1993 Mercury TOPAZ: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
48 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
97,365 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 48 complaints (18.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 22.9% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 14.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 6.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 4.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 4.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts | 9 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 2 |
Seat Belts: 9; Electrical System:Ignition: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Electrical System:Wiring: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 2
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 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 43 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 | 11 |
| 1996 | 9 |
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
1995: 11; 1996: 9; 2000: 7; 2001: 9; 2002: 4; 2003: 4; 2004: 2; 2012: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns 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 10013699 · 2003-03-30 (March 30, 2003)
RIGHT FRONT BALL JOINT WENT OUT WITH WARNING AND REAR STARTING TO. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 97,365 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013699 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023191 · 2003-06-16 (June 16, 2003)
I PURCHASED A CAR IN OCTOBER OF 2002, THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT WORK,THE A/C AND HEATER DO NOT WORK. FUEL PUMP WENT OUT AFTER AP. 300 MILES, WATER PUMP SHORTLY THERE AFTER. ALL 4 TIRES TREADED APART. ELECTRONIC SIDE MIRRORS DO NOT WORK. GAS GAGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. HEATS UP WHEN IDLING. EXCESSIVE WOBBLE IN REAR END. FRONT END MAY BE FROM 1992 NOT 1993 MODEL OF CAR. DRIVERS WINDOW DOES NOT RETRACK RIGHT. TRUNK LID HOOK DOES NOT WORK. BRAKES MAKE NOISE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 116,252 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023191 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051309 · 2003-12-30 (December 30, 2003)
SEPT 9, 2003 [XXX] FORD MOTOR COMPANY ONE AMERICAN ROAD DEARBORN, MI 48126 DEAR[XXX]: THIS LETTER TO YOU COMES AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS OVER THE YEARS TO COLLECT THE $223.30 CLAIM PAST DUE AND OWED TO ME FOR THE 2002 RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT AND REPLACEMENT OF THE TFI MODULE. AT LOWER LEVELS, I HAVE BEEN TREATED VERY RUDELY, IGNORED, PATRONIZED AND/OR INTERMINABLY REROUTED AND DISCONNECTED AT FORD AND ITS SETTLEMENT AGENTS VOICEMAIL. THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE TO THE APPEAL SENT AND DATED 4-17-03. HOWEVER I SEARCHED AND FOUND THE DEFECTIV…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10051309 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052041 · 2003-12-29 (December 29, 2003)
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL BECAME VERY HARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, VEHICLE SHUT OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10052041 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057823 · 2004-02-10 (February 10, 2004)
THE VEHICLE'S LEFT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN VEERED OFF THE ROAD TOT HE RIGHT AND HIT A GUARDRAIL. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *PH *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10057823 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069163 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
BOUGHT CAR AT MOONEYS DESERT HOT SPRINGS AUTO SALES IN OCTOBER 10,2002 AS USED CAR. SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK. SUSPENSION SHAKES, BRAKES MAKE NOISE. FUEL PUMP WENT OUT FIST TRIP. DRIVERS WINDOW DOES NOT RETRACK RIGHT. ENGINE OVER HEAT WHEN IDLING. WATER PUMP WENT OUT. AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER DO NOT WORK.
Owner-reported narrative. 119,252 miles reported. Look up ODI 10069163 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10451503 · 2012-03-13 (March 13, 2012)
THERE IS A SPEED CONTROL ISSUE. INTERMITTENTLY, THE CAR WILL BECOME LOCKED AT 2 RPM WHILE STILL ACCELERATING TO 65+ MPH. THE DRIVING IS NON-SPECIFIC; I COULD BE IDLING, ON THE FREEWAY OR ON SURFACE STREETS. ALTHOUGH I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR CONTINUES TO SPEED UP. IMMEDIATELY TURNING OFF THE ENGINE DOES NOT ELIMINATE THE ISSUE EITHER. ONCE THE CAR IS TURNED ON AGAIN, IT LOCKS AT 4 RPM WHILE IN PARK. THE ISSUE MAY TAKE UP TO 30MINS TO SUBSIDE. LUCKILY, THE BRAKES HAVE YET TO FAIL WHEN THE CAR VOLUNTARILY ACCELERATES (ALTHOUG…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10451503 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11023742 · 2017-09-16 (September 16, 2017)
DRIVERS SIDE AUTOMACTIC SHOULDER RETRACTING STUCK AT TOP OF TRACK
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11023742 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
96V071000 · Electrical System:Ignition
Reported: 1996-04-25 (April 25, 1996)
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V019000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan
Reported: 1997-02-25 (February 25, 1997)
THESE VEHICLES ARE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, IOWA, MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA. THE VEHICLES INVOLVED ARE 1992-1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES WITH 3.0L ENGINES; 1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ WITH 2.3L ENGINES; 1992-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.8L ENGINES; 1994-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.0L ENGINES AND 1992-1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL VEHICLES WITH 3.8L ENGINES. DURING HIGH WINDS, HEAVY, BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW, AND LOW TEMPERATURES, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN CAN BECOME BLOCKED OR FROZEN WITH SNOW. THE FAN MOTOR MAY NOT ROTATE AND COULD OVERHEAT.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE SMOKE OR FLAMES FROM THE FAN AND/OR SHROUD, THE FAN ELECTRICAL WIRING, OR THE FAN MOTOR RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ELECTRICAL JUMPER HARNESS CONTAINING AN AUTOMATIC RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PROTECT THE FAN MOTOR LOW SPEED CIRCUITRY FROM OVERHEATING.
NHTSA campaign record ↗