Model year record

1992 Mercury Topaz recalls & problems

The 1992 Mercury Topaz has 2 safety recalls and 62 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is seat belts (20 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints62filed by owners

Crashes · fires3 · 6reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths3 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Engine and engine coolingFeb 25, 1997

Cooling system › Fan

Recall 97V01900075,200 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: THESE VEHICLES ARE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, IOWA, MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA. THE VEHICLES INVOLVED ARE 1992-1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES WITH 3.0L ENGINES; 1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ WITH 2.3L ENGINES; 1992-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.8L ENGINES; 1994-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.0L ENGINES AND 1992-1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL VEHICLES WITH 3.8L ENGINES. DURING HIGH WINDS, HEAVY, BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW, AND LOW TEMPERATURES, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN CAN BECOME BLOCKED OR FROZEN WITH SNOW. THE FAN MOTOR MAY NOT ROTATE AND COULD OVERHEAT.
Risk: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE SMOKE OR FLAMES FROM THE FAN AND/OR SHROUD, THE FAN ELECTRICAL WIRING, OR THE FAN MOTOR RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ELECTRICAL JUMPER HARNESS CONTAINING AN AUTOMATIC RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PROTECT THE FAN MOTOR LOW SPEED CIRCUITRY FROM OVERHEATING.

Electrical systemApr 25, 1996

Ignition

Recall 96V0710007,900,000 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

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.

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

24mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 30 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.3 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel

Topaz

21mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

Topaz

20mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.3 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel

Topaz

19mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-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	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Seat beltsFront › Webbing; Front › Anchorage	20	0	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline	19	0	4	0	—
Electrical systemIgnition › Switch; Ignition	12	0	3	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc › Rotor; Foundation components › Master cylinder	8	0	0	0	—
VisibilityDefroster/defogger/hvac system › Windshield › Electrical heating element; Defroster/defogger/hvac system	7	0	0	1	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission	6	0	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap; Delivery › Fuel pump	4	0	0	0	—
SeatsFront assembly › Recliner	4	1	0	2	—
Vehicle speed control	3	1	0	0	—
SteeringSteering wheel/handle bar; Column	2	1	0	0	—
StructureFrame and members	2	0	0	0	—
Exterior lightingTurn signal › Switch; Brake lights › Switch	2	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Power train › Automatic transmission
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCURY TOPAZ. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25-30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. IT ONLY ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY WITH A MECHANIC. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30.
Sep 16, 2008 · 30 miles
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
THE IGNITION SWITCH FELL APART 3 TIMES ON THE TOPAZ SINCE 1995, THE SWITCHES I BOUGHT AT FORD DEALERSHIP WAS THE EXACT SAME ONE THAT FELL APART. FIRST THE ACCESSORIES STOP WORKED ONE AT A TIME, A/C, TURN SIGNALS, RADIO, AIR CONDITIONING. THEN I PULL IT OUT AND REPLACED THE SWITCH, I CARRY AN EXTRA ONE IN T CAR AND HAVE THE REPLACEMENT DOWN TO 45 MINUTES. I REPLACED THE SWITCH NOW WHEN THE SECOND SIGN OF FAILURE OCCURRED. I HAVE A SMALL POUCH WITH ALL THE TOOLS. I NEED TO CHANGE THE PART AND HAVE THE BOLTS AND SCREWS MARKED THAT I HAVE TO TAKE OUT. I EVEN WRITE THE DATE AND MILEAGE I CHANGE IT IN MY SERVICE MANUAL SO I ALMOST CAN TELL WHEN THE NEST FAILURE WILL OCCUR. I KNEW SOMETHING WAS…
Jul 21, 2006 · 76,000 miles
Seat belts
TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN; I BROUGHT MY DAUGHTER'S CAR IN FOR SEATBELT REPAIR. THERE WAS FAILURE OF THE SHOULDER STRAP TO OPEN WHEN GETTING INTO THE CAR. MY COMPLAINT IS WITH THE DEALERSHIP HAMMONTON AUTO GROUP WHITE HORSE PIKE HAMMONTON NJ. ON 6/25 THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN- CHARGING $80 TO DIAGNOSE THAT THE SWITCH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEEDED REPLACING. THE PART COST $10 THE JOB WAS TO COST $260 - WHICH I FEEL WAS A CUSTOMER RIPOFF. WE DECIDED TO GET THE JOB DONE DESPITE THE OUTRAGEOUS COST. ON 6/26 WHEN WE ARRIVED TO PICK UP THE CAR-THIS SERVICE DEPT FIXED THE DRIVER SIDE WHICH WAS NEVER BROKEN IN THE FIRST PLACE. THEY DID NOT NOTICE THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE DIDN'T WORK AFTER AN $80…
Jun 15, 2003 · 20,000 miles
Electrical system › IgnitionFire
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL.*MR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED FLAMES BURST OUT FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED (96V-071000) BUT THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED THE NOTICE. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. *TS *NLM
Apr 12, 2003 · 46,000 miles
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
THIS VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL# 96V071000 CONCERNING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION SWITCH. IGNITION SWITCH MUST BE MANEUVERED FOR SOME ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PARTS TO FUNCTION. FOR INSTANCE, AIR CONDITIONER WILL COME ON BY MANEUVERING THE IGNITION SWITCH. ALSO, ELECTRIC SEAT BELTS/POWER WINDOWS/ TURN SIGNALS, AND BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T OPERATE. *AK
Aug 29, 2003
Seat belts
CONSUMER HAS HAD PAST PROBLEMS WITH FRONT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS ON BOTH SIDES. AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT BACK. BELT HAS TO BE TUGGED ON TO RETRACT. MOTOR MAKES A GRINDING AND RATTLING NOISE.*AK
May 15, 2001
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND COMING UP TO A STOP LIGHT/SIGN VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT. HAD NO PRIOR WARNING. HAD NOT BEEN TO A DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE PROBLEM.*AK
May 7, 2001
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
VEHICLE STALLS AT SLOW SPEEDS, 35 MPH AND WHEN COMING TO A STOP. *AK
Jul 1, 2000

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.
PE96033 · opened May 2, 1996 · closed Sep 30, 1996