Total Complaints
28 filings
MERCURY TOPAZ · model year
1988 MERCURY TOPAZ
28 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988MERCURYTOPAZ carries 28 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 5 fires, 1 injury, and 1 fatality. 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 1988 TOPAZ is seat belts with 4 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition:switch (3) and electrical system:ignition:module (3). 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 1988 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.
28
Complaints
1
Crashes
5
Fires
1
Injuries
1
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 3 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20040422STEERING
MY AIR CONDITIONING WON'T WORK, MY STEERING IS A PROBLEM, WHEN I HIT THE GAS PEDAL ONCE AND THEN LET GO OF IT, MY STEERING WHEEL MOVES BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITON. MY VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKS SO BAD THAT IT SMOKES. I PUT 3 QUARTS IN IT TO GO ABOUT 20 MILES AND THAT REALLY SUCKS.
Mileage: 214,000
20040422SEAT BELTS
MY AIR CONDITIONING WON'T WORK, MY STEERING IS A PROBLEM, WHEN I HIT THE GAS PEDAL ONCE AND THEN LET GO OF IT, MY STEERING WHEEL MOVES BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITON. MY VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKS SO BAD THAT IT SMOKES. I PUT 3 QUARTS IN IT TO GO ABOUT 20 MILES AND THAT REALLY SUCKS.
Mileage: 214,000
20040422UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY AIR CONDITIONING WON'T WORK, MY STEERING IS A PROBLEM, WHEN I HIT THE GAS PEDAL ONCE AND THEN LET GO OF IT, MY STEERING WHEEL MOVES BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITON. MY VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKS SO BAD THAT IT SMOKES. I PUT 3 QUARTS IN IT TO GO ABOUT 20 MILES AND THAT REALLY SUCKS.
Mileage: 214,000
20040422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY AIR CONDITIONING WON'T WORK, MY STEERING IS A PROBLEM, WHEN I HIT THE GAS PEDAL ONCE AND THEN LET GO OF IT, MY STEERING WHEEL MOVES BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITON. MY VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKS SO BAD THAT IT SMOKES. I PUT 3 QUARTS IN IT TO GO ABOUT 20 MILES AND THAT REALLY SUCKS.
Mileage: 214,000
20030426ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I FILED A COMPLAIN WITH FORD RELATIVE THE TFI MODULE WITH COPIES OF THE BILL. I WAS REIMBURSED FOR MUCH OF THE EXPENSE LESS $70. I CALLED, FORD COULD NOT DISCUSS ON PHONE, WAS TOLD TO WRITE COMPLAIN TO A FORD GROUP IN CA. THIS WAS 3 WEEKS AGO, STILL NO RESPONSE FROM FORD. THE CHECK, DATED 4/4/2003 WAS FOR THE SUM OF $482.84, MY TOTAL COST FOR THE TOWING AND REPAIRS WAS $559.47. THERE IS NO-ONE THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REACH AT FORD WHO WILL EVEN ANSWER QUESTIONS RELATIVE THIS SETTLEMENT! *NLM
Mileage: 80,513
20030410ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
IN THE CASE OF THE DEFECTIVE FORD IGNITION MODULES( HOWARD VS FORD), ALL THE CLAIMS THAT I SENT IN WERE REJECTED BY FORD. THEY SEEM TO BE USING THE "JUMP THROUGH THE HOOP TACTIC" IS THIS HOW ONE OF THE MOST DEFECTIVE AUTOMOTIVE PART RECALL BE HANDLED? IN MY CASE THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL CRASH DUE TO THE IGNITION MODULE FAILING WHILE DRIVING. *NLM
20030109ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS
20020514ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE TFI MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE, CONSUMER FEELS THAT SHE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED SINCE THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST FORD IN CA REGARDING THIS EXACT PROBLEM. *SLC
20020207ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE TFI MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE, CONSUMER FEELS THAT SHE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED SINCE THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST FORD IN CA REGARDING THIS EXACT PROBLEM. *SLC
20010125ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN APPLYING GAS PEDAL INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. IT IS WORSE IN WINTER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
19990414ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK & WOBBLE IN REAR. TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP & WAS INFORMED THAT MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
19990225ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO ABOVE 20 MPH.
19971022EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY LENS DETERIORATED, DIRTY/CONTAMINDATED, IMPAIRS DRIVERS VISION WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, ACCORDING TO DEALER THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACING. *AK *JB
19970923SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THE RESTRAINT RELEASE ON THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RELEASE THE BELT WHEN PUSHED . THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A INDEPENDENT DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME OF THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM IS BENT. THE DEALER TOLD OWNER THAT AFTER THREE YEARS THERE WAS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE WITHOUT CHARGING THE OWNER. *AK
19961106CrashFireFatalSTEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
POWER STEERING FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT/DEATH.
19960909SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILS TO STAY LATCHED.
19960718SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES WEAR OUT AT 12,000 TO 15,000. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
19960619FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DH
19960619FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WIRING HARNESS UNDER HOOD SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DH
19960619EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
PLASTIC HEAD LAMP LENSES BECOME OPAGUE DUE TO SUNLIGHT, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *SD
Compare 1988MERCURYTOPAZ to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 MERCURY TOPAZ have?▼
The 1988 MERCURY TOPAZ has 28 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 5 fires, 1 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 MERCURY TOPAZ?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 MERCURY TOPAZ is SEAT BELTS with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE.
Is the 1988 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.