IllustrationTHE 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.
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
What owners actually said
126 reportsVEHICLE FAILS TO OPERATE IN DRIVE, BUT IT DOES OPERATE IN REVERSE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
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
I WAS DRIVING, WIFE IN PASSENGER SEAT WITH LAP BELT ENGAGED. UPON STOPPING, LAP BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE. IMPOSSIBLE FOR HER TO EXIT CAR BECAUSE OF AUTOMATIC RETRACTOR INSTALLED ON BELT ASSEMBLY. THIS IS A MOJOR SAFETY ITEM AND FORD WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY. HAD WE BEEN IN AN ACCIDNET AND CAR WAS BURING, WIFE WOULD H…
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I WAS DRIVING, WIFE IN PASSENGER SEAT WITH LAP BELT ENGAGED. UPON STOPPING, LAP BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE. IMPOSSIBLE FOR HER TO EXIT CAR BECAUSE OF AUTOMATIC RETRACTOR INSTALLED ON BELT ASSEMBLY. THIS IS A MOJOR SAFETY ITEM AND FORD WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY. HAD WE BEEN IN AN ACCIDNET AND CAR WAS BURING, WIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN BURNED TO DEATH. THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET WIFE OUT OF THE CAR WAS TO CUT THE BELT AND THERE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN TIME TO DO THIS IN A BURNING CAR! EVEN WITH THE LAP BELT CUT, I AM STILL UNABLE TO RELEASE THE BUCKLE. THE LAW REQUIRES THAT BELTS BE USED YET FORD WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SAFE AND NORMAL OPERATION OF THE LAP BELT THAT THEY INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. NO PREVIOUS INDICATIONS OF ANYTHING WRONG WITH LAP BELT SYSTEM ON EITHER SIDE OF VEHICLE.*AK
WORK DONE ON ENGINE BEFORE RECALL WAS KNOWN. CAR NOT THE SAME SINCE. TOTAL COST TO ME ,ABOUT 1500.00.*AK
WAS DRIVING IN TOWN ON 07/21/01 IN THE AFTERNOON GOING HOME, WHEN CAR STARTED VIBRATING REAL BADLY, AND WONDERED ALL OVER ROAD. THE TIRE IN QUESTIONED IS OFF THE RIGHT FRONT OF A 1988 FORD TEMPO. IT IS CHEWED UP AROUND THE INSIDE AND ALSO HAS "SEVERAL SOFT SPOTS" IN THE TIRE.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2RV TIRESIZE: P18570R14)
THE ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIME IT WILL RESTART JUST TO STALL AGAIN AFTER A FEW MILES. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED UNDER A PREVIOUS RECALL BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO PERSIST. THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT WAS REPLACE TWICE IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS. I BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING/MODULE THAT REGULATE…
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THE ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIME IT WILL RESTART JUST TO STALL AGAIN AFTER A FEW MILES. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED UNDER A PREVIOUS RECALL BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO PERSIST. THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT WAS REPLACE TWICE IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS. I BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING/MODULE THAT REGULATES THE ELECTRICAL PULSES THAT FIRE THE PLUGS. I WILL ASK THE DEALER TO RESEARCH. UNFORTUANTELY, THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON ON FORD TEMPO'S BUT NONE OF THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ADDRESS IT. *AK
I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN INJURY BEFORE FORD FIXES!. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
AFTER PUTTING GAS IN THE CAR WITH THE WINDOWS ROLLED UP THERE IS AN ODOR OF GAS INSIDE THE CAR. THE ODOR IS ALSO THERE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. IT GOES AWAY AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUETS OF DRIVING.*AK
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
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