1987 Ford Tempo Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1987 Ford Tempo, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical2638.2%
- Engine1420.6%
- Fuel system68.8%
- Steering57.4%
- Brakes45.9%
- Transmission34.4%
- Interior & seats34.4%
- Driver assistance22.9%
- Visibility11.5%
- Exterior lighting11.5%
- Seat belts11.5%
- Suspension11.5%
- Body & structure11.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY WHEN STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR WHEN STARTING DUE TO TFI MODULE FAILURE. *YH
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
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AT ANY SPEED WHEN ENGINE IS HOT. DEALER HAS REPLACED NUMEROUS PARTS, INCLUDING FUEL PUMP. BUT IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK *YH
THE VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING MAKING BRAKING AND STEERING MORE DIFFICULT, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE SOLVED, ON ONE OCCASION THE DRIVE STRUCK A UTILITY POLE AND DAMAGED THE VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE MAKING A TURN.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
CAR WONT RESTART AFTER IT HAS BEEN DRIVIN AND OR STOPPED AT IDLE SPEED. CAUSING ME TO BE STRANDED CONTINUALLY. FORD MOTOR WAS SUPPOSE TO FIX THE FUEL PUMP , BUT INSTEAD REPLACED TFI SWITCH AND TWO OTHER SENSORS , BUT AM STILL HAVING SAME SYMTOMS SENT CAR BACK AND NOW THEY TELL ME ITS THE FUEL PUMP WICH IS WHY I TOOK THE CAR TO THEM TO BEGIN WITH.. THEN I HERE ON THE NEWS ABOUT THIS TFI SWITCH THAT FORD MOTOR CHARGED ME AN ARM A LEG AND A FOOT FOR 640.00... I SEE A COVER UP OR SOMTHING IS NOT RIGHT AT MY EXPENSE.. NOT TO MENTION THE STEARING PROBLEMS AND THE BRAKE FAILURE.. AND NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS NEVER AGAIN WILL I TRUST FORD.AND I CURRENTLY HAVE A COMPLAINT FILED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MY STATE WE WANT OUR MONEY BACK AND OUR CAR FIXED RIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING I HAVE SUNK 700 PLUS ANOTHER 400 FOR BAKES ON A CAR THAT ONLY HAD 40.000 MILES WHEN I PURCHASED IT FROM A FAMILY MEMBER.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING INTO A DRIVEWAY TIE ROD: INNER BROKE OUT OF GEAR BOX, CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING. FORD HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKES FAILED. MJS
IGNITION SYSTEM FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CONTINUED STALLING CONDITIONS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION MODULE. MJS
TRANSMISSION IS FAILING TO OPERATE PROPERLY. VEHICLE MAKING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING INTO HIGH GEAR. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEAT FRAME CRACKED, ALSO SLIDE RAIL SUPPORTS CRACKED.
WHILE DRIVING THE WIRING UNDER THE DASH CONNECTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN BURNT OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
BRAKES FAILED. MJS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR WINDOW SHATTERED, CAUSING INJURY. *SKD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
BOTH HEADLIGHTS EVEN THOUGH ILUMINATED PROJECTED TO LIGHTING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT END STARTED SHAKING, CAUSING DRIVER TO JERK STEERING WHEEL, RESULTING IN LOSE OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT (NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE ACCIDENT REPORT). *AMK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE TRAVELING REAR SUBFRAME MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE, CAUSING ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TO DROP, CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .