RoadVitals

1987 Merkur XR4TI

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
7
Latest Feb 23, 1999
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
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InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1987 Merkur XR4TI, most frequently naming the exterior lighting, engine and electrical 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Exterior lighting562.5%
  • Engine225.0%
  • Electrical112.5%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

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.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 23, 1999

HAZARD SWITCH BROKE WHEN ENGAGED, DIFFICULT TO DISENGAGE, CAUSED TURN SIGNAL SWITCH TO BECOME INOPERATIVE

NHTSA ID
703635
Incident
Sep 9, 1998
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 16, 1999

THE HAZARD SWITCHES IN THESE CARS BREAK VERY EASILY, CAUSING MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. FROM THE TURN SIGNALS NOT WORKING TO EVEN THE CAR NOT SHUTTING OFF. ONE OF OUR MEMBERS WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ABOUT 55MPH WHEN THE BUTTON SHOT OUT OF ITS HOLDER, RICOCHETED OFF THE WINDOW AND HIT HIM BETWEEN THE EYES. *AK

NHTSA ID
703350
Incident
Aug 20, 1998
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 13, 1999

BOTH MERKURS I'VE OWNED HAD MECHANICAL FAILURE OF HAZARD LIGHTS SWITCH. SWITCH RARELY USED AND IS COMMON FAILURE ACCORDING TO FELLOW MERKUR OWNERS SO APPEARS TO BE MANUFACTURER DEFECT - SHODDY COMPONENT.

NHTSA ID
703257
Incident
May 5, 1996
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 20, 1999

THE EMERGENCY FLASHER BUTTON ON TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMN FLEW OFF AND HIT ME IN THE HEAD. I MANAGED TO GET IT PUT BACK ON BUT WHENEVER I TRY TO USE THE FLASHERS I CAN GET THEM TO TURN OFF (THE BUTTON WONT STAY DOWN. SINCE THIS IS A REQUIRED PIECE OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD REPLACE THESE FREE OF CHARGE.

NHTSA ID
702411
Incident
Dec 5, 1998
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 20, 1999

HAZARD SWITCH EJECTS FROM ITS HOUSING IN TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. IT RENDERS ALL TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD FLASHERS INOPERATIVE

NHTSA ID
702400
Incident
Aug 15, 1998
ElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 12, 1996
Fire reported

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY SMELLED SMOKED, PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND STOPPED, THEN SMOKE BEGIN TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD, SUDDENLY SHE SAW FLAMES, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MELT. *AK CONSUMER STATES SHE SAW FIRE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, CONSUMER STATES SMOKE WAS COMING FROM ENGINE BLOCK VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*JB

NHTSA ID
804858
Incident
Aug 15, 1996
Engine
Filed Jan 3, 1996

ENGINE BURNS OIL/SMOKES UNDER HOOD. *DSH

NHTSA ID
500720
Incident
Dec 1, 1995

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

0015

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS

99196

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

98246

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

962612

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

TRANSAXLE - TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES AND TORQUE CONVERTER/TRANSAXLE COOLING SYSTEM CLEANING PROCEDURES - SERVICE TIP. *TW

96246

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

WIRING - ELECTRICAL DIODE IDENTIFICATION AND SERVICE REPLACEMENTS. *TW

9562

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.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Merkur XR4TI by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1990100—
1989500—
1988300—
1987Viewing700—
1986700—
1985200—

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.