RoadVitals

1988 Ford Tempo Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
27
Latest Aug 21, 2015
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.
21%
of 126 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.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1988 Ford Tempo submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 27 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 engine

The 25 most recent of 27, in the owner's own words

Browse every complaint
ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 21, 2015

ACK UP.NMENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND MOTOR DIES. STARTS RIGHT.

NHTSA ID
10750222
Incident
Jul 1, 2015
Mileage
49,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 12, 2005

CONSUMER IS REQUESTING FREE REPAIRS TO 1988 FORD TEMPO GL'S TRANSMISSION AND MOTOR.*MR *NM

NHTSA ID
10121481
Incident
May 1, 2005
Engine
Filed Nov 18, 2003
Fire reported

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

NHTSA ID
10018062
Incident
Jun 1, 2003
Mileage
5,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 8, 2003

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ID
10017750
Incident
Nov 1, 2003
Engine
Filed Sep 14, 2001

WORK DONE ON ENGINE BEFORE RECALL WAS KNOWN. CAR NOT THE SAME SINCE. TOTAL COST TO ME ,ABOUT 1500.00.*AK

NHTSA ID
752178
Engine
Filed Apr 24, 2001

I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN INJURY BEFORE FORD FIXES!. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID
744465
Incident
Jan 18, 2001
Engine
Filed Mar 8, 2001

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE FOR A HIGH AMOUNT OF TIME ENGINE DIES OUT WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR EVEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. NO ONE KNOWS PROBLEM.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
882463
BrakesElectricalEngine+5 more
Filed Jan 30, 2001

THE SPEED SENSOR FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID
559307
Incident
Jan 30, 1990
Engine
Filed Sep 13, 2000

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC AND VEHICLE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNS. *AK

NHTSA ID
870369
Incident
Sep 13, 1998
Engine
Filed Oct 13, 1999

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED DUE TO HEAT FROM THE ENGINE . *AK

NHTSA ID
850574
Engine
Filed Aug 30, 1999
Fire reported

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS

NHTSA ID
548224
Incident
Jul 22, 1999
EngineFuel system
Filed Aug 12, 1999
Fire reported1 injury reported

ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO STAY ON

NHTSA ID
709904
Incident
Aug 7, 1999
Body & structureEngineInterior & seats+2 more
Filed Jun 25, 1999

SEAT BELT MOTOR FAILED. MJS

NHTSA ID
546423
Engine
Filed Jun 22, 1999

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED FOR THE SECOND TIME . THE ORIGINAL EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED IN DECEMBER OF 1998. IN JANUARY OF 1999, THE REPLACEMENT USED ALSO CRACKED. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
840777
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
Engine
Filed Feb 5, 1999

CRACK IN EXHAUST MANIFOLD, CAUSING LEAKAGE OF FUMES AND NOISE

NHTSA ID
702963
Incident
Jul 12, 1998
EngineSuspension
Filed Jan 21, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CAN HEAR A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, AND CONSUMER HAS TO KEEP FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND ACCELEATOR IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE NOT TO CUT OFF. ALSO, VEHICLE IS STALLING AND CUTTING OFF WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ID
833811
Incident
Aug 12, 1998
EngineSeat belts
Filed Jan 11, 1999

WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT, VEHICLE WILL STALL AND SOUND LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO CUT OFF. ALSO,DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WON'T WORK PROPERLY. WHEN DRIVING THE CONSUMER CAN HEAR THE MOTOR RUNNING, BUT THE SEAT BELT GOES OVER THE CONSUMER AND LOCKS RIGHT. *AK

NHTSA ID
833339
Incident
May 3, 1997
Engine
Filed Oct 28, 1997

ENGINE STALLS UPON DECELERATION.

NHTSA ID
524040
Engine
Filed Oct 10, 1997

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN COOLING FAN MOTOR CAUSED WIRING INSULATION TO BURN, RESULTING IN DESTRUCTION OF MAIN WIRE HARNESS.

NHTSA ID
523664
Incident
Sep 24, 1997
Engine
Filed Sep 23, 1997

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING CONTINUED STALLING, UNABLE TO RECTIFY.

NHTSA ID
522390
Engine
Filed Nov 27, 1996

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING CONTINUAL OVERHEATING.

NHTSA ID
512021
Engine
Filed Oct 16, 1996
Fire reported

VEHICLE FIRE.

NHTSA ID
510023
Incident
Sep 1, 1995
EngineSteering
Filed Jul 30, 1996
Fire reported

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

NHTSA ID
800206
Incident
Oct 1, 1995
Engine
Filed Jul 20, 1995

VEHICLE STALLS UPON STOPPING AT STOP SIGNS/TRAFFIC LIGHTS. *AW

NHTSA ID
484429
Incident
Jun 1, 1995
Heating & air conditioningDriver assistanceEngine+4 more
Filed Apr 14, 1995

STEERING COLUMN REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID
479628
Incident
Mar 23, 1994

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

Electrical49Seat belts16Fuel system11Brakes10

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .