RoadVitals

1987 Ford Tempo Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
26
Latest May 8, 2002
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
49%
of 53 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
14
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1987 Ford Tempo submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 26 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

The 25 most recent of 26, in the owner's own words

Browse every complaint
Electrical
Filed May 8, 2002

THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY WHEN STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR WHEN STARTING DUE TO TFI MODULE FAILURE. *YH

NHTSA ID
565704
Incident
Jun 19, 2001
Electrical
Filed Sep 4, 2001
Crash reported

THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT NOTICE DURING SEVERAL DIFFERENT SCENARIOS AND THE BRAKING AND STEERING BECOME DIFFICULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS, INCLUDING THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND ALTHOUGH THE STALLING WAS EVEIDENT, NO ONE COUL;D CLARIFY WHY AND HOW TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I AM REPROTING THIS PROBLEM ON BEHALF OF MY ELDERLY MOTHER, WHO HAS HAD THIS STALLING PROBLEM SINCE SHE PURCHASED THIS USED VEHICLE AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANYONE TO SUCCESSFULLY REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE TEMPO IS HER ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION AND SHE HAS HAD TO COPE WITH THE STALLING PROBLEMS BECAUSE SHE CAN NOT AFFORD A NEW VEHICLE. SHE RECENTLY STRUCK A UTILITY POLE WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE SHE WAS MAKING A TURN AND DAMAGED HER VEHICLE. SHE DESPARATELY NEEDS SOME ASSISTANCE IN HAVING FORD MAKE HER VEHICLE SAFE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AT THEIR 1.800.392.3673 NUMBER AND SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE BY THE NAME OF SELVIN, WHO BASICALLY SAID THAT FORD WILL NOT VOLUNTARILY DO ANYTHING TO ASSIST AT THIS TIME AND HE WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL CONTACT INFORMATION. PLEASE HELP!*AK

NHTSA ID
751648
Electrical
Filed May 2, 2001

ALTERNATOR REBUILT AND BOUGHT FROM ADVANCE AUTO PARTS. THIS WAS THE SECOND ALTERNATOR WITH PROBLEMS, THE FIRST WAS TAKEN BACK AND THIS ONE THE MECHANIC REPLACED AND SAID THAT WHO DOES ADVANCE'S REBUILDING ISN'T THAT GREAT. THE TIME AND MONEY SPENT FOR THEIR REJECT ALTERNATOR'S IS UNJUST. THE RED LIGHT INDICATOR STAYED ON UNTIL THIS NEW ALTERNATOR WAS PUT IN.*AK

NHTSA ID
744823
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Dec 2, 2000

I AM FINANCIALLY OBLIGATED TO PAST DUE BILLS; HOWEVER I AM TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE CAR PROBLEMS, I DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY RECALL ON THIS CAR! AS MENTIONED I WAS GIVEN A FINE OF $50.00 FOR EXPIRED TAGS BY ABOUT A WEEK; I WOULD HAVE WENT TO MVA IF GIVEN A WARNING FOR RENEWAL! WITH ALL OF THE EXPENSES IN A CAR IS THERE ANY WAY TO GET SOME WORK DONE WITHOUT BEING INDEBTED TO A HIGH PRICED MECHANIC? ECONOMICS SHOULD NOT PLAY A PART FOR SAFETY OF A CAR; SHOULD HAVE WAYS TO HELP ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED. PLEASE READ OUT OF CONCERN AND NOT TO BE USED AGAINST ME BUT FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND TO HELP OTHERS WHO WANT A SAFE VEHICLE BUT CAN'T AFFORD ALL OF THE HIGH BILLS.F. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED . *AK

NHTSA ID
737185
ElectricalTransmission
Filed Jun 2, 1999

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CONTINUED STALLING CONDITIONS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION MODULE. MJS

NHTSA ID
545892
Driver assistanceElectricalSteering
Filed May 26, 1999

MY CAR STARTED ACTING UP 1ST BY CUTTING OUT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE, THE IT WOULD REV UP,AND THEN COMPLETELY QUIT. THEN WHEN I TRIED TO START IT THE TACHOMETER WOULD SPIN AROUND BACKWARDS. AFTER SETTING FOR A FEW HOURS IT WOULD START AND MAYBE RUN FINE FOR A FEW DAYS. THEN PROBLEM 2 HAPPENED. MY HORN STARTED BEEPING FOR NO REASON AND I HAD TO TAKE THE FUSE OUT. THE CAR WILL NOT START AT ALL NOW. WE HAVE CHANGED THE COMPUTER BRAIN AND THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU SHUT THE DOOR THE HORN BEEPS WITH NO FUSE IN THE FUSE BOX. WE ARE NOW THINKING IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN. HOW CAN THIS PROBLEM BE FIXED, OR EVEN NARROWED DOWN TO SEE IF THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
706894
Incident
Jan 5, 1999
Electrical
Filed May 18, 1999

