NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Drum
618.8%
Gasoline
618.8%
Switch
515.6%
Ignition
515.6%
Accelerator Pedal
39.4%
Fuel Pump
39.4%
Master Cylinder
26.3%
Radiator Assembly
26.3%
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.
Jan 1995peak 7Apr 2004
NHTSA investigations into the 1991 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.
PE96033Opened 2 May 1996Closed 30 Sep 1996ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRES
IN DECEMBER 1995, FORD RECALLED 119,313 VEHICLES IN CANADA TO REMEDY THE SUBJECT CONDITION IN CERTAIN 1992-95 TAURUS, SABLE, TEMPO, TOPAZ AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES.FORD IS AWARE OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS OCCURRING IN NORTHERN REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT MAINTAINS THAT THE FREQUENCIES DO NOT WARRANT A FINDING OF AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.
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
Recalls on the 1991 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.
United States — NHTSA
96V071000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 1995212834,368 units in Canada
Electrical
A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD DEVELOP IN THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT COULD LEAD TO OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CONDITION MAY OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE OR UNATTENDED. CORRECTION: IGNITION SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED WITH A REVISED DESIGN SWITCH.
Recall 1995197243,095 units in Canada
Engine
EXTENDED HIGHWAY OPERATION DURING VERY LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES (-20 DEGREES CENTIGRADE OR BELOW) MAY RESULT IN ICE FORMING IN THE POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION (PCV) SYSTEM. IF THIS OCCURS, THE CRANKCASE MAY BECOME PRESSURIZED, WHICH COULD FORCE OIL OUT OF THE ENGINE. IF THE OIL IS FORCED PAST THE ROCKER COVER GASKET, IT COULD CONTACT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, WHICH POTENTIALLY COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. CORRECTION: DEALERS WILL INSTALL REVISED, COOLANT HEATED PCV SYSTEMS.
Recall 1992077464,543 units in Canada
Lights And Instruments
NOTE: ALSO INCLUDES SOME MEDIUM AND HEAVY TRUCKS. THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 108 - LIGHTING. DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT MODULE MAY MALFUNCTION WHICH CAN RESULT IN DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS THAT DIM, FLICKER OR GO OFF OR IN SOME INSTANCES MAY REMAIN ON AFTER THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. CORRECTION: DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT MODULE WILL BE REPLACED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.
Recall 1992011107,040 units in Canada
Emissions
NOTE: TEMPO/TOPAZ WITH 2.3 LITRE ENGINE AND AEROSTAR WITH 3.0 LITRE ENGINE. THESE VEHICLES SO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. DEFECTIVE THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS CAN WEAR OUT PREMATURELY CAUSING AN INTERRUPTION OF THE SENSOR SIGNAL AND ILLUMINATION OF THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT. CORRECTION: THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED IF NECESSARY.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Butler, TNFire
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE IT SERVICED ON FRIDAY AND THEY SAID I HAD A GAS LEAK WHICH I HADN'T NOTICED. I HAD EVEN SMOKED IN MY CAR ON THE WAY TO THE STATION. WHEN THEY WAS EMPTYING THE GAS TANK SOMETHING SPARKED AND CAUGHT THE CAR ON FIRE WHICH ENDED UP DESTROYING MY CAR AND 3 OTHERS PLUS THE STATION. MY CAR WAS A 1991 MERCURY TOPAZ. HAS THERE BEEN ANY SIMILAR SITUATIONS INVOLVING THE FUEL TANK OR SYSTEM ON THESE CARS? *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10016628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Burlington, NCFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE'S MAKE/MODEL. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED PRIOR TO THE FIRE. DEALER HAS REFUSED TO REIMBURSE FOR OR REPLACE CAR. *AK
NHTSA complaint #858508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clarkson, KYFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
HAD JUST STARTED VEHICLE & LEFT IT PARKED & RUNNING. LEFT FOR A MOMENT. AFTER RETURNING, NOTICED FLAMES AROUND THE EDGES OF THE HOOD. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY PUT FLAMES OUT & INFORMED OWNER IT WAS ELECTRICAL WIRING & HARNESS. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #823204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gaston, SCFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN.
NHTSA complaint #802828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Wayne, INFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION CABLE ASSEMBLY SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE IN STEERING COLUMN/MELTING WIRING IN DASH. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #503565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Coral Spring, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CAR WAS PARKED, TURNED OFF AND IT CAUSED A FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE .
NHTSA complaint #982972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 25,000 milesHayward, CA
SEAT BELTS
LOTS OF PEELING ON THE PAINT. ALSO THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. I\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'VE HAD SO MUCH FIXED ON THIS CAR ALREADY AND SPENT LOTS OF MONEY. PLEASE ADVISE.
NHTSA complaint #10069252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 25,000 milesHayward, CA
STEERING
LOTS OF PEELING ON THE PAINT. ALSO THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. I\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'VE HAD SO MUCH FIXED ON THIS CAR ALREADY AND SPENT LOTS OF MONEY. PLEASE ADVISE.
