1990 Mercury Topaz
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Mercury › Topaz › 1990
These records cover every 1990 Mercury Topaz. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
2 recalls name the 1990 Mercury Topaz. Newest first.
The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.
Risk and remedy
Risk
This condition could cause overheating, smoke, and possibly fire in the steering column area of the vehicle.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the ignition switch.
Threaded inflator components may have been damaged during assembly which may allow components to separate when inflator receives a signal to deploy the air bag.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Inflator component separation allows hot combustion gases to escape into the passenger compartment which could result in injuries to vehicle occupants.
Remedy
Replace air bag modules containing potentially defective inflators.
Owner complaints
48 complaints3 involved a crash11 involved a fire2 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Electrical system › Ignition · Electrical system › Starter assembly · Exterior lighting › Turn signal › Switch
Vehicle stalled 7 times at various speeds. Vehicle was taken to dealer 5 times, ignition module was replaced twice, multi-function switch once ,and starter once.*ak
- Exterior lighting › Headlights
Headlight covers made of plastic became yellow, and makes night driving difficult. please provide any further information.*ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Module
The vehicle's tpi module IS defective and IS causing the vehicle to stall intermittently, consumer request that the manufacturer replace this component at their expense. nlm
- Electrical system › Ignition
When driving vehicle will cut off without prior notice. Then, it takes a minute or two to start it over. dealership was aware of the problem.*ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Vehicle caught on fire. fire started in the steering column. vehicle experienced the same problem as manufacturer's recall 7774/ignition switch. ford advised consumer that this vehicle was not part of the recall. *Ak
- Vehicle speed control
Idles to fast ,beyond high idle ,uncontrolable speed while driving
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Copies of form o.m.b. No. 2127-0008 sent via us mail, and e-mail to: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Brother had driven the car to get it washed. Then drove to a restuarant, and the car started smoking and caught on fire. called fire department to extinguish the fire. *ak
- Exterior lighting › Headlights
Right headlight lense cover came off while driving. Nm
- Electrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery
Alternator lead to the battery melted.
- Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator · Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Alternator has failed on six occasions resulting in burnt wiring and damage to other components, recall notice sent in regards to the ignition switch which stated possibility of fire and burning, which could have possibly been related to alternator failures, prior to notice.
- Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator
The altenator connecting wires get hot, and they have a tendency to melt and catch on fire. Dealer has been contacted.*ak
- Electrical system
Electrical system continues to fail, causing burning and smoking at the harness area resulting in damaging other components.
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
The smell of burned oil and smoke visible from the front grille was caused by an oil leak. the oil pan and valve cover need to be replaced before the leak leads to a fire.
- Electrical system › Wiring
Alternator has been replaced 6 times due to burnt wiring.
- Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
Whenever engine I s cold, te accelerator pedal gets stuck. Needs to press very hard to get it to catch. Took to dealer & mechanic could not locate problem. At best it's frequent and intermittent. *ak
- Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
Whenever engine IS cold accelerator pedal gets stuck. Needs to press very hard in order for it to catch. Took to dealer & mechanic could not find the problem which occurs frequently, but intermittently. *Ak
- Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator
Alternator socket failed causing vehicle fire.
- Electrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery › Cables · Engine and engine cooling › Engine · Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system · Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe · Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch · Power train › Manual transmission · Seat belts › Front › Anchorage · Tires
Transmission problem.
- Seat belts
Owner states that she was involved in a crash while traveling at 15-25mph and front automatic seat belts did not hold/latch. Also, dealer stated that safety catch was defective. *ak
- Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Fuel tank: the fuel tank has corroded and gas IS leaking. Took vehicle in for repairs. fordstated that they can't do anything because there IS no recall on the gas tank. *ak
- Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator
An electrical short in the alternator, causing the wiring to the alternator to burn out. *ak
- Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator
The voltage regulator burned out, took to dealer to be replaced. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
Driver's side seat belt wil not retract, had that one fixed, now the passerger's side seat belt will not retract. When trying to retract the seat belt will not pull over the occupant. (Under investigation ea 90 008). *ak
- Steering › Linkages › Tie rod assembly
Arriving home, was pulling into driveway steering wheel felt funny, the entire right front wheel fell over, took to dealer, informed tie rod broke, was repaired, but problem still exists. *ak
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Rear brk adjuster failure
1984 - 1991 ford tempo/mercury topaz
- Rear brake system failure
There is no summary currently available
- Failed passive restraint
We have received numerous reports which allege a malfunction or failure of the passive restraint system.additional reports allege that the passive restraint system failed to restrain/adequately protect the occupant during an accident
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 6090087Information on identifying non-approved / alternate refrigerants which could cause safety, and performance concerns if installed in ford a/c systems.
