IllustrationWHILE PARKED OVER NIGHT, QUOTED BY FIRE MARSHALL "VEHICLE STARTED" THEN BEGAN SMOKING UNTIL FIRE IGNITED. NOW CLASSIFIED AS TOTALED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
1991 Mercury Topaz
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Topaz years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 40 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports8 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
40 reportsDRIVERS POWER SEATBELT MOTOR BURNED OUT.
REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER.
ALTERNATOR REPLACED 4 TIMES WITHIN 2 YEARS; LIGHT COMES ON DASH; ALTERNATOR MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING LOSS ALL VEHICLE POWER. TT
FUEL PUMP FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL.
DRIVING ALONG WHEN POWER SEAT ADJUSTER BROKE, CAUSING SEAT TO FALL BACKWARD. *AK
THE CAR CUTS OFF ON YOU PARTICULARLY WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED. TT
VEHICLE THROTTLE CABLE BROKE IN HALF WHILE DRIVING. TT
FAULTY HEADLIGHT WIRING RESULTED IN A FIRE.
PASSENGER SIDE AUTO SEAT BELT GET STUCK IN A HALF WAY POSITION WHEN TRYING TO USE. TT
Official recalls
196V071000 · Electrical System:ignition
Apr 25, 1996
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3PE96033 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires
Opened May 2, 1996 · Closed Sep 30, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
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.
PE96005 · Rear Brk Adjuster Failure
Opened Jan 19, 1996 · Closed May 28, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1984 - 1991 FORD TEMPO/MERCURY TOPAZ
DP96002 · Rear Brake System Failure
Opened Jan 11, 1996 · Closed Jan 19, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available