MercuryTracer1997Overview/mercury/tracer/1997/base/

1997 Mercury Tracer

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1997 Tracer.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1997 Mercury Tracer is a passenger car fitted with an automatic 4-speed transmission and EPA fuel-economy ratings of 23 city / 31 highway / 26 combined mpg, and its engine is serviced with 4.0 quarts of 5W-20 API oil. Across the 1990–2003 model run, the 1997 Tracer accumulated 159 owner complaints—the highest total in that span, compared with just 2 for the 1990 model—placing this year at the peak of the model’s reported problem history. Those complaints cluster most heavily around air bags, and the model year carries 2 recalls, so researchers should treat it as the most documented and most owner-reported Tracer in the lineup.

Model year199919981997199619951994199319921991

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque65-87 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy23/31/26 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 58 · 540 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 58 · 540 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP185-65SR14OEM · verified
Wheel / rim5.5-JJ inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined23 / 31 / 26 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume87 cu ft
Cargo volume13 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.0 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 65-87 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.0 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts81-96 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts15.0-22.0 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts15.0-17.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-87 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub174-235 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub152 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)MT: 725, AT: 780 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)25 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing10 degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance2 degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.75-2.00 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeYN-12-D
Oil Capacity6.6-7.0 oz
Standard BCI Group Number58
Standard BCI Cranking Performance540 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-195 °F

Brakes

Torque to Knuckle34-44 ft-lbs / 65-87 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket29-36 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.080; Rear: 0.040 in
Drum Nominal Diameter9 in / 7.874 in
Drum Maximum Machining9.059 in / 7.933 in
Drum Discard at-or-over9.06 / 7.934
Rotor Runout Limit0.004 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.35 in / 0.866 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Coat bolt threads with clean engine oil.

118.0 ft. lbs.18 ft. lbs
233.0 ft. lbs.33 ft. lbs
3105 degrees105 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 5,000 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Wheel Lug Nut (torque)
Every 5,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 10,000 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Wheel Lug Nut (torque)
Every 15,000 miEngine Coolant System (leak inspection)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Fasteners (torque) · Brake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Clutch Pedal Assembly (inspect)
At 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miPCV Valve (replace)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plugs (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 1997 Mercury Tracer shows the highest complaint count in the provided record at 159, more than eight times the 1996 figure of 19 and well above the surrounding years (51 in 1998 and 34 in 1999). Recall activity also peaks in 1997 with two recalls, compared to none in 1996 and one in 1998, while investigations rise to two in 1997 from zero in 1996 and one in 1998. Technical service bulletins follow the same pattern, reaching 151 in 1997 versus 90 in 1996 and 118 in 1998. The data does not specify the underlying causes for these elevations, only the volume of reported issues. Consequently, given the pronounced spike in complaints, recalls, investigations, and TSBs for the 1997 model year, it represents a less favorable year to purchase unless any identified concerns have been thoroughly addressed.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
151
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
159
Owner complaints
15 involved a crash · 22 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 159 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags37
Engine & Engine Cooling19
Electrical System18
Service Brakes, Hydraulic13
Suspension12
Tires10
Visibility8
Air Bags,Electrical System5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

04E048000Seat Belts:FrontReported 12/07/2004

CERTAIN TRW DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS MANUFACTURED ON DECEMBER 6 AND 9, 2002, FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR 1997 FORD ESCORT 4-DOOR AND STATION WAGON PLATFORM VEHICLES, FORD'S P/N F7CZ54611B09AAC. THE SEAT BELT… Remedy: TRW WILL NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASED THE REPLACEMENT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 27, 2004.

02V323000Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-InactiveReported 09/12/2002

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

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 151 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
0421072004-12-13Power TrainGENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT
042172004-11-01Power TrainGENERAL POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT
04V092004-08-12Seat BeltsTRW VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC. IS RECALLING CERTAIN SERVICE REPLACEMENT SEATBELT…
032032003-10-13Electrical SystemMALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0442, P0455…
031812003-09-15Electrical SystemREMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (RKE) - SERVICE TIPS. *TT

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

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VIN
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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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1997 Tracer take?

4.0 qt of 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1997 Tracer have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Tracer get?

EPA figures are 23 city / 31 highway / 26 combined mpg.