RoadVitals

1992 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.
10
Latest Jul 7, 2007
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.
16%
of 62 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.
2
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 1992 Mercury Topaz submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 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

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
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
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
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
Electrical
Filed May 20, 1997

HORN FAILED DUE TO A BENT PART FROM FACTORY.

NHTSA ID
517301
Incident
Apr 1, 1993
Electrical
Filed Jan 22, 1997

STARTER FAILED.

NHTSA ID
514001
Electrical
Filed Nov 25, 1996

DURING VEHICLE OPERATION THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 7 TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID
804348
Incident
May 15, 1995
Electrical
Filed Sep 6, 1996
Fire reported

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR (7) HOURS IT CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN.*AK

NHTSA ID
801951
Incident
Aug 19, 1996
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Feb 23, 1996

CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE.

NHTSA ID
501763
Incident
Feb 23, 1996

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Seat belts16Engine14

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .