1988 MERCURY TRACER

3 recalls — 22 complaints

95V103011 Jun 27, 1995
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THAT LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
265,000 vehicles affected
89V085000 May 22, 1989
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SOME LAP SHOULDER BELT RETRACTORS WERE BUILT WITH CERTAIN OUT OF TOLERANCE COMPONENTS.
Remedy: REPLACE FRONT LAP SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLIES, AS NECESSARY.
66,300 vehicles affected
87V092000 Jun 15, 1987
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
INCORRECT FUEL FILLER NECK ATTACHMENT SCREWS WERE USED TO ATTACH THE NECK TO THE REAR QUARTER PANELS.
Remedy: REPLACE INCORRECT SCREWS WITH NEW BOLT/WASHER ASSEMBLIES.
191 vehicles affected
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR Apr 19, 2001
BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS' RETRACTOR MECHNISM HAVE FAILED-THEY LOCK AT LOW PULL OUT RATE. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER AND FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT (800-392-3673/DUANE). I REPEATLY MENTIONED TO THEM NHTSA'S CAMPAIGN ID NO: 89V085000 BUT BOTH FORD AND MY LOCAL DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT INVOLVED IN A RECALL AFTER I HAVE GIVEN THEM MY VIN NUMBER AND AFTER THEY SEARCHED THEIR DATA BASE FOR RECALLS. MY CARE WAS MAKE IN JAN, 88 WHICH FALLS INTO THE RIGHT TIME PERIOD AND I HAVE ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY FRONT SEAT BELTS. ONLY RECENTLY DID I SAW NHTSA'S WEB SITE AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL THE SEAT BELTS IN MY CAR. I THINK I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN AROUND BY FORD. PLEASE CONTACT FORD FOR ME AS MY CAR IS INOPERABLE NOW WITHOUT FUNCTIONING SEAT BELTS. THANKS.*AK
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR Jun 28, 2000
THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS AS MENTIONED IN MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 5577, SEAT BELT RETRACTOR LOCKED UP AT LOW BELT PULLOUT RATES, WHICH DISCOURAGED SEAT BELT USE. DEALERSHIP HAS ADVISED CONSUMER THAT THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR Jul 28, 1999
PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:CALIPER Feb 25, 1998
BRAKE CALIPER SEALS FAILED CAUSING FLUID LOSS AND BRAKE FAILURE.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE Dec 18, 1997
SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSED ACCIDENT.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER Jan 14, 1997
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK COLLAPSED. CAR WAS TOTALLED. *AK
Crash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Dec 12, 1996
WHILE BACKING UP TO LOAD PERSONS INTO VEHICLE, WITHOUT WARNING, VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND STRUCK A BUILDING, INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED IT. *AK
Crash
WHEELS Nov 6, 1996
LEFT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.(OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE Oct 29, 1996
NOSE OF CRANK BROKE.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING Oct 4, 1996
FAILURE ON THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS, THE SHOULDER BELTS DO NOT LOCK.*AK
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR Jun 24, 1996
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT TRACTOR WOULDN'T RETRACT, PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL May 29, 1996
THE ACCELERATOR STUCK AND CAUSED CONSUMER TO RUN INTO A TREE, SHE WAS NOT INJURED. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH May 9, 1996
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSED SMOKE TO COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN, WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
POWER TRAIN Apr 25, 1996
SPEEDOMETER CABLE BROKE 2 TIMES. *SD
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR Oct 23, 1995
THE SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT AND IS STUCK IN ONE POSITION AND CANNOT BE USED. TT WHEN A PASSENGER SITS IN SEAT AND TRIES TO BUCKLE UP THEY CAN HARDLY PUT THE BELT INTO THE HOLDER SMOOTHLY IT IS A CONSTANT BATTLE, THEN WHEN IT FINALLY DOES GO INTO LOWER HALF OF BUCKLE THE PASSENGER IS NOT ALWAYS RELEASED WHEN USING THE RELEASE BUTTON IT SEEMS THAT THE BUCKLE STICKS IT IS CURRENTLY NOT USABLE AS CONSUMER'S LAST PASSENGER GOT STUCK IN THE SEAT BELT.*JB
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY Sep 1, 1995
THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WHEN LOCKED CAME LOOSE . *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS Aug 28, 1995
FRONT BRAKE HOSES CRACKING, REPLACE ONE. OTHER ONE CRACKED. TT
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS Jul 18, 1995
THE HALOGEN HEADLIGHT BRACKET BROKE AND IT CAUSED THE LIGHT TO FALL UNDER THE BUMPER AND IT CAUSED A FIRE. TT
Fire
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY Jun 20, 1995
CONSUMER SISTER WAS DRIVING CAR AND THE REAR AXLE BROKE AND THE LEFT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT/ROLLOVER. *AK
Crash
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY Jun 9, 1995
THE AXLE BROKE ON THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE AND OVERTURN A NUMBER OF TIMES. TT
Crash 1 injured
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE Jan 25, 1995
CRANK SHAFT BROKE, RESULTED IN STALLING. TT
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE Jan 25, 1995
REPLACED TIMING BELT. *AK