RoadVitals

1991 Ford Tempo Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
22
Latest Nov 24, 2008
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.
20%
of 110 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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1991 Ford Tempo submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 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 electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Nov 24, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD TEMPO. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V071000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE DEALER WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 45,000.

NHTSA ID
10249702
Incident
Mar 14, 2005
Mileage
45,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 24, 2004

TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 60 MPH THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN RAPIDLY THE WINDSHIELDWIPERS BEGAN SLOWING DOWN AND THE CAR WAS LOSING POWER A NEW ALTERNATOR WAS INSTALLED A WEEK PRIOR WHEN I POPPED THE HOOD THERE WAS A SMELL OF BURNING WIRES AND THE WIRES COMING FROM THE CAR TO THE ALTERNATOR WERE COMPLETELY MELTED, AND THERE WAS NO CONNECTION TO THE ALTERNATOR. THE TERMINAL WAS REPLACED AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS ALSO REPLACED, I DROVE 45 MILES FROM THE SHOP TO MY HOUSE AND CHECK UNDER THE HOOD THE CABLE ENTERING THE ALTERNATOR HAD ALREADY BEGAN TO MELT AND BUBBLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10067760
Incident
Apr 20, 2004
Mileage
112,633 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 13, 2001

CAR STALLED IN A INTERSECTION JUST MISSED BEING HIT BY A LARGE TRUCK. CAR STALLS ALOT. FORD ATTEMPED TO FIX BUT IT CONTINUES TO STALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
752148
Incident
Sep 13, 2001
Electrical
Filed Aug 14, 2001

I ALWAYS BLAMED MY PROBLEM ON THE TYPE OF GAS I WAS USING! FIRST TIME VEHICLE STALLED WAS WHEN IT WAS JUST A YEAR OR SO OLD. SINCE THEN, OVER THE YEARS, IT ALWAYS MANAGES TO STALL ON A HOT DAY. WE DON'T HAVE MANY HOT DAYS HERE. HAVE ONLY BEEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ONCE - HAD TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER TO WAIT FOR COOLING. DID THIS MANY TIMES. AM 73 YR. OLD DUMB BLONDE!! HAD THE CAR CHECKED BY A MECHANIC, HE COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS. PEOPLE THREW OUT IDEAS - FUEL PUMP? WAS ALERTED BY THE CALIFORNIA CASE - NOW I KNOW WHAT MY PROBLEM IS!*AK

NHTSA ID
750401
Electrical
Filed Feb 7, 2001

IGNITION LOCK DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHEN STICKING KEY INTO IGNITION LOCK IT SEEMS LIKE HAVING THE WRONG KEY.AK

NHTSA ID
880006
Incident
Jan 1, 2001
Electrical
Filed Jan 23, 2001

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON DASH, AND VEHICLE CUTS OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
878840
Electrical
Filed Oct 30, 2000

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE WOULD STALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
874125
Electrical
Filed Oct 12, 2000

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STALLED. DEALERLR STATED IGNITION COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
872810
Electrical
Filed Sep 1, 2000
Fire reported

IN ALL THREE INSTANCES OF VEHICLE COMPONENT FAILURES, VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN VEHICLE STALLED ON RAODWAY. IN EACH INSTANCE, DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF ROADWAY WITHOUT ACCIDENT. IN THE TWO SUSPECTED IGNITION MODULE FAILURE CASES, TEMPERATURES WERE AT 100 DEGREES IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO. IN SUSPECTED IGNITION FAILURE CASE OF JAN. 1998, VEHICLE HAD BEEN RUNNING ON HIGHWAY IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO COMING INTO EL PASO WHEN VEHICLE STALLED.

