IllustrationBRAKE LINE RUPTURED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, 2 PEOPLE WERE INJURED. *SLC
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 reportsTHE SPEED SENSOR FAILED. NLM
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE CUTS OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE IN MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION OR IN SOME CASES IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC . CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED A MECHANIC WHO REPLACED PARTS. BUT, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
ENGINE WILL QUIT SUDDENLY AND USUALLY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 45 MPH. I NARROWLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED BECAUSE A TRUCK WAS RIGHT BEHND ME. THE TRUCK WAS ABLE TO CHANGE LANES QUICK ENOUGH TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT. THE ENGINE FAILURE HAS OCCURED ABOUT 8 TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. I CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE …
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ENGINE WILL QUIT SUDDENLY AND USUALLY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 45 MPH. I NARROWLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED BECAUSE A TRUCK WAS RIGHT BEHND ME. THE TRUCK WAS ABLE TO CHANGE LANES QUICK ENOUGH TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT. THE ENGINE FAILURE HAS OCCURED ABOUT 8 TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. I CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE I.E. FROM EITHER IGNITION FAILURE OR FROM FUEL STARVATION FROM AN UNKNOWN CAUSE. IN EACH CASE, THE CAR WOULD RESTART AFTER A HALF HOUR WAIT. THIS REPRESENTS A POTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ESPECIALLY FROM A REAR END COLLISSION HAZARD.*AK
I LOST MY 4-YEAR OLD SON IN MY CAR. IT WAS PARKED, I DON'T KNOW WHY HE GOT IN THE CAR. WE HAD JUST ARRIVED AT MY MOTHERS. NO ONE CAN PROVE ANYTHING BECAUSE THE DASH IS SO BURNT AND THE STERINGWHEEL WAS IN THE FLOOR. ALTHOUGH THEY FOUND NO TRACES OF ANYTHING THAT COULD OF STARTED IT OTHER THAN FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. THE CAR …
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I LOST MY 4-YEAR OLD SON IN MY CAR. IT WAS PARKED, I DON'T KNOW WHY HE GOT IN THE CAR. WE HAD JUST ARRIVED AT MY MOTHERS. NO ONE CAN PROVE ANYTHING BECAUSE THE DASH IS SO BURNT AND THE STERINGWHEEL WAS IN THE FLOOR. ALTHOUGH THEY FOUND NO TRACES OF ANYTHING THAT COULD OF STARTED IT OTHER THAN FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. THE CAR STILL SITS AND THEY WANT ME TO FORGET ABOUT IT. LAWYERS KEEP BACKING OUT AFTER SO FAR. PLEASE HELP ME. I HAVE TO KNOW THE TRUTH AND GET WHAT I DESERVE. NO ONE CAN PUT A PRICE ON A LOST CHILD.
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING WHICH CAUSED A NEAR ACCIDENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC AND VEHICLE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNS. *AK
MOTIONLESS FORD IN GARAGE FAILED TO START 8-21-00, REPAIR SHOP INSTALLED FORD MODULE, SAYING THAT WAS CHIEF PROBEM. THE TROUBLE REMAINED; ENGINE STALLED AND THROBBED INDICATING FAULTY IGNITION. A SECOND REPAIR SHOP INSTALLED A "COIL" BUT TROUBLE (THROBBING AND STALLING) REMAINS. $800 IN REPAIRS AND THE ORIGINAL TROUBLE REMAI…
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MOTIONLESS FORD IN GARAGE FAILED TO START 8-21-00, REPAIR SHOP INSTALLED FORD MODULE, SAYING THAT WAS CHIEF PROBEM. THE TROUBLE REMAINED; ENGINE STALLED AND THROBBED INDICATING FAULTY IGNITION. A SECOND REPAIR SHOP INSTALLED A "COIL" BUT TROUBLE (THROBBING AND STALLING) REMAINS. $800 IN REPAIRS AND THE ORIGINAL TROUBLE REMAINS. CO-OWNER IS WIFE PAULINE AND REPAIR BILLS ARE IN HER NAME.*AK
WHEN TURNING IGNITION SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION AND TURNING IT TOO FAR, WHEN COME BACK TO THE CAR, BATTERY IS DEAD.*AK
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