1996 Mercury Tracer Problems
- Complaints
- 12filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 50,620miles, 2 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 25 mpgcombined, 1.9L 4-cyl FWD · 22 city / 29 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1996 Mercury Tracer (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 1996 Mercury Tracer. The part named most often is seat belts, with 4 complaints (33% of the total), followed by air bags (3) and seats (2). 2 of the complaints include a mileage, and 50% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 50,620 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 10 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns 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.
- Seat belts4 33%
- Air bags3 25%
- Seats2 17%
- Steering2 17%
- Engine cooling1 8.3%
- Fuel system1 8.3%
- Body and structure1 8.3%
Example complaints
Seat belts: “While driving driving 55 MPH consumer lost control and went into a ditch. Air bags did deploy and explode. Contact dealer, and dealer has not responded. Consumer also stated that seat belt came loose.”
NHTSA complaint #893567, filed 2001-08Air bags: “When driving on any road condition a vibrating noise comes from the passenger's side airbag. The passanger's side airbag has been replaced, and 3 to 4 days later the vibration started again.”
NHTSA complaint #817788, filed 1997-10Seats: “On 6-25-99 we were involved in an accident. We were at a complete stop when another driver rear-ended us going about 35-40miles per hour. At impact both front seats latch broke and the seats slid back and rested in the laps of my 3 children seated in the back. The drivers seat also seemed to become unbolted and twisted before it slid back hitting my 10 year old daughter between the eyes. At such a high rate of speed I would have expected the air bags to deploy and they did not. Our car slid one city block at impact. The transmission locked and the rear doors jammed. …”
NHTSA complaint #708379, filed 1999-07Mileage when problems were reported
50% of the 2 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 40,809 and 60,430 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1996 Mercury Tracer. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tracer · sedan | not rated | 4 / 4 | — | — | — |
Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1996 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 | 22 | 28 | 24 | $2,800 |
| Tracer FWD | 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 20 | 27 | 22 | $3,050 |
| Tracer FWD | 1.9L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 26 | 35 | 30 | $2,250 |
| Tracer FWD | 1.9L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 22 | 29 | 25 | $2,700 |
| Tracer Wagon FWD | 1.9L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 26 | 35 | 30 | $2,250 |
| Tracer Wagon FWD | 1.9L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 22 | 29 | 25 | $2,700 |
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
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1996 Mercury Tracer in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by 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 1996 Mercury Tracer have?
NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 1996 Mercury Tracer as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1996 Mercury Tracer is reported most often?
Seat belts is named most often, in 4 complaints (33% of the total), followed by air bags with 3.
Has the 1996 Mercury Tracer been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1996 Mercury Tracer get?
The EPA rates the 1996 Mercury Tracer (Tracer, 1.9L 4-cyl) at 25 mpg combined, 22 city and 29 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1996 Mercury Tracer reported?
Among the 2 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 50,620 miles and the middle half falls between 40,809 and 60,430 miles; 50% 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. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. 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.