NHTSA ID
729846
Incident
Jan 22, 1998
Electrical
Filed May 15, 1999

THE CAR STALLS OUT WHEN COMING TO A STOP, ANOTHER TIME IT STALLED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR. WHEN I COME TO A STOP I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN "N" AND GIVE IT GAS THEN PUT IN DRIVE AND FLOOR IT SO IT DOSE NOT STALL. IT ALSO STALLS AS I'M COMING TO A STOP OR I'VE STOPPED AND THEN GIVE IT GAS TO PROCEED. I HAVE HAD SO MANY CLOSE CALLS OF BEING REAR ENDED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I'M VERY LUCKY TO HAVE NOT SUFFERED ANY PERSONAL INJURY HOWEVER, MY NERVES ARE ALWAYS ON EDGE WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR. IF I COULD GET RID OF IT I WOULD BUT THAT IS NOT AN OPTION. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL FORD DEALERS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM OR SAY THERE IS NOT PROBLEM BUT FIX OTHER THINGS, THAT HAVE NOT HELPED. MY SITUATION SOUNDS JUST LIKE THE FORD SUIT REGARDING "STALLING PROBLEMS" THAT I READ ABOUT IN THE DAILY BULLENTIN ON MAY 3, 1999. THIS IS WHY I'M WRITING TO FIANALLY GET SOME HELP FOR A CAR THAT HAS DONE THIS SINCE I PURCHASED IT. IF YOU NEED ANY DOCUMENTATION I CAN PROVIDE IT. THANK YOU. A.DAVIS. *AK

NHTSA ID
706532
Incident
Jan 13, 1999
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 16, 1997

ENGINE CONTINUALLY STALLING.

NHTSA ID
523835
Electrical
Filed Oct 21, 1996

LIGHT CAME ON, HIGH PITCH WHINEY, AND A LOSS OF POWER DUE TO ALTERNATOR FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID
802766
Incident
Feb 23, 1992
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Oct 17, 1996

WHEN TAKING CAR OUT OF PARK TO DRIVE THE CAR STALLS , HAVING OTHER PROBLEMS.*AK ALSO REPLACED FUEL PUMP 4 TIMES ALSO HAS NEEDE MULTIPL GAKETS REPAIRS.*JB

NHTSA ID
803674
Electrical
Filed Aug 9, 1996
Fire reported

OWNER GOT INTO VEHICLE, WHICH WAS PARKED AT WORK, STARTED VEHICLE, PULLED OUT OF PARKING SPACE ABOUT 2 FT., NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, OWNER PUT OUT FLAMES, FIRE DEPT ARRIVED BUT FLAMES WAS ALREADY OUT*AK

NHTSA ID
800707
Incident
Aug 7, 1996
BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed May 16, 1996

ALTERNATOR FAILED TWICE.

NHTSA ID
504894
Incident
May 1, 1994
BrakesElectricalFuel system+1 more
Filed May 10, 1996

ALTERNATOR BROKE.

NHTSA ID
505010
Incident
Jul 26, 1993
Electrical
Filed Feb 21, 1996

COMPUTER INADEQUATE FOR CAR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *DSH

NHTSA ID
501764
Incident
Jun 15, 1992
Electrical
Filed Jan 23, 1996

THE VEHICLE STALLS AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ID
978013
Incident
Jan 22, 1996
Electrical
Filed Sep 26, 1995

ENGINE STALLS AFTER TAKING OFF FROM STANDSTILL; HAVE TO RESTART; CAUSED BY FAULTY FIPZ VA PROCESSOR, # 12A650. TT

NHTSA ID
972489
Incident
Sep 15, 1994
Electrical
Filed Aug 8, 1995

IT DIES WHEN IT IS HOT OUT SIDE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ID
970138
Incident
Aug 8, 1995
Electrical
Filed May 5, 1995

VEHICLE STALL AFTER SITTING AT STOPLIGHT AND STOPSIGNS. TT

NHTSA ID
964894
Incident
Jun 4, 1994
Heating & air conditioningElectricalFuel system
Filed Mar 21, 1995

FUEL PUMP FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
482440
Incident
Mar 21, 1995

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .