Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 Merkur XR4TI, most frequently naming the exterior lighting, engine and heating & air conditioning categories. 7 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 |
| Jan 1999 | 2 | 3 |
| Feb 1999 | 1 | 4 |
| Apr 1999 | 1 | 5 |
| Apr 2000 | 1 | 6 |
| Oct 2000 | 1 | 7 |
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.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
I UNDERSTAND AN IGNITION MODULE IS SUPPOSED TO LAST THE LIFETIME OF A CAR. MINE FAILED AT ABOUT 44,000 MILES, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT; THE CAR STALLED AS WE WERE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT. STILL THERE CLEARLY IS A PROBLEM, AND YOU NEED TO ADDRESS IT.*AK
WHILE DRIVING EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED AND LET FUMES INTO VEHICLE, CONSUMER REPLACED MANIFOLD, AND IT CRACKED AGAIN. THIS WAS OWNER'S THIRD MERKUR, AND ON EACH ONES EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED. ALSO, VEHICLE HAD A/C LINES RUN DIRECTLY OVER TURBO, AND EXCESSIVE HEAT CAUSED A/C LINE TO BURST, RELEASING R12 FREON IN THE ENVIRONMENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO EVERYONE AS WELL. CONSUMER FELT IT WAS POOR DESIGN BY MANUFACTURER. *AK
THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARDS STOP WORKING BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE HADZARD SWITCH WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. AS SUCH THERE ARE NO HAZARDS OR TURN DIGNALS. I HAVE REPLACED THIS ONCE AND THE HAZARDS SWITCH IS GOING ON THIS TOO. I HAVE A SPARE PART BUT ON THAT ONLY THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WORKS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE AT NIGHT OR ON THE HIGHWAY IF I BROKE DOWN NO ONE COULD SEE ME. THIS HAPPENED ONCE. LUCKILY A COP STOPPED AND PUT OUT FLARES FOR ME. THIS BRINGS ME TO MY NEXT COMPLETE. THE GAS TANK HAS A PROBLEM AND THAT THE GAS GAUGE IS DEFECTIVE. THIS WAS THE REASON WHY I BROKE DOWN, NO GAS, BUT THE GAUGE READ FULL.
I OWN OR HAVE OWNED 5 DIFFERENT XR4TI'S. ALL WERE BOUGHT USED, BUT SOME WERE LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD. IN ALL CASES, THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH HAS FAILED. ITS BASIC DESIGN IS PRONE TO FAILURE BECAUSE THE PLASTIC GETS BRITTLE AND EVEN HAS A BURNED LOOK TO IT. FORD SHOULD EITHER RECALL, OR OFFER REPLACEMENT AT A REASONABLE PRICE.
THIS SWITCH ASSEMBLY IS MISDESIGNED. IT WILL NOT REMAIN FUNCTIONAL EVEN UNDER LIGHT USE AND RESULTS IN A HAZARDOUS CONDITION.
THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHT SWITCH IS INTEGRAL TO THE TURN SIGNAL/HIGH BEAM LIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY. DISINTEGRATION OF THE INTERNALS OF THE HAZARD SWITCH (WHICH IS USED VERY RARELY) HAS REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY ON TWO OCCASSIONS IN THE 11 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. FAILURE OF THIS SWITCH POSES A POTENTIAL DANGER IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY NIGHT-TIME STOP ON THE HIGHWAY.
ENGINE FIRE, OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT. *TW
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
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
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A NEW ELECTRICAL GREASE ( F8AZ - 19G208-AA ) TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF MOISTURE CORROSION AT THE TERMINALS. *YC
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
TRANSAXLE - TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES AND TORQUE CONVERTER/TRANSAXLE COOLING SYSTEM CLEANING PROCEDURES - SERVICE TIP. *TW
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WIRING - ELECTRICAL DIODE IDENTIFICATION AND SERVICE REPLACEMENTS. *TW
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
ROUGHNESS CONCERN DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. *TW
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.