FaultScore

Hyundai Elantra Touring vs Mercury Topaz

Both cars' complete complaint records, side by side.

Read the totals carefully. NHTSA publishes no sales figures, so the car that sold more collects more complaints regardless of quality. The rows worth weighing are the proportions — the share of complaints that involved harm, and which part dominates.

Measure Hyundai Elantra Touring Mercury Topaz
Complaints on file 234 581
Model years covered 2008–2013 1983–1998
Worst model year 2010 1994
Best model year 2009 1995
Crashes reported 19 27
Fires reported 6 59
Injuries reported 17 12
Deaths reported 0 2
Most complained-about part Steering Electrical System
Share of complaints involving harm 17.9% 17.2%

Hyundai Elantra Touring by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Steering 53 22.6%
Airbags 23 9.8%
Electrical System 18 7.7%
Wheels 14 6.0%
Engine & Cooling 13 5.6%
Brakes 13 5.6%
Suspension 13 5.6%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 13 5.6%

Mercury Topaz by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Electrical System 113 19.4%
Engine & Cooling 99 17.0%
Seat Belts 77 13.3%
Brakes 59 10.2%
Steering 20 3.4%