RoadVitals

1992 Mercury Topaz Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
62
Latest Sep 17, 2008
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
9
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jun 26, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 62 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1992 Mercury Topaz. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 62 · page 1 of 3

Transmission
Filed Sep 17, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCURY TOPAZ. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25-30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. IT ONLY ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY WITH A MECHANIC. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30.

NHTSA ID
10242650
Incident
Sep 16, 2008
Mileage
30 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 7, 2007

THE IGNITION SWITCH FELL APART 3 TIMES ON THE TOPAZ SINCE 1995, THE SWITCHES I BOUGHT AT FORD DEALERSHIP WAS THE EXACT SAME ONE THAT FELL APART. FIRST THE ACCESSORIES STOP WORKED ONE AT A TIME, A/C, TURN SIGNALS, RADIO, AIR CONDITIONING. THEN I PULL IT OUT AND REPLACED THE SWITCH, I CARRY AN EXTRA ONE IN T CAR AND HAVE THE REPLACEMENT DOWN TO 45 MINUTES. I REPLACED THE SWITCH NOW WHEN THE SECOND SIGN OF FAILURE OCCURRED. I HAVE A SMALL POUCH WITH ALL THE TOOLS. I NEED TO CHANGE THE PART AND HAVE THE BOLTS AND SCREWS MARKED THAT I HAVE TO TAKE OUT. I EVEN WRITE THE DATE AND MILEAGE I CHANGE IT IN MY SERVICE MANUAL SO I ALMOST CAN TELL WHEN THE NEST FAILURE WILL OCCUR. I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE REPLACEMENT SWITCHES WHEN I CAN BUY THEM AT A DEALERSHIP FOR ANY WHERE FROM $9 FOR FIRST TO $16 THIS LAST TIME. THE LAST THING I BOUGHT THAT CHEAP WAS A PAIR OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS AT A DEALERSHIP.*AK

NHTSA ID
10195557
Incident
Jul 21, 2006
Mileage
76,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jan 15, 2004

TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN; I BROUGHT MY DAUGHTER'S CAR IN FOR SEATBELT REPAIR. THERE WAS FAILURE OF THE SHOULDER STRAP TO OPEN WHEN GETTING INTO THE CAR. MY COMPLAINT IS WITH THE DEALERSHIP HAMMONTON AUTO GROUP WHITE HORSE PIKE HAMMONTON NJ. ON 6/25 THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN- CHARGING $80 TO DIAGNOSE THAT THE SWITCH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEEDED REPLACING. THE PART COST $10 THE JOB WAS TO COST $260 - WHICH I FEEL WAS A CUSTOMER RIPOFF. WE DECIDED TO GET THE JOB DONE DESPITE THE OUTRAGEOUS COST. ON 6/26 WHEN WE ARRIVED TO PICK UP THE CAR-THIS SERVICE DEPT FIXED THE DRIVER SIDE WHICH WAS NEVER BROKEN IN THE FIRST PLACE. THEY DID NOT NOTICE THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE DIDN'T WORK AFTER AN $80 DIAGNOSTICS FEE. I AM NEVER GOING TO THIS PARTICULAR DEALERSHIP AGAIN. I AM ALSO REPORTING THIS TO THE BBB AND TO WHOEVER ELSE I CAN COMPLAIN TO. THIS IS WHY SO MANY AMERICANS ARE NOT BUYING FROM FORD ANYMORE.

NHTSA ID
10070466
Incident
Jun 15, 2003
Mileage
20,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 27, 2003
Fire reported

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL.*MR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED FLAMES BURST OUT FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED (96V-071000) BUT THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED THE NOTICE. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. *TS *NLM

NHTSA ID
10044838
Incident
Apr 12, 2003
Mileage
46,000 mi
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+3 more
Filed Aug 29, 2003

THIS VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL# 96V071000 CONCERNING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION SWITCH. IGNITION SWITCH MUST BE MANEUVERED FOR SOME ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PARTS TO FUNCTION. FOR INSTANCE, AIR CONDITIONER WILL COME ON BY MANEUVERING THE IGNITION SWITCH. ALSO, ELECTRIC SEAT BELTS/POWER WINDOWS/ TURN SIGNALS, AND BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T OPERATE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10037961
Seat belts
Filed Jun 6, 2001

CONSUMER HAS HAD PAST PROBLEMS WITH FRONT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS ON BOTH SIDES. AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT BACK. BELT HAS TO BE TUGGED ON TO RETRACT. MOTOR MAKES A GRINDING AND RATTLING NOISE.*AK

