Mercury TOPAZ problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
244 owner complaints analyzed
9 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1983 to 1994 model years. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition is the most frequently named component, appearing in 29 of 244 complaints (11.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 40 | 16.4% |
| Engine operation | 33 | 13.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 16 | 6.6% |
| Steering behavior | 16 | 6.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 4.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 3.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition | 29 |
| Seat Belts | 29 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 22 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 21 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum | 13 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 12 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 10 |
Electrical System:Ignition: 29; Seat Belts: 29; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 22; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 21; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum: 13; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 12; Vehicle Speed Control: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 227 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 59 |
| 1996 | 82 |
| 2000 | 39 |
| 2001 | 27 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 11 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
1995: 59; 1996: 82; 2000: 39; 2001: 27; 2002: 12; 2003: 11; 2004: 9; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2012: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 40 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 33 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 16 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 504783 · 1996-05-20 (May 20, 1996)
REAR BRAKES FAILED. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504783 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 984236 · 1996-05-08 (May 8, 1996)
PE96-005, REAR BRAKE ADJUSTING PIN FAILURE, CAUSING THE BRAKE NOT TO ADJUST PROPERLY. *AK CONSUMER STATES REAR BRAKES DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY ADJUST, BRAKES HAVE TO BE MANUALLY ADJUSTED EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 984236 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 873785 · 2000-10-25 (October 25, 2000)
TFI MODULE STOPPED FUNCTIONING, CAUSING CAR TO STALL. BUT NOW IT WON'T START. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED 3 OF THESE MODULES WITHIN THE LAST THREE YEARS. CONSUMER WAS VERY UPSET BECAUSE THERE COULD BE AN ACCIDENT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 873785 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 887057 · 2001-04-30 (April 30, 2001)
WHEN VEHICLE GETS HOT IT WILL STALL, SOMETIMES VEHICLE WILL NOT START.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 887057 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 982939 · 1996-04-18 (April 18, 1996)
ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE. (THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION). *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 982939 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 983147 · 1996-04-19 (April 19, 1996)
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 723572 · 2000-06-05 (June 5, 2000)
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. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 723572 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070262 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
MY AIR CONDITIONING WON'T WORK, MY STEERING IS A PROBLEM, WHEN I HIT THE GAS PEDAL ONCE AND THEN LET GO OF IT, MY STEERING WHEEL MOVES BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITON. MY VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKS SO BAD THAT IT SMOKES. I PUT 3 QUARTS IN IT TO GO ABOUT 20 MILES AND THAT REALLY SUCKS.
Owner-reported narrative. 214,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070262 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 882545 · 2001-03-09 (March 9, 2001)
INTERMITTENTLY ENGINE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS REPLACED FUEL PUMP/ STEPPER MOTOR, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 882545 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 974406 · 1995-11-02 (November 2, 1995)
FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE, FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED ONCE IN 1993, BUT SAME PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 974406 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 964885 · 1995-05-05 (May 5, 1995)
WHILE DRIVING IN DRIVE GEAR, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JUMP IN REVERSE GEAR, ADJUST SHIFT MODULE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 964885 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482433 · 1995-03-20 (March 20, 1995)
TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482433 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1983 | 0 |
| 1984 | 5 |
| 1985 | 3 |
| 1986 | 0 |
| 1987 | 0 |
| 1988 | 2 |
| 1989 | 1 |
| 1990 | 1 |
| 1991 | 1 |
| 1992 | 2 |
| 1993 | 2 |
| 1994 | 1 |
1983: 0; 1984: 5; 1985: 3; 1986: 0; 1987: 0; 1988: 2; 1989: 1; 1990: 1; 1991: 1; 1992: 2; 1993: 2; 1994: 1