1988 MERCURY TOPAZ — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
28
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
0
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1988 MERCURY TOPAZ
The 1988 MERCURY TOPAZ has received a total of 28 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. The most commonly reported problems involve the Seat Belts (4 complaints), Electrical Systemignitionmodule (3 complaints), and Electrical Systemignitionswitch (3 complaints).
Recalls for the 1988 MERCURY TOPAZ
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 1988 MERCURY TOPAZ, potentially affecting up to 7,991,000 vehicles.
Recall 96V071000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
| 7,900,000 vehicles affected
Defect: THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
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.
View full details →Recall 88V024000 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
| 91,000 vehicles affected
Defect: TWO ATTACHMENT SCREWS FOR THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS COULD LOOSEN AND BACK OUT.
Consequence: IF BOTH SCREWS COME OUT, SENSORS COULD DISENGAGE FROMTHE THROTTLE SHAFT, PREVENTING RETURN OF THE THROTTLE FROM MID POSITION.
Remedy: REPLACE ATTACHMENT SCREWS WITH SCREWS WITH PRE APPLIED ADHESIVE THAT WILL BE TIGHTENED TO A HIGHER TORQUE SPECIFICATION.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1988 MERCURY TOPAZ
28 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1988 MERCURY TOPAZ. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Belts | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemignitionmodule | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemignitionswitch | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemignition | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lightingheadlights | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemwiringfront Underhood | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingengine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainautomatic Transmission | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Beltsfrontanchorage | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Beltsfrontbuckle Assembly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Beltsfrontretractor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seatsfront Assemblypower Adjust | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Components | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steeringhydraulic Power Assist System | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Safety Rating for the 1988 MERCURY TOPAZ
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1988 MERCURY TOPAZ in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1988 MERCURY TOPAZ
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1988 MERCURY TOPAZ
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the MERCURY TOPAZ
- 1983 MERCURY TOPAZ — 1 complaint
- 1984 MERCURY TOPAZ — 13 complaints
- 1985 MERCURY TOPAZ — 5 complaints
- 1986 MERCURY TOPAZ — 13 complaints
- 1987 MERCURY TOPAZ — 28 complaints
- 1988 MERCURY TOPAZ (current)
- 1989 MERCURY TOPAZ — 57 complaints
- 1990 MERCURY TOPAZ — 67 complaints
- 1991 MERCURY TOPAZ — 59 complaints
- 1992 MERCURY TOPAZ — 92 complaints
- 1993 MERCURY TOPAZ — 98 complaints
Other MERCURY Models
- MERCURY SABLE — 7,190 total complaints
- MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS — 4,949 total complaints
- MERCURY MILAN — 3,211 total complaints
- MERCURY COUGAR — 2,646 total complaints
- MERCURY MOUNTAINEER — 2,646 total complaints
- MERCURY VILLAGER — 2,205 total complaints
- MERCURY MARINER — 1,716 total complaints
- MERCURY MYSTIQUE — 1,510 total complaints