1992 Mercury Topaz

Defect. THESE VEHICLES ARE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, IOWA, MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA. THE VEHICLES INVOLVED ARE 1992-1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES WITH 3.0L ENGINES; 1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ WITH 2.3L ENGINES; 1992-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.8L ENGINES; 1994-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.0L ENGINES AND 1992-1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL VEHICLES WITH 3.8L ENGINES. DURING HIGH WINDS, HEAVY, BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW, AND LOW TEMPERATURES, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN CAN BECOME BLOCKED OR FROZEN WITH SNOW. THE FAN MOTOR MAY NOT ROTATE AND COULD OVERHEAT.

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE SMOKE OR FLAMES FROM THE FAN AND/OR SHROUD, THE FAN ELECTRICAL WIRING, OR THE FAN MOTOR RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ELECTRICAL JUMPER HARNESS CONTAINING AN AUTOMATIC RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PROTECT THE FAN MOTOR LOW SPEED CIRCUITRY FROM OVERHEATING.

Defect. THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

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.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCURY TOPAZ. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25-30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. IT ONLY ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY WITH A MECHANIC. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30.

THE IGNITION SWITCH FELL APART 3 TIMES ON THE TOPAZ SINCE 1995, THE SWITCHES I BOUGHT AT FORD DEALERSHIP WAS THE EXACT SAME ONE THAT FELL APART. FIRST THE ACCESSORIES STOP WORKED ONE AT A TIME, A/C, TURN SIGNALS, RADIO, AIR CONDITIONING. THEN I PULL IT OUT AND REPLACED THE SWITCH, I CARRY AN EXTRA ONE IN T CAR AND HAVE THE REPLACEMENT DOWN TO 45 MINUTES. I REPLACED THE SWITCH NOW WHEN THE SECOND SIGN OF FAILURE OCCURRED. I HAVE A SMALL POUCH WITH ALL THE TOOLS. I NEED TO CHANGE THE PART AND HAVE THE BOLTS AND SCREWS MARKED THAT I HAVE TO TAKE OUT. I EVEN WRITE THE DATE AND MILEAGE I CHANGE IT IN MY SERVICE MANUAL SO I ALMOST CAN TELL WHEN THE NEST FAILURE WILL OCCUR. I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE REPLACEMENT SWITCHES WHEN I CAN BUY THEM AT A DEALERSHIP FOR ANY WHERE FROM $9 FOR FIRST TO $16 THIS LAST TIME. THE LAST THING I BOUGHT THAT CHEAP WAS A PAIR OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS AT A DEALERSHIP.*AK

TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN; I BROUGHT MY DAUGHTER'S CAR IN FOR SEATBELT REPAIR. THERE WAS FAILURE OF THE SHOULDER STRAP TO OPEN WHEN GETTING INTO THE CAR. MY COMPLAINT IS WITH THE DEALERSHIP HAMMONTON AUTO GROUP WHITE HORSE PIKE HAMMONTON NJ. ON 6/25 THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN- CHARGING $80 TO DIAGNOSE THAT THE SWITCH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEEDED REPLACING. THE PART COST $10 THE JOB WAS TO COST $260 - WHICH I FEEL WAS A CUSTOMER RIPOFF. WE DECIDED TO GET THE JOB DONE DESPITE THE OUTRAGEOUS COST. ON 6/26 WHEN WE ARRIVED TO PICK UP THE CAR-THIS SERVICE DEPT FIXED THE DRIVER SIDE WHICH WAS NEVER BROKEN IN THE FIRST PLACE. THEY DID NOT NOTICE THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE DIDN'T WORK AFTER AN $80 DIAGNOSTICS FEE. I AM NEVER GOING TO THIS PARTICULAR DEALERSHIP AGAIN. I AM ALSO REPORTING THIS TO THE BBB AND TO WHOEVER ELSE I CAN COMPLAIN TO. THIS IS WHY SO MANY AMERICANS ARE NOT BUYING FROM FORD ANYMORE.

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL.*MR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED FLAMES BURST OUT FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED (96V-071000) BUT THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED THE NOTICE. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. *TS *NLM

THIS VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL# 96V071000 CONCERNING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION SWITCH. IGNITION SWITCH MUST BE MANEUVERED FOR SOME ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PARTS TO FUNCTION. FOR INSTANCE, AIR CONDITIONER WILL COME ON BY MANEUVERING THE IGNITION SWITCH. ALSO, ELECTRIC SEAT BELTS/POWER WINDOWS/ TURN SIGNALS, AND BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T OPERATE. *AK

CONSUMER HAS HAD PAST PROBLEMS WITH FRONT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS ON BOTH SIDES. AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT BACK. BELT HAS TO BE TUGGED ON TO RETRACT. MOTOR MAKES A GRINDING AND RATTLING NOISE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND COMING UP TO A STOP LIGHT/SIGN VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT. HAD NO PRIOR WARNING. HAD NOT BEEN TO A DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE PROBLEM.*AK

VEHICLE STALLS AT SLOW SPEEDS, 35 MPH AND WHEN COMING TO A STOP. *AK

STALLING AT HIGH TEMPERATURES, WON'T START AGAIN FOR 15-30 MINITUES. POSSIBLY A BAD IGNITION MODULE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

