Oil consumption or dilution
1 mentions · 4.0% of complaints
Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).
Matching rule
\b(oil consumption|burn\w* oil|consum\w* oil|oil dilution|gas(?:oline)? in (?:the )?oil)\bU.S. public vehicle records
Merkur XR4TI problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
25 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1985 to 1990 model years. 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
Exterior Lighting:Hazard Flashing Warning Lights:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 25 complaints (32.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 8.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 8.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 4.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 4.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Hazard Flashing Warning Lights:Switch | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch | 2 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
Exterior Lighting:Hazard Flashing Warning Lights:Switch: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 2; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch: 2; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 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. 25 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 | 1 |
| 1996 | 4 |
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 16 |
| 2000 | 2 |
1995: 1; 1996: 4; 1997: 1; 1998: 1; 1999: 16; 2000: 2
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting:Hazard Flashing Warning Lights:Switch leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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 703350 · 1999-02-16 (February 16, 1999)
THE HAZARD SWITCHES IN THESE CARS BREAK VERY EASILY, CAUSING MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. FROM THE TURN SIGNALS NOT WORKING TO EVEN THE CAR NOT SHUTTING OFF. ONE OF OUR MEMBERS WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ABOUT 55MPH WHEN THE BUTTON SHOT OUT OF ITS HOLDER, RICOCHETED OFF THE WINDOW AND HIT HIM BETWEEN THE EYES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 703350 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 505800 · 1996-08-05 (August 5, 1996)
BATTERY LEAK, CAUSING WIRING HARNESS DEFECT/CORRODED FIRE WALL.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 505800 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 702411 · 1999-01-20 (January 20, 1999)
THE EMERGENCY FLASHER BUTTON ON TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMN FLEW OFF AND HIT ME IN THE HEAD. I MANAGED TO GET IT PUT BACK ON BUT WHENEVER I TRY TO USE THE FLASHERS I CAN GET THEM TO TURN OFF (THE BUTTON WONT STAY DOWN. SINCE THIS IS A REQUIRED PIECE OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD REPLACE THESE FREE OF CHARGE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 702411 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 804858 · 1996-11-12 (November 12, 1996)
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY SMELLED SMOKED, PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND STOPPED, THEN SMOKE BEGIN TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD, SUDDENLY SHE SAW FLAMES, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MELT. *AK CONSUMER STATES SHE SAW FIRE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, CONSUMER STATES SMOKE WAS COMING FROM ENGINE BLOCK VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 804858 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 734083 · 2000-10-11 (October 11, 2000)
I UNDERSTAND AN IGNITION MODULE IS SUPPOSED TO LAST THE LIFETIME OF A CAR. MINE FAILED AT ABOUT 44,000 MILES, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT; THE CAR STALLED AS WE WERE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT. STILL THERE CLEARLY IS A PROBLEM, AND YOU NEED TO ADDRESS IT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 734083 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 800579 · 1996-08-07 (August 7, 1996)
FAILURE OF THE BRAKES, CAUSING VEHICLE TO WOBBLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 800579 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 706135 · 1999-04-30 (April 30, 1999)
THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARDS STOP WORKING BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE HADZARD SWITCH WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. AS SUCH THERE ARE NO HAZARDS OR TURN DIGNALS. I HAVE REPLACED THIS ONCE AND THE HAZARDS SWITCH IS GOING ON THIS TOO. I HAVE A SPARE PART BUT ON THAT ONLY THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WORKS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE AT NIGHT OR ON THE HIGHWAY IF I BROKE DOWN NO ONE COULD SEE ME. THIS HAPPENED ONCE. LUCKILY A COP STOPPED AND PUT OUT FLARES FOR ME. THIS BRINGS ME TO MY NEXT COMPLETE. THE GAS TANK HAS A PROBLEM AND T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 706135 at NHTSA ↗
Compare model years
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1985 | 0 |
| 1986 | 0 |
| 1987 | 0 |
| 1988 | 0 |
| 1989 | 0 |
| 1990 | 0 |
1985: 0; 1986: 0; 1987: 0; 1988: 0; 1989: 0; 1990: 0
Year-by-year records
Explore the data
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
25 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
0.0%Usable mileage0 / 25 records
88.0%Valid incident date22 / 25 records
100.0%Valid filing date25 / 25 records
