1998 Mercury Tracer

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

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

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

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

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

DT : TRUNK LATCH WAS FAULTY. TRUCK LATCH HAD A SENSOR IN IT THAT WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE NOT TO RUN. THE PART THEY REPLACED WAS CALLED A TRUNK LATCH. IT WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE TO DECELERATE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE TRUNK LID WAS CLOSED BUT THE SENSOR INSIDE OF IT WAS FAULTY BECAUSE IT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL EVEN THOUGH THE LID WAS CLOSED. THE SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE.*AK *NM

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... THIS PROBLEM OCCURS THROUGHOUT THE TAURUS/SABLE, ESCORT/TRACER, AND TOPAZ/CONTOUR CAR LINES... I STILL HAVE THE SHATTERED SPRING IN MY POSSESSION, FOMOCO EXPRESSED ZERO INTEREST WHEN I CONTACTED THEM...

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. *NM THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS SMASHED INTO THE ENGINE. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE HORN STARTED BLOWING AND I HAD TO TAKE THE FUES OUT TO STOP IT. *AK

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.*AK

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. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE WELL DOCUMENTED AND FORD SHOULD ADDRESS THESE FLAWS.

HOLE IN MY BLOCK WITH OIL LEAK AND VALVE GASKETS SO BAD I TURNED THE CAR IN.

DURING A VEHICLE INSPECTION REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE AND WERE REPLACED. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A RIGHT TIE ROD AND A RIGHT COIL SPRING. HE HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS REAL DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVEN. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND REPLACED THE DAMAGED PARTS WITH THE WARRANTY. VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 30000 MILES. *AK

THE HORN STARTED BLOWING ON ITS ON.*JB

WHILE STOPPING AT SPOT LIGHT AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE SURGED WHILE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED.*AK CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO HAVE THE COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION FUNCTIONS CHECKED. TRANSMISSION WAS SERVICED AND ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE. *JG

CONSUMER STATED THAT FIRST TIME 2 NEW TIRES WERE NEEDED AT 19,022 MILES, MECHANIC SAID NO PROBLEM WITH REAR SUSPENSION, PROBLEM DUE TO LACK OF ROTATION, SECOND TIME 4 NEW TIRES WERE NEEDED AT 26,851 MILES MECHANIC SAID PROBLEM WITH STRUTS AND COILS FOR EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. REPEATED COMPLAINTS TO FORD DEALER IGNORED. *YD

BROKEN REAR COIL SPRINGS AT VERY LOW MILEAGE,COULD HAVE CAUSED TIRE BLOWOUTS,SERIOUS ACCIDENT.*AK

BROKEN REAR COIL SPRINGS AT VERY LOW MILEAGE, COULD HAVE CAUSED BLOWOUTS, SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 20-25 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK *SLC

ENGINE FAILED AFTER COMPLETE TUNEUP. *YH

ENGINE FAILED AFTER COMPLETE TUNEUP. *YH

INTERMITTENT LOSS OF WINDSHIELD WIPER FUNCTION, WILL WORK IN MEDIUM/HIGH MODE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT PROPERLY INTO GEARS, THIS CAUSES VEHICLE TO JERK AND SHIFT HARD INTO GEARS, SOMETIMES WOULD FLUTTER WHEN DRIVING AT 50-55MPH.*AK CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO NUMEROUS DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.*SLC

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND REMAIN, HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER. MECHANIC EITHER WOULD REPLACE OR RESET THE SENSORS ACCORDING TO WHATEVER CODE APPEARS. *AK *SLC

A HOLE IN FIREWALL HAS CAUSED EXHAUST FUMES TO ESCAPE INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *AK DEALER TOLD CONSUMER TO PUT A PIECE OF TAPE OVER THE HOLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, CONSUMER STATES THIS IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE REMEDY, LETTER WRITTEN BY SCOTT ROGERS, HE IS THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE. *SLC

OIL DIPSTICK KEPT 'POPPING' UP AND SQUIRTING OIL ON ENGINE. *AK

TIRE SIZE P18565R14, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WITH 14,900 MILES. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON SUPER HIGHWAY WITH NO SHOULDER WHEN HEARD A THUMPING NOISE, CONSUMER NOTICED LEFT REAR/OUTER, AND TOP PORTION TIRE WAS COMPLETELY SHREADED, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON RIM BEFORE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP.*AK UNIROYAL TIGER PAW TIRE, P18565R14, DOT AP7JJK7U188. *SLC