HORN QUIT WORKING. *CJ

CONSUMER TOOK CAR OUT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND IT SEEMED FINE. HOWEVER, AFTER CONSUMER LEFT THE LOT, LEFT BALL JOINT BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SWERVE ALL OVER THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE 10MPH TO GET VEHICLE HOME.*AK

THE LEAKING HEAD GASKET CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. YH

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 30-35MPH AND STARTED SMELLING SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY & GOT OUT. WITHIN MINUTES, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER & FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. *AK

CROSSMEMBER BAR ON THE LEFT REAR AXEL BROKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT IS EXTREMELY TIGHT THAT IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO PASSENGER. YH

WHEN TRAVELING 30 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT, AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL, PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR BOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS YET TO REPLACE PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHENEVER VEHICLE IS IDLING, IT WOULD MAKE A RATTLING NOISE. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER & INFORMED BY MECHANIC IT WAS CRANKSHAFT. THIS CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH THE BELTS IF IT OVERHEATS. *AK

VEHICLE JUST STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR 6 YEARS. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON 92 MERCURY TOPAZ BROKE. IT WILL NOT COMPLETELY RETRACT WHEN YOU CLOSE THE DOOR AND DRIVE. IT SEEMS LIKE THE TRACK THE SYSTEM RUNS IN IS DEFECTIVE.

THE DRIVERS SIDE MOTORIZED SEAT BELT IS STUCK 3/4 OF THE WAY BACK, THE ONLY WAY TO USE IT IS TO SLIP IT OVER YOUR HEAD. AND ALSO THE DRIVERS FRONT SEAT, THE SEAT WELDS BROKE, AND YOU ARE SETTING IN A RECLINING POSITION, IT IS CURRENTLY BEING HELD UP WITH WOOD.

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE, AND CAUSED DRIVER TO MOVE BACKWARDS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 40 MPH GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE EVEN BY HITTING THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON OR APPLYING BRAKES,WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

ELECTRICAL FIRE UNDER DASH ENGULFED CAR PARKED ON DRIVEWAY AFTER SITTING. *AK

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT IS INOPERATIVE, WILL NOT MOVE OR RETRACT WHEN DOOR IS OPENED OR CLOSED, CAUSING LOSS OF PROTECTION. *AK *ML

SHOULDER HARNESS RESTRAINT IS STUCK IN THIS VEHICLE, IT WILL NOT GO FOWARD OR BACKWARD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH HAD AN ACCIDENT, IN WHICH THE MIDDLE REAR SEATBELT MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE SEATBELT TO UNLATCH AND THE CSS TO BE THROWN FORWARD. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE JERKS AND SHUTS DOWN. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED VARIOUS PARTS OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION FAILURES.

ENGINE STALLS IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING, 3 TO 5 TIMES A WEEK, HAPPENS DURING WEATHER TEMPATURES OF 85 DEGREES, POTENTIAL FOR CRASH, DEALER HAS NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT'S CAUSING PROBLEM. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT FRAME BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO TILT BACKWARDS.. *AK CONSUMER STATES ONLY ONE BOLT WAS USED TO BOLT THE SEAT FRAME DOWN AND FEELS THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. *SLC

THE WIRE THAT GOES TO THE HEATER BLOWER SWITCH, HEATS UP AND MELTS THE WIRE AND THE PLASTIC PART OF THE SWITCH, THE WIRE WAS REPLACED BY OWNER LAST YEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED AGAIN ON 9/25/97. THE SWITCH WAS OK, BUT THE WIRE HAD TO BE REPLACED. OWNER REPLACED THE WIRE.*JB

CONSUMER TURNED ON THE HEAT AND ANTI-FREEZE STARTED LEAKING OUT FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD ON THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS ON BUT NOT IN MOTION. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED 2ND DEGREE BURNS, APPROXIMATELY 8 INCHES LONG AND 2 1/2 INCHES WIDE. THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE WILL CONTACT SOMEONE FROM THE FORD MOTOR CO. *AK

ENGINE FIRE.

MOTOR SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT WHEN DOOR IS OPENED.

HORN FAILED DUE TO A BENT PART FROM FACTORY.

STARTER FAILED.

HEATER CONTROL SWITCH FAILURE. *AK

VEHICLE IS PARKED AND LEFT WINDOWS CLOSED , WET WEATHER CONDITIONS WHEN RETURNED AND FLOORBOARD IS FULL OF WATER. *AK

DURING VEHICLE OPERATION THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 7 TIMES. *AK

BRAKES FAILED.

AT 55000 MILES THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FAILED. *AK CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT FAILED AND IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO REPAIR IT AND THE FAILURE WAS REALLY WITH THE CRANK SHIFT PULLEY. *SLC

ELECTRICAL SHORT, CONSUMER TURNED ON THE REAR DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE BACK WINDOW AND THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED. *AK

MASTER CYLINDER FAILED, ALSO REPLACED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS/PADS. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR (7) HOURS IT CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN.*AK

FAILURE OF THE SEAT BELT WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE BELT COMES OFF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE IN MORE DETAILS

REPLACEMENT OF FUEL PUMP 3 TIMES. *AK

FRONT BRAKE DISC ROTORS WARP, DIFFICULTY STOPPING VEHICLE. *AK

CAR WAS SITTING IN GARAGE AND CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE.