Brake response concerns
1 mentions · 20.0% of complaints
Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).
Matching rule
\b(brake fail\w*|brakes fail\w*|brake pedal|braking distance|unintended braking|phantom braking)\bU.S. public vehicle records
1985 Mercury TOPAZ problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1985 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 5 complaints (60.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 60.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum: 3; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 2 |
| 1996 | 3 |
1995: 2; 1996: 3
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 504783 · 1996-05-20 (May 20, 1996)
REAR BRAKES FAILED. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504783 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 984236 · 1996-05-08 (May 8, 1996)
PE96-005, REAR BRAKE ADJUSTING PIN FAILURE, CAUSING THE BRAKE NOT TO ADJUST PROPERLY. *AK CONSUMER STATES REAR BRAKES DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY ADJUST, BRAKES HAVE TO BE MANUALLY ADJUSTED EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 984236 at NHTSA ↗
Explore the data
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
5 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
0.0%Usable mileage0 / 5 records
80.0%Valid incident date4 / 5 records
100.0%Valid filing date5 / 5 records
80.0%Ordered incident and filing dates4 / 5 records
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1998 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 110.0%ODI 887057WHEN VEHICLE GETS HOT IT WILL STALL, SOMETIMES VEHICLE WILL NOT START.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 111.1% | 318.8% | 29.5% | 715.2% | 510.4% | 410.0% | 711.3% | 45.6%ODI 783710VEHICLE CONTINUALLY STALLS, MECHANIC IS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE PROBLEM.*ET | 69.5% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Seat Belts | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 29.5%ODI 10070262 · 214,000 miMY 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. | 613.0%ODI 503478REAR BRAKES INTERMITTENTLY LOCK UP IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, CAUSING CAR TO SPIN. *DSH | 12.1%ODI 812253OWNER 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 | 512.5%ODI 10069252 · 25,000 miLOTS OF PEELING ON THE PAINT. ALSO THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. I\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'VE HAD SO MUCH FIXED ON THIS CAR ALREADY AND SPENT LOTS OF MONEY. PLEASE ADVISE. | 812.9%ODI 10037961THIS 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 | 1115.5%ODI 10023191 · 116,252 miI PURCHASED A CAR IN OCTOBER OF 2002, THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT WORK,THE A/C AND HEATER DO NOT WORK. FUEL PUMP WENT OUT AFTER AP. 300 MILES, WATER PUMP SHORTLY THERE AFTER. ALL 4 TIRES TREADED APART. ELECTRONIC SIDE MIRRORS DO NOT WORK. GAS GAGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. HEATS UP WHEN IDLING. EXCESSIVE WOBBLE IN REAR END. FRONT END MAY BE FROM 1992 NOT 1993 MODEL OF CAR. DRIVERS WINDOW DOES NOT RETRACK RIGHT. TRUNK LID HOOK DOES NOT WORK. BRAKES MAKE NOISE. *NLM | 69.5% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 110.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 111.1%ODI 861487WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE BECAME VERY HOT AND STALLED OUT DUT TO THE TFI IGNITION MODULE BEING TOO CLOSE AND MOUNTED ON THE SIDE OF THE DISTRIBUTOR. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK | 212.5%ODI 979071THE VEHICLE STALLS/HESITATES/STUMBLES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. TT | 29.5%ODI 10016553 · 80,513 miI 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 | 48.7%ODI 10221339I SAW ON SCHUCKS.COM THAT MY CAR WAS PART OF A RECALL FOR AN INTERNAL IGNITION SHORT CIRCUIT AND MY CAR HAS HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS SUCH AS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE AND MY CAR IS FINE IT ONLY HAS 65,000+ MILES ON IT AND IT TURNS OFF 2-3 SECS AFTER TURNING IT ON THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP IT ON IS IF I GIVE IT GAS. *TR | 48.3%ODI 481996INTERMITTENT STALLING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP/SLOW DOWN. *SKD | 512.5% | 34.8%ODI 10044838 · 46,000 miVEHICLE 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 | 811.3% | 23.2%ODI 872761WHEN DRIVING AT 60 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH, AND VEHICLE CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING LOSS ALL POWER. CONSUMER HAS NOT YET CONTACTED DEALER. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 330.