- 6089681Subject on a wire harness terminal repair kit available for repairing electrical wiring harnesses.
- 3031200Unknown
- 623988Information regarding transmission fluid usage charts. *Slc
- 623944Some vehicles may exhibit heater core leaks. *Slc
- 612203Information regarding the new transmission cooler flusher- service tip. *Mjs
- 608431Information on the new flush and fill tool available through rotunda.
- 606460Experiencing a whine / buzz type noise in the speakers of the entertainment radio or two-way radio on vehicles with an in-tank electric fuel pump.
- 606420Ford motor company now recommends sae 5W-30 viscosity grade for servicing any ford gasoline-powered vehicle regardless of model year.
- 604059Ford motor company has released a new electrical grease ( F8AZ - 19g208-aa ) to reduce the possibility of moisture corrosion at the terminals.
- 601343A new silicone gasket and sealant.
- 601341Experiencing a whining / buzzing noise in the speakers of the entertainment radio or two-way radio.
- 601312Information on a buzzing or rattle noise from the exhaust system.
- 601290Information on tire company telephone numbers for customer assistance.
- 601269Announcing the ford oem air conditioning retrofit kit availability.
- 601012The use of petroleum-based grease as a lubricant in servicing disc brakes IS no longer acceptable.
- 601010Recommended guidelines for towing behind recreational vehicles.
- 600586Front and rear bumpers made of xenoy plastic have had the conductive primer removed from service parts.
- 53660Vehicles exhibiting a "squeaking" or "chirping" from the blower motor at low blower motor speeds.
- 51990Blower motor- "chirping" or "squeaking" from blower motor at low speeds.
- 51987Fuel economy- customer expectations versus vehicle usage.
- 51945Fluid- transmission fluid usage charts.
- 51735Rear engine mount concerns.
- 50997Transaxle - torque converter replacement guidelines and torque converter/transaxle cooling system cleaning procedures - service tip.
- 50940Windshield and interior glass - fog/film.
- 50908Torque converter - leak test procedure - service tip.
- 50905Wiring - electrical diode identification and service replacements.
- 46478The use of petroleum-based grease as a lubricant in servicing disc brakes IS no longer acceptable because it may be incompatible with the rubber material used in the disc brake system. If petroleum-based grease IS used to lubricate any part of the disc brake system, it could cause rubber parts to swell if lubricant contacts the rubber material.
- 46460Certain 1989 model tempo & topaz cars equipped w/ 2.3L hsc engines built from 5/31/89 at kansas city & 6/22/89 at oakville through the end of the 1989 model year and all 1990 through 1994 tempo & topaz cars equipped with 2.3L hsc engines that are currently registered in the following states: ak, mt, nd, mn, wi, mi (upper peninsula), ny, me, vt, nh. The positive crankcase ventilation (pcv) system may freeze causing the crankcase to pressurize which could force oil out of the crankcase through the dipstick tube or past some other gasket or seal of the engine.
- 41025A revised service windshield wiper motor IS now available.
- 40073Blower motor chirp or squeak from blower motor at low speeds.
- 39900Roughness concern during brake application.
- 39717Wiper motor replacement - upgraded service kits.
- 39128Delayed and/or intermittent no upshift of 1-2 gear.
- 37800New revised clutch seals to correct a no reverse in extreme cold weather conditions.
- 37772The tv plunger valve position may be incorrect causing vehicles to have an intermittent no 1-2 upshift problem or cold/hard accelerator pedal effort.
- 37760Vehicles may exhibit the lack of reverse in extreme cold conditions.
Every Mercury Topaz model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.