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1992 Mercury Tracer

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1992 Tracer.

The 1992 Mercury Tracer requires 4.0 quarts of 5W-30 API-rated engine oil for service, a specification that reflects its modest mechanical scope. Across its 1990-2003 model run, this particular model year sits well below the complaint peak of 159 issues recorded in 1997, though it notably exceeds the reliability floor of just 2 complaints logged in 1990, and its total of 26 owner complaints positions it as a middle performer—with electrical system problems emerging as the primary concern alongside two recalls during this generation.

Model year1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.0 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

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 holds 4.0 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.0 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.0 qt
Power Steering Fluid	ATF

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 1992 Mercury Tracer occupies a comparative lull in the generation's federal record, with 26 complaints and two recalls — a sharp drop from the 67 complaints and three recalls of 1991, and well below the 93 complaints that would follow in 1993. Technical service bulletins continued climbing to 63, suggesting manufacturers were addressing emerging patterns even as owner-reported issues temporarily eased. The leading complaint categories — Electrical System (8), Seat Belts (5), Fuel System, Gasoline (3), and Tires (2) — align with the generation's recurring themes, while the five fire complaints and three crash complaints in 1992 exceed the counts in several surrounding years. Investigations held steady at one, matching both 1991 and 1993. The data doesn't specify root causes for the fire or crash reports. Relative to the volatile arc of this generation — which spikes again in 1995 (112 complaints) and 1997 (159 complaints) — the 1992 model represents a statistically quieter entry point, though the elevated TSB volume and presence of safety-critical complaints warrant a thorough pre-purchase inspection of electrical, restraint, and fuel systems.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

3 involved a crash · 5 a fire

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

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

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 26 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System8

Seat Belts5

Fuel System, Gasoline3

Tires2

Steering2

Fuel/Propulsion System1

Engine & Engine Cooling1

Vehicle Speed Control1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

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…

92V103000Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:SwitchReported 13/07/1992

THE STOP LAMP SWITCHES COULD INTERMITTENTLY MALFUNCTION RESULTING IN THE STOP LAMPS NOT ILLUMINATING WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. Remedy: REPLACE THE FAULTY STOP LAMP SWITCHES.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 63 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
03148	2003-07-21	Power Train	NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER - SERVICE TIPS. 2003 ESCORT AND SUPER DUTY F SERIES…
02208	2002-10-14	Equipment	CLIMATE CONTROL A/C SERVICE TECH TIPS. *EH
02176	2002-09-02	Exterior Lighting	LAMP-BRAKE-INVADVERTENT DISABLING OF BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK. *MJ
0214	2002-01-21	Engine And Engine Cooling	SOME ENGINE ASSEMBLIES WITH ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS REPAIRED IN-VEHILE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO…
01194	2001-10-01	Electrical System	THIS ARITLCE IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON REPLACEMENT OF OLD STYLE HOOD LAMP SWITCH TO…

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.

Vehicles taking 4.0 qt Thermostat RT1106

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1992 Tracer take?

4.0 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1992 Tracer have open recalls?

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