# 1997 MERCURY TRACER — VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
> **FATAL** · NHTSA complaint `293563` · 2001-05-19 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 1
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** MERCURY
- **Model:** TRACER
- **Year:** 1997
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
- **Speed:** 60 mph
## Narrative
HOLES EATEN THROUGH HEATER CORE INLET & OUTLET PIPES-LEAKED CAUSING DAMAGE TO AIR BAG MONITOR  WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED.  NEW MONITOR CAME WITH A SHILED NOT ON THE CAR WHEN I BOUGHT IT.  THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT NOTIFY  ME ABOUT IT. I DID NOT TAKE MY CAR TO HAPER FORD SINCE WHEN I WAS THERE FOR MY 60 THOUSAND MILE CHECK UP , THEY CHARGED ME TO SERVICE MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND THE CAR I OWN DOES NOT HAVE ONE. I FEEL THE DIDNT SERVICE MY CAR CORRECTLY AT THE TIME.   HEATER CORES GOING OUT IN FIVE YEARS, RUINING A REQURIED PART BY THE GOVERNMENT. I FEEL THIS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN, IT DIDNT JUST HAPPEN IN THE LAST 14,00 MILES AFTER MY WARRENTY EXPIRED. AGAIN I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW.   THANK YOU  TRACY KAUFMAN. *AK
---
*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*