1988 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 1988 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
- Electrical4932.2%
- Engine2717.8%
- Seat belts1610.5%
- Fuel system117.2%
- Brakes106.6%
- Exterior lighting63.9%
- Interior & seats63.9%
- Tires & wheels53.3%
- Driver assistance42.6%
- Visibility32.0%
- Powertrain (other)32.0%
- Steering32.0%
- Transmission32.0%
- Suspension21.3%
- Body & structure21.3%
- Heating & air conditioning10.7%
- Airbags10.7%
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
ACK UP.NMENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND MOTOR DIES. STARTS RIGHT.
NHTSA RECALL96V 071000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 95S28 CONCERNING IGNITION FAI;URE. CONSUMER NOTICED FROM OUTSIDE WINDOW THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING I DRIVEWAY FOR 30-45 MINUTES AFTER BEING DRIVEN HOME. VEHICLE HAD FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER WAS CONFIRMING RECALL TO BE SERVICED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
ACK UP.NMENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND MOTOR DIES. STARTS RIGHT.
CONSUMER IS REQUESTING FREE REPAIRS TO 1988 FORD TEMPO GL'S TRANSMISSION AND MOTOR.*MR *NM
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
THE LAP BELT ON PASSENAGER SIDE FRONT WILL NOT STAY CLASPED. DRIVERS SHOULDER STRAP (AUTOMATIC) WILL NOT SLIDE OPEN. THE MOTOR CAN BE HEARD INSIDE, BUT WILL NOT MOVE.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
GASOLINE LEAKS ON ENGINE. *AK CONSUMER NOTICED GASOLINE COMING OUT OF THE VACUUM HOSE THAT RUNS FROM THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR TO THE VACUUM FITTING, CONSUMER REALIZED THE REGULATOR MUST BE FAULTY. *SLC
THIS VEHICLE HAS STALLED ON STARTUP POSITION IN TRAFFIC SINCE IT WAS NEW AND HAS CONTINUED TO DO SO AFTER NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALER. THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD AS CROSS TRAFFIC IS NOT RESPONSIBLE TO WAIT WHILE WE RESTART THE VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT DUE TO DRIVER ERROR AS IT OCCURS WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT DRIVERS.*AK
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKE LINE RUPTURED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, 2 PEOPLE WERE INJURED. *SLC
THE SPEED SENSOR FAILED. NLM
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE HAEDLIGHT BULBS ARE MADE OUT OF A PLASTIC MATERIAL. OVER A PERIOD OF TIME THE MATERIAL WEARS OUT, CAUSING LITTLE LIGHT TO SHINE FROM THE HEADLIGHT, RESULTING IN LIMITED VISIBILITY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
HEADLAMP LENS SURFACE WEATHERED/CORRODED, CAUSING POOR LIGHTING AND INSPECTION FAILURE.
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
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
DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE FROM THE FRAME TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING THE DRIVER SEAT TO MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY HAVE RESULTED IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER WELDED THE SEAT TO THE FLOOR. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
CAR ACCELERATED IN REVERSE AT HIGH SPEED CAUSING CRASH INTO A WALL RESULTING IN INJURY THE DRIVER. YH
FAST IDLING, NO DECREASE IN PRESSURE. VEHICLE NOISY AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.*AK
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
THE SPEED SENSOR FAILED. NLM
SEAT BELT MOTOR FAILED. MJS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER IS REQUESTING FREE REPAIRS TO 1988 FORD TEMPO GL'S TRANSMISSION AND MOTOR.*MR *NM
THE SPEED SENSOR FAILED. NLM
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
THE SPEED SENSOR FAILED. NLM
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK
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 FAILS TO OPERATE IN DRIVE, BUT IT DOES OPERATE IN REVERSE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
THE SPEED SENSOR FAILED. NLM
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
THE VEHICLE VIBRATED WHILE DRIVING. THE TIRES WERE BALANCED YET THE VIBRATION STILL OCCURRED. *NLM
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
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
SEAT BELT MOTOR FAILED. MJS
LEFT LIFT GATE HINGE FAILED CAUSING FUMES TO SEEP INTO CAR AND DOOR NOT TO CLOSE COMPLETELY.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
STEERING COLUMN REPAIRED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR BAG. DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH, APPROACHED AN INTERSECTION, AND WENT THROUGH WITH NOT ENOUGH TIME TO BRAKE. HIT THE SIDE OF HIS CAR, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN INJURIES. VHICLE WAS TOTALED. *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 .