14 of the 57 complaints about the 1989 Mercury Topaz are about the electrical system — 25% of everything reported for this model year.
14
Complaints
0
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I SAW ON SCHUCKS.COM THAT MY CAR WAS PART OF A RECALL FOR AN INTERNAL IGNITION SHORT CIRCUIT AND MY CAR HAS HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS SUCH AS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE AND MY CAR IS FINE IT ONLY HAS 65,000+ MILES ON IT AND IT TURNS OFF 2-3 SECS AFTER TURNING IT ON THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP IT ON IS IF I GIVE IT GAS.
NHTSA complaint #10221339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR HAD THREE SETS OF WIRES REPLACED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8018028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #736115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE & NOTICED AN ODOR INSIDE VEHICLE. THE BATTERY LIGHT FLASHED ON. AT HOME CHECKED UNDER HOOD. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM WIRE HARNESS NEAR THE ALTERNATOR. THE PLASTIC WIRE HARNESS HAD MELTED DOWN. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE WIRE HARNESS & THE ALTERNATOR DUE TO BEING SHORTED OUT.
NHTSA complaint #855237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE & NOTICED AN ODOR INSIDE VEHICLE. THE BATTERY LIGHT FLASHED ON. AT HOME CHECKED UNDER HOOD. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM WIRE HARNESS NEAR THE ALTERNATOR. THE PLASTIC WIRE HARNESS HAD MELTED DOWN. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE WIRE HARNESS & THE ALTERNATOR DUE TO BEING SHORTED OUT.
NHTSA complaint #855237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
15-20 MINUTES AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. UNDER INVESTIGATIONS AT THIS TIME.
NHTSA complaint #818979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT/ACCELERATING FROM A STOP.
NHTSA complaint #514103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
RECEIVED LETTER FROM MANUFACTURER FOR IGNITION SWITCH SEPT.1996. HAD RECALL WORK DONE, HAD ALTERNATOR AND WIRING HARNESS PUT IN DEC. 1996. INSIDE WAS A WARNING LABEL STATING THAT ALTERNATOR COULD CAUSE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #806877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE WIRING TO THE ALTERNATOR BURNED UP. THE ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED (5) TIMES. NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #803963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT FIX THE CRUISE CONTROL THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH BURNED OUT, ALSO THE RADIO LIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #802628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CAR WAS PARKED AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE .
NHTSA complaint #802411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE CAR STARTED TO CUT OFF AND WAS PARKED IN A LOT. WHEN IT WAS RETRIEVED THE CAR WAS TOWED BECAUSE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
NHTSA complaint #979185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
INTERMITTENT STALLING/HESITATION.
NHTSA complaint #969072 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
INSTRUMENT PANEL FIRE. TT
NHTSA complaint #958486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.