THICK FILM IGNITION MODULE AND DIST STATOR FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA ID
545656
Incident
Apr 14, 1999
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+1 more
Filed May 13, 1999

BRAKES FAILED. MJS

NHTSA ID
545527
Incident
Mar 5, 1999
Electrical
Filed Nov 19, 1996

AT A STOP WHEN THE ALTERNATOR STARTED TO SMOKE THE CONSUMER UNPLUGGED THE ALTERNATOR AND THE SMOKING STOPPED. PLEASE DESCRIBE IN DETAIL *AK

NHTSA ID
805291
Incident
Jun 1, 1995
Electrical
Filed Oct 30, 1996
Fire reported

CAR WAS PARKED AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE SWITCH APPARENTLY FAILED ,GAS WAS PUMPED INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUMES MADE THEIR WAY BACK INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, THESE FUMES ENCOUNTERED THE SWITCH WHICH MUST HAVE BEEN PUTTING OUT A SPARK, THE FIRE MOVED FROM THE TOP RIGHT STEERING COLUMN TO THE RIGHT TOWARD THE OUTLET FOR THE GAS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO SUSTAIN THIS FIRE, THE FUEL PUMP RAN UNTIL THE ELECTRICIAL SYSTEM SHORTED BETWEEN THE FUEL PUMP AND THE BATTERY.*JB

NHTSA ID
804284
Incident
Aug 16, 1996
Electrical
Filed Oct 30, 1996
Fire reported

AT A STOP LIGHT THE CAR STALLED AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
803257
Incident
Oct 6, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jul 26, 1996
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING INTO PARKING LOT, VEHICLE'S RIGHT FRONT CAUGHT ON FIRE, UNDERHOOD; ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, EXACT CAUSE UNKOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID
985492
Incident
Jun 10, 1996
BrakesElectricalFuel system
Filed May 27, 1996

IGNITION SYSTEM FAILED.

NHTSA ID
504983
Incident
May 21, 1996
Electrical
Filed May 7, 1996
Fire reported

BURNING ODOR PRIOR TO RECALL. *SD

NHTSA ID
504198
Incident
May 7, 1996
Electrical
Filed Apr 30, 1996
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVEN, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. OWNER STATED IGNITION SWITCH WAS CAUSE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
983817
Electrical
Filed Apr 29, 1996
Fire reported

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
983690
Incident
Apr 21, 1996
Electrical
Filed Apr 25, 1996
Fire reported

UPON STARTING, SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR OUT OF STEERING COLUMN, VEHICLE INTERIOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
983670
Electrical
Filed Apr 24, 1996
Fire reported

ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE ON THE WIRING AT THE FIREWALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
983440
Incident
Apr 5, 1996
Electrical
Filed Apr 22, 1996
Fire reported

AFTER PARKED A FEW MINUTES, VEHICLE IGNITED RIGHT AWAY W/FIRE CONSUMED AND TOTALED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
983184
Electrical
Filed Apr 19, 1996
Fire reported

AFTER STARTING AND DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE, STEERING COLUMN SMOKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, MELTING COLUMN AND DASHBOARD. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
983042
Electrical
Filed Mar 27, 1996
Fire reported

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FIRE, ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
981285
Incident
Mar 27, 1996
Electrical
Filed Mar 7, 1996
Fire reported

ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE INGITION SWITCH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
980398
Incident
Dec 1, 1995
Electrical
Filed Dec 28, 1995

THE IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT START, DOES NOT WORK. TT

NHTSA ID
977119
Incident
Dec 18, 1995
Electrical
Filed Jun 6, 1995
Fire reported

UNDER THE HOOD ELECTRICAL FIRE WITH WIRING CONNECTOR THAT PLUGS INTO TOP OF ALTERNATOR. *AK

NHTSA ID
966377
Incident
May 10, 1995
Electrical
Filed Mar 29, 1995

ENGINE STALLS WHILE STOPPED, DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEED, AND TURNING CORNERS; RPMS GOES UP/DOWN WITHOUT APPLYING ACCELERATOR; COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT. TT

NHTSA ID
962730
Incident
Jan 25, 1993

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Engine14

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .