1998 Mercury Tracer Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 1998 Mercury Tracer, and owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 1998 Mercury Tracer. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
44 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1998 Mercury Tracer have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA; 3 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 3 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 106,497 miles. Complaints peaked in 2001 with 9 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 18, 2010 · Vehicle speed control
“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 kn”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 11, 2007 · Power train
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1998 Mercury Tracer (Tracer Wagon). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 25–28 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 22–24 / 31–34 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars, Small Station Wagons |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Mercury Tracer model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Mercury Tracer model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 Mercury Tracer | 1 | 0 |
| 1988 Mercury Tracer | 3 | 21 |
| 1989 Mercury Tracer | 1 | 16 |
| 1990 Mercury Tracer | 0 | 2 |
| 1991 Mercury Tracer | 2 | 60 |
| 1992 Mercury Tracer | 1 | 24 |
| 1993 Mercury Tracer | 0 | 62 |
| 1994 Mercury Tracer | 1 | 66 |
| 1995 Mercury Tracer | 3 | 96 |
| 1996 Mercury Tracer | 0 | 12 |
| 1997 Mercury Tracer | 1 | 142 |
| 1998 Mercury Tracer | 0 | 44 |
| 1999 Mercury Tracer | 0 | 20 |
| 2000 Mercury Tracer | 0 | 2 |
Checking a specific 1998 Mercury Tracer
How do I know if my 1998 Mercury Tracer has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Mercury dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Mercury models
- Sable5,381 complaints
- Grand Marquis3,951 complaints
- Milan2,519 complaints
- Mountaineer1,992 complaints
- Cougar1,893 complaints
- Villager1,725 complaints
- Mariner1,296 complaints
- Mystique1,019 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.