Ignition
- Problem
- THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
- Risk
- THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
- Fix
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
Model year record
1991 Mercury Topaz recalls & problems
The 1991 Mercury Topaz has 1 safety recall and 40 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (13 complaints).
Recalls1safety recalls
Complaints40filed by owners
Crashes · fires0 · 9reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
Topaz
23mpg combined
| City / highway | 19 / 29 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2.3 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel
Topaz
21mpg combined
| City / highway | 19 / 24 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2.3 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
Topaz
21mpg combined
| City / highway | 19 / 26 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2.3 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
Topaz AWD
19mpg combined
| City / highway | 18 / 22 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2.3 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemIgnition; Ignition › Switch | 13 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Drum; Foundation components › Master cylinder | 11 | — |
| Seat beltsFront › Buckle assembly; Front › Retractor | 8 | — |
| Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Cooling system › Radiator assembly | 8 | — |
| Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Fuel pump; Fuel injection system | 6 | — |
| Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal; Cables | 4 | — |
| SeatsFront assembly › Power adjust | 1 | — |
| Power trainAxle assembly | 1 | — |
| VisibilityPower window devices and controls | 1 | — |
| Latches/locks/linkagesDoors › Latch | 1 | — |
| Exterior lightingHeadlights | 1 | — |
| Suspension | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Steering
LOTS OF PEELING ON THE PAINT. ALSO THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. I\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'VE HAD SO MUCH FIXED ON THIS CAR ALREADY AND SPENT LOTS OF MONEY. PLEASE ADVISE.
- Fuel system, gasolineFire
I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE IT SERVICED ON FRIDAY AND THEY SAID I HAD A GAS LEAK WHICH I HADN'T NOTICED. I HAD EVEN SMOKED IN MY CAR ON THE WAY TO THE STATION. WHEN THEY WAS EMPTYING THE GAS TANK SOMETHING SPARKED AND CAUGHT THE CAR ON FIRE WHICH ENDED UP DESTROYING MY CAR AND 3 OTHERS PLUS THE STATION. MY CAR WAS A 1991 MERCURY TOPAZ. HAS THERE BEEN ANY SIMILAR SITUATIONS INVOLVING THE FUEL TANK OR SYSTEM ON THESE CARS? *NLM
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
OIL LEAKS OUT OF THE TOP OF THE ENGINE WHEN FIRST DRIVEN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SMOKE UNTIL OIL IS BURNED OUT. VEHICLE ALSO DIES UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN DRIVING IN HOT WEATHER. THE IGNITION HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE(3) TIMES BY CONSUMER USING REBUILT, NEW AND MANUFACTURED PARTS. *JG
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Radiator assembly
THE ENGINE STALLS AT GEAR ENGAGEMENT DUE TO COOLANT THERMOSTAT, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. NLM
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Radiator assembly
VEHICLE WOULD STALL IN TRAFFIC AFTER STOPPING. NORMALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THERMOSTAT WAS BINDING, CAUSING IT TO STALL. DEALER'S DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE WASN'T READING WHAT PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN. *AK *SLC
- Electrical system › Ignition
WHEN RIDING IN TRAFFIC VEHICLE STALLS AFTER A PERIOD OF SITTING AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSE TO BE FIXED, BUT VEHICLE IS STILL STALLING. *AK
- Seat belts
FRONT SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT, BACK INTO PLACE AFTER USE. WOULD GET TRAPPED INTO THE SEAT CUSHION. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. *AK
- Electrical system › Ignition › SwitchFire
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE'S MAKE/MODEL. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED PRIOR TO THE FIRE. DEALER HAS REFUSED TO REIMBURSE FOR OR REPLACE CAR. *AK *ML
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
- ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRESClosedLed to recall 97V019000
IN DECEMBER 1995, FORD RECALLED 119,313 VEHICLES IN CANADA TO REMEDY THE SUBJECT CONDITION IN CERTAIN 1992-95 TAURUS, SABLE, TEMPO, TOPAZ AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES.FORD IS AWARE OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS OCCURRING IN NORTHERN REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT MAINTAINS THAT THE FREQUENCIES DO NOT WARRANT A FINDING OF AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.
- REAR BRK ADJUSTER FAILUREClosed
1984 - 1991 FORD TEMPO/MERCURY TOPAZ
- REAR BRAKE SYSTEM FAILUREClosed
There is no summary currently available