1993 Mercury Topaz Owner Complaints

DRIVERS SIDE AUTOMACTIC SHOULDER RETRACTING STUCK AT TOP OF TRACK

NHTSA ID

11023742

Incident

Jul 7, 2010

Mileage

33,000 mi

THERE IS A SPEED CONTROL ISSUE. INTERMITTENTLY, THE CAR WILL BECOME LOCKED AT 2 RPM WHILE STILL ACCELERATING TO 65+ MPH. THE DRIVING IS NON-SPECIFIC; I COULD BE IDLING, ON THE FREEWAY OR ON SURFACE STREETS. ALTHOUGH I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR CONTINUES TO SPEED UP. IMMEDIATELY TURNING OFF THE ENGINE DOES NOT ELIMINATE THE ISSUE EITHER. ONCE THE CAR IS TURNED ON AGAIN, IT LOCKS AT 4 RPM WHILE IN PARK. THE ISSUE MAY TAKE UP TO 30MINS TO SUBSIDE. LUCKILY, THE BRAKES HAVE YET TO FAIL WHEN THE CAR VOLUNTARILY ACCELERATES (ALTHOUGH THIS DOES WEAR ON THE BRAKES LIKE CRAZY). *TR

NHTSA ID

10451503

Incident

Mar 2, 2010

Mileage

34,000 mi

THE VEHICLE'S LEFT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN VEERED OFF THE ROAD TOT HE RIGHT AND HIT A GUARDRAIL. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *PH *NM

NHTSA ID

10057823

Incident

Nov 28, 2003

BOUGHT CAR AT MOONEYS DESERT HOT SPRINGS AUTO SALES IN OCTOBER 10,2002 AS USED CAR. SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK. SUSPENSION SHAKES, BRAKES MAKE NOISE. FUEL PUMP WENT OUT FIST TRIP. DRIVERS WINDOW DOES NOT RETRACK RIGHT. ENGINE OVER HEAT WHEN IDLING. WATER PUMP WENT OUT. AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER DO NOT WORK.

NHTSA ID

10069163

Incident

Jan 15, 2003

Mileage

119,252 mi

SEPT 9, 2003 [XXX] FORD MOTOR COMPANY ONE AMERICAN ROAD DEARBORN, MI 48126 DEAR[XXX]: THIS LETTER TO YOU COMES AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS OVER THE YEARS TO COLLECT THE $223.30 CLAIM PAST DUE AND OWED TO ME FOR THE 2002 RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT AND REPLACEMENT OF THE TFI MODULE. AT LOWER LEVELS, I HAVE BEEN TREATED VERY RUDELY, IGNORED, PATRONIZED AND/OR INTERMINABLY REROUTED AND DISCONNECTED AT FORD AND ITS SETTLEMENT AGENTS VOICEMAIL. THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE TO THE APPEAL SENT AND DATED 4-17-03. HOWEVER I SEARCHED AND FOUND THE DEFECTIVE MOTOR CRAFT PART THAT COCHRANS AUTO BODY IN CHESWICK PA 15024 RETURNED TO ME WHEN THEY REPLACED IT. NOW I AM RETURNING IT TO YOU DIRECTLY AS POSITIVE PROOF THAT THE WORK WAS PERFORMED ON MY 1993 MERCURY TOPAZ VIN # [XXX] AND THE $223.30 CLAIM IS LEGITIMATE. PLEASE PROMPTLY SEND ME A CHECK FOR $223.30. ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION HAS BEEN IN THE HANDS OF YOUR SETTLEMENT AGENT SINCE MARCH 23 2002. THANK YOU. YOURS TRULY, [XXX] OCT 21, 2003 FOLLOW UP DUE TO NO RESPONSE NOW THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE FROM YOU. DELIVERY WAS CONFIRMED TO YOUR OFFICE OF THE DEFECTIVE MOTOR CRAFT PART. ITS DIFFICULT TO RECONCILE CUSTOMER DISREGARD WITH FORDS QUALITY IS JOB 1 BRANDING CAMPAIGN! . PLEASE DISBURSE A CHECK TO ME FOR $223.30. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10051309

Incident

Mar 23, 2002

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL BECAME VERY HARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, VEHICLE SHUT OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10052041

I PURCHASED A CAR IN OCTOBER OF 2002, THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT WORK,THE A/C AND HEATER DO NOT WORK. FUEL PUMP WENT OUT AFTER AP. 300 MILES, WATER PUMP SHORTLY THERE AFTER. ALL 4 TIRES TREADED APART. ELECTRONIC SIDE MIRRORS DO NOT WORK. GAS GAGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. HEATS UP WHEN IDLING. EXCESSIVE WOBBLE IN REAR END. FRONT END MAY BE FROM 1992 NOT 1993 MODEL OF CAR. DRIVERS WINDOW DOES NOT RETRACK RIGHT. TRUNK LID HOOK DOES NOT WORK. BRAKES MAKE NOISE. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023191

