Total Complaints
13 filings
MERCURY TOPAZ · model year
1986 MERCURY TOPAZ
13 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1986MERCURYTOPAZ carries 13 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 4 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1986 TOPAZ is steering:rack and pinion with 2 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition:switch (2) and engine and engine cooling:cooling system:hoses/lines/piping/fittings (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 22 investigation files overlapping the 1986 TOPAZ. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
13
Complaints
0
Crashes
4
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20000623SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
SUDDEN APPLICATION OF FOOT BRAKE CAUSES RIGHT FRONT BRAKE TO LOCK. NO BRAKING ON OTHER 3 WHEELS. ABLE TO STOP ONLY BY USING HAND BRAKE AND STEERING TO AVOID COLLISION. REPLACED BRAKES TO NO EFFECT. *AK
20000505ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE BECAME VERY HOT AND STALLED OUT DUT TO THE TFI IGNITION MODULE BEING TOO CLOSE AND MOUNTED ON THE SIDE OF THE DISTRIBUTOR. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
19980303EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEAD LAMP SWITCH FAILS.
19960725SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
REAR BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE DUE TO AUTOMATIC ADJUSTER FAILING TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. *DH
19960610STEERING:RACK AND PINION
PILLAR OF BLUE SMOKE THROUGH CENTER OF INSTRUMENT PANEL VENT AND IGNITION SWITCH LOCKUP, THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL OCCURRENCES. *AK
19960601FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *SD
19960501FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK
19960501FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK
19950810ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE HEAD GASKET LEAK AND REPLACE FAN MOTOR , CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE TWO TIMES,THE RACK/PINION WENT OUT WHEN DRIVING THERE IS MORE . TT
19950810EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
THE HEAD GASKET LEAK AND REPLACE FAN MOTOR , CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE TWO TIMES,THE RACK/PINION WENT OUT WHEN DRIVING THERE IS MORE . TT
19950810FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE HEAD GASKET LEAK AND REPLACE FAN MOTOR , CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE TWO TIMES,THE RACK/PINION WENT OUT WHEN DRIVING THERE IS MORE . TT
19950810STEERING:RACK AND PINION
THE HEAD GASKET LEAK AND REPLACE FAN MOTOR , CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE TWO TIMES,THE RACK/PINION WENT OUT WHEN DRIVING THERE IS MORE . TT
19950524ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
PART QUIK CONNECT HOSE DETERIORATES LEAKING AT "O" RING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Compare 1986MERCURYTOPAZ to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1986 MERCURY TOPAZ have?▼
The 1986 MERCURY TOPAZ has 13 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 4 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 MERCURY TOPAZ?▼
The most-complained component for the 1986 MERCURY TOPAZ is STEERING:RACK AND PINION with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS.
Is the 1986 MERCURY TOPAZ safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.