1998 Mercury Tracer

The 1998 Mercury Tracer recorded 51 complaints, 1 recall and 1 investigation, which is markedly lower than the peak in 1997 (159 complaints, 2 recalls, 2 investigations) but higher than the subsequent 1999 figure (34 complaints, 1 recall, 1 investigation). Complaints rose sharply from the low 1996 level (19) to the 1997 spike, then began a downward trend that continued through 1999 and into the 2000‑2003 period, where complaints fell to single‑digit or zero levels. Recall activity remained relatively low throughout the generation, with 1998’s single recall fitting the pattern of occasional recalls seen in most years. The 1998 model therefore sits on the descending side of the complaint arc, reflecting an improvement over the troubled 1997 year but still exhibiting more issues than the later, cleaner‑recorded models. As a result, the 1998 Tracer offers a moderate reliability profile; it is preferable to the 1997 model but not as dependable as the post‑1999 examples, so buyers should weigh its middling complaint history against price and condition.