1986 Mercury LYNX: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1986 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 5 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 20.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 1 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 1 |
Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 1; Structure:Body:Door: 1; Visibility:Windshield: 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 | 1 |
| 1997 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
1995: 2; 1996: 1; 1997: 1; 2000: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 485265 · 1995-06-19 (June 19, 1995)
WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 485265 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 784023 · 2000-05-22 (May 22, 2000)
IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. *CJ
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 784023 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 804202 · 1996-10-29 (October 29, 1996)
ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS HAS CAUGHT ON FIRE TWICE, ONCE WHILE DRIVING AND THE SECOND TIME WHILE PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 804202 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 808627 · 1997-02-04 (February 4, 1997)
WHILE PARKED NEXT TO GARAGE, STARTED UP ENGINE, LEFT IN PARK , RETURNED, FLAMES WERE SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDERHOOD, USED PAILS OF WATER TO PUT OUT FIRE, CAUSE UNKNOWN, NOT INSPECTED BY DEALER OR FIRE DEPARTMENT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 808627 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 958324 · 1995-01-06 (January 6, 1995)
CAR WAS IN THE CAR WASH FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW BLEW OUT. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958324 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
87V139000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1987-09-04 (September 4, 1987)
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Consequence: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗89V170000 · Seats
Reported: 1989-10-13 (October 13, 1989)
THE FORWARD OUTBOARD PEDESTAL OF THE SEAT TRACK OF DRIVER'S SEAT MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FATIGUE FRACTURE.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LIMITED DEGREE OF ROCKING MOTIONOF THE DRIVERS SEAT ASSEMBLY UPON ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION, WHICH COULDCAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT ON ALL MODELS AND A NEW SEAT TRACK AS NECESSARY
NHTSA campaign record ↗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.
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 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 266.7% | 125.0% | 133.3%ODI 872845WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE WOULD STALL. DEALER HAS REPLACED IGNITION MODULE FOUR TIMES. *AK DEALER REPLLACED IGNITION MODULE FOUR TIMES A T THE OWNER'S EXPENCE. *YH | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 120.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 250.0% | 133.3% | 120.0%ODI 895518VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE BEEN AT DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK *SLC | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 0UnavailableNo 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. | 240.0%ODI 983837UPON PARKING AND WALKING IN HOME, DRIVER HEARD HORN AND SAW WINDSHIELD WIPERS MOTION. VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 133.3% | 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. | 125.0%ODI 983892SMOKE WAS SEEN FROM THE STEERING COLUMN ONCE WHILE BEING DRIVEN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 483674REAR STRUT UNIBODY TOP SUPPOTS RUSTED, CAUSING REAR WHEELS TO FALL INWARD INTO CAR, DISABLING VEHICLE. *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. | 125.0%ODI 984837FRAME CRACKED NEAR THE WHEEL IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. *AK |
| Electrical System | 0UnavailableNo 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. | 120.0%ODI 804202ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS HAS CAUGHT ON FIRE TWICE, ONCE WHILE DRIVING AND THE SECOND TIME WHILE PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 0UnavailableNo 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. | 120.0%ODI 804202ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS HAS CAUGHT ON FIRE TWICE, ONCE WHILE DRIVING AND THE SECOND TIME WHILE PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 880449WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHERE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT THE TFI MOUDLE HAD FAILED, CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE 3 TIMES. *AK *TT | 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. |
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.
1986: 0 complaints · 1987: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 3 | 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 | Electrical System | Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | Exterior Lighting:Headlights | Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | Structure:Body:Door | Visibility:Windshield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | — | 1ODI 804202ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS HAS CAUGHT ON FIRE TWICE, ONCE WHILE DRIVING AND THE SECOND TIME WHILE PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1ODI 804202ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS HAS CAUGHT ON FIRE TWICE, ONCE WHILE DRIVING AND THE SECOND TIME WHILE PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — | 1 | 0 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 0 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 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.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.