1996 Mercury Tracer
Only 12 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
Only 12 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. The data below is complete but unranked.
- Complaints
- 12
- Recalls
- 0
- Investigations
- 0
- Top problem
- —
Too few to rank
None on file
None on file
Not enough data
Complaints per year
1996: 12 complaints
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1987 | 0 |
| 1988 | 21 |
| 1989 | 16 |
| 1990 | 2 |
| 1991 | 61 |
| 1992 | 24 |
| 1993 | 63 |
| 1994 | 67 |
| 1995 | 96 |
| 1996 | 12 |
| 1997 | 142 |
| 1998 | 44 |
| 1999 | 20 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
Known problem areas
Only 12 complaints on file for this model year — too few to rank by share. Raw counts only, below.
Seat belts
4 of 12 total reports mention: seat belts, most commonly citing retractor and anchorage.
Air bags
3 of 12 total reports mention: air bags, most commonly citing frontal.
Show complaint excerpts
This vehicle rear ended another vehicle at 45 MPH, and forntal air bags did not deploy. Dealer has not been contacted.
NHTSA ODI report, 2000-10-30
Seats
2 of 12 total reports mention: seats, most commonly citing recliner.
Show complaint excerpts
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.
NHTSA ODI report, 1999-07-08
During a rear end collision both front bucket seats slid back and then fell back into arecline dposition on top of the passengers in the rear seat, causing them to hit their heads on the front seats.
NHTSA ODI report, 1997-12-11
Steering
2 of 12 total reports mention: steering, most commonly citing pump and hydraulic power assist system.
Structure
1 of 12 total reports mentions: structure, most commonly citing door.
Safety timeline
No recalls on file for this model year.
0 recalls · 0 investigations · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
Buy-smart checklist
1996 Mercury Tracer — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Seat belts: 4 reports on file for this year.
- Air bags: 3 reports on file for this year.
- Seats: 2 reports on file for this year.
Other years of this model
See all years ranked →FAQ
- Is the 1996 Mercury Tracer reliable?
- There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on file yet to give this model year a verdict.
- What are the most common problems with the 1996 Mercury Tracer?
- The most-reported component is seat belts, accounting for 33% of complaints on file.
- How many recalls does the 1996 Mercury Tracer have?
- No recalls are on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-10-31 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.