Airbag complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
We bought a 1999 Mercury Tracer used car on 04/2000, later the steering wheel started vibrating badly, this vibration can be felt thru out the car. The car has been in for repair 8 times. The service manager now says that this vibration is normal. When we took it back sat in the car and said that he would not drive that car vibrating like that and he would not expect us to. . I asked if it was safe to drive, he said he could not answer that. My concern is, with this severe vibration is the steering column going to disconnect or lockup and cause severe bodily harm. If this problem is "normal" then why isn't the consumer warned about this in their advertisements.from reading other NHTSA reports I see that other individuals have had steering problems due to lockup and breakage after reporting unusual vibrations in the steering column and engine. Tha last month my car broke down completed. …
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.
Two weeks ago my car (a 1997 Mercury Tracer) was involved in an car accident in kingman, (4 hours north west of phoenix). The cause of the accident was the fault of the air bags suddenly deploying without cause, causing extensive damage to my car. I then notified my insurance company and it was towed to a repair shop here in kingman. Later the next day while the repair shop was doing their investigation into the cause, the car burst into flames from the air bag compartment. A couple days later the insurance company notified me that there was a recall from Ford motor company of which I was never notified. Then confirming that to me that my car was in fact totaled, and they wished to remove the car from the repair shop. Earlier last week I sent an email to Ford motors telling of my disgust of the company because I was never notified on such a serious issue. …
While driving down at speed of 65-70 MPH, the car ceased to accelorate. I pulled over to the side of the road, once the car was completely stopped it would no longer crank. Today when I went to clean it out (happened at night)I saw that a hole was burned through the bottom of the passenger side dash board. Also I noticed that there was smoke/fire residue on the windshield coming from the defrost vents. Before any of this happened the airbag ligts were coming on and there was a burnt plastic smell and a scent of ammonia smell coming from god-knows-where. When I looked under the hood everything looked normal. I have been unable to go to work for 2 days now. Please tell me if there is anything that I can do. Thanking you in advance for your assistance.
While driving down the road traveling 40mph, and following behind other vehicles going to the beach, someone pulled out in front and stopped short, causing a chain reaction. Consumer rearended the back of a trailer, and neither airbag deployed. Upon impact, driver's seat broke, and was injured.
My dates/ mileage are not accurate, but info otherwise is correct. Do I need accident report for air bag date? I am scarred from the gas and the airbag seam that ripped my wrists open from the deployment of the bags during this accident. I was quite infected. Also, my gas tank cracked a few years ago and my ex-beau used boat putty for plastic boat gas tanks to fix it until I could handle it. It held well until now and has cracked further in the same area. Putty is not holding any longer. I was just about to replace the tank recently when I heard about the recall. I would like to know if I am still eligible for a replacement tank per the recall of 1997 and for replacement air bags. After my accident I did have my car repaired but wonder if the same yr and model of airbag May be installed. Please advise asap. …
Related recalls (2)
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
On certain passenger vehicles, the integrated air bag monitor (iabm) can be contaminated with water or other liquids and could experience internal electrical shorting.
Remedy: Dealers will install the shield over the iabm and apply nyogel grease to the connector. Owner notification began February 11, 2003.
Air bags › Frontal
The driver side air bag module can have an inadequately welded inflator canister.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new air bag module.
NHTSA investigations
Integrated air bag monitor water
Water intrusion into airbag monitor
By letter of December 6, 2002, Ford notified the agency that it would conduct a safety recall on all 1997 Ford escort and Mercury tracer vehicles.Ford found that electrical shorting of the integrated air bag monitor (iabm)due to liquid intrusion of water or engine coolant can occur in the subject vehicles.Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers will install a protective shield over the iabm and apply nyogel grease to it's…
Air bag non-deployment
Frequently asked questions
Which Mercury Tracer years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1997 (47) and 1998 (5) model years. Airbag complaints make up 33% of all complaints for the 1997.
Is there a recall for Mercury Tracer airbag problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 02V-323 (sensor/control module-inactive, Dec 9, 2002); 94V-218 (frontal, Nov 10, 1994). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Mercury Tracer airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 102,000 miles; 8% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (25 mentions), followed by the frontal › sensor/control module (11).
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.