Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 46 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Mercury Topaz, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and seat belts categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 3 NHTSA investigations name it; and 34 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| Mar 1995 | 1 | 2 |
| May 1995 | 1 | 3 |
| Jul 1995 | 1 | 4 |
| Aug 1995 | 1 | 5 |
| Sep 1995 | 1 | 6 |
| Oct 1995 | 1 | 7 |
| Nov 1995 | 1 | 8 |
| Dec 1995 | 1 | 9 |
| Feb 1996 | 1 | 10 |
| Apr 1996 | 1 | 11 |
| Jun 1996 | 1 | 12 |
| Jul 1996 | 1 | 13 |
| Aug 1996 | 3 | 16 |
| Sep 1996 | 2 | 18 |
| Oct 1996 | 1 | 19 |
| Nov 1996 | 1 | 20 |
| Dec 1996 | 1 | 21 |
| Jan 1997 | 2 | 23 |
| Jul 1997 | 2 | 25 |
| Sep 1997 | 1 | 26 |
| Oct 1997 | 1 | 27 |
| Nov 1997 | 1 | 28 |
| Dec 1997 | 1 | 29 |
| Jun 1998 | 1 | 30 |
| Mar 1999 | 1 | 31 |
| Apr 1999 | 1 | 32 |
| May 1999 | 1 | 33 |
| Aug 1999 | 1 | 34 |
| Sep 1999 | 1 | 35 |
| Feb 2000 | 1 | 36 |
| Apr 2000 | 2 | 38 |
| Jul 2000 | 1 | 39 |
| Sep 2000 | 1 | 40 |
| Nov 2000 | 1 | 41 |
| Dec 2000 | 1 | 42 |
| Apr 2001 | 1 | 43 |
| Sep 2002 | 1 | 44 |
| Jan 2004 | 1 | 45 |
| Mar 2008 | 1 | 46 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
1 campaign cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
REAR BRK ADJUSTER FAILURE
1984 - 1991 FORD TEMPO/MERCURY TOPAZ
REAR BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
FAILED PASSIVE RESTRAINT
WE HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS REPORTS WHICH ALLEGE A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM.ADDITIONAL REPORTS ALLEGE THAT THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILED TO RESTRAIN/ADEQUATELY PROTECT THE OCCUPANT DURING AN ACCIDENT
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
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. *TR
CAR KEEPS STALLING WHEN IN AN IDLE POSITION (LIKE AT A STOP LIGHT).TAKES ABOUT 10 TRIES TO GET IT TO START,AND KEEP RUNNING.WILL IDLE HIGH THEN IDLE LOW THEN IDLE HIGH AGAIN THEN DIE...
ALTERNATOR HAD THREE SETS OF WIRES REPLACED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
VEHICLE STALLS DAILY ONLY AT A STOP STAND STILL POSTION. CONSUMER HAS BEEN TO SEVERAL DEALERS, THEY COULD NOT FIND A REMEDY.*AK CONSUMER STATES THIS FAILURE HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. *SLC
ENGINE OVERHEATED AND CAUGHT FIRE. *MJS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
DRIVERS MOTORBELT WILL NOT RETURN TO SHOULDER ONCE IGNITION SWITCH HAS TURNED. *SLC
THE VEHICLE REPORTED HERE WAS REACALLED IN 1997 AND WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS AND WHEN I GOT IT BACK THE STEERING WAS MESSED UP. THE DEALER OF REAPIRS WAS NOTIFIED BUT DID NOT CONTACT ME BACK! I HAVE LONG SINCE HAD TONS OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR! IT CONTINUOUSLY KEPT STALLING OUT AND LOST POWER GOING UPHILL ON A HIGHWAY!*AK
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INFORMATION ON THE NEW FLUSH AND FILL TOOL AVAILABLE THROUGH ROTUNDA. *TT
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.