RoadVitals

1989 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.
26
Latest Apr 20, 2006
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 124 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.
8
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 1989 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 engine

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

Browse every complaint
Engine
Filed Apr 20, 2006
Fire reported

CONSUMER LETTER CONCERNING THE SETTLEMENT IN A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *TS THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10156250
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Engine
Filed Jan 9, 2001

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WHEN ENGINE GETS HOT, CONSUMER STATES THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AND USUALLY OCCURS AT A SIGNAL LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. *SLC

NHTSA ID
877761
Engine
Filed Dec 4, 2000

ANY TIME AT A STOP LIGHT OR STARTING TO MOVE OR GOING AROUND CORNERS VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT FOR NO REASON. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES. MECHANIC CAN NOT DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
875946
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 6, 2000

WHEN DRIVING IN HOT WEATHER VEHICLE STALLS, AND WON'T START BACK UP FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES. MECHANIC REPLACED IGNITION, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
869691
Engine
Filed Aug 15, 2000

IN 1989 WE PAID $40,000 FOR A NEW MOTORHOME THAT IS DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE AND FORD REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD REPEATED FAILURES DURING WARM WEATHER AS IT APPEARS THE SYSTEM VAPORLOCKS AND STALLS THE VEHICLE. THE LASTEST FAILURES HAPPENED ON OUR VACATION LAST WEEK AND WERE VERY DANGEROUS. ONE STALL OCURRED ON A TWO LANE MOUNTAIN ROAD WITH NO SHOULDER AND ON CURVES. WE BLOCKED THE LANE AND HAD TO DIRECT TRAFFIC AROUND TO AVOID A TERRIBLE HEADON. ANOTHER FAILURE WE COULD NOT GET IT OFF THE ROAD AND IT BLOCKED BOTH LANES. VERY DANGEROUS FOR US AND OTHERS. WE HAVE SPENT ABOUT $1000 OVER THE YEARS DOING WHAT FORD RECOMMENDED AND IT DID NOT WORK. MOTORHOME MAGAZINE HAS HAD NUMEROUS ARTICLES ABOUT THIS OVER THE YEARS AND STILL FORD WILL NOT HELP THEIR CUSTOMERS. WE RECIEVED INFORMATION ABOUT A LAW SUIT WHERE PEOPLE WERE KILLED BUT HAVE NOT HEARD THE OUTCOME. UPON SPEAKING TO A FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. TODAY, SHE SAID SHE RECEIVES 40-50 CALLS A DAY REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND STILL FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE ARE FACED WITH DONATING THIS MOTORHOME AS WE CANNOT SELL IT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE TO ANYONE. FORD SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH THIS AND IGNORE A DESIGN FLAW IN THEIR PRODUCT. PLEASE HELP US TO GET FORD'S ATTENTION AND TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY APPARENTLY DO NOT MAKE THE 460 ENGINE ANYMORE DUE TO THE PROBLEMS. WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE OF US WHO ALREADY HAVE ONE?

NHTSA ID
728044
Incident
Aug 14, 1992
Engine
Filed Oct 29, 1999
Fire reported

ENGINE FIRE. YH

NHTSA ID
549404
Engine
Filed Jun 8, 1999
Fire reported1 injury reported

REAR MAIN SEAL IN THE ENGINE FAILED CAUSING FIRE. *YH

NHTSA ID
782495
Incident
Sep 1, 1996
Engine
Filed May 25, 1999

AFTER DRIVING SOME DISTANCE, CAR WILL STALL AND FAIL TO START UNTIL IT COOLS DOWN, ESPECIALLY IN WARM WEATHER. PROBLEM IS ONGOING AND SPASMODIC. RESTART AFTER COOLING DOWN IS ALWAYS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM. ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM HAS BEEN FLUSHED, REFILLED AND WORKS PERFECTLY.

NHTSA ID
706838
Incident
May 12, 1999
Engine
Filed May 4, 1999

WHILE DRIVING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME ENGINE JUST SHUTS DOWN. POWER STEERING/BRAKING SYSTEM GO OUT, AND ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
837406
Engine
Filed Mar 8, 1999

OIL LEAKING FROM VALVE COVER GASKET, REPAIRED, HOWEVER OIL LEAK IS STILL PRESENT, OIL LEAK HAS DAMAGED THE MOTOR.

NHTSA ID
544453
Incident
Jul 15, 1998
Engine
Filed Feb 26, 1999

MOTOR MOUNTS CRACKED TWICE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, AND MAY HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

NHTSA ID
835247
Incident
Nov 1, 1997
Body & structureBrakesEngine+1 more
Filed Feb 12, 1999

ODOMETER READING IS NOT REGISTERING MILES, AND SPEEDOMETER IS NOT READING MPH. VEHICLE RUNS HOT, ELECTRONIC FAN IN COOLING SYSTEM DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. ALSO, EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND AUTOMATIC LOCK ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. DEALER CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES, AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEMS INCURRED. PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
834793
Incident
Feb 4, 1999
Engine
Filed Jan 20, 1999
Fire reported

ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT).

NHTSA ID
543442
Incident
Jan 20, 1999
Engine
Filed Jun 27, 1998

ENGINE FAILS WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED FULLY IN EITHER DIRECTION. NOT SURE IF THIS IS MAINTENANCE PROBLEM OR A DEFECT INVOLVING THE HALFSHAFT.

NHTSA ID
537549
Engine
Filed May 5, 1998

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE OVERHEATS AND VEHICLE STALLS/HESISTATES.

NHTSA ID
535214
Engine
Filed Nov 17, 1997

ENGINE STALLS.

NHTSA ID
524827
Engine
Filed Mar 24, 1997
Fire reported

ON 22-MAR-97, WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL 30 SECONDS AWAY FROM DRIVER'S HOME THERE WAS LOTS OF SMOKE IN HOOD AREA. CONSUMER THEN BACKED THE VEHICLE INTO HER GARAGE GOT OUT AND OPENED HOOD, THERE WERE FLAMES UNDERNEATH, CONSUMER THEN CLOSED HOOD AND FIRE STOPPED SHORTLY THERE AFTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
810322
Incident
Mar 22, 1997
Engine
Filed Mar 12, 1997

INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK

NHTSA ID
515413
Incident
Jan 1, 1997
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+3 more
Filed Jan 14, 1997

ENGINE FAN FAILED.

NHTSA ID
513946
Incident
Aug 1, 1996
EngineExterior lighting
Filed Nov 22, 1996

CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED DUE TO RUST.

NHTSA ID
601957
Incident
Oct 16, 1996
Engine
Filed Sep 4, 1996
Fire reported

ENGINE FIRE.

NHTSA ID
508313
Incident
Jul 28, 1995
Engine
Filed Jul 31, 1996
Fire reported

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *SD

NHTSA ID
506935
Incident
Jul 28, 1995
Engine
Filed Feb 5, 1996

WHILE DRIVING IN STOP/GO TRAFFIC, VEHICLE OVERHEATED. 2) FAN/HEAT SYSTEM FAILED TO OPERATE UNDER COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA ID
978664
Engine
Filed Jan 21, 1996
Fire reported

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *SD

NHTSA ID
503310
Incident
Jan 21, 1996
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Oct 26, 1995

PURCHASE CAR USED HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP THREE TIMES AND REPLACED MOTOR MOUNT ONE TIME AND REPLACED THE STARTER TWO TIMES . TT TFI REPLACED. TP SENSOR REPLACED. EGR VALVE REPLACED. INNER TIE ROD END REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
973969
Incident
Sep 2, 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

Electrical32Seat belts20Brakes17Exterior lighting16Driver assistance8Steering8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .