1997 Mercury Tracer Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1997 Mercury Tracer report two main themes in the sampled complaints: unexpected air bag deployment or air bag warning light problems, often linked to moisture in the air bag monitor, and front-end / cooling problems such as crankshaft pulley failure, engine stalling, and head or gasket trouble. Several complaints also describe rear coil springs breaking and tires with tread separation, generally at higher mileages.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light, horn stuck on, or unexpected

   • 50 complaints (35%)
   • median 82,000 mi at 7.1 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 25 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2010

   Owners describe the air bag light coming on while driving, the horn sounding continuously until the fuse is pulled, and in some cases air bags deploying with the ignition off or with no crash. Several say the dealer told them the air bag monitor or the whole air bag/horn assembly needed replacement, and some mention an ammonia or burnt-plastic smell before the light came on. Reported from low mileage up past 170,000 miles; moisture exposure and damp conditions are mentioned in several complaints.

   Recall 02V323000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 02V323000 was performed and whether the air bag monitor has been replaced since; watch for a flickering or steady air bag light and a horn that works without pressing it.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving down at speed of 65-70 MPH, the car ceased to accelorate. I pulled over to the side of the road, once the car was completely stopped it would no longer crank. Today when I went to clean it out (happened at night)I saw that a hole was burned through the bottom of the passenger side dash board. Also I noticed that there was smoke/fire residue on the windshield coming from the defrost vents. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10070841, filed 2004-01, 102,000 miles

   “We had taken my vehicle to get it checked by a computer at a local service parts shop. When we came back we stopped my car and it was not running, ignition off. About an hour later we heard a loud noise and its air bags had gone off, breaking my car's windshield and obviously making a mess in my car. This concerns me since my husband and I had just been in the car a while ago and could have caused injury to us without cause.”

   NHTSA complaint #10344024, filed 2010-07, 130,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalls, check engine light, crankshaft pulley or

   • 20 complaints (14%)
   • median 96,849 mi at 9.0 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2007

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out or losing power while driving, the check engine light coming on, and tapping or knocking noises. Some owners report the crankshaft pulley separating and taking the serpentine belt with it, and others describe a blown engine or cylinder head failure with no prior warning light. Dealers reportedly suggested tune-ups, plug and wire replacement, cleaning, or engine rebuild depending on the case. Appears across the mileage range, from around 40,000 miles up past 130,000, often during highway or rush-hour driving.

   What to check: Check for a wobbling crankshaft pulley or frayed belt, ask about the timing belt and belt tensioner history, and scan for stored engine codes before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 1997 mecury Tracer, that has been in ford, lincoln, Mercury authorized dealership for almost 3 weeks in the service department. The first time I brought my vehicle in was when my engine check light came on. This was on 1/18/2000, the service department informed that my #3 was misfiring and that they need to repplace my sparkplugs and give the car a tune-up. On 1/27/200, my engine check light light came back on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #719169, filed 2000-02

   “I began having engine trouble last july. Whjen I turned the ingnition the engine began to buckle and make a loud noise. I would have to attempt starting it a few times to get a clean start. Then the engine would make a tapping noise and the engine light would come on. I took it to the dealer - they said it was a dirty cylinder and that it needed to be cleaned. They cleaned it but a few months later the same string of events occurred -- but the engine light went off before I could get it to the dealer. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10004956, filed 2003-01
3. 3
   Tires

   Tire tread separation and vibration

   • 7 complaints (5%)
   • median 69,093 mi at 13.7 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1998–2010

   Complaints describe vibration, road noise, and pulling to one side before discovering a tread separation or an out-of-round tire. Some owners report sidewall separation and slow air loss, and one describes a long strip of tread peeling off at highway speed. Reported from about 7,000 miles on replacement tires up to around 69,000 miles, frequently noticed above 35 mph.

   What to check: Inspect all four tires for tread separation, sidewall cracks, and uneven wear, and check the date codes since these cars often still sit on older tires.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “All four tires had same failure between 38000 and 40000 miles. Inner side wall seperated causing slow air loss. Tire would peel apart halfway between the tread and the bead. Tires were rotated often and showed no excess or irregular wear.”

   NHTSA complaint #530777, filed 1998-02

   “Si, p185/65r14, DOT unknown, replacement equipment with 7000 miles on a 1997 Mercury, Tracer. While driving 70 MPH there was vibration and a loud noise. Long piece of tread had come off left rear tire. Did major damage to vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #885559, filed 2001-04
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Under-dash wiring and electrical smell or fire

   • 12 complaints (8%)
   • median 81,000 mi at 7.1 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2006

   Owners describe a burning or ammonia-like smell, smoke, and dash lights going out, with melted or burnt wiring found under the dashboard in some cases. In several complaints the incident followed an illuminated air bag or battery light, and one owner reported a hole burned through the passenger-side dash area. Reported from around 19,000 miles up to roughly 102,000 miles, often while driving.

   What to check: Look for scorched or melted wiring insulation and burnt smells under the dash, and check that the fuse box and horn fuse have not been altered.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving on I-20 eastbound. Smelled ammonia, then smelled burnt plastic, airbag light illuminated, check engine light illuminated, interior light flickered off and on, car began to decrease speed despite pressing on the gas pedal. Was able to get car into the emergency lane before it completely stopped moving. Hole burnt into passenger area from underneath dash area. Defrost area warped and burnt, bottom of windshield (glass part) burnt.”

   NHTSA complaint #10039422, filed 2003-09, 102,000 miles

   “As the insured was stopping the vehicle, the battery light illuminated, however the insured thought nothing of it, however the next day the insured discovered that the dash area of the vehicle had burned and melted severly. (claim#18-0530-895)”

   NHTSA complaint #6900809, filed 2002-01
5. 5
   Suspension

   Rear coil springs broken or sagging

   • 11 complaints (8%)
   • median 83,500 mi at 6.6 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2010

   Owners report the rear of the car sagging or bottoming out, scraping noises, and the car leaning to one side or swaying in its lane. Inspection typically found one or both rear coil springs broken near the bottom of the strut housing; dealers were quoted as calling spring breakage a common occurrence on this model. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 140,000 miles, sometimes noticed with several occupants in the car.

   What to check: Look at both rear springs for cracks or broken coils and check that the rear ride height is even on both sides; ask whether springs or struts have been replaced.

   An excerpt from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1-car seemed to bottom out in the rear when 4 occupants were in car, also scraping noise. 2-checked car and found contact-coil springs rubbing against car, appeared to be out of the holder. Checked and found both rear springs broken. Springs provide vehicle stability, control and handling. 3-replaced both rear coil springs, I have both old springs. Instructions for installation of new springs have the springs installed 180 degrees from the position of the old springs. Tight coils up, oem was tight coils down.”

   NHTSA complaint #10151381, filed 2006-02, 139,000 miles

Buying note. On this model year, inspect the rear springs, tires, and under-dash wiring carefully, and confirm whether the air bag monitor recall was completed and whether the unit has worked correctly since. Ask for service records on belts, pulleys, and the cooling system, since engine and belt complaints are common in the sample.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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.