1986 Merkur XR4TI Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1986 Merkur XR4TI, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Exterior lighting333.3%
- Engine222.2%
- Heating & air conditioning111.1%
- Electrical111.1%
- Fuel system111.1%
- Interior & seats111.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
ENGINE FIRE, OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT. *TW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS SWITCH ASSEMBLY IS MISDESIGNED. IT WILL NOT REMAIN FUNCTIONAL EVEN UNDER LIGHT USE AND RESULTS IN A HAZARDOUS CONDITION.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .