1985 Mercury TOPAZ: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1985 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 5 complaints (60.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 60.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum: 3; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 5 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 | 2 |
| 1996 | 3 |
1995: 2; 1996: 3
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 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.
Examples from the source records
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 962751 · 1995-03-29 (March 29, 1995)
INTERMITTENT SUDDEN ACCELERATION. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 962751 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 970028 · 1995-08-08 (August 8, 1995)
VEHICLE DIES WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. EEC PROCESSOR IS BAD. RECALL THAT RELATES, BUT NOT INCLUDED. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 970028 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 986954 · 1996-07-16 (July 16, 1996)
REAR BRAKE ADJUSTER, CONTINUE TO FAIL, EVERY 6 MONTHS TAKE THE DRUMS OFF TO ADJUST PE96-005 ACTIVE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 986954 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
85V086000 · Suspension:Rear
Reported: 1985-07-03 (July 3, 1985)
REAR SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM-TO-SPINDLE ATTACHMENT BOLTS MAY BE SUBJECT TO FRACTURE DURING USE OF CAR. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF BOLTS FRACTURE, REAR SPINDLE COULD DISENGAGE FROM CONTROL ARM AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL.
Remedy: REPLACE REAR SUSPENSION BOLTS AS NECESSARY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗85V134000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Module
Reported: 1985-10-22 (October 22, 1985)
THE UNEXPECTED OPEN THROTTLE CAUSES AN INCREASE IN ENGINE SPEED WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR AND A POTENTIAL CRASH. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THE ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROL PROCESSOR MAY EXPERIENCE AN INTERMITTENT TIMING PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES IMPROPER EXECUTION ENGINE PERFORMANCE WHICH MAY MAINTAIN OR CAUSE A PARTIALLY OPEN THROTTLE.
Remedy: REPLACE ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROL PROCESSOR, IF NECESSARY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗85V145000 · Suspension:Rear
Reported: 1985-11-05 (November 5, 1985)
REAR SUPENSION CONTROL ARM-TO-SPINDLE ATTACHMENT BOLTS MAY BE SUBJECT TO FRACTURE CAUSING THE REAR SPINDLE TO SEPARATE DURING USE OF CAR. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF BOLTS FRACTURE AND REAR SPINDLE DISENGAGES FROM CONTROL ARM, LOSS OF CONTROL WILL BE EXPERIENCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE REAR SUSPENSION BOLTS AS NECESSARY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