Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Mercury Tracer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl contact owns a 1997 Mercury Tracer. While driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lost power and the contact pulled to the side of the road. He lifted the hood and noticed flames coming from the engine. He extinguished the fire and had the vehicle towed to a junkyard. The contact later sold the vehicle to the junkyard for $100. The dealer stated that because he no longer owned the vehicle, they could not investigate the failure. The failure and current mileages were 78,000. Updated 04/16/08 updated 04/16/08
Steering, shimmering like the front end was out of line, service engine soon light came on and went off 2 times third time went to dixie and set up to have it check since the light stayed on this time and did not go back off. Seatbelt, will not latch at times I have to keep trying to press in the release button for it to finally lock. At times would come off while driving. Dixie set up an appointment 1 week after I went there to have all of the above checked.date dixie motors looked at car July 24,1998. Keeped car about 7 hrs. Told me they cleaned seatbelt, did not tell me what was wrong with sterring and the only thing fixed was service engine light. On July 30,1998 3 days after bringing my car in to be fix the steering grab to right coming out of curve and seatbelt came off when the car hit a pole. Injuring my arm,neck and lower back. All have healed except my arm. …
While the vehicle has been parked for 12 hours when it caught on fire for no apparent reason. No prior problems with the vehicle. Currently at the dealer. Cause unknown. Please provide details.
Tl contact owns a 1997 Mercury Tracer. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, she lost control of the vehicle and drove into the median to avoid oncoming traffic. The engine shut off and the cylinder head was blown. The dealer was unable to diagnose the failure; however, they stated that the engine needed to be rebuilt. . The contact stated that the cylinder head in the engine failed and caused her to lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle has not been repaired. The dealer and the warranty company stated that they were unable to honor the warranty to repair the vehicle. The warranty information is available if needed. The failure also caused damage to the front driver and passenger side tires. There were no injuries. On October 8, 2007, the contact drove to the dealer because the vehicle was leaking coolant. …
My girlfriend owns a 1997 Mercury Tracer. At the time of the incident the car had been driven for approximately 110,000 miles. Here engine light came on and we had a diagnostic analysis conducted on the car. The analysis said there was a misfire in the 4th cylinder and before we could change the spark plugs the car was no longer driveable. It turns out that Mercury makes a piece of junk car and that the valve seats were manufactured with a powdered metal. It appears that the valve seat cracked and dropped into the cylinder resulting in the piston hammering down into that cylinder and destroying the engine. This car was only six years old and was kept in excellent condition but thanks to the incompetent craftmanship of the people at Mercury my girlfriend was extremely inconvenienced (temporally and most of all financially) due to the cheapness of the engine. …
RPM's lower and stall car-took to shop in 2004 told plug/wire misfire and vacuum leak. Paid almost $200. One week later started again. Car vibrates badly when brake applied, both back springs have given out, crankshaft/pulley wobbles badly, has snapped serpentine belt, replaced belt tensioner and belt, snapped again one month later, replaced belt again, but has only been two months. Car sways in lane due to bad back springs. Car makes vibrating noise under hood when parked at an idle. Tie rod replaced two times. This car has less than 70,000 miles on it and all problems, including a blown radiator, and unexplained wear on brakes all started at about 40,000 miles. This car has been one problem after another. I also have a problem with the seatbelts locking too tightly for no reason. …
The crankshaft pulley "separated" ruining the belt and the pulley, requiring that both be replaced. I did not think that I should have these type of problems with a car that only had 40,600 miles on it. I feel like I should be compensated by the manufacturer or the dealer who worked on the car. I am reluctant to believe that I will not have further problems with this car or the same problem again. I would like to know exactly why and how this happened, other than being told that I am not the first one it has happened to. I feel like this could have been a lot worse than it was, only because I noticed it when I did and took it to be repaired did I not have more extensive damage than I did. But, I still don't think I should have had this type of problem to begin with. The car should have been fixed for free. …
While traveling on the freeway, the car engine blew up (at maximum freeway speed) and after making it to the side of the road, discovered that the engine was completely blown. There was no warning, no light, no nothing- stranded the family in mid traffic during rush hour at an extremely dangerous section of freeway- car is 3 years old and should have warned us with lights or something- we need it repaired. Very potential dangerous situation, hopefully it won't happen to anyone else. Ford needs to look into this pronto. Our warranty has expired but this should be taken care of as a safety issue.
Why is this database being eliminated, first of all?! I love this. Check coolant light came on, coolant had all leaked while driving, due to frost plug heater seal failure on engine causing all coolant to leak out. Not covered under warranty?! Seems that this is an engine seal to me, Ford disagrees.
Engine taps and cuts off while driving. Engine check light comes on. Dealer contacted and is aware of the problem. Stated the problem caused by cracked crankshaft. After engine replaced, problem continued and dealer said the transmission needed to be replaced.
Engine complaints in other Tracer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 1997 Mercury Tracer?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 1997 Mercury Tracer, 15% of the model year's 142 complaints. The component named most often is engine › gasoline (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Mercury Tracer engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 1997 Mercury Tracer, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1997 Mercury Tracer engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 92,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 3 fires and 1 injury to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.