MercuryTopaz1987Overview/mercury/topaz/1987/base/

1987 Mercury Topaz

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1987 Topaz.

Transmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1987 Mercury Topaz was offered with a 3-speed automatic and an EPA rating of 19 city/24 highway/21 combined mpg, while routine oil service calls for 5.0 quarts of 5W-30, 10W-30, or 10W-40. Owner-reported reliability data records 17 complaints, with the electrical system the most frequently cited area and one recall on file. Because the model’s documented complaint history runs from 1990 to 1998—peaking at 100 complaints in 1994 and falling to one in 1998—the 1987 model predates that tracking window and shows a comparatively modest documented issue footprint.

Model year199419931992199119901989198819871986

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 / 10W-30 / 10W-40OEM · verified
EPA fuel economy19/24/21 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length177.2 in
Overall width68.1 in
Overall height52.8 in
Wheelbase100 in
Curb weight2502 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined19 / 24 / 21 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume89 cu ft
Cargo volume13 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.0 qt of 5W-30 / 10W-30 / 10W-40 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · 10W-30 · 10W-40 · 15W-40 · 20W-40 · 20W-50
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1987 Mercury Topaz recorded 7 electrical system complaints, 2 structure complaints, 1 combined miscellaneous complaint, and 1 engine/fuel complaint, with zero crash complaints and 5 fire complaints according to the federal record. No recall, investigation, or TSB figures are provided for the 1987 model year in the supplied data. The year‑by‑year federal record that is available spans 1990‑1995 and 1998, showing complaints rising from 65 in 1990 to a peak of 100 in 1994 then dropping sharply to 13 in 1995 and to 1 in 1998. Because the 1987 year is absent from this timeline, its complaint/recall trajectory cannot be positioned relative to the surrounding years or the overall generational trend. Consequently, there is insufficient federal‑record evidence to judge whether 1987 is a preferable purchase; prospective buyers should seek additional service history or consider later model years with documented complaint patterns.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
27
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
17
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 5 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 17 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System7
Structure2
Steering,Suspension,Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Engine & Engine Cooling,Fuel System, Gasoline,Power Train,Structure,Unknown Or Other1
Engine & Engine Cooling,Fuel System, Gasoline1
Engine & Engine Cooling,Unknown Or Other1
Exterior Lighting1
Suspension1
Engine & Engine Cooling1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

07E064000Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel PumpReported 27/08/2007

CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE… Remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 27 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
011562001-08-06VisibilitySOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
011572001-08-06Unknown Or OtherINFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
00152000-01-10Power TrainINFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
992221999-10-18Electrical SystemSUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING…
991961999-09-20EquipmentINFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Topaz. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1987 Topaz take?

5.0 qt of 30W. MULTI-VISCOSITY: BELOW 100 degrees F 5W-30. ABOVE 0 degrees F 10W-30 OR 10W-40. ABOVE 10 degrees F 15W-40. ABOVE 20 degrees F 20W-40 OR 20W-50, per the factory manual.

Does the 1987 Topaz have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Topaz get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 24 highway / 21 combined mpg.