1997 Mercury Tracer airbags problems

The 1997 Mercury Tracer has 49 airbags complaints filed with NHTSA — 27% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

Airbags complaints

27%

Share of year

Crash-involved

Related recalls

Airbags complaints by year

Tracer airbags complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

02V323000AirbagsDecember 9, 2002 · 396,217 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR (IABM) CAN BE CONTAMINATED WITH WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS AND COULD EXPERIENCE INTERNAL ELECTRICAL SHORTING.

Consequence

THIS MAY, IN TURN, CAUSE THE AIR BAG READINESS LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND IN VERY RARE OCCURRENCES, AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, MELTED WIRING, OR FIRE MAY OCCUR.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE SHIELD OVER THE IABM AND APPLY NYOGEL GREASE TO THE CONNECTOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 11, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

What owners report

“02V323000/INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR CONTAMINATION. THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS DEFECT. THE WORK WAS DONE IN 2003. NOW THE PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED AND THE DEALER WANTS THE OWNER TO PAY 4000.00 TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED WHEN THE RECALL WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED.…”
Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · September 7, 2004 · fire

Common questions

How many airbags complaints does the 1997 Mercury Tracer have?

NHTSA has 49 complaints about the 1997 Mercury Tracer airbags — 27% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1997 Mercury Tracer airbags?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the airbags: 02V323000.

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.