Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 40 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1991 Mercury Topaz, most frequently naming the electrical, seat belts and brakes categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 3 NHTSA investigations name it; and 38 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 | 2 | 3 |
| Jun 1995 | 2 | 5 |
| Jul 1995 | 2 | 7 |
| Aug 1995 | 1 | 8 |
| Sep 1995 | 1 | 9 |
| Dec 1995 | 1 | 10 |
| Jan 1996 | 1 | 11 |
| Feb 1996 | 1 | 12 |
| Mar 1996 | 2 | 14 |
| Apr 1996 | 2 | 16 |
| May 1996 | 1 | 17 |
| Jun 1996 | 1 | 18 |
| Jul 1996 | 1 | 19 |
| Aug 1996 | 1 | 20 |
| Sep 1996 | 1 | 21 |
| Oct 1996 | 1 | 22 |
| Nov 1996 | 1 | 23 |
| Jan 1997 | 1 | 24 |
| Oct 1997 | 1 | 25 |
| May 1998 | 1 | 26 |
| Jul 1998 | 1 | 27 |
| Feb 1999 | 1 | 28 |
| Jun 1999 | 1 | 29 |
| Jul 1999 | 1 | 30 |
| Sep 1999 | 1 | 31 |
| Nov 1999 | 1 | 32 |
| Mar 2000 | 1 | 33 |
| Jun 2000 | 1 | 34 |
| Feb 2001 | 2 | 36 |
| Mar 2001 | 1 | 37 |
| May 2002 | 1 | 38 |
| Apr 2003 | 1 | 39 |
| Jan 2004 | 1 | 40 |
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.
ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRES
IN DECEMBER 1995, FORD RECALLED 119,313 VEHICLES IN CANADA TO REMEDY THE SUBJECT CONDITION IN CERTAIN 1992-95 TAURUS, SABLE, TEMPO, TOPAZ AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES.FORD IS AWARE OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS OCCURRING IN NORTHERN REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT MAINTAINS THAT THE FREQUENCIES DO NOT WARRANT A FINDING OF AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.
REAR BRK ADJUSTER FAILURE
1984 - 1991 FORD TEMPO/MERCURY TOPAZ
REAR BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
LOTS OF PEELING ON THE PAINT. ALSO THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. I\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'VE HAD SO MUCH FIXED ON THIS CAR ALREADY AND SPENT LOTS OF MONEY. PLEASE ADVISE.
I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE IT SERVICED ON FRIDAY AND THEY SAID I HAD A GAS LEAK WHICH I HADN'T NOTICED. I HAD EVEN SMOKED IN MY CAR ON THE WAY TO THE STATION. WHEN THEY WAS EMPTYING THE GAS TANK SOMETHING SPARKED AND CAUGHT THE CAR ON FIRE WHICH ENDED UP DESTROYING MY CAR AND 3 OTHERS PLUS THE STATION. MY CAR WAS A 1991 MERCURY TOPAZ. HAS THERE BEEN ANY SIMILAR SITUATIONS INVOLVING THE FUEL TANK OR SYSTEM ON THESE CARS? *NLM
OIL LEAKS OUT OF THE TOP OF THE ENGINE WHEN FIRST DRIVEN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SMOKE UNTIL OIL IS BURNED OUT. VEHICLE ALSO DIES UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN DRIVING IN HOT WEATHER. THE IGNITION HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE(3) TIMES BY CONSUMER USING REBUILT, NEW AND MANUFACTURED PARTS. *JG
THE ENGINE STALLS AT GEAR ENGAGEMENT DUE TO COOLANT THERMOSTAT, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. NLM
VEHICLE WOULD STALL IN TRAFFIC AFTER STOPPING. NORMALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THERMOSTAT WAS BINDING, CAUSING IT TO STALL. DEALER'S DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE WASN'T READING WHAT PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN. *AK *SLC
WHEN RIDING IN TRAFFIC VEHICLE STALLS AFTER A PERIOD OF SITTING AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSE TO BE FIXED, BUT VEHICLE IS STILL STALLING. *AK
FRONT SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT, BACK INTO PLACE AFTER USE. WOULD GET TRAPPED INTO THE SEAT CUSHION. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. *AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE'S MAKE/MODEL. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED PRIOR TO THE FIRE. DEALER HAS REFUSED TO REIMBURSE FOR OR REPLACE CAR. *AK *ML
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.