Faults:

Only the heater core. It was already out at the time I purchased the car. Not very expensive to fix-- $180 for part and labor.

I have the oil changed every 3000 miles and I've had one transmission fluid and filter change.

Other than that nothing on this trouble free car.

General Comments:

The reliability of this car is amazing!

It starts every time, never overheats, burns no oil and runs great. It is my daily driver.

I bought it a year ago for only $1200 from a used car dealer. I'm glad I did.

It saves money on gas and parts because of the reliability of the car and great gas mileage.

I feel I got a really good deal on this car.

Over a year I have put about 15,000 trouble free miles on this car, never leaving me stranded.

So Ford does not always mean "Fix Or Repair Daily."

This car is better than any GM product I've owned.

I would highly recommend the Mercury Tracer!

Faults:

2 days after I got the car I discovered the heater core was leaking.

A week later the battery was bad. No big deal, I had an extra battery on hand.

Other than that, nothing else.

General Comments:

This is my first Ford product. In my 5 year driving career I have exclusively owned GM products.

My 1988 Buick Lasabre's transmission was slipping badly so I traded it in on the Tracer.

Besides, I wanted a small car because of the high gas prices. And that Buick was hard on gas.

My Tracer has sporty good looks. It is navy blue,4 door and has a "wing" on the trunk lid. The body and interior are in good shape.

The 1.9 engine has more power than I expected and is a gas miser. It really saves me $$ on gas.

A few days after I got the car the battery went bad. That battery was a Ford MotorCraft battery so maybe it is the original that came with the car?

The heater core will have to be replaced before winter comes again.However, my husband fixed it so it would not lose coolant til I can get it fixed right.

I really like my Tracer, it handles good and seems to be a good car, despite what some people told me when I first got it.

I have had it a month now and have put 1,000 miles on it with no serious problems.

I think I would recommend one to someone who is looking for a cheap to operate car that will save on gas too.

Another plus--my insurance company gave me a discount because of the automatic seat belts.

Faults:

The rear suspension springs were broken by about 60,000 miles.

The front brake pads don't squeal when worn and cost me $300 rotor resurfacing at around 75,000 miles.

Engine valve seat cracked at about 145,000 miles, a $1400 repair.

Two of three instrument cluster lights have burned out at around 100,000miles.

The taillight/interior lights fuse blew four times at around 130,000 miles. Unexplained, and actually I ran out of 15A fuses and put at 30A in last.

Rear brake components were jammed and had to be replaced at about 120,000 miles.

Radiator slowly leaks coolant at 150,000 miles.

Driver's side stereo speaker blown.

General Comments:

This is a great economy wagon. The gas mileage is consistently in the 28-32mpg range, the top speed is somewhere over 90mph even if 0-60 acceleration is about 13 seconds. The interior is comfortable and spacious except for rear legroom. Fold down 60/40 rear seats make the cargo area large and long, roof rack takes anything else.

The cracked valve seat just seems like bad luck, and the car limped 60 miles home on the interstate with 3 of the 4 cylinders working.

Faults:

The rear suspension springs broken at 80,000 miles. $500.

Front brake calipers had to be replaced at 110,000 miles. $500.

Water pump needed adjustment at about 90,000 miles. $200.

Two of the three instrument cluster illumination lights burned out. $150.

Faulty speed sensor frequently stuck the transmission in first gear at 100,000 miles. $150.

Significant loss of engine power solved by replacing ignition wires at 130,000 miles. $150.

Worn battery was replaced.

Ignition key lock worn at 130,000 miles, key can be removed with engine on, which blows the tail lights fuse.

General Comments:

I'm generally very happy with this car's economy and reliability. Only the speed sensor problem was seriously crippling, otherwise the car has always started and run fine.

It was a station wagon for barely $12,000, and spending an additional $2-3000 in maintenance and repair over nine years and 140,000 miles seems very reasonable.

As it is, the car drives fine and usually gets 29mpg, with the occasional 31mpg on the highway.