1989 Mercury Topaz

The 1989 Mercury Topaz sits in the middle of a decade that saw a gradual decline in federal complaints and recalls. In 1990 the model had 65 complaints and 2 recalls, dropping to 54 complaints in 1991 and 84 in 1992 before falling sharply to 13 in 1995; the 1989 model’s 12 electrical system complaints and 9 engine cooling issues are higher than the 1995 lows but lower than the 1992 peak. Recall activity was modest throughout the period, with only one or two recalls per year, indicating that the Topaz’s safety equipment generally met regulatory standards. The 1989 model’s crash complaint count of two and fire complaint count of five are below the average for the surrounding years, suggesting relatively better performance in those critical areas. Overall, the 1989 Topaz’s complaint profile is moderate and the trend toward fewer issues in later years implies that it is a reasonable purchase, provided you check for the noted electrical and engine cooling concerns.