NHTSA complaint #10069252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 25,000 milesHayward, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
LOTS OF PEELING ON THE PAINT. ALSO THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. I\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'VE HAD SO MUCH FIXED ON THIS CAR ALREADY AND SPENT LOTS OF MONEY. PLEASE ADVISE.
NHTSA complaint #10069252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 25,000 milesHayward, CA
STRUCTURE
LOTS OF PEELING ON THE PAINT. ALSO THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. I\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'VE HAD SO MUCH FIXED ON THIS CAR ALREADY AND SPENT LOTS OF MONEY. PLEASE ADVISE.
NHTSA complaint #10069252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Butler, TNFire
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE IT SERVICED ON FRIDAY AND THEY SAID I HAD A GAS LEAK WHICH I HADN'T NOTICED. I HAD EVEN SMOKED IN MY CAR ON THE WAY TO THE STATION. WHEN THEY WAS EMPTYING THE GAS TANK SOMETHING SPARKED AND CAUGHT THE CAR ON FIRE WHICH ENDED UP DESTROYING MY CAR AND 3 OTHERS PLUS THE STATION. MY CAR WAS A 1991 MERCURY TOPAZ. HAS THERE BEEN ANY SIMILAR SITUATIONS INVOLVING THE FUEL TANK OR SYSTEM ON THESE CARS? *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10016628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Camilla, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
OIL LEAKS OUT OF THE TOP OF THE ENGINE WHEN FIRST DRIVEN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SMOKE UNTIL OIL IS BURNED OUT. VEHICLE ALSO DIES UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN DRIVING IN HOT WEATHER. THE IGNITION HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE(3) TIMES BY CONSUMER USING REBUILT, NEW AND MANUFACTURED PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #8009258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Camilla, GA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
OIL LEAKS OUT OF THE TOP OF THE ENGINE WHEN FIRST DRIVEN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SMOKE UNTIL OIL IS BURNED OUT. VEHICLE ALSO DIES UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN DRIVING IN HOT WEATHER. THE IGNITION HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE(3) TIMES BY CONSUMER USING REBUILT, NEW AND MANUFACTURED PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #8009258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cottonwood, AZ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
THE ENGINE STALLS AT GEAR ENGAGEMENT DUE TO COOLANT THERMOSTAT, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #560296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cottonwood, AZ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE WOULD STALL IN TRAFFIC AFTER STOPPING. NORMALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THERMOSTAT WAS BINDING, CAUSING IT TO STALL. DEALER'S DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE WASN'T READING WHAT PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #881095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cottonwood, AZ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN RIDING IN TRAFFIC VEHICLE STALLS AFTER A PERIOD OF SITTING AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSE TO BE FIXED, BUT VEHICLE IS STILL STALLING.
NHTSA complaint #880429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DC
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
THE LAP SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT FIT PROPERLY FOR CONSUMERS CHILD, THE SHOULDER BELT RUBS THE NECK AREA. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #783869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Perryville, AR
SEAT BELTS
FRONT SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT, BACK INTO PLACE AFTER USE. WOULD GET TRAPPED INTO THE SEAT CUSHION. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA complaint #864624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Burlington, NCFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE'S MAKE/MODEL. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED PRIOR TO THE FIRE. DEALER HAS REFUSED TO REIMBURSE FOR OR REPLACE CAR. *AK
NHTSA complaint #858508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Minneapolis, MN
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE UP AND APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR, THE THROTTLE KEEPS GETTING STUCK.
NHTSA complaint #849235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Watertown, MA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
FRONT PASSENGER'S RESTRAINT WOULD NOT RETRACT. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #842409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Holland, MI
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT LATCH WOULD GET STUCK IN THE BUCKLE, ONCE RELEASED, THE BELTS MAY OR MAYNOT RECONNECT. AFTER AWHILE THE BELTS DO NOT CONNECT AT ALL/ BECOME INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #841496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Salem, SC
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
INTERMITTENT STALLING, ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #523602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Quincy, IL
SUSPENSION
WHENEVER DRIVING FRONT OF THE VEHICLE IS PULLING TO THE LEFT.CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP TWICE, AND DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #834588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wilmington, DE
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
POWER WINDOW FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #513890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wilmington, DE
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HIGH BEAMS STAY ON INTERMITTENTLY.
NHTSA complaint #513890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wilmington, DE
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DOOR LOCK FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #513890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wilmington, DE
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
INTERMITTENT ENGINE FAILURE ON OCCASIONS.
NHTSA complaint #513890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wilmington, DE
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
BRAKE SHOE ADJUSTER FELL OFF AT 50 MPH CAUSING DAMAGE TO DRUM.
NHTSA complaint #513890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brockton, MA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO RACE AND BRAKES TO FAIL.
NHTSA complaint #825386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clarkson, KYFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
HAD JUST STARTED VEHICLE & LEFT IT PARKED & RUNNING. LEFT FOR A MOMENT. AFTER RETURNING, NOTICED FLAMES AROUND THE EDGES OF THE HOOD. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY PUT FLAMES OUT & INFORMED OWNER IT WAS ELECTRICAL WIRING & HARNESS. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #823204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.