MANY TIMES CAR IN SHOP FOR SQUEALING STEERING WHEEL NOISE WHEN TURNING A FAR RIGHT, RATTLING NOISE, GRINDING NOISE FROM ENGINE, RALLTING NOISE FROM DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR JAM, GAS-PIL/EXHAUST SMELL COMING THRU WHEN AC/DEFROST ON, BRAKES SQUEALING EVEN AFTER NEW BRAKE PADS, MANY TIMES I WAS TOLD THAT SOMETHING MAYBE COMING LOOSE THAT I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT BREAKS BEFORE THEY CAN FIX IT. JUST RECENTLY AS OF 2-6-01 FORD FACTORY GUY TOLD ME I WAS IMAGINING THINGS. HE ALONG WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THERE ISN'T A PROBLEM, AND WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT BREAKS BEFORE THEY CAN FIX. WARRANTY EXPIRES APRIL 6, 2001. I CAN'T AFFORD TO WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING BREAKS, THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. SOMETIMES THE RATTLING NOISE ISN'T CONSTANT, OR VERY LOUD, BUT SOMETIMES IT IS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING THAT THEY CAN'T HEAR IT. MAYBE BEING AROUND ENGINES ALL THE TIME IT HAS AFFECTED THEIR HEARING. I DO KNOW THAT I AM NOT IMAGINING THINGS. JUST YESTERDAY THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE IN PARK, IT TOOK ME SEVERAL MINUTES TRYING TO MOVE TO THE STEERING WHEEL SO THAT I COULD TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THIS ISN'T CONSTANT BUT OCCASIONALLY, IT DOES HAPPEN HOWEVER. DURING OUR SUMMER, WITH TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT AND HEAT INDEX, KEY IN IGNITION GOT SO HOT THAT I BURNT MY HAND, THERE WAS ALSO A BURNING RUBBER SMELL. NO DEALER/REPAIR SHOPS WERE OPEN ON A SATURDAY, THE ONE PLACE I ATTEMPTED TO TAKE THE CAR TOO (FORD'S QUALITY CONTROL SHOP) TOLD ME THAT SINCE ITS UNDER WARRA

SUNVISOR IS DESIGNED TOO SHORT AND DOES NOT BLOCK THE SUN SUFFICIENTLY. *MJS

ENGINE STALLS AT SLOW SPEEDS AND WHILE TAKING CORNERS WITH THE CLUTCH ENGAGED. NLM

BALL JOINTS WITHOUT OILING GREASE ZERK FITTINGS WHICH CAUSED THE BALL JOINTS TO CRACK/BREAK DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE RUBBER BOOTS AROUND THE BALL JOINTS ARE DEFLATED WITH NO ZERKS TO INSERT GREASE. *YH

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. *AK *ML

TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEVER ONCE READ ABOVE NORMAL, WAS TRAVELING, HEARD A NOISE IN ENGINE, SLOWED DOWN AND VECHICLE SHUT DOWN. I BELIEVE THERMOSTAT MAY BE DEFECTIVE, THERE WAS ALSO DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDER HEAD. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE IT WAS FULL OF COOLANT AND OIL WAS FULL AND HAD JUST BEEN CHANGED. I HAVE ALWAY HAD ALL MAINTANANCE DONE ON TIME, THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AT 45,000 MILES ON ANY VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 55MPH AND HIT A TREE, AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AT ALL. *AK

WHEN TURNING OR CHANGING GEARS, THE CAR MAKES A POPPING AND RATTLING NOISE. DEALER SAYS SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE STEERING GEAR BOX. *AK

DRIVER'S AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY AT ALL WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH. *AK

AT 2,795 MILES THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. AT 4,162 MILES VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON TWO OCCASIONS. ONE INCIDENT RESULTED IN HITTING A LIGHT POLE. *YC

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE VIBRATES WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN AND IN THE ENGINE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT AFTER SEVERAL ALIGNMENTS HAD BEEN DONE AND SET OF TIRES HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE. *AK

HAD PARKED VEHICLE. NOTICED VEHICLE MAKING NOISES PRIOR TO BEING PARKED. DASHBOARD PANEL LIGHTS CAME ON. LIFTED HOOD & GOT FLASHLIGHT. RETURNED & VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AROUND THE STARTER & DASHBOARD AREA. PUT FLAMES OUT W/FIRE EXTINGUISHER. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. INFORMED FIRE WAS NEAR RUBBER BOOT. WHAT CAUSED FIRE NOT FOUND. *AK

I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TWICE TO CORTESE. THE HORN WILL NOT SOUND UNLESS YOU PRESS REALLY HARD ON THE HORN ICON. CORTESE TOLD ME THAT THEY CHECKED OTHER TRACERS ON THE LOT AND QUOTING NOW "THAT'S JUST THE WAY THEY ARE". THEY SAID TO QUOTE "PRESS REALLY HARD ON THE HORN ICON" I FEEL THIS IS UNSAFE. IF I NEED TO WARN AN ONCOMING CAR IN A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT SITUATION I WOULD BE UNABLE TO DO SO. I FEEL THERE MUST BE AWAY FOR MERCURY TO RETRO FIT ANOTHER HORN SOMEHOW. CORTESE ALSO SAID PART OF THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE AIRBAG BEING JUST UNDERNEATH THE HORN.

WHEN PUMPING FUEL INTO THE FUEL TANK, IT DOES NOT ENTER THE TANK PROPERLY AND BACKS UP IN THE FILLER NECK, WHICH CAUSES THE FUEL PUMP TO SHUT OFF AND FUEL TO SPILL FROM THE TANK. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, DEALER NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

GLASS ON VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE THROUGH IN SUNLIGHT DUE TO LARGE AREA OF GLASS AND SLANT OF GLASS (DESIGN), POSSIBLE TINTING WOULD ILLIMINATE PROBLEM.

HORN DIFFICULT TO ACTIVATE DUE TO DESIGN.

CALIPER SEALS FAILED, CAUSING FLUID LOSS AS WELL AS BRAKE FAILURE. ALSO, MASTER CYLINDER FAILED.