IllustrationCONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE AFTER DRIVING THE AUTOMOBILE FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS. STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SAW FLAMES, FIREMEN WERE CALLED, NO INJURIES,CONSUMER GOT DAUGHTER OUT OF AUTOMOBILE IN TIME. *AK
1988 Ford Tempo
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Tempo years
Owner complaints for the 1988 Ford Tempo are substantially higher than the model-year median of 30.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tempo years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 3 of 126 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports35 fire reports8 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
50 reportsTHE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTED TO THE ALNERNATOR OVERHEATS AND SOMETIMES SMOKE IS EVIDENT. THIS IS A MITSIBISHI ALTERNATOR, FORD DOESN'T RECOGNIZE PROBLEM . *AK AFTER MARKET MANUFACTURER WARNED OF FIRE HAZARD AND SUPPLIED A NEW CONNECTOR WITH REPLACEMENT ALTERNATOR- CONNECTOR IT MELTS EVEN THOUGH ALTERNATOR IS FUNCTIONING, EVEN …
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THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTED TO THE ALNERNATOR OVERHEATS AND SOMETIMES SMOKE IS EVIDENT. THIS IS A MITSIBISHI ALTERNATOR, FORD DOESN'T RECOGNIZE PROBLEM . *AK AFTER MARKET MANUFACTURER WARNED OF FIRE HAZARD AND SUPPLIED A NEW CONNECTOR WITH REPLACEMENT ALTERNATOR- CONNECTOR IT MELTS EVEN THOUGH ALTERNATOR IS FUNCTIONING, EVEN 8 WIRING INSULATION BECOMES BRITTLE OR MELTS FROM HEAT, ON ONE OCCASION REPAIR SHOP DISCOVERED EXTENSIVELY SMOKING CONNECTOR ON THE VERGE OF FLAMES WHILE WORKING ON UNRELATED JOB, MECHANIC STATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, LOCAL FORD DEALER DENIED ANY TYPE OF PROBLEMS OR COMPLAINTS.*JB
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK *JB
#PE 96-026, WHILE DRIVING A FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE ALTERNATOR . *AK CONSUMER STATES THE FIRE STARTED AT THE ALTERNATOR CONNECTOR, SHOOTING FLAMES, THE RESULTS WERE ENGINE COMPARTMENT PLASTIC CATCHING FIRE AND SPITTING BURNING PLASTIC ONTO FUEL LINES WHICH IN TURN PUNCTURED AND SPRAYED FUEL OVER ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *SLC
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE, REPLACED WITH SAME DEFECTIVE SWITCH.
REPLACED ALTERNATOR FOUR TIMES, ALSO REPLACED WIRING HARNESS. *AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE ALTERNATOR CABLE, CAUSING THE CABLE TO SHORT OUT, REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR THREE TIMES.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AN INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON/OFF. TURN SIGNALS STOPPED WORKING THEN VEHICLE STALLED IN INTERSECTION. SHE GOT BACK IN SAW SMOKE THEN FLAMES FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE.
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE.
Official recalls
296V071000 · Electrical System:ignition
Apr 25, 1996
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
88V024000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Mar 1, 1988
TWO ATTACHMENT SCREWS FOR THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS COULD LOOSEN AND BACK OUT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF BOTH SCREWS COME OUT, SENSORS COULD DISENGAGE FROMTHE THROTTLE SHAFT, PREVENTING RETURN OF THE THROTTLE FROM MID POSITION.
Remedy: REPLACE ATTACHMENT SCREWS WITH SCREWS WITH PRE APPLIED ADHESIVE THAT WILL BE TIGHTENED TO A HIGHER TORQUE SPECIFICATION.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
5PE96005 · Rear Brk Adjuster Failure
Opened Jan 19, 1996 · Closed May 28, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1984 - 1991 FORD TEMPO/MERCURY TOPAZ
DP96002 · Rear Brake System Failure
Opened Jan 11, 1996 · Closed Jan 19, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
EA91052 · Seat Belt Separation
Opened Nov 27, 1991 · Closed Nov 24, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
EA90042 · Throttle Sticking
Opened Aug 31, 1990 · Closed Dec 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA90008 · Failed Passive Restraint
Opened Dec 27, 1989 · Closed Dec 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
WE HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS REPORTS WHICH ALLEGE A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM.ADDITIONAL REPORTS ALLEGE THAT THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILED TO RESTRAIN/ADEQUATELY PROTECT THE OCCUPANT DURING AN ACCIDENT