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NHTSA vehicle safety data

1998 Mercury Tracer Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 1998 Mercury Tracer has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 44 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Mercury dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1998 Mercury Tracer, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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1998 Mercury Tracer owner complaints

Owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Mercury Tracer, describing incidents dated February 24, 1998 to February 18, 2010.

Most-cited components

  • Suspension 11 complaints
  • Engine 8 complaints
  • Electrical System 6 complaints
  • Air Bags 5 complaints
  • Power Train 4 complaints
  • Steering 3 complaints

Of the 44 complaints on file, 3 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 44 complaints, owners report 3 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #10311877 · Filed

    SPEEDS UP ON ITS OWN WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHTS. OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. MOST OF ALL IN THE WINTER TIME. TRIED TO REPAIRED IT AT STATION BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. *TR

  • ODI #10190503 · Filed

    WHILE I AM ON THE FOOT BRAKE SLOWING DOWN, CAR SUDDENLY REVS, SHIFTS INTO GEAR AND ACCELERATES. I AM UNABLE TO HOLD BACK THE VEHICLE EVEN WHEN PUSHING AS HARD AS I CAN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I HAVE TO KNOCK THE SHIFT LEVER INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP.*AK

  • ODI #10144120 · Filed

    DT: THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, AND THE DEALER DISCOVERED THE REAR PASSENGER STRUT BROKE. INSIDE THE STRUT WAS A PIECE OF RUBBER. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK

Read all 44 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1998 Mercury Tracer in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

TRW/FMVSS 209/SEAT BELT/NO LOCK CONDITION

NHTSA #04E048000 · Seat Belts — Front · NHTSA notice

Reported July 12, 2004 · TRW OCCUPANT SAFETY SYSTEMS

Potentially affected: 388 vehicles

Owners notified August 27, 2004

Defect description

CERTAIN TRW DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS MANUFACTURED ON DECEMBER 6 AND 9, 2002, FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR 1997 FORD ESCORT 4-DOOR AND STATION WAGON PLATFORM VEHICLES, FORD'S P/N F7CZ54611B09AAC. THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES EXHIBIT A NO-LOCK CONDITION WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES.

Safety consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM MAY NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT, WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Manufacturer remedy

TRW WILL NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASED THE REPLACEMENT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 27, 2004.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO SERVICE REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE IN 1997-2003 MODEL YEAR FORD ESCORT AND MERCURY TRACER 4-DOOR AND STATION WAGON VEHICLES AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED IN FORD VEHICLES BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.FOR MORE INFORMATION CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Other Mercury Tracer model years

Check your 1998 Mercury Tracer VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mercury Tracer at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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