NHTSA ID
889918
Incident
May 15, 2001
Engine
Filed May 7, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND COMING UP TO A STOP LIGHT/SIGN VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT. HAD NO PRIOR WARNING. HAD NOT BEEN TO A DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
887613
Engine
Filed Mar 6, 2001

VEHICLE STALLS AT SLOW SPEEDS, 35 MPH AND WHEN COMING TO A STOP. *AK

NHTSA ID
882254
Incident
Jul 1, 2000
Electrical
Filed Jan 30, 2001

STALLING AT HIGH TEMPERATURES, WON'T START AGAIN FOR 15-30 MINITUES. POSSIBLY A BAD IGNITION MODULE. *AK

NHTSA ID
740188
Interior & seats
Filed Nov 2, 2000
Crash reported2 injuries reported

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
735634
Incident
Oct 22, 2000
ElectricalSeat beltsTransmission
Filed Oct 3, 2000

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CABLE LINKAGE WAS REPAIRED. THERE ARE NUMEROUS SERVICE BULLETINS THAT REFER TO THIS PROBLEM *CJ

NHTSA ID
555799
Incident
Jul 6, 2000
Suspension
Filed Jul 3, 2000

CONSUMER TOOK CAR OUT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND IT SEEMED FINE. HOWEVER, AFTER CONSUMER LEFT THE LOT, LEFT BALL JOINT BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SWERVE ALL OVER THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE 10MPH TO GET VEHICLE HOME.*AK

NHTSA ID
864680
Incident
Jun 30, 2000
Engine
Filed Jul 3, 2000

THE LEAKING HEAD GASKET CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. YH

NHTSA ID
552868
Engine
Filed Mar 23, 2000
Fire reported

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 30-35MPH AND STARTED SMELLING SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY & GOT OUT. WITHIN MINUTES, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER & FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ID
859093
Incident
Mar 23, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Mar 10, 2000

CROSSMEMBER BAR ON THE LEFT REAR AXEL BROKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

NHTSA ID
858285
Incident
Feb 28, 2000
Seat belts
Filed Oct 29, 1999

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT IS EXTREMELY TIGHT THAT IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO PASSENGER. YH

NHTSA ID
549449
Brakes
Filed Sep 22, 1999

WHEN TRAVELING 30 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT, AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL, PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR BOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS YET TO REPLACE PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
848336
Incident
Sep 14, 1999
Engine
Filed Sep 9, 1999

WHENEVER VEHICLE IS IDLING, IT WOULD MAKE A RATTLING NOISE. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER & INFORMED BY MECHANIC IT WAS CRANKSHAFT. THIS CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH THE BELTS IF IT OVERHEATS. *AK

NHTSA ID
847429
Incident
Jul 21, 1999
Engine
Filed Aug 2, 1999

VEHICLE JUST STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR 6 YEARS. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
844076
Seat belts
Filed Jul 19, 1999

THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON 92 MERCURY TOPAZ BROKE. IT WILL NOT COMPLETELY RETRACT WHEN YOU CLOSE THE DOOR AND DRIVE. IT SEEMS LIKE THE TRACK THE SYSTEM RUNS IN IS DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ID
708792
Incident
Jul 15, 1999
Interior & seatsSeat belts
Filed May 4, 1999

THE DRIVERS SIDE MOTORIZED SEAT BELT IS STUCK 3/4 OF THE WAY BACK, THE ONLY WAY TO USE IT IS TO SLIP IT OVER YOUR HEAD. AND ALSO THE DRIVERS FRONT SEAT, THE SEAT WELDS BROKE, AND YOU ARE SETTING IN A RECLINING POSITION, IT IS CURRENTLY BEING HELD UP WITH WOOD.

NHTSA ID
706221
Incident
Apr 1, 1998
Interior & seats
Filed Apr 7, 1999

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE, AND CAUSED DRIVER TO MOVE BACKWARDS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
836590
Incident
Apr 5, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 23, 1999
Crash reported

CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 40 MPH GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE EVEN BY HITTING THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON OR APPLYING BRAKES,WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
835164
Incident
Feb 16, 1999
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 5, 1999
Fire reported

ELECTRICAL FIRE UNDER DASH ENGULFED CAR PARKED ON DRIVEWAY AFTER SITTING. *AK

NHTSA ID
702978
Incident
Feb 1, 1999
Seat belts
Filed Dec 10, 1998

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT IS INOPERATIVE, WILL NOT MOVE OR RETRACT WHEN DOOR IS OPENED OR CLOSED, CAUSING LOSS OF PROTECTION. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
832095
Incident
Aug 1, 1998

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.

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