Incident

Oct 12, 2002

Mileage

116,252 mi

RIGHT FRONT BALL JOINT WENT OUT WITH WARNING AND REAR STARTING TO. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10013699

Incident

Mar 31, 2003

Mileage

97,365 mi

AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT WHEN NOT IN USE THE SEAT BELT MOTOR KEEPS RUNNING WHICH HAS DRAINED THE BATTERY, AND COULD ALSO CAUSE SEAT BELT TO BE INOPERATIVE, NOW THE PASSENGER POWER DOOR LOCK HAS FAILED. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ID

8017138

Incident

Jan 1, 2002

DRIVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, POSSIBLE UNDERCARRIAGE, LEFT FRONT QUARTER PANEL, PLASTIC FENDER WELL, AND LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL WERE DAMAGED. THE OHIO TRAFFIC POLICE OBSERVED ONE OF THE FOUR LUGS WAS MISSING, THE OTHER THREE APPEARED UNBROKEN (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *YD

NHTSA ID

564513

Incident

Dec 6, 2001

CAR WILL NOT START UNLESS YOU MESS WITH THE SHIFTER AND CAR STALLS OUT AT TIMES DOES NOT ALWAYS REGISTER IN PARK. *AK

NHTSA ID

757445

WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON CONTINUOUSLY, CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY CHANGED ALL SPARK PLUGS AND OIL, THE NEXT DAY CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE AND LESS THAN 5 MINUTES VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK. AFTER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, THE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE ENGINE WAS BAD, HOWEVER CONSUMER STATED THAT NO ONE INFORMED HER PRIOR THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE.*SLC

NHTSA ID

8002424

Incident

Dec 27, 2001

VEHICLE WILL STALL AND THEN SHUT OFF WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. *AK DEALER HAS REPLACED IGNITION MODULE, FUEL FILTER, SPARK PLUGS, AND DISTRIBUTOR CAP, HOWEVER VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STALL, POSSIBLY ENGINE RELATED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

894376

Incident

Oct 1, 2000

THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM FORD COMPANY IS BEING SUIED FOR I WAS NEVER TOLD CAR IS NOW WITH NEW OWER HAD TO TRADE IT IN WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

750442

Incident

Sep 24, 1999

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS ON DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES WILL NOT RETRACT. SHOULDER BELT PORTION IS LOCKED IN AUTOMATIC RETRACTOR MECHANISM. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED SEAT BELTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

893340

DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT BECOMES JAMMED WITHIN RETRACTING MECHANISM, CAUSING SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERABLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

890936

VEHICLE STALLS OUT, AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A TFI MARGIN ( A DEVICE THAT REGULATES FLOW OF ELECTRIC CURRENT TO SPARKS PLUGS). WHEN VEHICLE STALLS, CONSUMER CUTS IT OFF, AND THEN TURNS IT BACK ON. IT IMMEDIATELY STARTS RIGHT BACK UP. *AK

NHTSA ID

889014

Incident

May 15, 2001

RETRACTOR SEAT BELTS ON DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES FAILED AD BECAME STUCK. BELTS WILL NOT COME OUYT OR RETRACT, CAUSING LOSS OF PROTECTION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

887115

AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MAKES A REAL FUNNY NOISE WHEN IT GETS STUCK AT TOP. SHAKE IT, AND IT WILL GO BACK DOWN. BUCKLES WON'T RELEASE. IN AN ACCIDENT CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO BE CUT OUT.*AK

NHTSA ID

886949

Incident

Aug 3, 1993

INTERMITTENTLLY HOT CLIMATE VEHICLE STALLS OUT AND DIES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN IN HOT WEATHER OR ON HIGHWAY DUE TO THE STALLING PROBLEM. *YH

NHTSA ID

883484

BALL JOINTS WENT OUT 2 WEEKS AFTER CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE. BALL JOINTS HAVE GONE OUT TWO OR THREE TIMES SINCE THEN. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER FIXED PROBLEM WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. BUT, AFTER WARRANTY WAS UP CONSUMER TOOK IT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. BALL JOINTS WENT OUT WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 MPH. *AK

NHTSA ID

879567

Incident

Jan 1, 1993

WHEN DRIVING WOULD HEAR A METALLIC NOISE. HAD TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM 1ST & 2ND GEAR. TRANSMISSION DIP STICK WOULD HAVE METAL SHAVING ON IT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC INDICATED THAT PLANATARY GEAR HAD FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID

870431

Incident

Apr 13, 2000

THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FAILED CAUSING A RATTLING NOISE TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN STARTED. THE METAL HAD SEPARATED FROM THE RUBBER AND THE KEYED CENTER PORTION APPEARS TO HAVE BROKE LOOSE FROM THE CASTING. NLM

NHTSA ID

784059

Incident

Nov 29, 1999

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

722690

Incident

Apr 17, 2000

VEHICLE CONTINUALLY STALLS, MECHANIC IS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE PROBLEM.*ET

NHTSA ID

783710