RoadVitals

1990 Mercury Topaz Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
21
Latest Aug 21, 2002
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
44%
of 48 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
7
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1990 Mercury Topaz submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 21, 2002

VEHICLE STALLED 7 TIMES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER 5 TIMES, IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED TWICE, MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH ONCE ,AND STARTER ONCE.*AK

NHTSA ID
8016872
Incident
Feb 1, 2001
Electrical
Filed Mar 16, 2001

THE VEHICLE'S TPI MODULE IS DEFECTIVE AND IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL INTERMITTENTLY, CONSUMER REQUEST THAT THE MANUFACTURER REPLACE THIS COMPONENT AT THEIR EXPENSE. NLM

NHTSA ID
560368
Electrical
Filed Oct 17, 2000

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. THEN, IT TAKES A MINUTE OR TWO TO START IT OVER. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
873179
Incident
Jan 1, 1995
Electrical
Filed Jun 5, 2000
Fire reported

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE STARTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 7774/IGNITION SWITCH. FORD ADVISED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
863031
Incident
Jun 4, 2000
Electrical
Filed Apr 5, 1999

ALTERNATOR LEAD TO THE BATTERY MELTED.

NHTSA ID
544804
Electrical
Filed Nov 3, 1998

THE ALTENATOR CONNECTING WIRES GET HOT, AND THEY HAVE A TENDENCY TO MELT AND CATCH ON FIRE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ID
830037
Incident
Nov 1, 1998
Electrical
Filed Mar 10, 1998
Fire reported

ALTERNATOR SOCKET FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE FIRE.

NHTSA ID
532285
Incident
Feb 9, 1998
Electrical
Filed Oct 23, 1997

ALTERNATOR HAS FAILED ON SIX OCCASIONS RESULTING IN BURNT WIRING AND DAMAGE TO OTHER COMPONENTS.

NHTSA ID
533914
Incident
Jan 22, 1996
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 16, 1997

ENGINE CONTINUALLY STALLING.

NHTSA ID
523835
Electrical
Filed Mar 18, 1997

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE ALTERNATOR, CAUSING THE WIRING TO THE ALTERNATOR TO BURN OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID
809086
Incident
Feb 3, 1997
ElectricalEngineInterior & seats+3 more
Filed Mar 14, 1997

NINE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM FELL OFF, REPLACED EXTENSION PIPE, MUFFLER,TAIL PIPE, CLAMP.

NHTSA ID
515627
Incident
Jul 23, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jan 24, 1997

THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR BURNED OUT, TOOK TO DEALER TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
808074
Electrical
Filed Oct 29, 1996

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT HIGH AND LOW SPEED AND WHEN MAKING A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLS/ HESITATES AND CUTS OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID
804208
Incident
Sep 10, 1993
Electrical
Filed Oct 17, 1996
Fire reported

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.

NHTSA ID
510145
Incident
Jul 20, 1996
Electrical
Filed Sep 30, 1996
Fire reported

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.

NHTSA ID
509303
Incident
Jul 20, 1996
Electrical
Filed Sep 4, 1996
Fire reported

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.

NHTSA ID
508211
Incident
Jul 25, 1996
Electrical
Filed Aug 14, 1996

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONTINUES TO FAIL, CAUSING BURNING AND SMOKING AT THE HARNESS AREA RESULTING IN DAMAGING OTHER COMPONENTS.

NHTSA ID
507488
Electrical
Filed Aug 1, 1996

RECALL RELATED, IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE, VEHICLE WAS PARKED UNDER THE DASH COMPARTMENT FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK

NHTSA ID
800364
Incident
Jul 25, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jun 10, 1996
Fire reported

ELECTRICAL FIRE IN WIRING HARNESS TO ALTERNATOR. *SD

NHTSA ID
506294
Incident
Jun 10, 1996
Electrical
Filed Apr 19, 1996
Fire reported

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
983033
Electrical
Filed Feb 10, 1995

INTERMITTENT STALLING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP/SLOW DOWN. *SKD

NHTSA ID
481996
Incident
Feb 9, 1995

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .