Summary
The Mercury Tracer has 5 recalls spanning the 1987-1992 production run, with the most serious being a front passenger seat track defect on 1987 models where incorrect seat tracks can leave the seat unlatched in its rearmost position, allowing it to slide forward freely in a frontal collision.
On the restraint side, 1988 models have two separate issues. The front seatbelt release buttons can crack and shed plastic fragments into the buckle assembly, causing the buckle to fail to latch, falsely latch, or refuse to release in a crash or sudden stop. Separately, the front lap-shoulder belt retractors can lock up repeatedly during normal, slow belt pull-out, making the belts feel restrictive enough that occupants may stop using them. The 1991 model year has an electrical concern specific to vehicles operated in Ontario, Quebec, and the Atlantic Provinces: road salt corrosion can cause the fuel pump wiring to develop a short between the fuel pump circuit and the fuel gauge sender terminals. On 1992 models, the brake light switch can intermittently fail, leaving the brake lights dark when the pedal is pressed and giving following drivers no warning that the vehicle is slowing.
