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Mercury TopazYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 393 NHTSA owner complaints across 13 model years, no Mercury Topaz year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992. The Topaz has 9 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years'89 '90 '91 '92Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints393Top: Electrical systemSafety recalls91984–1998 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Mercury Topaz years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Topaz median. Tap a year for its full report.

'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'98
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1998Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1995Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1994Solid48/10063 complaints · 1 recall1993Solid45/10071 complaints · 2 recalls1992Solid49/10062 complaints · 2 recalls1991Solid58/10040 complaints · 1 recall1990Solid51/10048 complaints · 1 recall1989Solid57/10046 complaints · 1 recall1988Not rated–/10021 complaints · 2 recalls1987Not rated–/10016 complaints · 0 recalls1986Not rated–/1009 complaints · 0 recalls1985Not rated–/1005 complaints · 3 recalls1984Not rated–/10010 complaints · 5 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Mercury Topaz problems

All model years combined: 393 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system10238
Engine and engine cooling7910
Seat belts705
Service brakes, hydraulic495
Vehicle speed control311
Fuel system, gasoline294
Power train260
Exterior lighting170
Steering173
10 other systems8616
9 recalls

Mercury Topaz recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Cooling system: fan97V-019 · 1992–1994 · Feb 25, 1997 · 75,200 vehicles–Electrical system: ignition96V-071 · 1988–1993 · Apr 25, 1996 · 7,900,000 vehicles–Vehicle speed control88V-024 · 1988 · Mar 1, 1988 · 91,000 vehicles–Seats86V-082 · 1984 · Jun 24, 1986 · 195,732 vehicles–Suspension: rear85V-145 · 1984–1985 · Nov 5, 1985 · 227,027 vehicles–Ignition: module85V-134 · 1985 · Oct 22, 1985 · 3,988 vehicles–Suspension: rear85V-086 · 1984–1985 · Jul 3, 1985 · 226,729 vehicles–Front: anchorage83V-134 · 1984 · Dec 20, 1983 · 530,000 vehicles–Interior lighting83V-055 · 1984 · May 16, 1983 · 626 vehicles
10 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Topaz

  1. ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRESPE96033 · 1991–1994 · closed Sep 30, 1996
    Led to recall 97V-019
  2. REAR BRK ADJUSTER FAILUREPE96005 · 1984–1991 · closed May 28, 1996
    No recall
  3. REAR BRAKE SYSTEM FAILUREDP96002 · 1984–1991 · closed Jan 19, 1996
    No recall
  4. FAILED PASSIVE RESTRAINTEA90008 · 1987–1990 · closed Dec 31, 1991
    No recall
  5. SPEED CNTRL MALFUNCTIONEA89037 · 1986 · closed Nov 30, 1990
    No recall
  6. SPEED CONTROL MALFUNCTIONPE89118 · 1985–1987 · closed Sep 6, 1989
    No recall
  7. HALFSHAFT FAILUREPE88034 · 1984–1986 · closed Sep 19, 1988
    No recall
  8. STALLINGPE87028 · 1984–1986 · closed Jan 21, 1988
    No recall
  9. STEERING SYST. FAILURESPE87016 · 1984 · closed Aug 6, 1987
    No recall
  10. SEATBACK FAILUREEA86010 · 1983–1986 · closed Jul 28, 1989
    Led to recall 86V-082