Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 126 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Ford Tempo, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and seat belts categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 5 NHTSA investigations name it; and 34 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 1995 | 2 | 8 |
| May 1995 | 1 | 9 |
| Jun 1995 | 1 | 10 |
| Jul 1995 | 2 | 12 |
| Aug 1995 | 1 | 13 |
| Oct 1995 | 3 | 16 |
| Nov 1995 | 1 | 17 |
| Dec 1995 | 2 | 19 |
| Jan 1996 | 1 | 20 |
| Feb 1996 | 1 | 21 |
| Apr 1996 | 3 | 24 |
| May 1996 | 7 | 31 |
| Jun 1996 | 5 | 36 |
| Jul 1996 | 7 | 43 |
| Aug 1996 | 9 | 52 |
| Sep 1996 | 5 | 57 |
| Oct 1996 | 4 | 61 |
| Nov 1996 | 1 | 62 |
| Dec 1996 | 1 | 63 |
| Feb 1997 | 3 | 66 |
| Mar 1997 | 1 | 67 |
| Apr 1997 | 1 | 68 |
| May 1997 | 1 | 69 |
| Sep 1997 | 2 | 71 |
| Oct 1997 | 2 | 73 |
| Nov 1997 | 1 | 74 |
| Jan 1998 | 1 | 75 |
| Apr 1998 | 1 | 76 |
| May 1998 | 2 | 78 |
| Jun 1998 | 2 | 80 |
| Dec 1998 | 1 | 81 |
| Jan 1999 | 2 | 83 |
| Feb 1999 | 1 | 84 |
| Jun 1999 | 2 | 86 |
| Aug 1999 | 5 | 91 |
| Sep 1999 | 1 | 92 |
| Oct 1999 | 3 | 95 |
| Apr 2000 | 1 | 96 |
| Aug 2000 | 1 | 97 |
| Sep 2000 | 2 | 99 |
| Oct 2000 | 3 | 102 |
| Dec 2000 | 2 | 104 |
| Jan 2001 | 1 | 105 |
| Feb 2001 | 1 | 106 |
| Mar 2001 | 1 | 107 |
| Apr 2001 | 2 | 109 |
| Jun 2001 | 1 | 110 |
| Jul 2001 | 1 | 111 |
| Sep 2001 | 1 | 112 |
| Nov 2001 | 2 | 114 |
| Jan 2002 | 1 | 115 |
| Mar 2002 | 1 | 116 |
| Apr 2002 | 1 | 117 |
| Aug 2002 | 1 | 118 |
| May 2003 | 3 | 121 |
| Nov 2003 | 1 | 122 |
| Jan 2004 | 1 | 123 |
| May 2005 | 1 | 124 |
| Jul 2005 | 1 | 125 |
| Aug 2015 | 1 | 126 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
2 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
REAR BRK ADJUSTER FAILURE
1984 - 1991 FORD TEMPO/MERCURY TOPAZ
REAR BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
SEAT BELT SEPARATION
There is no summary currently available
THROTTLE STICKING
There is no summary currently available
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
ACK UP.NMENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND MOTOR DIES. STARTS RIGHT.
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED SHE IS HAVING RETRACTION PROBLEMS WITH HER SEAT BELT. THE SEAT BELT IS NOT RETRACTING CORRECTLY FROM THE LAP BELT, FROM THE BUCKLE TO THE DOOR POST. THIS IS HAPPENING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE ONLY. THE SEAT BELT IS ALLOWING TOO MUCH WEBBING AND NOT RETRACTING ALL THE WAY BACK INTO THE HOLDER ON THE DOOR POST. WHEN THE DRIVER IS APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE, THE SEAT BELT IS NOT HOLDING THE DRIVER SECURELY AND SAFELY IN THE SEAT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE SHE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM HAS NOW GONE OUT OF BUSINESS AND SHE HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE. SHE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELT FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. SPEED IS NOT A FACTOR WITH THE SEAT BELT FAILURE. EVEN SITTING STILL THE SEAT BELT IS NOT WORKING. *JB
CONSUMER IS REQUESTING FREE REPAIRS TO 1988 FORD TEMPO GL'S TRANSMISSION AND MOTOR.*MR *NM
SMELLED HOT WIRE SMELL WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. NOTICED 1 INCH FLAME IN LEFT AIRVENT WHICH GREW TO 5 INCHES WHEN STOPPED CAR. UNHOOKED BATTERY, POURED LIQUID OVER DASHBOARD WHICH WAS ON FIRE, CLOSED DOOR, WAITED FOR FIRETRUCK. I THINK IT STARTED IN HEADLIGHT SWITCH. CAR TOTALED, MOST OF DASH BURNT AWAY.*AK
THE TREADS OF THE TIRE WARPED WITH ONLY 10000 MILES ON IT (FIRESTONE LEMANS RADIAL AT). *NLM SHORTLY AFTER THE TIRE WAS CHANGED A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED. *AK *NLM
THE TREAD OF THE TIRE FAILED (BRIDGESTONE WEATHER FORCE TIRE). *NLM
THE VEHICLE VIBRATED WHILE DRIVING. THE TIRES WERE BALANCED YET THE VIBRATION STILL OCCURRED. *NLM
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INFORMATION ON THE NEW FLUSH AND FILL TOOL AVAILABLE THROUGH ROTUNDA. *TT
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.