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1991 Mercury Tracer

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1991 Tracer.

The 1991 Mercury Tracer enters its second model year carrying 67 owner complaints and three recalls, with the electrical system standing out as the dominant trouble area — an early signal of the growing pains that would define the model's first generation. By comparison, the 1990 launch year was remarkably clean with just two complaints across the entire 1990–2003 complaint history, making 1991 a sharp uptick that researchers should note when assessing early-production Tracer examples. While complaint volume would continue climbing toward a peak of 159 in 1997, the 1991 model year represents the first meaningful accumulation of owner-reported issues, suggesting that the platform's reliability trajectory was already trending upward and that prospective buyers or restorers should pay particular attention to electrical system integrity.

Model year1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Thermostat

RT1106

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	170.9 in
Overall width	66.9 in
Overall height	52.8 in
Wheelbase	98.4 in
Curb weight	2271 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	60/40

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi.

At 7,500 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
At 15,000 mi	Body Fasteners (torque) · Frame Fasteners (torque)
Every 15,000 mi	Brake Line (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Fasteners (torque) · Brake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Clutch Pedal Assembly (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Fuel Filter (replace) · Timing Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1991 Mercury Tracer represents a dramatic early spike in the federal record for this generation, surging from just 2 complaints and zero recalls in its 1990 debut to 67 complaints, 3 recalls, and 1 investigation. This target year is dominated by electrical system (18) and gasoline fuel system (12) issues, and it carries a concerning 10 fire-related complaints alongside 2 crash complaints, though the data does not specify the root causes for these failures. Looking at the broader generational arc, 1991 sits at the very beginning of a highly volatile lifecycle characterized by fluctuating complaint volumes and subsequent major spikes in 1993, 1995, and 1997. Because this specific model year suffers from acute early-generation growing pains and a disproportionately high number of fire complaints relative to its total volume, it is a risky purchase that should generally be avoided in the used market.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

2 involved a crash · 10 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90’91’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 67 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System18

Fuel System, Gasoline12

Seat Belts10

Power Train6

Engine & Engine Cooling5

Service Brakes, Hydraulic3

Steering3

Fuel/Propulsion System1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

93V057000Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control ModuleReported 15/04/1993

THE ROLL PINS SECURING THE IGNITION LOCK IN THE STEERING COLUMN HOUSING CAN SEPARATE OR MOVE OUT OF POSITION. Remedy: IF ONE OR BOTH OF THE ROLL PINS ARE MISSING OR NOT FULLY INSERTED, THE IGNITION LOCK HOUSING WILL BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE DOOR-LOCKS AND THE LIFTGATE OR DECK-LID LOCKS SO THAT…

94E019000Suspension:FrontReported 02/06/1994

THE OFFSET TOE ADJUSTING PIN CAN FRACTURE UNDER CONDITIONS SUCH AS TORSIONAL LOADS, FLEXING MOTION, IMPACT LOADS, AND OVERTORQUING. Remedy: DANA WILL PAY FOR REPLACEMENT AND LABOR COSTS OF THE ADJUSTMENT PIN WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE INSTALLING FACILITY AND THE VEHICLE OWNER. THESE PINS SHOULD BE REPLACED BY A FORD…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 55 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
01194	2001-10-01	Electrical System	THIS ARITLCE IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON REPLACEMENT OF OLD STYLE HOOD LAMP SWITCH TO…
01156	2001-08-06	Visibility	SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
01157	2001-08-06	Unknown Or Other	INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
14993	2001-06-01	Suspension	SOME VEHICLES PRODUCED THROUGH JULY 1999 MAY EXHIBIT REAR SUSPENSION SPRING FAILURE WITH…
00187	2000-09-04	Latches/Locks/Linkages	SUBJECT PERTAINING TO REVISED DOOR LATCH SWITCH SERVICE PROCEDURE. *JB

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Tracer. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Thermostat RT1106

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules

Frequently asked

Does the 1991 Tracer have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.