climbing to around 4,000 and the car surging forward. In several accounts they shifted to neutral to regain control, and one complaint ties loss of braking to the same event. Complaints also mention cruise control failing or the engine holding a high idle; in one case the fault was traced to a processor that was replaced. Reported across a wide mileage range in the sample, with several accounts filed between four and ten years of age.

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body, cruise-control cable and engine computer have been inspected or serviced, and test-drive at steady low speed to watch for a hanging idle or surge.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While attempting to slow down, brakes do not work, rpms go up. Tt consumer states thsi has happened twice while traveling on a major highway, engine strides at 2500 RPM it will not go up when consumer steps on the gas and will not sloow below 200rpm consumer sttes it seems like cruise control but he does not have it, dealer has refused tomake any repairs.”

   NHTSA complaint #975545, filed 1995-11

   “Air bag warning light keeps lighting up on the dash panel. This causes horn not to work because air bag is having a problem. Dealer has been contacted. Cruise control failed. Customer says this vehicle has been traded for new.”

   NHTSA complaint #872192, filed 2000-10
2. 2
   Electrical system

   No-start and stalling from electrical faults

   • 5 complaints (8%)
   • median 113,800 mi at 11.4 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2004

   Owners describe intermittent no-crank conditions where the starter and battery were already replaced, and a car that stalled after 15 to 20 minutes of driving, especially in warm weather, until the engine computer was replaced. Several complaints involve the starter engaging with the key off or in park, and one reports an ignition fire that damaged the starter, ignition switch and harness. Other accounts mention door locks cycling on their own after water got into the switch connectors, and a hatch wiring short that put out the brake and tail lights. Mostly reported on vehicles well past 100,000 miles in the sample, with a few earlier-life accounts.

   What to check: Ask whether the engine computer, ignition switch or starter has been replaced, check that the starter does not engage with the key off, and look for corrosion or dampness around the door-lock connectors and hatch wiring.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10060774, filed 2004-03, 113,800 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #742586, filed 2001-03
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake pedal to the floor / repeated brake work

   • 8 complaints (13%)
   • median 103,001 mi at 14.2 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2014

   Complaints describe the brake pedal sinking to the floor and the vehicle failing to slow, in one account during a collision. Others report rotors and calipers needing replacement twice within the first 36,000 miles, or the vehicle being towed to the dealer more than once for the same brake problem, with axle damage found at a second shop. Dealers in these accounts performed paid repairs rather than a lasting fix. Appears in the sample from roughly 20,000 miles upward, including one report soon after 36,000 miles.

   What to check: Check pedal firmness with the engine running, look for fluid weeping at the calipers and lines, and ask for service records showing how often pads, rotors and calipers were replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #741348, filed 2001-02

   “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 updated 4/29/2015”

   NHTSA complaint #10633490, filed 2014-09
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Fuel leak from cracked or split fuel tank

   • 5 complaints (8%)
   • typically at 6.8 yrs old
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2000

   Owners report raw fuel leaking from the seam or from the area where the plastic tank is bolted up, in one case about three gallons while parked with the ignition on. Mechanics in these accounts said the tank had to be replaced, and one owner noted the tank was on national back order. Another complaint describes a fuel pump shorting the wiring harness and causing a fire in the dash vents, with the pump and harness replaced at the owner's cost. Reported on vehicles of varying age in the sample; mileage is not stated in most of these accounts.

   What to check: Smell around the rear of the car and under the tank after sitting, look for damp seams or staining on the plastic tank, and ask whether the tank or fuel pump has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While sitting in vehicle with the ignition running about 3 gallons of fuel leaked from the seam of the fuel tank. Vehicle was driven to the dealership. Fuel tank will be replaced at owner's expense. The fuel tank was on national back order. Vehicle has same fuel tank as tracers recalled for 97s80-fuel tank heat shield modification.”

   NHTSA complaint #863833, filed 2000-06

   “While driving smoke starting coming out of the air vents. When vehicle was towed to dealership, it was determined that fuel pump shorted out the wire harness, which caused a fire. Fuel pump and wire harness was replaced at owner's expense.”

   NHTSA complaint #871303, filed 2000-09
5. 5
   Suspension

   Broken rear coil springs and front axle bolts

   Mentioned in 4 of 31 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe both rear coil springs breaking in the same place, producing a loud noise from the rear and, in one account, an inability to steer right. Two other complaints concern the bolts holding the front axle and steering components, which loosened and backed out because the castellated nuts had no cotter pin hole, with one owner reporting a spin-out on the freeway. Reported on vehicles in the sample at five to ten-plus years of age, with mileage stated as high as about 103,000 miles.

   What to check: Have a shop inspect both rear springs for cracks and check the front axle and steering bolts for correct torque and the presence of cotter pins or other positive locking.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #8015110, filed 2002-07

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10211176, filed 2007-12, 100,000 miles

Buying note. This is an old, low-volume model, so condition and part availability matter more than the complaint list itself. Before buying, have a mechanic check the brake hydraulics, fuel tank seams, rear springs and front axle hardware, and confirm the throttle and idle behave normally on a test drive.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 31 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.