88.0%Ordered incident and filing dates22 / 25 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 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Hazard Flashing Warning Lights:Switch | 150.0%ODI 706140HAZARD SWITCH FAILS IN ON POSITION; TURN SIGNALS SOMETIMES DISABLED BY SAME SWITCH. | 342.9%ODI 702408THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHT SWITCH IS INTEGRAL TO THE TURN SIGNAL/HIGH BEAM LIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY. DISINTEGRATION OF THE INTERNALS OF THE HAZARD SWITCH (WHICH IS USED VERY RARELY) HAS REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY ON TWO OCCASSIONS IN THE 11 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. FAILURE OF THIS SWITCH POSES A POTENTIAL DANGER IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY NIGHT-TIME STOP ON THE HIGHWAY. | 342.9%ODI 703257BOTH MERKURS I'VE OWNED HAD MECHANICAL FAILURE OF HAZARD LIGHTS SWITCH. SWITCH RARELY USED AND IS COMMON FAILURE ACCORDING TO FELLOW MERKUR OWNERS SO APPEARS TO BE MANUFACTURER DEFECT - SHODDY COMPONENT. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 120.0%ODI 703291HAZARD SWITCH FAILURE, UNABLE TO WORK SWITCH, OR TURN SIGNALS. 4 WAY BUTTON POPS OFF, UNABLE TO STAY ON, WHICH CAUSES YOUR 4 WAYS TO NOT OPERATE. FORD DOESN'T MAKE REPLACEMENTS ANYMORE. WHEN BROKEN BEFORE TURNSIGNAL DIDN'T WORK EITHER. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3% | 228.6% | 133.3%ODI 823718WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY MECHANIC. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 702458THIS SWITCH ASSEMBLY IS MISDESIGNED. IT WILL NOT REMAIN FUNCTIONAL EVEN UNDER LIGHT USE AND RESULTS IN A HAZARDOUS CONDITION. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 120.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 702400HAZARD SWITCH EJECTS FROM ITS HOUSING IN TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. IT RENDERS ALL TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD FLASHERS INOPERATIVE | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 120.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 505800BATTERY LEAK, CAUSING WIRING HARNESS DEFECT/CORRODED FIRE WALL. |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 734083I UNDERSTAND AN IGNITION MODULE IS SUPPOSED TO LAST THE LIFETIME OF A CAR. MINE FAILED AT ABOUT 44,000 MILES, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT; THE CAR STALLED AS WE WERE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT. STILL THERE CLEARLY IS A PROBLEM, AND YOU NEED TO ADDRESS IT.*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. |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 804858CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY SMELLED SMOKED, PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND STOPPED, THEN SMOKE BEGIN TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD, SUDDENLY SHE SAW FLAMES, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MELT. *AK CONSUMER STATES SHE SAW FIRE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, CONSUMER STATES SMOKE WAS COMING FROM ENGINE BLOCK VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*JB | 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:Exhaust System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 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.
1989: 1 complaints · 1990: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1990 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 | 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 | Exterior Lighting:Hazard Flashing Warning Lights:Switch | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch | Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | Electrical System:Ignition | Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Hazard Flashing Warning Lights:Switch | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 804858CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY SMELLED SMOKED, PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND STOPPED, THEN SMOKE BEGIN TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD, SUDDENLY SHE SAW FLAMES, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MELT. *AK CONSUMER STATES SHE SAW FIRE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, CONSUMER STATES SMOKE WAS COMING FROM ENGINE BLOCK VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*JB | 0 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 0 | 1ODI 804858CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY SMELLED SMOKED, PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND STOPPED, THEN SMOKE BEGIN TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD, SUDDENLY SHE SAW FLAMES, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MELT. *AK CONSUMER STATES SHE SAW FIRE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, CONSUMER STATES SMOKE WAS COMING FROM ENGINE BLOCK VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*JB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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.
3 patterns with matching reports.
Stalling or loss of power
1 mentions · 4.0% of complaints
Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).
ODI 734083
I UNDERSTAND AN IGNITION MODULE IS SUPPOSED TO LAST THE LIFETIME OF A CAR. MINE FAILED AT ABOUT 44,000 MILES, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT; THE CAR STALLED AS WE WERE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT. STILL THERE CLEARLY IS A PROBLEM, AND YOU NEED TO ADDRESS IT.*AK
Matching rule
\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\bWarning lights and dashboard alerts
1 mentions · 4.0% of complaints
Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).
ODI 702408
THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHT SWITCH IS INTEGRAL TO THE TURN SIGNAL/HIGH BEAM LIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY. DISINTEGRATION OF THE INTERNALS OF THE HAZARD SWITCH (WHICH IS USED VERY RARELY) HAS REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY ON TWO OCCASSIONS IN THE 11 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. FAILURE OF THIS SWITCH POSES A POTENTIAL DANGER IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY NIGHT-TIME STOP ON THE HIGHWAY.
Matching rule
\b(warning light\w*|check engine|dashboard warning\w*|malfunction indicator)\b