1998 Mercury Tracer Problems
- Complaints
- 44filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 83,000miles, 7 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 28 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 24 city / 34 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1998 Mercury Tracer (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 44 consumer complaints for the 1998 Mercury Tracer. The part named most often is suspension, with 11 complaints (25% of the total), followed by engine cooling (8) and electrical system (6). 7 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 83,000 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 3 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
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.
- Suspension11 25%
- Engine cooling8 18%
- Electrical system6 14%
- Air bags5 11%
- Steering3 6.8%
- Body and structure3 6.8%
- Brakes2 4.5%
- Other or unknown2 4.5%
- Vehicle speed control2 4.5%
Also reported: Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (2), Fuel system (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Tires (1).
Example complaints
Suspension: “Rear coil spring fractured, without provocation, in my 1998 Mercury Tracer sedan. After speaking to 3 different independent shops and 2 different ford service departments, it was absolutely clear that ford/Mercury has a known material defect that they have chosen to ignore. Everyone concedes that these springs are failing at absurd rates but fomo co policy is to deny everything (despite what their own service technicians are admitting) catastrophic failures while driving frequently result in tire blowouts... …”
NHTSA complaint #10124980, filed 2005-06, 83,000 milesEngine cooling: “The rear coil springs broke on my 1998 Mercury Tracer. When seeking a repair, I understand that this is a well documented problem with ford/Mercury models of this size (escort/Tracer/tempo). With rear springs broken, one can observe the rear tires of a car with these springs broken come off the road. With ford well aware of this design flaw in these autos, there ought to be a recall of these vehicles. I have only 47,700 miles on this car; I have now replaced a busted crankshaft pulley and the resistor associated with circulation system which could have started a fire. …”
NHTSA complaint #10058486, filed 2004-02Electrical system: “On december 11, 2004 I was out shopping and I got in the car and it would not start I left it sit there over night and went back the next day and it started. I have had 3 machanicks look at it and none of them know why it did it.”
NHTSA complaint #10102930, filed 2004-12, 150,000 milesAir bags: “While driving 70 MPH the consumer lost control of her 1998 Mercury Tracer and collided head on into a guardrail. Neither of the frontal air bags deployed. The entire front end was smashed into the engine.”
NHTSA complaint #10113740, filed 2005-03Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 7 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 82,000 and 132,482 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1998 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 | 3 / 3 | — | — | — |
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 1998 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 | 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 24 | 34 | 28 | $2,400 |
| Tracer FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 22 | 31 | 25 | $2,700 |
| Tracer Wagon FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 24 | 34 | 28 | $2,400 |
| Tracer Wagon FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 22 | 31 | 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 1998 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. 3 on record; the latest 3 are shown.
- 10014086Dec 13, 2004Transmission and drivetrain. General (pcm) power train control module programming procedures.
- 10013369Nov 1, 2004Transmission and drivetrain. General power train control module (pcm) programming procedures.
- 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 1998 Mercury Tracer have?
NHTSA recorded 44 consumer complaints for the 1998 Mercury Tracer as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1998 Mercury Tracer is reported most often?
Suspension is named most often, in 11 complaints (25% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 8.
Has the 1998 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 1998 Mercury Tracer get?
The EPA rates the 1998 Mercury Tracer (Tracer, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 28 mpg combined, 24 city and 34 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,400 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1998 Mercury Tracer reported?
Among the 7 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 83,000 miles and the middle half falls between 82,000 and 132,482 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. 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.