1984 Mercury Topaz problems

REAR BRK ADJUSTER FAILURE

1984 - 1991 FORD TEMPO/MERCURY TOPAZ

REAR BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE

HALFSHAFT FAILURE

SUMMARY:THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH EITHER A 2.3 LITER4 CYLINDER ENGINE OR A 2.0 LITER DIESEL ENGINE.THE TRANSAXLE MAY BEEITHER A 5 SPEED MANUAL OR A 3 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.THEHALFSHAFT ASSEMBLIES ARE IDENTICAL FOR AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL USE, BUT THERIGHT INTERCONNECTING SHAFT ON A DIESEL EQUIPPED VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE ATORSIONAL DAMPER.THE 1987 MODEL VEHICLES (GAS OR DIESEL) DO NOT USE THETORSIONAL DAMPER.THE RIGHT SIDE INTERCONNECTING SHAFT IS LONGER THANTHE LEFT SIDE SHAFT (25 INCHES VERSUS 12 INCHES).MOST OF THE REPORTED FAILURES INVOLVE THE RIGHT HALFSHAFT ASSEMBLY.FAI...

STALLING

NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN DETECTED.===

STEERING SYST. FAILURES

ANALYSIS:THIS PE WAS INITIATED BASED ON RECEIPT OF CONSUMER REPORTS OFPOWER STEERING FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THIS ISSUE WAS ORIGINALLYREVIEWED UNDER PE86-006, WHICH WAS CLOSED AFTER NO DEFECT TREND WAS IDENTI-FIED.THIS PE WAS OPENED TO REASSESS THE MAGNITUDE OF THE ALLEGED PROBLEM.IN RESPONSE TO NHTSA'S REQUEST FOR INFORMATION, FORD REPORTED THE FAILURE(COMPLAINT), ACCIDENT, AND INJURY STATISTICS CITED ABOVE.INCLUDED INTHESE DATA ARE 8 CASES INVOLVING ACCIDENT OR SUBROGATION CLAIMS, AND 7LAWSUITS THAT CITE POWER STEERING PROBLEMS AS THE BASIS FOR THE PLAINTIFF'SCASE AGAINST FORD.IN AD...

SEATBACK FAILURE

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:FORD BELIEVES THAT THE AL-LEGED DEFECT ONLY OCCURS IN A SMALL NUMBER OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ANDRECALLED ABOUT 195,732 1984 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES IN JUNE 1986.ANALYSIS: VEHICLES POTENTIALLY INVOLVED INCLUDE TEMPO/TOPAZ, ESCORT/LYNX/EXP, MUSTANG/CAPRI, LTD/MARQUIS, AND THUNDERBIRD/COUGAR.FORD SOLD ABOUT 110,000 REPLACEMENT MIO BOLTS, MAINLY FOR 1983 AND 1984MODELS. LOW CLAMPING FORCE APPEARS TO BE A LARGE PART OF THE PROBLEM.FORD INCREASED THE TORQUE REQUIREMENTS AND REQUIRED THE USE OF A MANUALTORQUE TOOL IN MARCH AND SEPTEMBER 1985 PRODUCTION CHANGES. 1...

Structure

ON VEHICLES PRODUCED AT THE OAKVILLE ASSEMBLY PLANT, THE FORWARD SCREW THAT PROVIDES PART OF THE ATTACHEMENT BETWEEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK ASSEMBLY AND THE SEAT CUSHION FRAME MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FATIGUE FRACTURE. FRACTURE OF THIS SCREW WOULD PERMIT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK TO PIVOT REARWARDS AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CORRECTION: NEW SCREWS WILL BE INSTALLED IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT CUSHION FRAME.

SOME OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH REAR SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM - TO - SPINDLE ATTACHMENT BOLTS THAT MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FRACTURE DURING VEHICLE USE. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE ADJACENT REAR SPINDLE COULD DISENGAGE FROM THE CONTROL ARM, CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND POSSIBLE CRASH.

THE FRONT SLEEVE BUSHINGS OF THE COOLING FAN MOTORS ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION IN AREAS OF HIGH ROAD SALT USE. THIS MAY INCREASE THE ROTATIONAL FRICTION OF THE FAN MOTOR OR RESULT IN SEIZURE OF THE ARMATURE SHAFT TO THE BUSHING. EITHER CONDITION MAY DRAW CURRENT IN EXCESS OF THAT OF A NORMALLY OPERATING MOTOR BUT LESS THAN REQUIRED TO OPERATE THE FUSE LINK. THIS COULD OVERHEAT THE MOTOR WIRING CIRCUITRY AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD OR INSTRUMENT PANEL FIRE. VEHICLES AFFECTED: CARS NOT EQUIPPED WITH FACTORY AIR CONDITIONING. QUEBEC AND ATLANTIC PROVINCES ONLY.

WHEN SEVERELY LOADED BY A FRONTAL IMPACT, THE SEAT BELT WEBBING MAY CONTACT THE LEADING EDGE OF THE FRONT SEAT-BACK STELL REINFORCEMENT PLATES. THIS MAY CAUSE THE SEAT BELT WEBBING TO BE ABRADED, CUT OR COMPLETELY SEVERED, THEREBY SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING THE RISK OF SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURIES.

THE UPPER TORSO RESTRAINT D-RING WHICH ATTACHES THE SHOULDER BELT TO THE B PILLAR, UNDER CERTAIN TEST CONDITIONS, SEPARATED FROM ITS ANCHORAGE, AND MAY NOT COMPLY WITH CMVSS 210 - BELT ANCHORAGE.