Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1986 Mercury Topaz
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Electrical System
323.1%
0 crashes, 2 fires
Engine & Cooling
323.1%
0 crashes, 1 fires
Brakes
215.4%
Steering
215.4%
Equipment & Accessories
17.7%
Fuel & Propulsion
17.7%
0 crashes, 1 fires
Lights
17.7%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
May 1995peak 4Jun 2000
NHTSA investigations into the 1986 Mercury Topaz
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PE96005Opened 19 Jan 1996Closed 28 May 1996SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
REAR BRK ADJUSTER FAILURE
1984 - 1991 FORD TEMPO/MERCURY TOPAZ
DP96002Opened 11 Jan 1996Closed 19 Jan 1996SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
REAR BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE
EA89037Opened 6 Sep 1989Closed 30 Nov 1990EQUIPMENT
PE88034Opened 18 Mar 1988Closed 19 Sep 1988POWER TRAIN
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...
PE87028Opened 1 May 1987Closed 21 Jan 1988ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
STALLING
NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN DETECTED.===
EA86010Opened 26 Mar 1986Closed 28 Jul 1989SEATS
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...
Recalls on the 1986 Mercury Topaz
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 198909970,606 units in Canada
Emissions
THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. THE CENTRAL FUEL INJECTOR (CFI) MAY OPERATE RICH DURING CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS. CORRECTION: IMPROVED CFI FUEL INJECTORS WILL BE INSTALLED AND IDLE SPEED WILL BE ADJUSTED.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
West Reddi, CTFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #504505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
East Clevela, OHFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #983878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
East Clevela, OHFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #983878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DES Moines, 00Fire
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE HEAD GASKET LEAK AND REPLACE FAN MOTOR , CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE TWO TIMES,THE RACK/PINION WENT OUT WHEN DRIVING THERE IS MORE . TT
NHTSA complaint #970160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Tucson, AZ
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
SUDDEN APPLICATION OF FOOT BRAKE CAUSES RIGHT FRONT BRAKE TO LOCK. NO BRAKING ON OTHER 3 WHEELS. ABLE TO STOP ONLY BY USING HAND BRAKE AND STEERING TO AVOID COLLISION. REPLACED BRAKES TO NO EFFECT.
NHTSA complaint #723572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Indianapolis, IN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE BECAME VERY HOT AND STALLED OUT DUT TO THE TFI IGNITION MODULE BEING TOO CLOSE AND MOUNTED ON THE SIDE OF THE DISTRIBUTOR. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #861487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Leonardvil, KS
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEAD LAMP SWITCH FAILS.
NHTSA complaint #531833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chambersbu, PA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
REAR BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE DUE TO AUTOMATIC ADJUSTER FAILING TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.
NHTSA complaint #506539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Porterville, CA
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
PILLAR OF BLUE SMOKE THROUGH CENTER OF INSTRUMENT PANEL VENT AND IGNITION SWITCH LOCKUP, THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL OCCURRENCES.
NHTSA complaint #985452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Reddi, CTFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #504505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
East Clevela, OHFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #983878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
East Clevela, OHFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #983878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DES Moines, 00
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE HEAD GASKET LEAK AND REPLACE FAN MOTOR , CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE TWO TIMES,THE RACK/PINION WENT OUT WHEN DRIVING THERE IS MORE . TT
NHTSA complaint #970160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DES Moines, 00Fire
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE HEAD GASKET LEAK AND REPLACE FAN MOTOR , CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE TWO TIMES,THE RACK/PINION WENT OUT WHEN DRIVING THERE IS MORE . TT
NHTSA complaint #970160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DES Moines, 00
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
THE HEAD GASKET LEAK AND REPLACE FAN MOTOR , CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE TWO TIMES,THE RACK/PINION WENT OUT WHEN DRIVING THERE IS MORE . TT
NHTSA complaint #970160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DES Moines, 00
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
THE HEAD GASKET LEAK AND REPLACE FAN MOTOR , CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE TWO TIMES,THE RACK/PINION WENT OUT WHEN DRIVING THERE IS MORE . TT
NHTSA complaint #970160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Calhun, LA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
PART QUIK CONNECT HOSE DETERIORATES LEAKING AT "O" RING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA complaint #965773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.