1985 Mercury Topaz Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1985 Mercury Topaz, and owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 1985 Mercury Topaz
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Suspension: rear
Rear supension control arm-to-spindle attachment bolts may be subject to fracture causing the rear spindle to separate during use of car. Consequence of defect: if bolts fracture and rear spindle disengages from control arm, loss of control will be experience which may result in an accident.
Remedy: Replace rear suspension bolts as necessary.
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Electrical system: module
The unexpected open throttle causes an increase in engine speed which could result in loss of control of the car and a potential crash. Consequence of defect: the electronic engine control processor may experience an intermittent timing problem. This problem causes improper execution engine performance which may maintain or cause a…
Remedy: Replace electronic engine control processor, if necessary.
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Suspension: rear
Rear suspension control arm-to-spindle attachment bolts may be subject to fracture during use of car. Consequence of defect: if bolts fracture, rear spindle could disengage from control arm and possibly result in loss of control.
Remedy: Replace rear suspension bolts as necessary.
5 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1985 Mercury Topaz have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 3 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Rear brake adjuster, continue to fail, every 6 months take the drums off to adjust pe96-005 active. *ak”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 16, 1996 · Service brakes, hydraulic
“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 m”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 8, 1996 · Service brakes, hydraulic
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1985 Mercury Topaz. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 22–34 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 19–31 / 26–39 |
| Fuel | Diesel, Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2/2.3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 3-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Mercury Topaz model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Mercury Topaz model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 Mercury Topaz | 0 | 1 |
| 1984 Mercury Topaz | 5 | 10 |
| 1985 Mercury Topaz | 3 | 5 |
| 1986 Mercury Topaz | 0 | 9 |
| 1987 Mercury Topaz | 0 | 16 |
| 1988 Mercury Topaz | 2 | 21 |
| 1989 Mercury Topaz | 1 | 46 |
| 1990 Mercury Topaz | 1 | 48 |
| 1991 Mercury Topaz | 1 | 40 |
| 1992 Mercury Topaz | 2 | 62 |
| 1993 Mercury Topaz | 2 | 71 |
| 1994 Mercury Topaz | 1 | 63 |
| 1995 Mercury Topaz | 0 | 1 |
| 1998 Mercury Topaz | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 1985 Mercury Topaz
How do I know if my 1985 Mercury Topaz has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1985 Mercury Topaz; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Mercury dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 85V086000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Mercury models
- Sable5,381 complaints
- Grand Marquis3,951 complaints
- Milan2,519 complaints
- Mountaineer1,992 complaints
- Cougar1,893 complaints
- Villager1,725 complaints
- Mariner1,296 complaints
- Mystique1,019 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.