1989 Mercury Topaz

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

73/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA about the 1989 Mercury Topaz, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Electrical system	12	23%
Engine and engine cooling	9	17%
Seat belts	7	13%
Vehicle speed control	4	8%
Fuel system	4	8%
Steering	3	6%
Power train	3	6%
Service brakes	3	6%
Exterior lighting	2	4%
Engine and engine cooling	1	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

I 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
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

CAR KEEPS STALLING WHEN IN AN IDLE POSITION (LIKE AT A STOP LIGHT).TAKES ABOUT 10 TRIES TO GET IT TO START,AND KEEP RUNNING.WILL IDLE HIGH THEN IDLE LOW THEN IDLE HIGH AGAIN THEN DIE...
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

ALTERNATOR HAD THREE SETS OF WIRES REPLACED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

VEHICLE STALLS DAILY ONLY AT A STOP STAND STILL POSTION. CONSUMER HAS BEEN TO SEVERAL DEALERS, THEY COULD NOT FIND A REMEDY.*AK CONSUMER STATES THIS FAILURE HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. *SLC
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

DRIVERS MOTORBELT WILL NOT RETURN TO SHOULDER ONCE IGNITION SWITCH HAS TURNED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts

THE VEHICLE REPORTED HERE WAS REACALLED IN 1997 AND WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS AND WHEN I GOT IT BACK THE STEERING WAS MESSED UP. THE DEALER OF REAPIRS WAS NOTIFIED BUT DID NOT CONTACT ME BACK! I HAVE LONG SINCE HAD TONS O
NHTSA complaint: Steering

VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE PAST FIVE MPH WITH APPLICATION OF GAS PEDAL. DEALER STATED VEHCLE NEEDED NEW TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Power train

WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT UP AHEAD, VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND SHUT OFF. AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1989 Mercury Topaz. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Electrical system:ignition 96V071000

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.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	85	excellent
Longevity est.	80	excellent
Maintenance	89	excellent
Depreciation	60	average
Performance	48	below average
Efficiency	40	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 46% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 63% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 82% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 56% of compact cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 85: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 80: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1989 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 89: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1989 Mercury Topaz?

Owners have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 12 of them (23%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1989 Mercury Topaz reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 85/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1989 Mercury Topaz last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1989 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1989 Mercury Topaz?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 73/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.