The 1988 Mercury Tracer has two recalls, both involving the front seatbelts, where defects can prevent proper buckling or make the belts difficult enough to use that occupants may avoid wearing them.
The retractors in the front lap-shoulder belts can lock up repeatedly when the belt is pulled out slowly, which makes fastening the belt frustrating enough that some occupants may stop using it altogether. Separately, the plastic release buttons on the front seatbelt buckles can crack and shed fragments into the buckle mechanism, causing the belt to fail to latch, latch without actually catching, or refuse to release after a stop.
At a glance
What can fail
The plastic front seat belt release buttons may break, and pieces can fall into the buckle assembly. This can prevent the seat belt from latching properly, not latching at all, or failing to unlatch.
What the fix does
The front seat belt buckles will be repaired or replaced as needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
The front seat lap-shoulder belt retractors may lock repeatedly when pulled out slowly, which can discourage drivers from using the seat belt.
What the fix does
The lap-shoulder belt assemblies will be inspected and replaced if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
