RecallRepo

1986 Mercury Topaz Recalls

No recalls on record Updated July 2026

No NHTSA recalls on record for the 1986 Mercury Topaz. That means NHTSA has no open safety campaign for this vehicle — it does not guarantee the absence of problems. Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
2
2fires
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1
1fires
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
1
1fires
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
1
Total complaints13

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“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”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC · reported 1999-11-01

“Rear brakes failed to engage due to automatic adjuster failing to make adjustments. *dh”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM · reported 1996-06-01

“Engine compartment fire. *sd”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE · reported 1996-05-08

“Electrical short in the ignition switch, causing the vehicle to catch on fire. *ak”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH · reported 1996-03-12

“Electrical short in the ignition switch, causing the vehicle to catch on fire. *ak”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH · reported 1996-03-12

“Pillar of blue smoke through center of instrument panel vent and ignition switch lockup, there has been several occurrences. *ak”

STEERING:RACK AND PINION · reported 1994-11-10

“Part quik connect hose deteriorates leaking at "o" ring. Please describe details. Tt”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS

“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”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Defect investigations

Investigation DP96002 Opened 1996-01-11 · closed 1996-01-19

REAR BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE

There is no summary currently available

Investigation EA86010 Opened 1986-03-26 · closed 1989-07-28

SEATBACK FAILURE

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:FORD BELIEVES THAT THE AL-LEGED DEFECT ONLY OCCURS IN A SMALL NUMBER OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ANDRECALLED ABOUT 195,732 1984 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES IN JUNE 1986.ANALYSIS: VEHICLES POTENTIALLY INVOLVED INCLUDE TEMPO/TOPAZ, ESCORT/LYNX/EXP, MUSTANG/CAPRI, LTD/MARQUIS, AND…

Investigation EA89037 Opened 1989-09-06 · closed 1990-11-30

SPEED CNTRL MALFUNCTION

===

Investigation PE87028 Opened 1987-05-01 · closed 1988-01-21

STALLING

NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN DETECTED.===

Investigation PE88034 Opened 1988-03-18 · closed 1988-09-19

HALFSHAFT FAILURE

SUMMARY:THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH EITHER A 2.3 LITER4 CYLINDER ENGINE OR A 2.0 LITER DIESEL ENGINE.THE TRANSAXLE MAY BEEITHER A 5 SPEED MANUAL OR A 3 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.THEHALFSHAFT ASSEMBLIES ARE IDENTICAL FOR AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL USE, BUT THERIGHT INTERCONNECTING SHAFT ON A DIESEL EQUIPPED…

Investigation PE89118 Opened 1989-04-19 · closed 1989-09-06

SPEED CONTROL MALFUNCTION

===

Investigation PE96005 Opened 1996-01-19 · closed 1996-05-28

REAR BRK ADJUSTER FAILURE

1984 - 1991 FORD TEMPO/MERCURY TOPAZ

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1986 Mercury Topaz as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.