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 111.1%ODI 983878ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK | 318.8%ODI 983179AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 15-20 MINUTES, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE MELTING ENGINE COMPONENTS UNDERHOOD ALONG W/TIRES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK | 29.5% | 48.7%ODI 514103DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT/ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. | 714.6% | 410.0%ODI 802828ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN.*AK | 34.8%ODI 10037961THIS 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 | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 110.0%ODI 852164WHEN DRIVING AT 18 MPH THE VEHICLE IS STALLING AND CUTTING OFF. CONSUMER HAD THE COMPUTER CHIP REPLACED, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUS EOF STALLING. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 111.1%ODI 970160THE HEAD GASKET LEAK AND REPLACE FAN MOTOR , CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE TWO TIMES,THE RACK/PINION WENT OUT WHEN DRIVING THERE IS MORE . TT | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 14.8%ODI 836704WAS 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 | 24.3%ODI 819689CONSUMER KEPT HEARING LOUD NOISES WHEN SHIFTING. WENT TO 4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS, COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM UNTIL THE FOURTH MECHANIC SAID THE NOISE WAS COMING BECAUSE THERE WERE 2 BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS. *AK | 12.1%ODI 515627NINE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM FELL OFF, REPLACED EXTENSION PIPE, MUFFLER,TAIL PIPE, CLAMP. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 812.9%ODI 485970ENGINE NOISE DUE TO LOOSE ENGINE MOUNTS SUPPORT BRACKETS. *AK | 45.6%ODI 10052041WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL BECAME VERY HARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, VEHICLE SHUT OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. *AK | 57.9% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 14.8%ODI 964885WHILE DRIVING IN DRIVE GEAR, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JUMP IN REVERSE GEAR, ADJUST SHIFT MODULE. TT | 48.7% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 58.1%ODI 10242650 · 30 miTL*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. | 45.6%ODI 757445CAR WILL NOT START UNLESS YOU MESS WITH THE SHIFTER AND CAR STALLS OUT AT TIMES DOES NOT ALWAYS REGISTER IN PARK. *AK | 69.5%ODI 10014805 · 47,928 miTHE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, WHICH CAUSED THE TIRES TO LOCK UP. *JB THE GAS PEDAL WAS HARD. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE. THE MAIN CONTROL THROTTLE VALVE WAS REPLACED. SCC | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 120.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 48.7% | 36.3% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 34.8% | 11.4%ODI 10451503 · 34,000 miTHERE IS A SPEED CONTROL ISSUE. INTERMITTENTLY, THE CAR WILL BECOME LOCKED AT 2 RPM WHILE STILL ACCELERATING TO 65+ MPH. THE DRIVING IS NON-SPECIFIC; I COULD BE IDLING, ON THE FREEWAY OR ON SURFACE STREETS. ALTHOUGH I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR CONTINUES TO SPEED UP. IMMEDIATELY TURNING OFF THE ENGINE DOES NOT ELIMINATE THE ISSUE EITHER. ONCE THE CAR IS TURNED ON AGAIN, IT LOCKS AT 4 RPM WHILE IN PARK. THE ISSUE MAY TAKE UP TO 30MINS TO SUBSIDE. LUCKILY, THE BRAKES HAVE YET TO FAIL WHEN THE CAR VOLUNTARILY ACCELERATES (ALTHOUG… | 46.3% | 1100.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 360.0% | 111.1%ODI 506539REAR BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE DUE TO AUTOMATIC ADJUSTER FAILING TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. *DH | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 36.5%ODI 503478REAR BRAKES INTERMITTENTLY LOCK UP IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, CAUSING CAR TO SPIN. *DSH | 24.2% | 512.5%ODI 801609BRAKE PEDAL GRADUALLY KEPT GOING CLOSER TO FLOOR BOARD WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, REAR BRAKE ADJUSTERS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED, SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY ADJUST FOR WEAR, NO ACCIDENTS..*AK *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 11.6% | 1100.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. | ||||
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1995: 1 complaints · 1998: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1998 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum | Electrical System:Ignition:Module | Vehicle Speed Control |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum | — | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 0 | — | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
1 patterns with matching reports.